Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Congo, Democratic Republic of the (2004) - Maldives (2001)

Compare Congo, Democratic Republic of the (2004) z Maldives (2001)

 Congo, Democratic Republic of the (2004)Maldives (2001)
 Congo, Democratic Republic of theMaldives
Administrative divisions 10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu 19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
Age structure 0-14 years: 48.2% (male 14,122,237; female 14,008,654)


15-64 years: 49.3% (male 14,097,301; female 14,646,285)


65 years and over: 2.5% (male 590,262; female 853,191) (2004 est.)
0-14 years:
45.63% (male 72,920; female 68,895)

15-64 years:
51.37% (male 81,506; female 78,149)

65 years and over:
3% (male 4,806; female 4,488) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Airports 230 (2003 est.) 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 24


over 3,047 m: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 16


914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
total:
2

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 206


1,524 to 2,437 m: 17


914 to 1,523 m: 92


under 914 m: 97 (2004 est.)
total:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Area total: 2,345,410 sq km


land: 2,267,600 sq km


water: 77,810 sq km
total:
300 sq km

land:
300 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Since 1997, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow in 1994 of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. The government of former president MOBUTU Sese Seko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA in May 1997; his regime was subsequently challenged by a Rwanda- and Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999 by the DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebel groups, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was assassinated on 16 January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state ten days later. In October 2002, the new president was successful in getting occupying Rwandan forces to withdraw from eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and set up a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA remains as president and is joined by four vice presidents from the former government, former rebel camps, and the political opposition. The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
Birth rate 44.73 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 38.15 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $269 million


expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)
revenues:
$166 million (excluding foreign grants)

expenditures:
$192 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (1999 est.)
Capital Kinshasa Male
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 tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Coastline 37 km 644 km
Constitution a new constitution was adopted 17 July 2003 adopted January 1998
Country name conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo


conventional short form: none


local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo


local short form: none


former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire


abbreviation: DROC
conventional long form:
Republic of Maldives

conventional short form:
Maldives

local long form:
Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa

local short form:
Dhivehi Raajje
Currency Congolese franc (CDF) rufiyaa (MVR)
Death rate 14.64 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 8.09 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $11.6 billion (2000 est.) $237 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS


embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa


mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828


telephone: [243] (88) 43608


FAX: [243] (88) 43467
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU


chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691


FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609
Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Disputes - international Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war, tribal conflict, and rebel gang fighting that has drawn in neighboring states of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda; in the Great Lakes region and Sudan, heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledge to end conflict, but unchecked localized violence continues unabated; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area none
Economic aid - recipient $195.3 million (1995) $NA
Economy - overview The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, has dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, has increased external debt, and has resulted in the deaths from war, famine, and disease of perhaps 3.5 million people. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. The war has intensified the impact of such basic problems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, inflation, and lack of openness in government economic policy and financial operations. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. Several IMF and World Bank missions have met with the government to help it develop a coherent economic plan, and President KABILA has begun implementing reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP data. Economic stability, aided by international donors, improved in 2003. New mining contracts have been approved, which - combined with high mineral and metal prices - could improve Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth. Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Almost 400,000 tourists visited the islands in 1998. Fishing is a second leading sector. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.
Electricity - consumption 3.839 billion kWh (2001) 93.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 1.097 billion kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 60 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 5.243 billion kWh (2001) 101 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
Environment - current issues poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups 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 South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Exchange rates Congolese francs per US dollar - NA (2003), 346.485 (2002), 206.617 (2001), 21.82 (2000), 4.02 (1999) rufiyaa per US dollar - 11.770 (fixed rate since 1995)
Executive branch chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president


elections: prior to the overthrow of MOBUTU Sese Seko, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997); formerly, there was also a prime minister who was elected by the High Council of the Republic; note - a Transitional Government is drafting a new constitution with free elections scheduled to be held in NA 2005


election results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without opposition


