Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Economic and Population facts

Population 68,692,542 (2009 estimate)

Population growth
Population growth rate 3.21 percent (2009 estimate)


Projected population in 2025 109,674,758 (2009 estimate)


Projected population in 2050 189,310,849 (2009 estimate)



Population density 30 persons per sq km (2009 estimate)

78 persons per sq mi (2009 estimate)



Urban/rural distribution
Share urban 33 percent (2005 estimate)


Share rural 67 percent (2005 estimate)



Largest cities, with population
Kinshasa 5,277,000 (2003 estimate)


Lubumbashi 1,140,000 (2007 estimate)


Kisangani 417,517 (1994 estimate)



Ethnic groups
There are more than 200 African ethnic groups. The largest culture groups are the Lunda, Luba, Kuba, Bakongo (Kongo), Mongo, Mangbetu, and Azande. Other Bantu, Nilo-Saharan, African-Asian, European, and Asian groups also exist.


Languages
French (official), Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba, Swahili, other indigenous languages


Religious affiliations
Christian 95 percent


Roman Catholic 52 percent


Protestant 20 percent


Other Christian 23 percent


Muslim 2 percent


Indigenous beliefs 2 percent


Other 1 percent



Health and Education
Life expectancy
Total 54.4 years (2009 estimate)


Female 56.2 years (2009 estimate)


Male 52.6 years (2009 estimate)



Infant mortality rate 81 deaths per 1,000 live births (2009 estimate)

Literacy rate
Total 89.8 percent (2005 estimate)


Female 84.9 percent (2005 estimate)


Male 95 percent (2005 estimate)



Economy
Gross domestic product (GDP, in U.S.$) $9 billion (2007)

GDP per capita (U.S.$) $143.50 (2007)

GDP by economic sector
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 42.5 percent (2007)


Industry 28.4 percent (2007)


Services 29.1 percent (2007)



Monetary unit
1 Congolese franc, consisting of 100 centimes


Major trade partners for exports
Belgium, United States, Zimbabwe, Finland, and Italy


Major trade partners for imports
South Africa, Belgium, Nigeria, France, and Kenya