Country
Countries A-Z
Republic of the Congo
République du Congo
Political Status: Independent since August 15, 1960; one-party People’s Republic proclaimed December 31, 1969; multiparty system authorized as of January 1, 1991; constitution approved in referendum of March 15, 1992, suspended in October 1997 following overthrow of the government; current constitution adopted by referendum of January 20, 2002.
Area: 132,046 sq. mi. (342,000 sq. km).
Population: 4,254,470 (2012E—UN); 4,492,689 (2013E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Center (2007C): BRAZZAVILLE (1,373,382).
Official Language: French.
Monetary Unit: CFA Franc (official rate November 1, 2013: 486.52 francs = $1US). The CFA franc, previously pegged to the French franc, is now permanently pegged to the euro at 655.957 CFA francs = 1 euro.
President: Gen. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (Congolese Labor Party); sworn in on October 25, 1997, following ...