# Geognos Data Export: Africa Generated: 2026-02-14T06:35:33.925Z ## Algeria **Slug:** algeria **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇩🇿 **Codes:** cek: ag, iso2: DZ, iso3: DZA, iso_num: 012, genc: DZA, stanag: DZA, internet: .dz ### Introduction **Background:** Algeria has known many empires and dynasties, including the ancient Numidians (3rd century B.C.), Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, over a dozen different Arab and Amazigh dynasties, Spaniards, and Ottoman Turks. Under the Turks, the Barbary pirates operated from North Africa and preyed on shipping, from about 1500 until the French captured Algiers in 1830. The French southward conquest of Algeria proceeded throughout the 19th century and was marked by many atrocities. A bloody eight-year struggle culminated in Algerian independence in 1962. Algeria's long-dominant political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), was established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has since played a large role in politics, though it is falling out of favor with the youth and current President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE. The Government of Algeria in 1988 instituted a multi-party system in response to public unrest, but the surprising first-round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the 1991 legislative election led the Algerian military to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. An army crackdown on the FIS escalated into an FIS insurgency and intense violence from 1992-98 that resulted in over 100,000 deaths, many of which were attributed to extremist groups massacring villagers. The government gained the upper hand by the late 1990s, and FIS’s armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in 2000. FIS membership is now illegal. In 1999, Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA won the presidency with the backing of the military, in an election that was boycotted by several candidates protesting alleged fraud. He won subsequent elections in 2004, 2009, and 2014. Widespread protests against his decision to seek a fifth term broke out in early 2019. BOUTEFLIKA resigned in April 2019, and in December 2019, Algerians elected former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE as the country’s new president. A longtime FLN member, TEBBOUNE ran for president as an independent. In 2020, Algeria held a constitutional referendum on governmental reforms, which TEBBOUNE enacted in 2021. Subsequent reforms to the national electoral law introduced open-list voting to curb corruption. The new law also eliminated gender quotas in Parliament, and the 2021 legislative elections saw female representation plummet. The referendum, parliamentary elections, and local elections saw record-low voter turnout. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia **Geographic coordinates:** 28 00 N, 3 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 2,381,740 sq km land: 2,381,740 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 6,734 km border countries (6): Libya 989 km; Mali 1,359 km; Mauritania 460 km; Morocco 1,941 km; Niger 951 km; Tunisia 1,034 km **Coastline:** 998 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm **Climate:** arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer **Terrain:** mostly high plateau and desert; Atlas Mountains in the far north and Hoggar Mountains in the south; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain **Elevation:** highest point: Tahat 2,908 m lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m mean elevation: 800 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc **Land use:** agricultural land: 17.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 13.8% (2023 est.) forest: 0.7% (2023 est.) other: 81.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 13,819 sq km (2019) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin, North Western Sahara Aquifer, Taoudeni-Tanezrouft Basin **Population distribution:** the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast **Natural hazards:** mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season; droughts **Geography - note:** largest country in Africa but 80% desert; canyons and caves in the southern Hoggar Mountains and in the barren Tassili n'Ajjer area in the southeast of the country contain numerous examples of prehistoric art -- rock paintings and carvings depicting human activities and wild and domestic animals (elephants, giraffes, cattle) -- that date to the African Humid Period, roughly 5,000 to 11,000 years ago, when the region was completely vegetated ### People and Society **Population:** total: 47,735,685 (2025 est.) male: 24,219,668 female: 23,516,017 **Nationality:** noun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian **Ethnic groups:** Arab-Amazigh 99%, European less than 1% note: although almost all Algerians are Amazigh in origin and not Arab, only a minority identify themselves as primarily Amazigh, about 15% of the total population; these people live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers and in several other communities; the Amazigh are also Muslim but identify with their Amazigh rather than Arab cultural heritage; some Amazigh have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has officially recognized Amazigh languages and introduced them into public schools **Languages:** Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Tamazight (official) (dialects include Kabyle (Taqbaylit), Shawiya (Tacawit), Mzab, Tuareg (Tamahaq)) major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Ahmadi Muslim, Shia Muslim, Ibadi Muslim) <1% (2012 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 30.8% (male 7,411,337/female 7,062,794) 15-64 years: 62.3% (male 14,846,102/female 14,441,034) 65 years and over: 6.9% (2024 est.) (male 1,597,382/female 1,663,824) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 60.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 48.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 11.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 8.7 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 29.3 years (2025 est.) male: 28.8 years female: 29.4 years **Population growth rate:** 1.47% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 19.62 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.39 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast **Urbanization:** urban population: 75.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 2.902 million ALGIERS (capital), 936,000 Oran (2022) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 62 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 18.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 19.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 77.9 years (2024 est.) male: 77.2 years female: 78.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.91 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.42 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 90.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 9.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.5% of GDP (2021) 5.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 98.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 91.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 96.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 8.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 3.4% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 27.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 21.4% (2025 est.) male: 41.6% (2025 est.) female: 0.6% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 2.7% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 55.5% (2019 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0% (2019) women married by age 18: 3.8% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 5.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 15.5% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** female: 74.2% (2019 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 16 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution in major cities; soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; river and coastal pollution from dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents; pollution in Mediterranean Sea from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate potable water **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer **Land use:** agricultural land: 17.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 13.8% (2023 est.) forest: 0.7% (2023 est.) other: 81.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 75.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 163.661 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 741,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 57.795 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 105.125 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 22.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 2,561.1 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 256 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 486.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 7.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.379 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 3.389 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 181 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 7.391 billion cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 11.667 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria conventional short form: Algeria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah local short form: Al Jaza'ir etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Algiers **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Algiers geographic coordinates: 36 45 N, 3 03 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: name derives from the Arabic al-jazair, meaning "the islands," and refers to the four islands formerly off the coast of the capital but joined to the mainland since 1525 **Administrative divisions:** 58 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger (Algiers), Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Beni Abbes, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djanet, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Meghaier, El Meniaa, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, In Guezzam, In Salah, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Ouled Djellal, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Timimoun, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen, Touggourt **Legal system:** mixed system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 1 November 2020 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or through the president with the support of three fourths of the members of both houses of Parliament in joint session; passage requires approval by both houses, approval by referendum, and promulgation by the president; the president can forego a referendum if the Constitutional Council determines the proposed amendment does not conflict with basic constitutional principles; articles including the republican form of government, the integrity and unity of the country, and fundamental citizens’ liberties and rights cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Algeria dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (since 12 December 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Sifi GHRIEB (since 28 August 2025) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the president after consultation with the majority party in Parliament most recent election date: 7 September 2024 election results: 2024: Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (NLF) 94.7%, Abdelaali Hassani CHERIF (MSP) 3.2%, Youcef AOUCHICHE (FFS) 2.2% 2019: (FLN) 58.1%, Abdelkader BENGRINA (El-Bina) 17.4%, Ali BENFLIS (Talaie El Hurriyet) 10.6%, Azzedine MIHOUBI (RND) 7.3%, Abdelaziz BELAID (Future Front) 6.7% expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Barlaman) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Chaabi Al-Watani) number of seats: 407 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 6/12/2021 parties elected and seats per party: National Liberation Front (FLN) (98); Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) (65); National Democratic Rally (RND) (58); El-Moustakbel Front (Future", FM) (48); El Binaa Movement (39); Independents (84); Other (15) percentage of women in chamber: 7.9% expected date of next election: June 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Council of the Nation (Majlis al-Oumma) number of seats: 174 (116 indirectly elected; 58 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 3/9/2025 percentage of women in chamber: 2.5% expected date of next election: January 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Le Cour Suprême, (consists of 150 judges organized into 8 chambers: Civil, Commercial and Maritime, Criminal, House of Offenses and Contraventions, House of Petitions, Land, Personal Status, and Social; Constitutional Council (consists of 12 members including the court chairman and deputy chairman) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of Magistracy, an administrative body presided over by the president of the republic, and includes the republic vice-president and several members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council members - 4 appointed by the president of the republic, 2 each by the 2 houses of Parliament, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 2 by the Council of State; Council president and members appointed for single 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: appellate or wilaya courts; first instance or daira tribunals note: Algeria's judicial system does not include sharia courts **Political parties:** Algerian National Front or FNA Algerian Popular Movement or MPA Algeria's Hope Rally or TAJ Dignity or El Karama El-Infitah El Mostakbal (Future Front) Ennour El Djazairi Party (Algerian Radiance Party) or PED Equity and Proclamation Party or PEP Islamic Renaissance Movement or Ennahda Movement Justice and Development Front or FJD Movement for National Reform or El Islah Movement of Society for Peace or MSP National Construction Movement or El-Bina (Harakat El-Binaa El-Watani) National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND National Front for Social Justice or FNJS National Liberation Front or FLN National Militancy Front or FMN National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD National Republican Alliance or ANR New Dawn Party (El-Fajr El-Jadid) New Generation (Jil Jadid) Oath of 1954 or Ahd 54 Party of Justice and Liberty or PLJ Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD Socialist Forces Front or FFS Union for Change and Progress or UCP Union of Democratic and Social Forces or UFDS Vanguard of Liberties (Talaie El Hurriyet) Workers Party or PT Youth Party or PJ note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in 1997 **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Sabri BOUKADOUM (since 27 February 2024) chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800 FAX: [1] (202) 986-5906 email address and website: mail@algerianembassy.org https://www.algerianembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Moore AUBIN (since 9 February 2022) embassy: 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16030, Alger mailing address: 6030 Algiers Place, Washington DC 20521-6030 telephone: [213] (0) 770-08-2000 FAX: [213] (0) 770-08-2299 email address and website: algierspd@state.gov https://dz.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) **Independence:** 5 July 1962 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 5 July (1962); Revolution Day, 1 November (1954) **Flag:** description: two equal vertical bands of green (left) and white; a red, five-pointed star inside a red crescent, centered over the two-color boundary meaning: the colors represent Islam (green), purity and peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other Muslim countries because Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness **National symbol(s):** five-pointed star between the extended horns of a crescent moon; fennec fox **National color(s):** green, white, red **National anthem(s):** title: "Kassaman" (We Pledge) lyrics/music: Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZI history: adopted 1962; ZAKARIAH wrote "Kassaman" as a poem while imprisoned in Algiers by French colonial forces **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Beni Hammad Fort (c); Djémila (c); Casbah of Algiers (c); M'zab Valley (c); Tassili n'Ajjer (m); Timgad (c); Tipasa (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** suffering oil and gas economy; lack of sector and market diversification; political instability chilling domestic consumption; poor credit access and declines in business confidence; COVID-19 austerity policies; delayed promised socio-economic reforms **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $722.912 billion (2024 est.) $699.818 billion (2023 est.) $672.256 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.3% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) 3.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $15,400 (2024 est.) $15,200 (2023 est.) $14,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $263.62 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4% (2024 est.) 9.3% (2023 est.) 9.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 13.1% (2023 est.) industry: 37.8% (2023 est.) services: 45.6% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 40.8% (2023 est.) government consumption: 17.9% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 32.8% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 4.9% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 23.6% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -20.