Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10%
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
Languages
French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Exports
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
External Debt
$137,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2008 est.), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
10.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Area
2,344,858 km sq
11,586 km sq
Coastline
37 km
563 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)
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