note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, following the latter's assassination in January 2001, negotiations with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a transitional government in July 2003 with free elections scheduled to be held in NA 2005
chief of state:
President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majlis

elections:
president nominated by the Majlis and then that nomination must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval margin is required); president elected for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003)

election results:
President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.9%
Exports NA (2001) $88 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt fish, clothing
Exports - partners Belgium 54.9%, US 15.4%, Zimbabwe 11.1%, Finland 4.8% (2003) US, UK, Sri Lanka, Japan
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist side red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag
GDP purchasing power parity - $40.05 billion (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $594 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 55%


industry: 11%


services: 34% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
20%

industry:
18%

services:
62% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $700 (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6.5% (2003 est.) 7.6% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 0 00 N, 25 00 E 3 15 N, 73 00 E
Geography - note straddles equator; has very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Highways total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
total:
NA km

paved:
NA km

unpaved:
NA km; note - Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city (1988 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center -
Imports NA (2001) $372 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners South Africa 17%, Belgium 14.9%, France 12.6%, Germany 6.8%, Kenya 5.4%, Netherlands 4% (2003) Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Canada
Independence 30 June 1960 (from Belgium) 26 July 1965 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA 4.4% (1996 est.)
Industries mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Infant mortality rate total: 94.69 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 103.18 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 85.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
63.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 14% (2003 est.) 3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 110 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme High Court
Labor force 14.51 million (1993 est.) 67,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation NA agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)
Land boundaries total: 10,730 km


border countries: Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 2.96%


permanent crops: 0.52%


other: 96.52% (2001)
arable land:
10%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
3%

other:
84% (1993 est.)
Languages French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Legal system based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch a 300-member Transitional Constituent Assembly established in August 2000


elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly were appointed by former President Laurent Desire KABILA
unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 20 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2004)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 42
Life expectancy at birth total population: 49.14 years


male: 47.06 years


female: 51.28 years (2004 est.)
total population:
62.56 years

male:
61.39 years

female:
63.8 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba


total population: 65.5%


male: 76.2%


female: 55.1% (2003 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
93.2%

male:
93.3%

female:
93% (1995 est.)
Location Central Africa, northeast of Angola Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Map references Africa Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone:
24 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine none total:
17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 58,604 GRT/81,451 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 16, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force National Security Service
Military expenditures - dollar figure $115.5 million (2003) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.4% (2003) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 12,706,971 (2004 est.) males age 15-49:
71,856 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 6,480,645 (2004 est.) males age 15-49:
40,006 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 30 June (1960) Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Nationality noun: Congolese (singular and plural)


adjective: Congolese or Congo
noun:
Maldivian(s)

adjective:
Maldivian
Natural hazards periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Natural resources cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber fish
Net migration rate -0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC in August 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese internally displaced and caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries (2004 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2004) -
Political parties and leaders Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Forces for Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph OLENGHANKOY]; National Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois LUMUMBA]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR (three factions: MPR-Fait Prive [Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo]; MPR/Vunduawe [Felix VUNDUAWE]; MPR/Mananga [MANANGA Dintoka Mpholo]); Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI (two factions: UFERI [Lokambo OMOKOKO]; UFERI/OR [Adolph Kishwe MAYA]) although political parties are not banned, none exist
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 58,317,930


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2004 est.)
310,764 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate 2.99% (2004 est.) 3.01% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka Gan, Male
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios - 35,000 (1999)
Railways total: 5,138 km


narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2003)
0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10% Sunni Muslim
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
1.07 male(s)/female

total population:
1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: poor


domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations


international: country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment:
minimal domestic and international facilities

domestic:
interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service

international:
satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 10,000 (2002) 21,000 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1 million (2003) 1,290 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 4 (2001) 1 (1997)
Terrain vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east flat, with white sandy beaches
Total fertility rate 6.62 children born/woman (2004 est.) 5.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA (2003 est.) NEGL%
Waterways 15,000 km (navigation on the Congo curtailed by fighting) (2004) none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.