President of the High Transitional Authority: Andry Rajoelina
Population
75,507,308
22,599,098
Life Expectancy
56.140 years
64.850 years
Capital City
Largest city
Kinshasa (population: 7,785,960)
Antananarivo (population: 1,391,430)
Human Development Index
0.361
0.533
GDP per capita
Literacy Rate
67.2%
68.9%
Corruption Perception Index
1.7
3.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
7.7%
9.4%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
Death Penalty
NA
Abolished in practice
Political System
republic
republic
Independence date
Religions
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10%
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages
French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official)
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Area
2,344,858 km sq
587,041 km sq
Coastline
37 km
4,828 km
Climate
tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October)
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south