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** potatoes, watermelons, wheat, milk, onions, tomatoes, vegetables, oranges, dates, barley (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing **Industrial production growth rate:** 3.9% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 13.294 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 11.5% (2024 est.) 11.8% (2023 est.) 12.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 29.8% (2024 est.) male: 26.8% (2024 est.) female: 45.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Average household expenditures:** on food: 37.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Remittances:** 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $55.185 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $64.728 billion (2019 est.) **Public debt:** 27.5% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover central government debt as well as debt issued by subnational entities and intra-governmental debt **Current account balance:** $6.359 billion (2023 est.) $19.433 billion (2022 est.) -$4.513 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $59.426 billion (2023 est.) $69.226 billion (2022 est.) $41.846 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Italy 29%, France 14%, Spain 13%, USA 6%, Netherlands 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, fertilizers, iron bars (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $51.131 billion (2023 est.) $46.613 billion (2022 est.) $44.287 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 24%, France 12%, Italy 8%, Turkey 7%, Brazil 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** wheat, plastics, cars, milk, corn (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $83.007 billion (2024 est.) $81.217 billion (2023 est.) $71.852 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $4.764 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 134.053 (2024 est.) 135.843 (2023 est.) 141.995 (2022 est.) 135.064 (2021 est.) 126.777 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 99.3% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 22.591 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 85.687 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2.753 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 475.8 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 9.237 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 98.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 241,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 223 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 1.443 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 446,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12.2 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 104.896 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 52.831 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 51.566 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 4.504 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 61.843 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 6.93 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 54.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** Radio Algérienne is the state-run radio broadcast; the National Company of Television (Entreprise Nationale de Télévision (ENTV)) is the primary state-run public TV station (2024) **Internet country code:** .dz **Internet users:** percent of population: 77% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 5.54 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 7T **Airports:** 95 (2025) **Heliports:** 11 (2025) **Railways:** total: 4,020 km (2019) **Merchant marine:** total: 119 (2022) by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 4, general cargo 11, oil tanker 14, other 89 **Ports:** total ports: 17 (2024) large: 2 medium: 1 small: 6 very small: 8 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Alger, Annaba, Arzew, Arzew El Djedid, Bejaia, Mers El Kebir, Oran, Port Methanier, Skikda ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Algerian People's National Army (ANP): Land Forces, Naval Forces (includes Coast Guard), Air Forces, Territorial Air Defense Forces, Republican Guard, National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of National Security (national police) (2025) note: the Republican Guard is subordinate to the ANP, but responsible to the President; the National Gendarmerie performs police functions outside urban areas under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defense and shares responsibility with the General Directorate of National Security for maintaining law and order; it is comprised of territorial, intervention/mobile, border guard, railway, riot control, and air support units **Military expenditures:** 8% of GDP (2024 est.) 8% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 5.6% of GDP (2021 est.) 6.7% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** information varies; estimated 200,000 active ANP, including the National Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Algerian military has traditionally been armed mostly with Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems and equipment; over the past decade, it has made investments in acquiring more modern armored vehicles, air defense systems, fighter aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and warships, largely from Russia, its traditional supplier, but also China and Western European suppliers such as Germany (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 19 years of age for mandatory national service for men (all Algerian men must register at age 17); 12 months national service obligation (2025) **Military - note:** the ANP is responsible for external defense but also has some internal security responsibilities; key areas of concern include border and maritime security, terrorism, regional instability, and tensions with Morocco; Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front in Western Sahara and accuses Morocco of supporting the Algerian separatist Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK); border security and counterterrorism have received additional focus since the Arab Spring events of 2011 and the rise of terrorist threats emanating from Libya and the Sahel; the Army and Ministry of Defense (MND) paramilitary forces of the Gendarmerie and the border guards have beefed up their presence along the frontiers with Tunisia, Libya, Niger, and Mali to interdict and deter cross-border attacks by Islamist militant groups; the ANP and MND paramilitary forces have also increased counterterrorism cooperation with some neighboring countries, particularly Tunisia, including joint operations the ANP has also played a role in the country’s politics since independence in 1962, including coups in 1965 and 1991; it was a key backer of BOUTEFLIKA’s election in 1999 and remained a center of power during his 20-year rule; the military was instrumental in BOUTEFLIKA’s resignation in 2019, when it withdrew support and called for him to be removed from office (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Algerian Space Agency (Agence Spatiale Algérienne, ASAL; established 2002) (2025) **Space launch site(s):** none; note - in 1947, Algeria began hosting a French military rocket test site known as the Centre Interarmées d’Essais d’Engins Spéciaux (CIEES or Interarmy Special Vehicles Test Center); it was the continent of Africa's first rocket launch site and was in service until 1967 **Space program overview:** has a national space policy and space research program with stated goals of supporting internal development, managing resources, mastering space technology, and reinforcing national sovereignty; builds and operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; researching and developing a range of space-related capabilities, including satellites and satellite payloads, communications, RS, instrumentation, image processing, and geo-spatial information; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including Argentina, China, France, Germany, India, Russia, Slovenia, Ukraine, the UK, and other African countries; member of the African Space Agency and the Arab Space Coordination Group (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2002 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Alsat-1A) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia 2006 - announced a national space program 2010 and 2016 - first Algerian-designed and -built RS satellites (Alsat-2A and 2B) launched by India 2017 - first communications satellite (Alcomsat-1) built jointly with and launched by China; announced a 2040 national space plan 2026 - RS satellite (AlSat-3A) launched by China ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) – Algeria; al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 188,206 (2024 est.) IDPs: 25 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Algeria did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Algeria remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/algeria/ --- ## Angola **Slug:** angola **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇦🇴 **Codes:** cek: ao, iso2: AO, iso3: AGO, iso_num: 024, genc: AGO, stanag: AGO, internet: .ao ### Introduction **Background:** Bantu-speaking people settled in the area now called Angola in 6th century A.D.; by the 10th century various Bantu groups had established kingdoms, of which Kongo became the most powerful. From the late-14th to the mid-19th century, a Kingdom of Kongo stretched across central Africa from present-day northern Angola into the current Congo republics. It traded heavily with the Portuguese who, beginning in the 16th century, established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity. Angola became a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade conducted by the Portuguese and other European powers -- often in collaboration with local kingdoms, including the Kongo. The Angola area is estimated to have lost as many as 4 million people as a result of the slave trade. The Kingdom of Kongo’s main rival was the Kingdom of Ndongo to its south, whose most famous leader was Nzingha Mbande, the 17th century diplomat to the Portuguese and later Queen, who successfully fought off Portuguese encroachment during her nearly 40-year reign. Smaller kingdoms, such as the Matamba and Ngoyo, often came under the control of the Kongo or Ndongo Kingdoms. During the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, Portugal and other European powers set Angola’s modern borders, but the Portuguese did not fully control large portions of the territory. Portugal gained control of the Kingdom of Kongo in 1888 when Kongo’s King Pedro V sought Portuguese military assistance in exchange for becoming a vassal. After a revolt in 1914, Portugal imposed direct rule over the colony and abolished the Kongo Kingdom. The Angolan National Revolution began in 1961, and in 1975, Angola won its independence when Portugal’s dictatorship fell, a collapse that occurred in part because of growing discontent over conflict in Angola and other colonies. Angola’s multiple independence movements soon clashed, with the Popular Movement for Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Agostinho NETO, taking power and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, emerging as its main competitor. After NETO’s death in 1979, Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, also of the MPLA, became president. Over time, the Angolan civil war escalated and became a major Cold War conflict, with the Soviet Union and Cuba supporting the MPLA and the US and South Africa supporting UNITA. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost -- and 4 million people displaced -- during the more than a quarter-century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and cemented the MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS did not seek reelection in 2017 and supported Joao LOURENCO’s successful bid to become president. LOURENCO was reelected in 2022. Angola scores low on human development indexes despite using its large oil reserves to rebuild since 2002. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo **Geographic coordinates:** 12 30 S, 18 30 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** about eight times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 5,369 km border countries (4): Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province); Republic of the Congo 231 km; Namibia 1,427 km; Zambia 1,065 km **Coastline:** 1,600 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April) **Terrain:** narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau **Elevation:** highest point: Moca 2,620 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 1,112 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium **Land use:** agricultural land: 36.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 4.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 32.4% (2023 est.) forest: 51.6% (2023 est.) other: 11.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 860 sq km (2014) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Rio Zambeze (Zambezi) (shared with Zambia [s], Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Rio Cubango (Okavango) river source (shared with Namibia and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Congo Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin **Population distribution:** most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda **Natural hazards:** locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau **Geography - note:** the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo ### People and Society **Population:** total: 38,984,796 (2025 est.) male: 19,115,781 female: 19,869,015 **Nationality:** noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan **Ethnic groups:** Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, Mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% **Languages:** Portuguese 71.2% (official), Umbundu 23%, Kikongo 8.2%, Kimbundu 7.8%, Chokwe 6.5%, Nhaneca 3.4%, Nganguela 3.1%, Fiote 2.4%, Kwanhama 2.3%, Muhumbi 2.1%, Luvale 1%, other 3.6% (2014 est.) note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census **Religions:** Roman Catholic 41.1%, Protestant 38.1%, other 8.6%, none 12.3% (2014 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 46.9% (male 8,752,419/female 8,701,422) 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 9,076,080/female 9,795,035) 65 years and over: 2.4% (2024 est.) (male 367,559/female 509,546) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 95.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 90 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 19.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 16.6 years (2025 est.) male: 15.8 years female: 16.8 years **Population growth rate:** 3.32% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 39.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 9.292 million LUANDA (capital), 959,000 Lubango, 905,000 Cabinda, 809,000 Benguela, 783,000 Malanje (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.4 years (2015/16 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 183 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 46.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 60.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 62.9 years (2024 est.) male: 60.8 years female: 65.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 5.45 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.68 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 71.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 27.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 57.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 28.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 72.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 42.3% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3% of GDP (2021) 6.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 0.8 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 93.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 30.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 73.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 6.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 69.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 26.5% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8.2% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 5.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 57.2% (2016 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 7.9% (2016) women married by age 18: 30.3% (2016) men married by age 18: 6% (2016) **Education expenditure:** 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 6.5% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 66.2% (2015 est.) male: 83.8% (2015 est.) female: 51.9% (2015 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation of tropical rainforest from international demand for timber and domestic use as fuel; loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April) **Land use:** agricultural land: 36.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 4.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 32.4% (2023 est.) forest: 51.6% (2023 est.) other: 11.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 19.66 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 17.21 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 2.441 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 1,009.1 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 374.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 123 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 78.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.214 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 319.