Congo Facts

Neighbors: The Congo is bordered by nine countries

Population: Approximately 60 million inhabitants

Ethnic Groups: Over 200 ethnic groups

Major Languages: Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba, Swahili, French

Size/Area: 2,345,410 sq km or approximately the size of Western Europe or slightly less than one fourth the size of the United States

Income: $100 per year for an individual Congolese

Key Natural Resources: Diamonds, Gold, Coltan, Uranium, Copper, Tin, Silver, Cobalt, Niobium, Timber, Hydro Power, Manganese, Petroleum

Life Expectancy: 51 years

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, Other 10%

Capital: Kinshasa

Provinces: Eleven (the new constitution provides for 25 provinces)

Colonized: The Congo was Colonized by Belgium (80 times smaller than the Congo) in 1908 after 23 years of personal rule by King Leopold II. King Leopold ruled the Congo as his own private property from 1885 - 1908, a brutal period during which anywhere from 10 million to 15 million slaughtered Congolese were casualties of his quest to enrich himself.

Independence: The Congo gained its independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960 and subsequently elected Patrice Emery Lumumba as its first Prime Minister.

Leadership: Joseph Kabila was elected President in 2006. Kabila appointed long-time Lumumbist Antonie Gizenga of PALU to be prime minister. Gizenga served as deputy prime minister in Patrice Lumumba's government of 1960. Gizenga resigned on September 25, 2008 and was subsequently replaced by former Finance Minister, Adolphe Muzito, on October 10, 2008. The parliament is made up of a National Assembly and a Senate. The National Assembly has 500 members. It is led by Evariste Boshab who replaced Vital Kamerhe in 2009 after Kamhere had differences regarding President Kabila's decision to allow Rwandan troops to enter the Congo in 2009 to pursue Hutu militias in Eastern Congo. The Senate has 108 members and is led by Kengo Wa Dondo. Presidential and legislative elections take place every five years. The next elections are scheduled for November 2011.

Resource Facts: Coltan