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Compare Congo, Republic of the (2003) - Brunei (2002)

Compare Congo, Republic of the (2003) z Brunei (2002)

 Congo, Republic of the (2003)Brunei (2002)
 Congo, Republic of theBrunei
Administrative divisions 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Age structure 0-14 years: 38.4% (male 570,491; female 563,079)


15-64 years: 58% (male 844,655; female 868,851)


65 years and over: 3.6% (male 44,166; female 63,016) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 54,038; female 51,833)


15-64 years: 67% (male 125,051; female 110,257)


65 years and over: 2.8% (male 4,609; female 5,110) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo
Airports 31 (2002) 2 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 27


1,524 to 2,437 m: 6


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 11 (2002)
total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 342,000 sq km


land: 341,500 sq km


water: 500 sq km
total: 5,770 sq km


land: 5,270 sq km


water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Montana slightly smaller than Delaware
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, but ushered in a period of ethnically based unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with significant potential for offshore development. The Sultanate of Brunei's heyday occurred between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the less developed countries. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries.
Birth rate 29.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 20.06 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $870 million


expenditures: $970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
revenues: $2.5 billion


expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (1997 est.)
Capital Brazzaville Bandar Seri Begawan
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, rainy
Coastline 169 km 161 km
Constitution constitution approved by referendum 20 January 2002 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
Country name conventional long form: Republic of the Congo


conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)


local long form: Republique du Congo


local short form: none


former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo
conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam


conventional short form: Brunei
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States Bruneian dollar (BND)
Death rate 14.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 3.38 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $5 billion (2000 est.) $0
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Robin R. SANDERS


embassy: NA


mailing address: NA


telephone: [243] (88) 43608


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)
chief of mission: Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTY


embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan


mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507


telephone: [673] (2) 229670


FAX: [673] (2) 225293
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI


chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011


telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500


FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
chief of mission: Ambassador PUTEH ibni Mohammad Alam


chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838


FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
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) Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984, but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs
Economic aid - recipient $159.1 million (1995) $4.3 million (1995) (1995)
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. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to a 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's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic problems of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
Electricity - consumption 633 million kWh (2001) 2.065 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 300 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 358.1 million kWh (2001) 2.22 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 0.3%


hydro: 99.7%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Environment - current issues air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
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: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%


note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997
Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 697 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998) Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.8388 (January 2002), 1.8917 (2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar
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 seven-year term (eligible for a second seven-year term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2009)


election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU 2.7%
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Exports NA (2001) $3 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners Taiwan 28.1%, South Korea 20.4%, China 9.3%, US 8.4%, Germany 6.6%, France 5.2% (2002) Japan 42%, US 17%, South Korea 14%, Thailand 3% (1999)
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 yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 10%


industry: 48%


services: 42% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 5%


industry: 45%


services: 50% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0% (2002 est.) 3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 1 00 S, 15 00 E 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Geography - note about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia
Heliports - 3 (2002)
Highways total: 12,800 km


paved: 1,242 km


unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)
total: 1,712 km


paved: 1,284 km


unpaved: 428 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
Imports NA (2001) $1.4 billion c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners France 22.1%, Italy 8.5%, Belgium 6%, US 5.2%, India 4.1% (2002) Singapore 34%, UK 15%, Malaysia 15%, US 5% (1999)
Independence 15 August 1960 (from France) 1 January 1984 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 0% (2002 est.) 4% (1997 est.)
Industries petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Infant mortality rate total: 95.34 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 101.45 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 89.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
13.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4% (2002 est.) 1% (1999 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 10 sq km (1998 est.) 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms)
Labor force NA 143,400 (1999 est.); note - includes foreign workers and military personnel


note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991) (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)
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
total: 381 km


border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Land use arable land: 0.5%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 99.37% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0.57%


permanent crops: 0.76%


other: 98.67% (1998 est.)
Languages French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo has the most users) Malay (official), English, Chinese
Legal system based on French civil law system and customary law based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held NA July 2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (next to be held by NA May 2007)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45
unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch)


elections: last held in March 1962


note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years
Life expectancy at birth total population: 50.02 years


male: 49.04 years


female: 51.02 years (2003 est.)
total population: 74.06 years


male: 71.68 years


female: 76.56 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 83.8%


male: 89.6%


female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 88.2%


male: 92.6%


female: 83.4% (1995 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM or to median line


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT


ships by type: liquefied gas 7


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: United Kingdom 7 (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie, National Police Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure $84 million (FY01) $343 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.8% (FY01) 5.1% (FY98)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 754,814 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 108,921 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 381,556 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 62,864 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age (2003 est.) 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 31,644 (2003 est.) males: 3,005 (2002 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 15 August (1960) National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection
Nationality noun: Congolese (singular and plural)


adjective: Congolese or Congo
noun: Bruneian(s)


adjective: Bruneian
Natural hazards seasonal flooding typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare
Natural resources petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas, hydropower petroleum, natural gas, timber
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 3.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines gas 53 km; oil 673 km (2003) crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 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]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [leader NA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO] Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988, it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)
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 2,954,258


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 2003 est.)
350,898 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.53% (2003 est.) 2.06% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001) AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 329,000 (1998)
Railways total: 894 km


narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
total: 13 km (private line)


narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge (2001 est.)
Religions Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2% Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female


total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal none
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: service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia


domestic: every service available


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines (2001)
Telephones - main lines in use 22,000 (1998) 79,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular 3,300 (1998) 43,524 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2002) 2 (1997)
Terrain coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Total fertility rate 3.65 children born/woman (2003 est.) 2.4 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 10% (2001 est.)
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
209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
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