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 239.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 146.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 148.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Angola conventional short form: Angola local long form: Republica de Angola local short form: Angola former: People's Republic of Angola etymology: in the 15th century, Portuguese explorers derived the name from the title "N'gola," which was held by kings of the Ndongo **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Luanda geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 13 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time etymology: the Portuguese named the city São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda (Saint Paul of the Assumption of Loanda); over time, it was shortened to "Luanda," which may derive from a Bantu word meaning "tax" or "duty," in reference to local people paying their dues to the king of the Congo **Administrative divisions:** 21 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando, Cubango, Cuanza-Norte, Cuanza-Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Icolo e Bengo, Luanda, Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Moxico Leste, Namibe, Uige, Zaire **Legal system:** civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation **Constitution:** history: previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly subject to prior Constitutional Court review if requested by the president of the republic **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Angola dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017) head of government: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: the candidate of the winning party or coalition in the last legislative election becomes the president; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) most recent election date: 24 August 2022 election results: Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (MPLA) elected president by then winning party following the 24 August 2022 general election expected date of next election: 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia nacional) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 220 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 8/24/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) (124); National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) (90); Other (6) percentage of women in chamber: 39.1% expected date of next election: August 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 16 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 11 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, an 18-member body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 4 nominated by the president, 4 elected by National Assembly, 2 elected by Supreme National Council, 1 elected by competitive submission of curricula; judges serve single 7-year terms subordinate courts: provincial and municipal courts **Political parties:** Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE Humanist Party of Angola or PHI National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA; note - party has two factions National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party) Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA; note- ruling party in power since 1975 Social Renewal Party or PRS **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Agostinho de Carvalho dos Santos VAN-DÚNEM (since 30 June 2023) chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156 FAX: [1] (202) 822-9049 email address and website: info@angola.org https://angola.org/ consulate(s) general: Houston, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Shannon Nagy CAZEAU (since 2 October 2025) embassy: Rua Houari Boumedienne, #32, Luanda mailing address: 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550 telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000 FAX: [244] (222) 64-1000 email address and website: Consularluanda@state.gov https://ao.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 11 November 1975 (from Portugal) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 11 November (1975) **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem of a five-pointed star inside half a cogwheel, crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle) meaning: red stands for liberty and black for the African continent; the emblem symbolizes workers and peasants **National symbol(s):** giant black sable antelope (Palanca negra gigante) **National color(s):** red, black, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "Angola Avante" (Forward Angola) lyrics/music: Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO history: adopted 1975 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mbanza-Kongo ### Economy **Economic overview:** middle-income, oil-dependent African economy; widespread poverty; rising inflation and currency depreciation; seeking diversification through agricultural production; significant corruption in public institutions; major infrastructure investments from China and US; exited OPEC in 2023 **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $278.239 billion (2024 est.) $266.452 billion (2023 est.) $263.61 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4.4% (2024 est.) 1.1% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $7,300 (2024 est.) $7,300 (2023 est.) $7,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $80.397 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 28.2% (2024 est.) 13.6% (2023 est.) 21.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 16.4% (2024 est.) industry: 44.2% (2024 est.) services: 39.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 55.3% (2024 est.) government consumption: 6.3% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 25% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 37.9% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -24.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, bananas, maize, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, tomatoes, pineapples, onions, potatoes, citrus fruits (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship repair **Industrial production growth rate:** 5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 15.961 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 14.5% (2024 est.) 14.6% (2023 est.) 14.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 27.9% (2024 est.) male: 30.2% (2024 est.) female: 25.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 32.3% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 51.3 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 50% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.3% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 39.6% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0% of GDP (2024 est.) 0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $18.117 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $13.871 billion (2019 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 10.1% (of GDP) (2019 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $6.31 billion (2024 est.) $4.185 billion (2023 est.) $11.763 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $36.924 billion (2024 est.) $36.961 billion (2023 est.) $50.12 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 40%, India 9%, UAE 6%, Spain 6%, Netherlands 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, diamonds, natural gas, ships, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $22.683 billion (2024 est.) $23.688 billion (2023 est.) $28.564 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 19%, Portugal 10%, UAE 7%, India 6%, USA 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, wheat, ships, cars, trucks (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $14.243 billion (2024 est.) $13.942 billion (2023 est.) $13.655 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $45.299 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 869.846 (2024 est.) 685.02 (2023 est.) 460.568 (2022 est.) 631.442 (2021 est.) 578.259 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 48.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 76.2% electrification - rural areas: 7.3% (2018 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 7.6 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 16.214 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.725 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 23.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 74% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 1.175 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 121,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 7.783 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 5.984 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 1.244 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 4.928 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 343.002 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 9.146 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 80,300 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 26.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned media dominate; only four privately owned newspapers still exist in print form; state-run Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) is the only outlet to offer programs in local languages such as Bantu; private stations operate in cities, including Catholic Radio Ecclesia, but RNA is the only radio broadcaster with near-national coverage (2023) **Internet country code:** .ao **Internet users:** percent of population: 45% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 137,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** D2 **Airports:** 107 (2025) **Heliports:** 2 (2025) **Railways:** total: 2,761 km (2022) narrow gauge: 2,638 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge 123 km 0.600-mm gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 64 (2023) by type: general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 43 **Ports:** total ports: 21 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 8 very small: 13 ports with oil terminals: 17 key ports: Cabinda, Estrela Oil Field, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo Oil Terminal, Namibe, Palanca Terminal, Takula Terminal ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Angolan Armed Forces (Forcas Armadas Angolanas, FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola, MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana, FANA) Ministry of Interior: National Police, Border Guard Police (2025) **Military expenditures:** 1% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 100,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** most Angolan military weapons and equipment are of Russian or Soviet-era origin; there are smaller quantities of items originating from such suppliers as China, Brazil, Israel, Italy, South Africa, and the UAE (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 20-45 years of age for compulsory and 18-45 years for voluntary military service for men; 20-45 years of age for voluntary service for women; 24-month conscript service obligation; the Navy is entirely staffed with volunteers (2025) **Military - note:** the Angolan Armed Forces were created in 1991 under the Bicesse Accords signed between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the current force is responsible for country’s external defense but also has some domestic security responsibilities, such as border protection; it participates in multinational exercises, as well as regional peacekeeping operations, including the deployment of several hundred troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023; in recent years, the military has placed additional emphasis on maritime security and protecting offshore resources (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** National Space Program Office (Gabinete de Gestão do Programa Espacial Nacional, GGPEN; established 2013) (2025) **Space program overview:** has a national space strategy with a focus on capacity-building, developing space infrastructure, investing in domestic space sector, supporting socioeconomic growth, and establishing cooperation agreements with foreign technical and scientific institutions in the space industry; contracts with foreign companies to build and launch satellites; operates satellites; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of France, Portugal, Russia, the US, and other African countries; member of the African Space Agency (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2017 - first communications satellite (AngoSat-1) built, launched, and operated by Russia (satellite failed in 2018) 2022 - second communications satellite (AngoSat-2) with French-built payload, integrated and launched by Russia 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration 2024 - inaugurated a national maritime coordination and surveillance center and country's first satellite mission control center 2025 - signed financial agreement with France for construction of country’s first high-resolution remote sensing satellite (ANGEO-1) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 55,542 (2024 est.) IDPs: 75,308 (2024 est.) --- ## Benin **Slug:** benin **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇧🇯 **Codes:** cek: bn, iso2: BJ, iso3: BEN, iso_num: 204, genc: BEN, stanag: BEN, internet: .bj ### Introduction **Background:** Present-day Benin is comprised of about 42 ethnic groups, including the Yoruba in the southeast, who migrated from what is now Nigeria in the 12th century; the Dendi in the north-central area, who came from Mali in the 16th century; the Bariba and the Fula in the northeast; the Ottamari in the Atakora mountains; the Fon in the area around Abomey in the south-central area; and the Mina, Xueda, and Aja, who came from Togo, on the coast. The Kingdom of Dahomey emerged on the Abomey plateau in the 17th century and was a regional power for much of the 18th and 19th centuries. The growth of Dahomey coincided with the growth of the Atlantic slave trade, and it became known as a major source of enslaved people. France began to control the coastal areas of Dahomey in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960, and it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and a Marxist-Leninist government. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU returned to power after elections in 1996 and 2001. He stepped down in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent, who won a second term in 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016; the space for pluralism, dissent, and free expression has narrowed under his administration. TALON won a second term in 2021. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo **Geographic coordinates:** 9 30 N, 2 15 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 112,622 sq km land: 110,622 sq km water: 2,000 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Pennsylvania **Land boundaries:** total: 2,123 km border countries (4): Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km **Coastline:** 121 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north **Terrain:** mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains **Elevation:** highest point: unnamed elevation 675 m; located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 273 m **Natural resources:** small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber **Land use:** agricultural land: 41.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.) forest: 28.5% (2023 est.) other: 29.7% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 530 sq km (2019) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) **Population distribution:** the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March **Geography - note:** sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands ### People and Society **Population:** total: 15,186,090 (2025 est.) male: 7,500,771 female: 7,685,319 **Nationality:** noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese **Ethnic groups:** Fon and related 38.4%, Adja and related 15.1%, Yoruba and related 12%, Bariba and related 9.6%, Fulani and related 8.6%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4.3%, Dendi and related 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9% (2013 est.) **Languages:** 55 languages; French (official); Fon (a Gbe language), Yom (a Gur language) and Yoruba are the most important indigenous languages in the south; half a dozen regionally important languages in the north, including Bariba and Fulfulde **Religions:** Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8% (2013 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 45.3% (male 3,360,027/female 3,294,201) 15-64 years: 52.2% (male 3,727,040/female 3,951,786) 65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 166,191/female 197,807) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 91.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 86.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 21 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 17.2 years (2025 est.) male: 16.6 years female: 17.7 years **Population growth rate:** 3.26% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 39.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.45 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 50.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.253 million Abomey-Calavi, 722,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2022) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 20.5 years (2017/18 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 518 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 57.