The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

(1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987); note - linked to the

       French franc at 50 to 1 French franc

       Fiscal year:

       calendar year

      :Comoros Communications

      Highways:

       750 km total; about 210 km bituminous, remainder crushed stone or gravel

       Ports:

       Mutsamudu, Moroni

       Civil air:

       1 major transport aircraft

       Airports:

       4 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over

       3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

       Telecommunications:

       sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication stations

       for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and Reunion; over

       1,800 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

      :Comoros Defense Forces

      Branches:

       Comoran Security Forces (FCS), Federal Gendarmerie (GFC)

       Manpower availability:

       males 15-49, 105,022; 62,808 fit for military service

       Defense expenditures:

       $NA, NA of GDP

      :Congo Geography

      Total area:

       342,000 km2

       Land area:

       341,500 km2

       Comparative area:

       slightly smaller than Montana

       Land boundaries:

       5,504 km; Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km,

       Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km

       Coastline:

       169 km

       Maritime claims:

       Territorial sea:

       200 nm

       Disputes:

       long section with Zaire along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of

       the river or its islands has been made)

       Climate:

       tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October);

       constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate

       astride the Equator

       Terrain:

       coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

       Natural resources:

       petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural

       gas

       Land use:

       arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 29%; forest and

       woodland 62%; other 7%

       Environment:

       deforestation; about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe

       Noire, or along the railroad between them

      :Congo People

      Population:

       2,376,687 (July 1992), growth rate 2.9% (1992)

       Birth rate:

       42 births/1,000 population (1992)

       Death rate:

       13 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

       Net migration rate:

       0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

       Infant mortality rate:

       109 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

       Life expectancy at birth:

       53 years male, 56 years female (1992)

       Total fertility rate:

       5.7 children born/woman (1992)

       Nationality:

       noun - Congolese (singular and plural); adjective - Congolese or Congo

       Ethnic divisions:

       about 15 ethnic groups divided into some 75 tribes, almost all Bantu; most

       important ethnic groups are Kongo (48%) in the south, Sangha (20%) and

       M'Bochi (12%) in the north, Teke (17%) in the center; about 8,500 Europeans,

       mostly French

       Religions:

       Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

       Languages:

       French (official); many African languages with Lingala and Kikongo most

       widely used

       Literacy:

       57% (male 70%, female 44%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

       Labor force:

       79,100 wage earners; agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government

       25%; 51% of population of working age; 40% of population economically active

       (1985)

       Organized labor:

       20% of labor force (1979 est.)

      :Congo Government

      Long-form name:

       Republic of the Congo

       Type:

       republic

       Capital:

       Brazzaville

       Administrative divisions:

       9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,

       Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool,

       Sangha

       Independence:

       15 August 1960 (from France; formerly Congo/Brazzaville)

       Constitution:

       8 July 1979, currently being modified

       Legal system:

       based on French civil law system and customary law

       National holiday:

       Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)

       Executive branch:

       president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

       Legislative branch:

       a transitional National Assembly

       Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

       Leaders:

       Chief of State:

       President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 8 February 1979); stripped of most

       powers by National Conference in May 1991

       Head of Government:

       Prime Minister Andre MILONGO (since May 1991)

       Political parties and leaders:

       Congolese Labor Party (PCT), President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, leader; note -

       multiparty system legalized, with over 50 parties established

       Suffrage:

       universal at age 18

       Elections:

       National Assembly:

       transitional body selected by National Conference in May 1991; election for