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Compare Congo, Republic of the (2001) - Sao Tome and Principe (2001)

Compare Congo, Republic of the (2001) z Sao Tome and Principe (2001)

 Congo, Republic of the (2001)Sao Tome and Principe (2001)
 Congo, Republic of theSao Tome and Principe
Administrative divisions 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome

note:
Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
Age structure 0-14 years:
42.43% (male 618,411; female 609,633)

15-64 years:
54.23% (male 765,501; female 804,125)

65 years and over:
3.34% (male 38,772; female 57,894) (2001 est.)
0-14 years:
47.7% (male 39,857; female 38,859)

15-64 years:
48.28% (male 38,430; female 41,246)

65 years and over:
4.02% (male 3,034; female 3,608) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Airports 33 (2000 est.) 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3 (2000 est.)
total:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
29

1,524 to 2,437 m:
7

914 to 1,523 m:
12

under 914 m:
10 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
342,000 sq km

land:
341,500 sq km

water:
500 sq km
total:
1,001 sq km

land:
1,001 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Montana more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Background Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO. Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The first free elections were held in 1991.
Birth rate 38.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 42.74 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$870 million

expenditures:
$970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
revenues:
$58 million

expenditures:
$114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)
Capital Brazzaville Sao Tome
Climate tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Coastline 169 km 209 km
Constitution Draft constitution approved by transitional parliament in September 2000 approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of the Congo

conventional short form:
none

local long form:
Republique du Congo

local short form:
none

former:
Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo
conventional long form:
Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

conventional short form:
Sao Tome and Principe

local long form:
Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe

local short form:
Sao Tome e Principe
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States dobra (STD)
Death rate 16.22 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $5 billion (1999 est.) $268 million (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador David H. KAEUPER

embassy:
NA

mailing address:
NA

telephone:
[243] (88) 43608

FAX:
[243] (88) 41036

note:
the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Serge MOMBOULI

chancery:
4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011

telephone:
[1] (202) 726-5500

FAX:
[1] (202) 726-1860
Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone [1] (212) 317-0533
Disputes - international most of the Congo river boundary with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Stanley Pool/Pool Malebo area) none
Economic aid - recipient $159.1 million (1995) $200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program
Economy - overview The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. Moreover, the government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to the government's shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the Republic of the Congo's budget deficit. Even with the IMF's renewed confidence and high world oil prices, Congo is unlikely to realize growth of more than 5% in 2001-02. With the return to fragile peace, the IMF approved a $14 million credit in November 2000 to aid post-conflict reconstruction. This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence 25 years ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it has been unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies, but economic growth has remained sluggish. Sao Tome is also optimistic that significant petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy. At the same time, progress in the economic reform program has attracted international financial institutions' support, and GDP growth will likely rise to at least 4% in 2001-02.
Electricity - consumption 406.9 million kWh (1999) 15.8 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 126 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 302 million kWh (1999) 17 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
0.66%

hydro:
99.34%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
41.18%

hydro:
58.82%

nuclear:
0%

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

highest point:
Mount Berongou 903 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Environment - current issues air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans NA%; note - Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that of 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997 mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro dobras per US dollar - 2390.04 (December 2000), 7,119.0 (1999), 6,883.2 (1998), 4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 August 1992 (next was to be held 27 July 1997 but will be delayed for several years pending the drafting of a new constitution)

election results:
Pascal LISSOUBA elected president in 1992; percent of vote - Pascal LISSOUBA 61.3%, Bernard KOLELAS 38.7%; note - LISSOUBA was deposed in 1997, replaced by Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
chief of state:
President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)

head of government:
Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since 30 December 1998)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 June and 21 July 1996 (next to be held NA July 2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

election results:
Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - Miguel TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%
Exports $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $3.2 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities petroleum 50%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners US 23%, Benelux 14%, Germany, Italy, Taiwan, China (1998) Netherlands 18%, Germany 9%, Portugal 9% (1998)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
GDP purchasing power parity - $3.1 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $178 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
10%

industry:
48%

services:
42% (1999 est.)
agriculture:
23%

industry:
19%

services:
58% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.8% (2000 est.) 3% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 1 00 S, 15 00 E 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Geography - note about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them -
Highways total:
12,800 km

paved:
1,242 km

unpaved:
11,558 km (1996)
total:
320 km

paved:
218 km

unpaved:
102 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports $870 million (f.o.b., 2000) $40 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities petroleum products, capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners France 23%, US 9%, Belgium 8%, UK 7%, Italy (1997 est.) Portugal 42%, US 20%, South Africa 6% (1998)
Independence 15 August 1960 (from France) 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering, brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarette making light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
Infant mortality rate 99.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 48.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.5% (2000 est.) 5% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 10 sq km (1993 est.) 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Labor force NA NA
Labor force - by occupation - population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing

note:
shortages of skilled workers
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
0 km
Land use arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
29%

forests and woodland:
62%

other:
9% (1993 est.)
arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
36%

permanent pastures:
1%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
61% (1993 est.)
Languages French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo has the most users) Portuguese (official)
Legal system based on French civil law system and customary law based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Transitional Council (75 seats, members elected by reconciliation forum of 1,420 delegates on NA January 1998); note - the National Transitional Council replaced the bicameral Parliament

elections:
National Transitional Council - last held NA January 1998 (next to be held NA 2001); note - at that election the National Transitional Council is to be replaced by a bicameral assembly

election results:
National Transitional Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD 14.5%, ADI 29%; seats by party - MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8
Life expectancy at birth total population:
47.57 years

male:
44.38 years

female:
50.85 years (2001 est.)
total population:
65.59 years

male:
64.15 years

female:
67.07 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
74.9%

male:
83.1%

female:
67.2% (1995 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
73%

male:
85%

female:
62% (1991 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea:
200 NM
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - total:
39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 130,843 GRT/149,048 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 3, cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, container 3, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie Army, Navy, Security Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure $110 million (FY93) $1 million (FY94)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.8% (FY93) 1.5% (FY94)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
684,922 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
34,205 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
347,946 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
18,043 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
32,350 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 15 August (1960) Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Nationality noun:
Congolese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Congolese or Congo
noun:
Sao Tomean(s)

adjective:
Sao Tomean
Natural hazards seasonal flooding NA
Natural resources petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas, hydropower fish, hydropower
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 25 km -
Political parties and leaders the most important of the many parties are the Democratic and Patriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for Alternative Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party, National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the National Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal) [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Association for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO] Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Carlos NEVES]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Manuel Pinto Da COSTA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Aldo BANDEIRA]; Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC NA
Population 2,894,336

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 2001 est.)
165,034 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 2.2% (2001 est.) 3.18% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999) AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 341,000 (1997) 38,000 (1997)
Railways total:
894 km

narrow gauge:
894 km 1.067-m gauge (2000)
0 km
Religions Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2% Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out-of-order

domestic:
primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment:
adequate facilities

domestic:
minimal system

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 22,000 (1997) 3,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,000 (1996) 6,942 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1999) 2 (1997)
Terrain coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin volcanic, mountainous
Total fertility rate 5 children born/woman (2001 est.) 6.02 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% NA%
Waterways 1,120 km

note:
the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for local traffic only
none
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