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 63 years (2024 est.) male: 61.1 years female: 65 years **Total fertility rate:** 5.3 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.59 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 74.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 60.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 67.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 25.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 39.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 32.6% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 2.6% of GDP (2021) 2.6% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 58.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 20.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 39.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 41.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 79.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 60.5% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 9.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 4.8% (2025 est.) male: 8.3% (2025 est.) female: 1.5% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 19.6% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 65.7% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 5.9% (2022) women married by age 18: 27.5% (2022) men married by age 18: 4.6% (2022) **Education expenditure:** 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 18% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 51.4% (2022 est.) male: 62.6% (2022 est.) female: 41.5% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 10 years (2022 est.) male: 11 years (2022 est.) female: 9 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching; deforestation; desertification; droughts **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north **Land use:** agricultural land: 41.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.) forest: 28.5% (2023 est.) other: 29.7% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 50.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 5.948 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 379,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.263 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 306,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 32.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 63.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 106.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 34.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 43.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 685,900 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 56.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 145 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 59 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 26.39 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin local long form: République du Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin etymology: the current name comes from a local ethnic group, the Bini, whose name may be related to the Arabic word bani, meaning "sons;" the former name, Dahomey, comes from a previous kingdom in the area called Dan Homé **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government) geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for "new port"; Cotonou means "mouth of the river of death" in the native Fon language **Administrative divisions:** 12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou **Legal system:** civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1946, 1958 (pre-independence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990 amendment process: proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016) head of government: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 11 April 2021 election results: 2021: Patrice TALON reelected president in the ; percent of vote - Patrice TALON (independent) 86.3%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.4%, Corentin KOHOUE (The Democrats) 2.3% 2016: Patrice TALON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6% expected date of next election: 12 April 2026 note: the president is both head of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 109 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 1/8/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Progressive Union for Renewal (53); Republican Block (BR) (28); Democrats (28) percentage of women in chamber: 26.6% expected date of next election: January 2026 note: seat total includes 24 seats reserved for women **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the chief justice and 16 justices organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members, including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic on the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorism Infractions (CRIET) or Cour de Répression des Infractions Economiques et du Terrorisme; district courts; village courts; Assize courts note: jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government while in office **Political parties:** African Movement for Development and Progress or MADEP Benin Renaissance or RB Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin or FCBE Democratic Renewal Party or PRD Progressive Union for Renewal Republican Bloc Sun Alliance or AS The Democrats Union Makes the Nation or UN (includes PRD, MADEP) note: approximately 20 additional minor parties **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Agniola AHOUANMENOU (since 24 July 2025) chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996 email address and website: ambassade.washington@gouv.bj https://beninembassy.us/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Brian SHUKAN (since 5 May 2022) embassy: 01BP 2012, Cotonou mailing address: 2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC 20521-2120 telephone: [229] 21-36-75-00 FAX: [229] 21-30-03-84 email address and website: ACSCotonou@state.gov https://bj.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 1 August 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 1 August (1960) **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) to the right, with a vertical green band on the left side meaning: green stands for hope and revival, yellow for wealth, and red for courage history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement **National symbol(s):** leopard **National color(s):** green, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day) lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON history: adopted 1960 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Palaces of Abomey (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** robust economic growth; slightly declining but still widespread poverty; strong trade relations with Nigeria; cotton exporter; COVID-19 has led to capital outflows and border closures; WAEMU member with currency pegged to the euro; recent fiscal deficit and debt reductions **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $56.424 billion (2024 est.) $52.51 billion (2023 est.) $49.374 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 7.5% (2024 est.) 6.4% (2023 est.) 6.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $3,900 (2024 est.) $3,700 (2023 est.) $3,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $21.483 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.2% (2024 est.) 2.7% (2023 est.) 1.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 24.2% (2024 est.) industry: 17.4% (2024 est.) services: 48.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 58.9% (2024 est.) government consumption: 9% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 34.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.4% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 18.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -21.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, cotton, soybeans, rice, pineapples, tomatoes, chillies/peppers (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement **Industrial production growth rate:** 9.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 6.397 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 1.8% (2024 est.) 1.7% (2023 est.) 1.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 3.3% (2024 est.) male: 3.6% (2024 est.) female: 2.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 38.5% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 34.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 27.2% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.024 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $2.101 billion (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** -$1.609 billion (2023 est.) -$991.005 million (2022 est.) -$734.659 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $4.511 billion (2023 est.) $4.271 billion (2022 est.) $4.154 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 42%, Bangladesh 20%, India 11%, China 5%, Togo 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, cotton, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, soybeans, wood (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $6.189 billion (2023 est.) $5.296 billion (2022 est.) $4.925 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 21%, India 15%, USA 6%, France 6%, Nigeria 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** rice, refined petroleum, palm oil, poultry, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $6.309 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.655 (2023 est.) 622.912 (2022 est.) 554.608 (2021 est.) 574.295 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 56.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 71.1% electrification - rural areas: 45.5% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 505,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.459 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 844.888 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 385 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 40,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 8 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.133 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 6.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1,350 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 18.2 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with a wide broadcast reach; several privately owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2019) **Internet country code:** .bj **Internet users:** percent of population: 32% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 24,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TY **Airports:** 10 (2025) **Railways:** total: 438 km (2014) narrow gauge: 438 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 6 (2023) by type: other 6 **Ports:** total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Cotonou ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Beninese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB; aka Benin Defense Forces): Army, Air Force, National Navy, National Guard (aka Republican Guard) Ministry of Interior and Public Security: Republican Police (Police Republicaine, DGPR) (2025) note: FAB is under the Ministry of Defense and is responsible for external security and supporting the DGPR in maintaining internal security, which has primary responsibility for enforcing law and maintaining order; the DGPR was formed in 2018 through a merger of police and gendarmes **Military expenditures:** 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 10-12,000 active duty Armed Forces (including National Guard) (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military is equipped with a mix of older, secondhand, and limited amounts of newer equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Germany, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, Spain, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-30 years of age for voluntary and selective compulsory military service for men and women; compulsory service is 18 months (2025) **Military - note:** the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for defense against external aggression and may be required to assist in maintaining public order and internal security under conditions defined by the country's president; it may also participate in economic development projects a key focus for the security forces of Benin is countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from northern Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in 2022, the Benin Government said it was "at war" after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; later that same year, President TALON pledged to increase the size of the military, modernize military equipment, and establish forward operating bases; the military since 2022 has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the north of the country to better secure the border region; in addition, the FAB participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeastern border (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Boko Haram note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 23,225 (2024 est.) IDPs: 12,501 (2024 est.) --- ## Botswana **Slug:** botswana **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇧🇼 **Codes:** cek: bc, iso2: BW, iso3: BWA, iso_num: 072, genc: BWA, stanag: BWA, internet: .bw ### Introduction **Background:** In the early 1800s, multiple political entities in what is now Botswana were destabilized or destroyed by a series of conflicts and population movements in southern Africa. By the end of this period, the Tswana ethnic group, who also live across the border in South Africa, had become the most prominent group in the area. In 1852, Tswana forces halted the expansion of white Afrikaner settlers who were seeking to expand their territory northwards into what is now Botswana. In 1885, Great Britain claimed territory that roughly corresponds with modern day Botswana as a protectorate called Bechuanaland. Upon independence in 1966, the British protectorate of Bechuanaland adopted the new name of Botswana, which means "land of the Tswana." More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created an enduring democracy and upper-middle-income economy. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has won every national election since independence; President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI assumed the presidency in 2018 after the retirement of former President Ian KHAMA due to constitutional term limits. MASISI won his first election as president in 2019, and he is Botswana’s fifth president since independence. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, north of South Africa **Geographic coordinates:** 22 00 S, 24 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 581,730 sq km land: 566,730 sq km water: 15,000 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois **Land boundaries:** total: 4,347.15 km border countries (4): Namibia 1,544 km; South Africa 1,969 km; Zambia 0.15 km; Zimbabwe 834 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** semiarid; warm winters and hot summers **Terrain:** predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest **Elevation:** highest point: Manyelanong Hill 1,495 m lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m mean elevation: 1,013 m **Natural resources:** diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver **Land use:** agricultural land: 45.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.) forest: 27.8% (2023 est.) other: 26.6% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 25 sq km (2014) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin **Population distribution:** the population is primarily concentrated in the east, with a focus in and around the capital of Gaborone and the eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari Desert to the west. **Natural hazards:** periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility **Geography - note:** landlocked; sparsely populated with most settlement concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country; geography dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers about 70% of the country, although the Okavango Delta brings considerable biodiversity as one of the largest inland deltas in the World ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,521,534 (2025 est.) male: 1,234,898 female: 1,286,636 **Nationality:** noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) **Ethnic groups:** Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7% **Languages:** Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%, Zezuru/Shona 2%, Sesarwa 1.7%, Sembukushu 1.6%, Ndebele 1%, other 2.8% (2011 est.) **Religions:** Christian 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian), none 15.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 28.7% (male 355,583/female 348,863) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 759,210/female 837,752) 65 years and over: 6.1% (2024 est.) (male 59,513/female 89,747) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 60.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 52.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 8.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 11.4 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 25.8 years (2025 est.) male: 26 years female: 28.3 years **Population growth rate:** 1.32% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 21.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the population is primarily concentrated in the east, with a focus in and around the capital of Gaborone and the eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari Desert to the west. **Urbanization:** urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 25.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 66.4 years (2024 est.) male: 64.4 years female: 68.