Republic of the Congo

Republic of the Congo République du Congo (in French)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Unité, Travail, Progrès  (in French) "Unity, Work, Progress"
Anthem: La Congolaise  (in French) "The Congolese"
Location of  Republic of the Congo  (dark blue) – in Africa  (light blue & dark grey) – in the African Union  (light blue)
Capital and largest city	Brazzaville
Official languages	French
Recognised national languages	Lingala Kikongo
Demonym(s)	Congolese
Government	Single-party State Socialist State Presidential republic
• President	Denis Sassou Nguesso
Independence
• from France	August 15, 1960
Area
• Total	342,000 km2 (132,000 sq mi) (64th)
• Water (%)	3.3
Population
• 2009 estimate	3,686,000[1] (128th)
• Density	10.8/km2 (28.0/sq mi) (204th)
GDP (PPP)	2011 estimate
• Total	$17.108 billion[2]
• Per capita	$4,426[2]
GDP (nominal)	2011 estimate
• Total	$11.530 billion[2]
• Per capita	$2,983[2]
HDI (2011)	0.533 low · 126th
Currency	Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+242
ISO 3166 code	CG
Internet TLD	.cg

The Republic of the Congo is a country in Africa. Its capital city is Brazzaville. The country was a former colony of France; it became independent on 15 August 1960. The north of the country has very large areas of rainforest, but in the south are many farms which grow cashcrops like bananas, peanuts.

1. ↑ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009). "World Population Prospects, Table A.1" (PDF). 2008 revision. United Nations. Retrieved 2009-03-12. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} "Republic of the Congo". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 2011-04-21.