French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Exports
cotton, gold, livestock
External Debt
$3,192,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar 438.77 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Area
342,000 km sq
1,240,192 km sq
Coastline
169 km
0 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