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.73 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.34 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 79.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 92.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 20.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 7.4% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.3% of GDP (2021) 14.6% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 94.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 63% of population (2022 est.) total: 86% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 5.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 37% of population (2022 est.) total: 14% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 18.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 5.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 17.1% (2025 est.) male: 29.2% (2025 est.) female: 5.5% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 41.5% (2017 est.) **Education expenditure:** 8.1% of GDP (2020 est.) 21.5% national budget (2020 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 12 years (2021 est.) male: 12 years (2021 est.) female: 13 years (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** semiarid; warm winters and hot summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 45.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.) forest: 27.8% (2023 est.) other: 26.6% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 5.897 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 26 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 144 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 841.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 1.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 210,900 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 129.327 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 24.295 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 59.661 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 12.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana local long form: Republic of Botswana local short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland etymology: the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana," referring to the country's largest ethnic group **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Gaborone geographic coordinates: 24 38 S, 25 54 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a chief of the Tlokwa tribe, whose name means "it is not unbecoming" **Administrative divisions:** 10 districts and 6 town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town* **Legal system:** mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model, including customary and common law **Constitution:** history: previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval in two successive Assembly votes with at least two-thirds majority in the final vote; proposals to amend constitutional provisions on fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and branches of government, and public services also requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024) head of government: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president most recent election date: 31 October 2024 election results: BOKO's UDC won 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO as president expected date of next election: October 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/30/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (36); Botswana Congress Party (BCP) (15); Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) (5); Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) (4); Other (1) percentage of women in chamber: 9% expected date of next election: October 2029 note: the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members -- 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president; the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and a number of other judges as prescribed by the Parliament) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president and other judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; all judges appointed to serve until age 70 subordinate courts: Industrial Court (with circuits scheduled monthly in the capital city and in 3 districts); Magistrates Courts (1 in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Senior Chief's Representative Court; Chief's Representative’s Court; Headman's Court **Political parties:** Alliance of Progressives or AP Botswana Congress Party or BCP Botswana Democratic Party or BDP Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF Botswana Peoples Party or BPP Botswana Republic Party or BRP Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC (various times the coalition has included the BPP, BCP, BNF and other parties) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164 email address and website: info@botswanaembassy.org http://www.botswanaembassy.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023) embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone mailing address: 2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170 telephone: [267] 395-3982 FAX: [267] 318-0232 email address and website: ConsularGaborone@state.gov https://bw.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 30 September 1966 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966) **Flag:** description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe across the middle meaning: the blue symbolizes rainwater, and the black and white bands represent racial harmony **National symbol(s):** zebra **National color(s):** light blue, white, black **National coat of arms:** the two zebras, the country’s national symbol, support an elephant tusk that represents the country's fauna and a head of sorghum that signifies agriculture; the three wavy blue bands stand for the country’s reliance on water, the cog wheels for industry, and the bull’s head for the cattle industry; the coat of arms also features the national colors of light blue, white, and black; the motto reflects the scarcity of rain in the country: pula means “let there be rain” in Setswana, the national language **National anthem(s):** title: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land) lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE history: adopted 1966 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsodilo Hills (c); Okavango Delta (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** good economic governance and financial management; diamond-driven growth model declining; rapid poverty reductions; high unemployment, particularly among youth; COVID-19 sharply contracted the economy and recovery is slow; public sector wages have posed fiscal challenges **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $45.553 billion (2024 est.) $46.957 billion (2023 est.) $45.498 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** -3% (2024 est.) 3.2% (2023 est.) 5.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $18,100 (2024 est.) $18,900 (2023 est.) $18,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $19.401 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.8% (2024 est.) 5.1% (2023 est.) 11.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.) industry: 29.4% (2024 est.) services: 63.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 45.3% (2024 est.) government consumption: 32.1% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 7.7% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 26% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -40.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** root vegetables, beef, vegetables, sorghum, maize, game meat, milk, watermelons, goat milk, sunflower seeds (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles **Industrial production growth rate:** -13.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 1.173 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 23.2% (2024 est.) 23.4% (2023 est.) 23.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 43.9% (2024 est.) male: 39.8% (2024 est.) female: 48.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 16.1% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 54.9 (2015 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.4% (2015 est.) highest 10%: 42.9% (2015 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $5.474 billion (2024 est.) expenditures: $6.296 billion (2024 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 19.6% of GDP (2020 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 19.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$116.727 million (2023 est.) -$232.122 million (2022 est.) -$314.583 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $6.398 billion (2023 est.) $8.914 billion (2022 est.) $7.861 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 27%, India 17%, Belgium 16%, South Africa 8%, USA 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates, cattle (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $7.228 billion (2023 est.) $8.826 billion (2022 est.) $9.25 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** South Africa 65%, Namibia 8%, Canada 5%, China 3%, India 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, flavored water, electricity (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $3.456 billion (2024 est.) $4.756 billion (2023 est.) $4.279 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $1.761 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** pulas (BWP) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 13.563 (2024 est.) 13.596 (2023 est.) 12.369 (2022 est.) 11.087 (2021 est.) 11.456 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 75.9% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 95.5% electrification - rural areas: 25% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 758,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 3.879 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 1.923 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 625.694 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 2.242 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 1.351 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 891,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.66 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 32.443 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 83,200 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 4.13 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 164 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 2 TV stations, 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; privately owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned national radio stations; 4 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2019) **Internet country code:** .bw **Internet users:** percent of population: 81% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 85,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** A2 **Airports:** 122 (2025) **Railways:** total: 888 km (2014) narrow gauge: 888 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2025) note 1: both the BDF and the Botswana Police Service (BPS) report to the Ministry of Defense, Justice and Security; the BPS has primary responsibility for internal security note 2: the Ground Force Command includes a marine unit with boats and river craft for patrolling Botswana's internal waterways and supporting anti-poaching operations **Military expenditures:** 3% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 3% of GDP (2021 est.) 3% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 10,000 active Botswana Defense Force (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the BDF has a mix of mostly older weapons and equipment, largely of Western/European origin; in recent years, it has received limited amounts of newer armaments from several European countries and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-24 years of age (men and women) for general recruits and officer candidates; 18-40 for special entrant officers; no conscription (2025) **Military - note:** the key responsibilities of the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) are defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity on land and in the air, ensuring national security and stability, and aiding civil authorities in support of domestic missions such as disaster relief and anti-poaching; the BDF also participates in regional and international security operations Bechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces in the 1960s and 1970s demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977 (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 823 (2024 est.) IDPs: 99 (2023 est.) --- ## Burkina Faso **Slug:** burkina-faso **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇧🇫 **Codes:** cek: uv, iso2: BF, iso3: BFA, iso_num: 854, genc: BFA, stanag: BFA, internet: .bf ### Introduction **Background:** Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga. In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate. The country achieved independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984. Repeated military coups were common in the country’s first few decades. In 1987 Blaise COMPAORE deposed the president, established a government, and ruled for 27 years. In 2014, COMPAORE resigned after protests against his repeated efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit. An interim administration led a year-long transition, organizing presidential and legislative elections. In 2015, Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president, and he was reelected in 2020. In 2022, the military conducted two takeovers: In January, army colonel Paul Henri DAMIBA overthrew KABORE in a coup d'etat, and then in September, army captain Ibrahim TRAORE deposed DAMIBA and declared himself transition president. The transition government planned to hold elections by July 2024, but they may be delayed due to security concerns. Terrorist groups -- including groups affiliated with Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State -- began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018. By early 2023, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced more than 2 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity. In addition to terrorism, the country faces a myriad of problems including high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources. It is one of the world’s poorest countries. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, north of Ghana **Geographic coordinates:** 13 00 N, 2 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than Colorado **Land boundaries:** total: 3,611 km border countries (6): Benin 386 km; Cote d'Ivoire 545 km; Ghana 602 km; Mali 1325 km; Niger 622 km; Togo 131 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert **Terrain:** mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast; occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south **Elevation:** highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m mean elevation: 297 m **Natural resources:** gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt **Land use:** agricultural land: 53.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.) forest: 12.7% (2023 est.) other: 33.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 550 sq km (2016) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) **Population distribution:** most of the population is located in the center and south; nearly one third lives in cities, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as shown in this population distribution map (2019) **Natural hazards:** recurring droughts **Geography - note:** landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers, the Black, Red, and White Voltas ### People and Society **Population:** total: 23,490,300 (2025 est.) male: 11,529,979 female: 11,960,321 **Nationality:** noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe **Ethnic groups:** Mossi 53.7%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.8%, Gurunsi 5.9%, Bissa 5.4%, Gurma 5.2%, Bobo 3.4%, Senufo 2.2%, Bissa 1.5%, Lobi 1.5%, Tuareg/Bella 0.1%, other 12.8%, foreign 0.7% (2021 est.) **Languages:** Mossi 52.9%, Fula 7.8%, Gourmantche 6.8%, Dyula 5.7%, Bissa 3.3%, Gurunsi 3.2%, French (official) 2.2%, Bwamu 2%, Dagara 2%, San 1.7%, Marka 1.6%, Bobo 1.5%, Senufo 1.5%, Lobi 1.2%, other 6.6% (2019 est.) **Religions:** Muslim 63.8%, Roman Catholic 20.1%, Animiste 9%, Protestant 6.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.7% (2019 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 41.6% (male 4,868,488/female 4,727,316) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 6,116,674/female 6,590,775) 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 312,587/female 426,359) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 79 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 73.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 19 years (2025 est.) male: 17.9 years female: 19.5 years **Population growth rate:** 2.39% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 31.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most of the population is located in the center and south; nearly one third lives in cities, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as shown in this population distribution map (2019) **Urbanization:** urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.204 million OUAGADOUGOU (capital), 1.129 million Bobo-Dioulasso (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 20.1 years (2021 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 242 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 51.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 64.2 years (2024 est.) male: 62.3 years female: 66.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.02 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.98 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 80.