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Compare Congo, Republic of the (2007) - Niger (2008)

Compare Congo, Republic of the (2007) z Niger (2008)

 Congo, Republic of the (2007)Niger (2008)
 Congo, Republic of theNiger
Administrative divisions 10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha 8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Age structure 0-14 years: 46.3% (male 885,039/female 873,753)


15-64 years: 50.8% (male 958,992/female 973,445)


65 years and over: 2.9% (male 44,994/female 64,387) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 3,083,871/female 2,969,201)


15-64 years: 50.6% (male 3,354,783/female 3,174,039)


65 years and over: 2.4% (male 155,430/female 157,541) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Airports 31 (2007) 28 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 5


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 26


1,524 to 2,437 m: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 9 (2007)
total: 19


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 14


under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Area total: 342,000 sq km


land: 341,500 sq km


water: 500 sq km
total: 1.267 million sq km


land: 1,266,700 sq km


water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Montana slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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 took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term. Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by military officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007. Events have since evolved into a budding insurrection.
Birth rate 42.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 50.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $3.522 billion


expenditures: $1.932 billion (2006 est.)
revenues: $320 million (includes $134 million from foreign sources)


expenditures: $320 million (2002 est.)
Capital name: Brazzaville


geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E


time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
name: Niamey


geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E


time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Coastline 169 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution approved by referendum 20 January 2002 new constitution adopted 18 July 1999
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: Republic of Niger


conventional short form: Niger


local long form: Republique du Niger


local short form: Niger
Death rate 12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 20.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $5 billion (2000 est.) $2.1 billion (2003 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Robert WEISBERG


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 Bernadette M. ALLEN


embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey


mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey


telephone: [227] 20-73-31-69


FAX: [227] 20-73-55-60
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 Aminata Djibrilla Maiga TOURE


chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227


FAX: [1] (202)483-3169
Disputes - international Congo hosts about 63,000 refugees from neighboring states, primarily from the Pool border area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Economic aid - recipient $1.449 billion (2005) $515.4 million (2005)
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 through oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, 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. 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 challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking near last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human development. It is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, and a 2.9% population growth rate, have undercut the economy. Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African Monetary Union. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded an agreement with the Fund on a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Debt relief provided under the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces Niger's annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction. In December 2005, Niger received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into the forgiveness of approximately US $86 million in debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. Nearly half of the government's budget is derived from foreign donor resources. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources. Uranium prices have increased sharply in the last few years. A drought and locust infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million Nigeriens.
Electricity - consumption 5.272 billion kWh (2005) 437.7 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 1.8 billion kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 6 million kWh (2005) 220 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 7.341 billion kWh (2005) 234.1 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
lowest point: Niger River 200 m


highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Environment - current issues air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


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


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3% Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Touareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, Kanouri Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)
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)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held in 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: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Seyni OUMAROU (since 3 June 2007); appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president


cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); second round of election last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)


election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%
Exports NA bbl/day 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners US 35.9%, China 31.4%, Taiwan 9.9%, South Korea 8% (2006) France 34.8%, US 26.6%, Nigeria 18.3%, Russia 11.3% (2006)
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 equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 5.6%


industry: 57.1%


services: 37.3% (2006 est.)
agriculture: 39%


industry: 17%


services: 44% (2001)
GDP - real growth rate 6.1% (2006 est.) 4.5% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 1 00 S, 15 00 E 16 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography - note about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 0.8%


highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
Imports NA bbl/day 5,412 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners France 21.7%, China 12.1%, Zimbabwe 8.3%, US 6.9%, India 6.4%, Italy 5.1%, Belgium 4.8% (2006) US 14.1%, France 12.1%, China 7.8%, Nigeria 7.7%, French Polynesia 7.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.9% (2006)
Independence 15 August 1960 (from France) 3 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 0% (2002 est.) 5.1% (2003 est.)
Industries petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
Infant mortality rate total: 83.26 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 88.93 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 77.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: 116.83 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 120.78 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 112.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.5% (2006 est.) 0.2% (2004 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land 20 sq km (2003) 730 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Labor force NA 70,000 salaried workers, 60% of whom are employed in the public sector (1995)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture: 90%


industry: 6%


services: 4% (1995)
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: 5,697 km


border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Land use arable land: 1.45%


permanent crops: 0.15%


other: 98.4% (2005)
arable land: 11.43%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 88.56% (2005)
Languages French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread) French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Legal system based on French civil law system and customary law based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 in 2008); National Assembly - last held 24 June and 5 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012)


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 - PCT 46, MCDDI 11, UPADS 11, MAR 5, MSD 5, independents 37, other 22
unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNSD 47, PNDS 25, CDS 22, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 53.29 years


male: 52.1 years


female: 54.52 years (2007 est.)
total population: 44.03 years


male: 44.05 years


female: 44 years (2007 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: 28.7%


male: 42.9%


female: 15.1% (2005 est.)
Location Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 200 nm none (landlocked)
Merchant marine registered in other countries: 1 (Congo, Democratic Republic of the 1) (2007) -
Military branches Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (2007) Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Niger Air Force (2007)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.1% (2006) 1.3% (2006)
National holiday Independence Day, 15 August (1960) Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Nationality noun: Congolese (singular and plural)


adjective: Congolese or Congo
noun: Nigerien(s)


adjective: Nigerien
Natural hazards seasonal flooding recurring droughts
Natural resources petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Net migration rate -3.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) -0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Pipelines gas 89 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 744 km (2006) -
Political parties and leaders Action Movement for Renewal or MAR; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Congolese Labour Party or PCT; Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD; 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; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]; many less important parties Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomy or PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Progressive Party or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]
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 The Nigerien Movement for Justice or MNJ, a predominantly Tuareg rebel group demanding concessions including a greater share of the country's uranium revenues from the government
Population 3,800,610


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 2007 est.)
12,894,865 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 63% (1993 est.)
Population growth rate 2.639% (2007 est.) 2.898% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001) AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)
Railways total: 894 km


narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
-
Religions Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2% Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.013 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.985 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.699 male(s)/female


total population: 0.988 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.039 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.057 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.987 male(s)/female


total population: 1.047 male(s)/female (2007 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; fixed-line infrastructure inadequate providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has surged reaching 16 per 100 persons


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


international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger


domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is less than 3 per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned


international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 15,900 (2005) 24,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 490,000 (2005) 323,900 (2005)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2001) 5 (2007)
Terrain coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Total fertility rate 5.99 children born/woman (2007 est.) 7.37 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% NA%
Waterways 1,125 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2006) 300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2005)
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