54 AFRICAN COUNTRIES

GEOGRAPHY

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is located in Central Africa, borders the Central African Republic and Sudan in the North, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi in the East; Zambia and Angola in the South the Republic of the Congo in the West. Area of 2.2 Mn sq Km and coastline of 37 Km. Kinshasa is the capital city while other prominent cities are Boma, Kananga, Kisangani, Likasi, Limbumbashi, Mbuji - Mayi.

Climate:tropical, hot and humid in equatorial river basin, cooler and drier in southern highlands, cooler and wetter in eastern highlands, north of Equator - wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February), south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October).

Political Structure: The Government is Republic with a bicameral legislature.

Elections were last held in 2006.The People’s Part for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) has been in power since 2001.
Source: Wikipedia.

POPULATION

68.69 Mn

Ethnic group:over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population.

Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10%.

Language: French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

GDP (PPP)

GDP (PPP)

U$ 112.8 Billion (est.2008)

Real growth rate is 13.2%.The CAGR of GDP for 3 years (2006 – 2008) is 15%.The GDP growth rates for year 2006 and 2007 are 19.6% and 16.7% respectively.

TRADE(EXPORT & IMPORT)

Source: UN Database

Major ports Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

SECTOR BREAKUP

Agriculture is 55%, Industry 11% is and Services 34%

ECONOMY SNAPSHOTS

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a nation endowed with vast potential wealth and is slowly recovering from two decades of decline. Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth from 2006 -2008, however, renewed strife in the second half of 2008, combined with a fall in world market prices for the DRC's key mineral exports inflicted major damage on the economy and halted growth. Government reforms may lead to increased government revenues, outside budget assistance, and foreign direct investment, although an uncertain legal framework, corruption, a lack of transparency in government policy is long-term problems.