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 49.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 19.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 50.5% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.4% of GDP (2021) 8.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 0.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 91.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 42.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 58.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 8.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 57.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 41.9% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 5.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 5.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 12.4% (2025 est.) male: 20.4% (2025 est.) female: 4.6% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 16.9% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 74.3% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 8.9% (2015) women married by age 18: 51.3% (2015) men married by age 18: 1.6% (2015) **Education expenditure:** 5.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 20.3% national budget (2023 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 41.4% (2023 est.) male: 48.4% (2023 est.) female: 35.7% (2023 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 7 years (2023 est.) male: 7 years (2023 est.) female: 7 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** droughts; desertification; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019) **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert **Land use:** agricultural land: 53.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.) forest: 12.7% (2023 est.) other: 33.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 7 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 38.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.575 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 375.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 21.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 420.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso local long form: none local short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta etymology: name translates as "Land of the Worthy Men," from the Dyula words burkina, or "worthy," and faso, which means "land" or literally "father village," from fa, or "father," and so, or "village" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Ouagadougou geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Ouagadougou is a Francophone spelling of the native name "Wogodogo," which may come from the personal name "Waga" or "Woga" and the Dyula word "dugu," meaning "village" **Administrative divisions:** 13 regions; Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Plateau-Central, Sahel, Sud-Ouest **Legal system:** civil law based on the French model and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991, temporarily suspended late October to mid-November 2014; initial draft of a new constitution to usher in the new republic was completed in January 2017 and a final draft was submitted to the government in December 2017; a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for adoption in March 2019 was postponed; on 1 March 2022 a transition charter was adopted, allowing military authorities to rule for three years and barring the transitional president from being an electoral candidate after the transition amendment process: proposed by the president, by a majority of National Assembly membership, or by petition of at least 30,000 eligible voters submitted to the Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in the Assembly; failure to meet that threshold requires majority voter approval in a referendum; constitutional provisions on the form of government, the multiparty system, and national sovereignty cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Burkina Faso dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel OUEDRAOGO (since 9 December 2024) cabinet: prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election/appointment process: prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly most recent election date: 22 November 2020 election results: 2020: Roch Marc Christian KABORE reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 57.9%, Eddie KOMBOIGO (CDP) 15.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 12.5%, other 14.1% expected date of next election: were to be held by July 2024, but were delayed note: on 30 September 2022, a military junta led by TRAORE took power and ousted Transition President Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo DAMIBA **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlement) legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: Transitional Legislative Assembly (Assemblée législative de la transition) number of seats: 71 electoral system: proportional representation most recent election date: 11/11/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 18.3% expected date of next election: June 2029 note: a series of coups in 2022 led to the ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, including the unicameral National Assembly; a military junta in 2022 appointed the 71-member Transnational Legislative Assembly (ALT); a Transitional Charter, adopted in October 2022, provided for a transitional period that was extended in May 2024 until July 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (consists of NA judges); Council of State (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of the council president and 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge appointments mostly controlled by the president of Burkina Faso; judges have no term limits; Council of State judge appointment and tenure NA; Constitutional Council judges appointed by the president of Burkina Faso after a proposal from the minister of justice and the president of the National Assembly; judges appointed for 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: Appeals Court; High Court; first instance tribunals; district courts; specialized courts relating to issues of labor, children, and juveniles; village (customary) courts **Political parties:** Act Together African Democratic Rally/Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF/RDA Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP Convergence for Progress and Solidarity-Generation 3 or CPS-G3 Movement for the Future Burkina Faso or MBF National Convention for Progress or CNP New Era for Democracy or NTD Pan-African Alliance for Refoundation or APR Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba Party for Development and Change or PDC Patriotic Rally for Integrity or RPI Peoples Movement for Progress or MPP Progressives United for Renewal or PUR Union for Progress and Reform or UPC Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Party or UNIR-PS **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Kassoum COULIBALY (since 24 July 2025) chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577 FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882 email address and website: contact@burkina-usa.org https://burkina-usa.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Joann M. LOCKARD (since 28 June 2024) embassy: Secteur 15, Ouaga 2000, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Rue 15.873, Ouagadougou mailing address: 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440 telephone: (226) 25-49-53-00 FAX: (226) 25-49-56-23 email address and website: AmembOuaga@state.gov https://bf.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 5 August 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Republic Day, 11 December (1958) note: commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a five-pointed yellow star in the center meaning: red stands for the country's struggle for independence, green for hope and abundance, and yellow for the country's mineral wealth history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement **National symbol(s):** white stallion **National color(s):** red, yellow, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory) lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA history: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit"(One Single Night) ; written by the country's former president, an avid guitar player **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ruins of Loropéni (c); Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Royal Court of Tiébélé (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** highly agrarian, low-income economy; limited natural resources; widespread poverty; terrorism disrupting potential economic activity; improving trade balance via increases in gold exports; economy inflating after prior deflation; growing public debt but still manageable **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $60.001 billion (2024 est.) $57.152 billion (2023 est.) $55.508 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5% (2024 est.) 3% (2023 est.) 1.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $2,500 (2024 est.) $2,500 (2023 est.) $2,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $23.25 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4.2% (2024 est.) 0.7% (2023 est.) 14.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 18.6% (2024 est.) industry: 29.7% (2024 est.) services: 40.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 60.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 10.6% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 28.5% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -34.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, sorghum, fruits, vegetables, millet, cowpeas, cotton, groundnuts, sugarcane, rice (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold **Industrial production growth rate:** -5.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 6.461 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.2% (2024 est.) 5.4% (2023 est.) 5.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 8.1% (2024 est.) male: 7.8% (2024 est.) female: 8.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 43.2% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 37.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 30.2% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $5.174 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $6.308 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 61.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 18.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$1.017 billion (2023 est.) -$1.404 billion (2022 est.) $77.255 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $5.912 billion (2023 est.) $5.814 billion (2022 est.) $6.234 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Switzerland 72%, UAE 10%, India 3%, Mali 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, cement (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $6.834 billion (2023 est.) $6.761 billion (2022 est.) $5.835 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Cote d'Ivoire 14%, China 13%, Ghana 9%, Russia 9%, France 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, plastic products, cement, electricity, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $3.565 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 19.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 60.5% electrification - rural areas: 3.4% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 749,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 3.096 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 1.577 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 212.254 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 82.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 5.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 74 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 37,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 3.481 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 72,700 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 26.9 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** 14 digital TV channels, of which 2 are state-owned; over 140 national radio stations (commercial, religious, community), including a national and regional state-owned network; state-owned Radio Burkina and private Radio Omega are among the most widely available and broadcast in both French and local languages (2019) **Internet country code:** .bf **Internet users:** percent of population: 17% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 15,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** XT **Airports:** 49 (2025) **Railways:** total: 622 km (2014) narrow gauge: 622 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF; aka National Armed Forces (FAN), aka Defense and Security Forces (Forces de Défense et de Sécurité or FDS)): Army of Burkina Faso, Air Force of Burkina Faso, National Gendarmerie, National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale de Sapeurs-Pompiers or BNSP); Homeland Defense Volunteers (Forcés de Volontaires de Défense pour la Patrie or VDP) Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security (Ministère de l'Administration Territoriale, de la Décentralisation et de la Sécurité): National Police of Burkina Faso (includes Border Police, Judicial Police, and Intervention Units, as well as State and Public Security forces) (2025) note 1: the National Gendarmerie is under the Ministry of Defense, but usually operates in support of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Security; the Gendarmerie's primary mission is counterterrorism note 2: the VDP is a lightly armed civilian defense/militia force established in 2019 to act as auxiliaries to the Army; the volunteers receive two weeks of training and typically assist with carrying out surveillance, information-gathering, and escort duties, as well as local defense; they are based in each of the country's municipalities **Military expenditures:** 4.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 20,000 Armed Forces; estimated 50,000 Homeland Defense Volunteers (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FABF has a mix of older and some modern armaments from a variety of suppliers, including China, Egypt, France, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the UAE (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** generally, 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; citizens 18-77 years of age are eligible to volunteer for the VDP (2025) note: the military regime implemented an emergency law in 2023 that allows the president extensive powers to combat terrorist groups operating in the country, including conscripting citizens into the security services; the VDP reportedly has been used by the military regime as a platform for the forced recruitment of dissidents and activists to silence critics **Military - note:** the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF) are responsible for external defense but also have an internal security role and can be called out to assist internal security forces in restoring public order, combating crime, securing the border, and conducting internal security operations; the FABF has a history of involvement in the country’s politics, having conducted eight coups since its formation in 1960-61, including the most recent in September 2022 the FABF's primary focus is combating militants of the al-Qa'ida and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist groups, which have operated in Burkina Faso for more than a decade and control portions of the country; Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups that act as al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Islamic Magreb's (AQIM) arm in the Sahel, is strongest in the north but active in nearly all of the country's 13 provinces, while ISIS in the Greater Sahara (aka ISIS-Sahel) operates in the eastern part of the country (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Ansarul Islam; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 41,408 (2024 est.) IDPs: 2,065,358 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Burkina Faso remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/burkina-faso/ --- ## Burundi **Slug:** burundi **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇧🇮 **Codes:** cek: by, iso2: BI, iso3: BDI, iso_num: 108, genc: BDI, stanag: BDI, internet: .bi ### Introduction **Background:** Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi’s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi’s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king’s oldest son, Louis RWAGASORE, was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi. Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 resulted in the deaths of several thousand Tutsi civilians and sparked brutal Tutsi-led military reprisals against Hutu civilians which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in 1993. Tutsi military officers feared Hutu domination and assassinated Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, in 1993 after only 100 days in office, sparking a civil war. In 1994, his successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president’s plane he was traveling on was shot down, which triggered the Rwandan genocide and further entrenched ethnic conflict in Burundi. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent cease-fire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi’s second democratic elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election of Pierre NKURUNZIZA as president. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2015 after a controversial court decision allowed him to circumvent a term limit. President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE -- from NKURUNZIZA’s ruling party -- was elected in 2020. ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania **Geographic coordinates:** 3 30 S, 30 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 27,830 sq km land: 25,680 sq km water: 2,150 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Maryland **Land boundaries:** total: 1,140 km border countries (3): Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km; Rwanda 315 km; Tanzania 589 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm with two wet seasons (February to May and September to November) and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January) **Terrain:** hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains **Elevation:** highest point: unnamed elevation on Mukike Range 2,685 m lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m mean elevation: 1,504 m **Natural resources:** nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone **Land use:** agricultural land: 83.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 51.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.) forest: 10.9% (2023 est.) other: 5.2% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 230 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) **Population distribution:** one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** flooding; landslides; drought **Geography - note:** landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile ### People and Society **Population:** total: 13,520,867 (2025 est.) male: 6,552,430 female: 6,968,437 **Nationality:** noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundian **Ethnic groups:** Hutu, Tutsi, Twa, South Asian **Languages:** Kirundi (official), French (official), English (official, least spoken), Swahili (2008 est.) major-language sample(s): Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal **Religions:** Christian 93.9% (Roman Catholic 58.6%, Protestant 35.3% [includes Adventist 2.7% and other Protestant religions 32.6%]), Muslim 3.4%, other 1.3%, none 1.3% (2016-17 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 42.3% (male 2,895,275/female 2,848,286) 15-64 years: 54.4% (male 3,662,688/female 3,727,022) 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 197,493/female 259,338) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 89.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 83.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 16 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 17.6 years (2025 est.) male: 18 years female: 18.7 years **Population growth rate:** 2.96% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 35.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.51 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 14.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.207 million BUJUMBURA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 21.5 years (2016/17 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 392 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 35.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 39.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 31.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 68.1 years (2024 est.) male: 66 years female: 70.3 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.94 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.43 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 90.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 57.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 62.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 9.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 42.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 37.6% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9.1% of GDP (2021) 4.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 87.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 53.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 58.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 12.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 46.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 41.4% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 5.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 4.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 2.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 9.1% (2025 est.) male: 14% (2025 est.) female: 4.3% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 28.3% (2024 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 58.2% (2017 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 2.8% (2017) women married by age 18: 19% (2017) men married by age 18: 1.4% (2017) **Education expenditure:** 4.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 14.4% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 71.4% (2020 est.) male: 78.2% (2020 est.) female: 66.2% (2020 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 10 years (2018 est.) male: 10 years (2018 est.) female: 10 years (2018 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** soil erosion from overgrazing and agricultural expansion; deforestation; wildlife habitat loss **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm with two wet seasons (February to May and September to November) and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January) **Land use:** agricultural land: 83.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 51.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.) forest: 10.9% (2023 est.) other: 5.2% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 14.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 32,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 806,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 26.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.872 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7.1% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 43.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 15 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 222 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 12.536 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: République du Burundi (French)/ Republika y'u Burundi (Kirundi) local short form: Burundi former: Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi etymology: name dates from 1966 and is derived from the name of the local Bantu people, the Rundi or Barundi; ba- is the prefix for the people, and bu- is the prefix for the country; the former name, Urundi, is the Swahili version **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital) geographic coordinates: 3 25 S, 29 55 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name Bujumbura is unclear, but "bu-" is a Bantu prefix meaning "place" note: in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital; as of 2023, the government's move to Gitega remains incomplete **Administrative divisions:** 5 provinces: Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera, Gitega **Legal system:** mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017 **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Nestor NTAHONTUYE (since 5 August 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament most recent election date: 20 May 2020 election results: 2020: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, other 1.6% 2015: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (Hope of Burundians - Amizerio y'ABARUNDI) 19%, other 11.6% expected date of next election: May 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlement) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Inama Nshingamateka) number of seats: 111 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 6/5/2025 parties elected and seats per party: National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) (108); Other (3) percentage of women in chamber: 39.6% expected date of next election: June 2030 note: 60% of seats in the National Assembly are allocated to Hutus and 40% to Tutsis; 3 seats are reserved for Twas; 30% of total seats are reserved for women **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Inama Nkenguzamateka) number of seats: 13 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 7/23/2025 parties elected and seats per party: National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) (10) percentage of women in chamber: 46.2% expected date of next election: July 2030 note: 3 seats in the Senate are reserved for Twas, and 30% of all votes are reserved for women **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Commercial Court **Political parties:** Council for Democracy and the Sustainable Development of Burundi or CODEBU Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD National Congress for Liberty or CNL National Liberation Forces or FNL Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Bosco BAREGE (since 27 February 2024) chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574 FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578 email address and website: burundiembusadc@gmail.com Burundi Embassy Washington D.C. (burundiembassy-usa.com) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa PETERSON (since 27 June 2024) embassy: No 50 Avenue Des Etats-Unis, 110-01-02, Bujumbura mailing address: 2100 Bujumbura Place, Washington DC 20521-2100 telephone: [257] 22-207-000 FAX: [257] 22-222-926 email address and website: BujumburaC@state.gov https://bi.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, CICA, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICGLR, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 1 July (1962) **Flag:** description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (on each side) with a white disk at the center bearing three six-pointed red stars outlined in green and arranged in a triangular design meaning: green stands for hope and optimism, white for purity and peace, and red for the blood shed in the struggle for independence; the three stars represent the major ethnic groups (Hutu, Twa, Tutsi), as well as unity, work, and progress **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** red, white, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi) lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO history: adopted 1962 ### Economy **Economic overview:** highly agrarian, low-income Sub-Saharan economy; declining foreign assistance; increasing fiscal insolvencies; dense and still growing population; COVID-19 weakened economic recovery and flipped two years of deflation **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $11.739 billion (2024 est.) $11.343 billion (2023 est.) $11.048 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.5% (2024 est.) 2.7% (2023 est.) 1.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $800 (2024 est.) $800 (2023 est.) $800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.162 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 20.2% (2024 est.) 26.9% (2023 est.) 18.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 25.3% (2023 est.) industry: 9.6% (2023 est.) services: 49% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 75.9% (2023 est.) government consumption: 30.7% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 13.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 5.3% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -24.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, beans, maize, vegetables, potatoes, rice, sugarcane, fruits (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** light consumer goods (sugar, shoes, soap, beer); cement, assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing (fruits) **Industrial production growth rate:** -0.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 6.107 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 1% (2024 est.) 1% (2023 est.) 1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 1.6% (2024 est.) male: 2.1% (2024 est.) female: 1.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 51% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 37.5 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2020 est.) highest 10%: 29.9% (2020 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 7.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 6.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $713.694 million (2021 est.) expenditures: $737.898 million (2021 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 15.6% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$625.597 million (2023 est.) -$621.969 million (2022 est.) -$393.88 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $378.229 million (2023 est.) $333.637 million (2022 est.) $302.752 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 59%, Uganda 8%, China 5%, Germany 5%, USA 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, coffee, tea, tin ores, iron bars (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $1.433 billion (2023 est.) $1.42 billion (2022 est.) $1.166 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Tanzania 26%, China 15%, Uganda 10%, Kenya 10%, India 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** fertilizers, cement, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $90.35 million (2023 est.) $158.53 million (2022 est.) $266.164 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $805.174 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 2,574.052 (2023 est.) 2,034.307 (2022 est.) 1,975.951 (2021 est.) 1,915.046 (2020 est.) 1,845.623 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 10.3% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 64% electrification - rural areas: 1.7% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 131,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 444.018 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 100 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 39.994 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 66.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 10,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 946,000 Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 14,400 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 8.65 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-controlled Radio Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates a TV station and a national radio network; 3 private TV stations and about 10 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2019) **Internet country code:** .bi **Internet users:** percent of population: 11% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 3,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 9U **Airports:** 6 (2025) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Burundi National Defense Force (BNDF; Force de Defense Nationale du Burundi, FDNB): Land Force (Army), Naval Force, Air Force, Specialized Units Ministry of Interior, Community Development, and Public Security: Burundi National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi, PNB) (2024) note: the Naval Force is responsible for monitoring Burundi’s 175-km shoreline on Lake Tanganyika; the Specialized Units include a special security brigade for the protection of institutions (aka BSPI), commandos, special forces, and military police **Military expenditures:** 3.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 30,000 active Defense Force troops (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military has a mix of mostly older armaments typically of French, Russian, and Soviet origin, and a smaller selection of more modern equipment from such countries as China, Egypt, South Africa, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025) **Military deployments:** 770 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); up to 10,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025) **Military - note:** the National Defense Force (FDNB) is responsible for defending Burundi’s territorial integrity and protecting its sovereignty; it has an internal security role, including maintaining and restoring public order if required; the FDNB also participates in providing humanitarian/disaster assistance, protecting the country's environment, and countering terrorism, narcotics trafficking, piracy, and illegal arms trade; the FDNB conducts some training with foreign partners such as Russia and participates in regional peacekeeping missions, most recently in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Somalia; in recent years the FDNB has conducted operations against anti-government rebel groups based in the neighboring DRC that have carried out sporadic attacks in Burundi, such as the National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (aka RED Tabara), and Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU); Burundi has accused Rwanda of supporting the RED-Tabara the Arusha Accords that ended the 1993-2005 civil war created a unified military by balancing the predominantly Tutsi ex-Burundi Armed Forces (ex-FAB) and the largely Hutu dominated armed movements and requiring the military to have a 50/50 ethnic mix of Tutsis and Hutus (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 91,164 (2024 est.) IDPs: 92,174 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 791 (2024 est.) --- ## Cabo Verde **Slug:** cabo-verde **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇨🇻 **Codes:** cek: cv, iso2: CV, iso3: CPV, iso_num: 132, genc: CPV, stanag: CPV, internet: .cv ### Introduction **Background:** The Portuguese discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands of Cabo Verde in the 15th century; Cabo Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. The fusing of European and various African cultural traditions is reflected in Cabo Verde’s Crioulo language, music, and pano textiles. After gaining independence in 1975, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cabo Verde continues to sustain one of Africa's most stable democratic governments and relatively stable economies, maintaining a currency pegged first to the Portuguese escudo and then to the euro since 1998. