Language
French is the official language. Kongo, Lingala and Teke are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	3.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	3.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	3.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	3.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	3.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	3.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	3.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	3.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	3.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
6.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
The Bakongo predominate in the south, the Sanga and Vilil in the north and the Teke in the centre. There is also a Pygmy minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
About half the population is Christian, with the other half practising traditional African religions. There is also a small Muslim minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	60.9 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	60.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	60.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	59.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	59.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	59.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	58.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	58.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1961
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
52 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	41.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	47.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	46.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	46.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	46.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	46.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT +1

Climate description
Equatorial, mainly hot all year. Rainfall well distributed throughout the year.

Currency
CFA Franc

Telephone dialling code
(+) 242

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	54.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	52.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	52.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	48.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	48.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	51.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	52.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	51.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	50.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	46.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	46.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	49.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	55.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	53.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	53.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	49.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	50.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	53.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	79 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	79 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	81 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	81 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	81 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	81 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	81 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	125 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	126 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	108 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	108 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	108 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	108 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	108 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	108 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel
86 percent (1997-2005)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Maternal mortality

2005	740 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	510 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	139	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	140	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	142	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	144	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	140	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	136	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	14 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	14 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	15 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	14 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	14 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	14 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	14 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	14 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	22 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	33 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	34 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	71 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	58 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	46 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	20 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	27 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	82.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	82.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	80.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	88.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	88.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	88.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	87.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	77.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	75.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	74.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	500 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	363 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	263 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	163 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	115 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	101 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	70 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	48 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	23 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	40 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	17 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	0.3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	0.2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	158 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	150 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	142 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	130 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	114 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	113 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	1540 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1370 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1050 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	830 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	710 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	670 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	610 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	550 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	7.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	7.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	6.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	4.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	2.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	6.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	7.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	1.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	4.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	3.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	7.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	-7.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	18.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	29.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	6.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	-3.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	-1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	-13.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	47.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

Physicians

2000-2004	20 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	20 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	25 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	25 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	3.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	3.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	3.7 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	3.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	4.0 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole ocuntry. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	403 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	414 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	425 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	430 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	425 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	408 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	382 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	353 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	19925	UNHCR
2007	19734	UNHCR
2006	20609	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	24413	UNHCR
2004	28152	UNHCR
2003	28961	UNHCR
2002	28002	UNHCR
2001	24237	UNHCR
2000	27579	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	24779	UNHCR
2007	38472	UNHCR
2006	55788	UNHCR
2005	66075	UNHCR
2004	68536	UNHCR
2003	91362	UNHCR
2002	109201	UNHCR
2001	119147	UNHCR
2000	123190	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

2007	7800	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008
2006	7800	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2006
2005	100000 - 147000	IDMC 2006

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	10	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2001)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent (2004)

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	2.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	4.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	1.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003