at birth: 51.24 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 4.94 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 6.43% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 86,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 8,600 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese
or Congo

Ethnic groups: Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans
and other 3% note: may be half that in 1998, following the widespread
destruction of foreign businesses in 1997

Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Languages: French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca
trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo
has the most users)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 74.9% male: 83.1% female: 67.2% (1995 est.)

Government Congo, Republic of the

Country name: Republic of the Congo conventional short form:
Congo/Brazzaville, Congo local long form: Republique du Congo

Government type: republic

Capital: Brazzaville

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1
commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala,
Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution: constitution approved by referendum in January 2002

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since
25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected
president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government elections: president elected by popular vote
for a seven-year term (eligible for a second seven-year term); election
last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2009) head of government:
civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet:
SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU 2.7%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Transitional Council (75 seats,
members elected by reconciliation forum of 1,420 delegates in January
1998); note - the National Transitional Council will be replaced by a
bicameral Par