Congo, Republic of the

Map of Congo, Republic of the

Country name	conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
Capital	Brazzaville
Government type	republic
Independence	15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday	Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Population	4,366,266 (July 2012 est.)
Sex ratio	1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Nationality	Congolese (singular and plural)
Religions	Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages	French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Literacy	Age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 83.8% Male: 89.6% Female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Location	Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Geographic coordinates	1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references	Africa
Area	Total: 342,000 sq km Land: 341,500 sq km Water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative	Slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries	Total: 5,504 km Border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km
Coastline	169 km
Maritime claims	Territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate	Tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain	Coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Elevation extremes	Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources	Petroleum, Timber, Potash, Lead, Zinc, Uranium, Copper, Phosphates, Gold, Magnesium, Natural Gas, Hydropower
Exports - commodities	Petroleum, Lumber, Plywood, Sugar, Cocoa, Coffee, Diamonds
Imports - commodities	Capital equipment, Construction materials, Foodstuffs
Land use	Arable land: 1.45% Permanent crops: 0.15% Other: 98.4% (2005)
Irrigated land	20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	832 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Total: 0.03 cu km/yr (59%/29%/12%) Per capita: 8 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Seasonal flooding
Environment - current issues	Air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements	Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	About 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them