Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: Travel tips, articles, photos, gallery, cities database, population, pics, flags, statistics, free maps online
| Introduction - Congo, Democratic Republic of the: | | Location - Congo, Democratic Republic of the: | | People - Congo, Democratic Republic of the: | | Government - Congo, Democratic Republic of the: | | Economy - Congo, Democratic Republic of the: | Economy overview | The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - is recovering from two decades of decline. Conflict, which began in August 1998, dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the deaths of perhaps 3.5 million people from violence, famine, and disease. Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. Conditions began to improve in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. The transitional government reopened relations with international financial institutions and international donors, and President KABILA has begun implementing reforms. Much economic activity still occurs in the informal sector, and is not reflected in GDP data. Economic stability improved during the period 2003-06, although an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a lack of transparency in government policy continues to hamper growth. In 2005-06, renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most export income, boosted Kinshasas fiscal position and GDP growth. The International Monetary Fund program for the DRC, however, expired at the end of March 2006 and probably will not be reinstated until mid-2007. Government reforms and improved security may lead to increased government revenues, outside budget assistance, and foreign direct investment in 2007. | | Gdp purchasing power parity | $44.44 billion (2006 est.) | | Gdp official exchange rate | $7.98 billion (2006 est.) | | Gdp real growth rate | 6.4% (2006 est.) | | Gdp per capita ppp | $700 (2006 est.) | | Gdp composition by sector | agriculture: 55%
industry: 11%
services: 34% (2000 est.) | | Labor force | 15 million (2006 est.) | | Labor force by occupation | agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% | | Unemployment rate | NA% | | Population below poverty line | NA% | | Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% | | Inflation rate consumer prices | 18.2% (2006 est.) | | Budget | revenues: $700 million
expenditures: $2 billion (2006 est.) | | Agriculture products | coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products | | Industries | mining (diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, coltan zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair | | Industrial production growth rate | NA% | | Electricity production | 353 million kWh (2004) | | Electricity consumption | 658.3 million kWh (2004) | | Electricity exports | NA | | Electricity imports | 330 million kWh (2004) | | Oil production | 21,090 bbl/day (2004) | | Oil consumption | 8,200 bbl/day (2004 est.) | | Oil exports | 229,700 bbl/day (2004 est.) | | Oil imports | 8,220 bbl/day (2006 est.) | | Oil proved reserves | 187 million bbl (1 January 2005) | | Natural gas production | 0 cu m (2004 est.) | | Natural gas consumption | 0 cu m (2004 est.) | | Natural gas proved reserves | 991.1 million cu m (1 January 2005 est.) | | Exports | $1.108 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) | | Exports commodities | diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt | | Exports partners | Belgium 33.4%, China 24.1%, Chile 8.9%, Finland 8.2%, US 5.6% (2006) | | Imports | $1.319 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) | | Imports commodities | foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels | | Imports partners | South Africa 19.5%, Belgium 11.8%, France 9.4%, Kenya 7.5%, Zambia 6.5%, Cote dIvoire 4.8% (2006) | | Debt external | $10 billion (2006 est.) | | Economic aid recipient | $2.2 billion (FY03/04) | | Currency code | Congolese franc (CDF) | | Exchange rates | Congolese francs per US dollar - 464.69 (2006), 437.86 (2005), 401.04 (2004), 405.34 (2003), 346.49 (2002) | |
| Communications - Congo, Democratic Republic of the: | | Transportation - Congo, Democratic Republic of the: | | Military - Congo, Democratic Republic of the: |
This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007
Source: CIA >>> |