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cabo Verde's expatriate population -- concentrated in Boston, Massachusetts and Western Europe -- is greater than its domestic one. Most Cabo Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Cabo Verde’s population descends from its first permanent inhabitants in the late 15th-century -- a preponderance of West African slaves, a small share of Portuguese colonists, and even fewer Italians and Spaniards. Among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is varied. The islands in the east are very dry and are home to the country's growing tourism industry. The more western islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged their soil fertility and vegetation. For centuries, the country’s overall population size has fluctuated significantly, as recurring periods of famine and epidemics have caused high death tolls and emigration. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal **Geographic coordinates:** 16 00 N, 24 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than Rhode Island **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 965 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm note: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines **Climate:** temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic **Terrain:** steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic **Elevation:** highest point: Mt. Fogo (a volcano on Fogo Island) 2,829 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m **Natural resources:** salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum **Land use:** agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.) forest: 12.4% (2023 est.) other: 68% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 35 sq km (2012) **Population distribution:** among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active volcanism: Fogo (2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cabo Verde's only active volcano **Geography - note:** strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), and Madeira (Portugal) ### People and Society **Population:** total: 618,014 (2025 est.) male: 300,577 female: 317,437 **Nationality:** noun: Cabo Verdean(s) adjective: Cabo Verdean **Ethnic groups:** Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1% **Languages:** Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a Portuguese-based creole language with two main dialects) **Religions:** Roman Catholic 72.5%, Protestant 4% (includes Adventist 1.9%, Nazarene 1.8%, Assembly of God 0.2%, God is Love 0.1%), Christian Rationalism 1.7%, Muslim 1.3%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Church of Jesus Christ 1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 1.2%, none 15.6%, no response 0.4% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 26.4% (male 80,973/female 80,129) 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 201,084/female 209,676) 65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 15,049/female 24,103) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 48.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 38.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 10.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 9.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 29.3 years (2025 est.) male: 27.9 years female: 29.6 years **Population growth rate:** 1.12% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 17.51 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 68% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 168,000 PRAIA (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 40 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 21.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 26.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 74.3 years (2024 est.) male: 72 years female: 76.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.08 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.02 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 93.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 89.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 6.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 10.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.9% of GDP (2021) 16.1% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 77.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 89.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 22.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 10.2% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 11.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 9.8% (2025 est.) male: 15.3% (2025 est.) female: 4.5% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 2.2% (2018 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 45% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 1.8% (2018) women married by age 18: 8.4% (2018) men married by age 18: 1.5% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 4.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 13.4% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 88.5% (2024 est.) male: 92.9% (2024 est.) female: 84.1% (2024 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 13 years (2018 est.) male: 13 years (2018 est.) female: 14 years (2018 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; droughts; desertification; soil erosion; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic **Land use:** agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.) forest: 12.4% (2023 est.) other: 68% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 68% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 27.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 132,600 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 155.895 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 5.614 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 103.217 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 300 million cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Cabo Verde conventional short form: Cabo Verde local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde local short form: Cabo Verde etymology: the name derives from the Cape Verde (Green Cape) peninsula on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Praia geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the earlier Portuguese name was Villa de Praia ("Village of the Beach"); it was shortened to Praia in 1974 **Administrative divisions:** 22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, São Domingos, São Filipe, São Lourenco dos Orgaos, São Miguel, São Salvador do Mundo, São Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de São Nicolau **Legal system:** civil law system of Portugal **Constitution:** history: previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992 amendment process: proposals require support of at least four fifths of the active National Assembly membership; amendment drafts require sponsorship of at least one third of the active Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional sections, including those on national independence, form of government, political pluralism, suffrage, and human rights and liberties, cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cabo Verde dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 9 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Jose Ulisses CORREIA e SILVA (since 22 April 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president most recent election date: 17 October 2021 election results: 2020: Jose Maria Pereira NEVES elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (PAICV) 51.7%, Carlos VEIGA (MPD) 42.4%, Casimiro DE PINA (independent) 1.8%, Fernando Rocha DELGADO (independent) 1.4%, Helio SANCHES (independent) 1.14%, Gilson ALVES (independent) 0.8%, Joaquim MONTEIRO (independent) 3.4% 2016: Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74.1%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 22.5%, other 3.4% expected date of next election: October 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 72 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/18/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Movement for Democracy (MpD) (38); African Party for the Independence of Cabo Verde (PAICV) (30); Union for an Independent Democratic Cape Verde (UCID) (4) percentage of women in chamber: 44.4% expected date of next election: April 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 7 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and administrative sections) judge selection and term of office: judge appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Superior Judicial Council (SJC), a 16-member independent body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general, 8 private citizens, 2 judges, 2 prosecutors, the senior legal inspector of the Attorney General's office, and a representative of the Ministry of Justice; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court of Justice and in consultation with the SJC; judges appointed for life subordinate courts: appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts **Political parties:** African Party for Independence of Cabo Verde or PAICV Democratic and Independent Cabo Verdean Union or UCID Democratic Christian Party or PDC Democratic Renewal Party or PRD Movement for Democracy or MPD Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS Social Democratic Party or PSD **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820 FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207 email address and website: embassy.wdc@mnec.gov.cv https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/ consulate(s) general: Boston **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Jennifer ADAMS (since 10 September 2024) embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia mailing address: 2460 Praia Place, Washington DC 20521-2460 telephone: [238] 260-8900 FAX: [238] 261-1355 email address and website: PraiaConsular@state.gov https://cv.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 5 July 1975 (from Portugal) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 5 July (1975) **Flag:** description: five unequal horizontal bands; the top band of blue is half the height of the flag; under it are three narrow bands of white, red, and white, and a bottom stripe of blue; a circle of 10 five-pointed yellow stars is centered on the red stripe and sits toward the left side of the flag meaning: blue stands for the sea and sky; the stripes symbolize the country's formation through peace (white) and effort (red); the stars represent the 10 major islands **National symbol(s):** ten five-pointed yellow stars **National color(s):** blue, white, red, yellow **National coat of arms:** adopted in 1992, the coat of arms features the national symbol of ten stars that represent the country’s islands; the stylized torch and triangle at the center of the circle symbolize freedom and national unity, and the three blue lines represent the ocean and sky; the name of the country is written in Portuguese, the official language; the plumbob at the top of the circle -- used in construction to make accurate vertical lines -- represents justice, righteousness, and truth; the chain links symbolize a commitment to the people and their well-being **National anthem(s):** title: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom) lyrics/music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA history: adopted 1996 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cidade Velha; Historic Center of Ribeira Grande ### Economy **Economic overview:** stable, middle-income, developing island economy; strong GDP growth led by tourism sector recovery; sustained poverty reduction through PEDS II development plan; high reliance on foreign remittances and aid to finance external debt **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $5.2 billion (2024 est.) $4.848 billion (2023 est.) $4.6 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 7.3% (2024 est.) 5.4% (2023 est.) 15.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $9,900 (2024 est.) $9,300 (2023 est.) $8,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.768 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1% (2024 est.) 3.7% (2023 est.) 7.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 4.7% (2024 est.) industry: 10.5% (2024 est.) services: 69.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 74.7% (2024 est.) government consumption: 20.7% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugarcane, tomatoes, coconuts, pulses, goat milk, milk, vegetables, bananas, cabbages, onions (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair **Industrial production growth rate:** 4.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 224,500 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 11.9% (2024 est.) 12% (2023 est.) 12.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 28.2% (2024 est.) male: 24.6% (2024 est.) female: 33.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 35.2% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 42.4 (2015 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.2% (2015 est.) highest 10%: 32.3% (2015 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 12.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 12.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 14% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $453.182 million (2020 est.) expenditures: $623.816 million (2020 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 18.4% (of GDP) (2020 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $101.072 million (2024 est.) -$64.439 million (2023 est.) -$78.271 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.158 billion (2024 est.) $972.636 million (2023 est.) $851.907 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Spain 46%, Portugal 9%, Togo 7%, Italy 7%, India 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** fish, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, shellfish, garments (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $1.473 billion (2024 est.) $1.428 billion (2023 est.) $1.31 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Portugal 29%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, China 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, fish, railway cargo containers (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $783.106 million (2024 est.) $837.881 million (2023 est.) $729.566 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $1.385 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 101.922 (2024 est.) 101.805 (2023 est.) 104.863 (2022 est.) 93.218 (2021 est.) 96.796 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 97.1% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 95.3% electrification - rural areas: 96.9% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 200,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 400 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 106 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 71.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 14.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 14.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 19.999 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 61,300 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 587,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-run TV and radio network, plus a growing number of private broadcasters; Portuguese public TV and radio services for Africa are available; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available (2019) **Internet country code:** .cv **Internet users:** percent of population: 74% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 38,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** D4 **Airports:** 10 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 44 (2023) by type: general cargo 14, oil tanker 2, other 28 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Porto da Praia, Porto Grande ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Cabo Verdean Armed Forces (FACV): National Guard (GN), Cabo Verde Coast Guard (Guardia Costeira de Cabo Verde, GCCV) (2025) note: the National Police are under the Ministry of Internal Affairs **Military expenditures:** 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** the FACV has approximately 1,000-1,500 active personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FACV has a limited amount of mostly dated or secondhand equipment, largely from China, some European countries, and the former Soviet Union (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent); 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory service (14-month service obligation) (2025) **Military - note:** the FACV is responsible for external defense; it also has an internal security role in collaboration with the police if required; its duties include monitoring and patrolling the country's air and maritime spaces, participating in training exercises, conducting search and rescue, countering narcotics and other forms of illicit trafficking, and supporting the police and civil society (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** stateless persons: 115 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Cabo Verde did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cabo-verde/ --- ## Cameroon **Slug:** cameroon **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇨🇲 **Codes:** cek: cm, iso2: CM, iso3: CMR, iso_num: 120, genc: CMR, stanag: CMR, internet: .cm ### Introduction **Background:** Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year, the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Nonetheless, unrest and violence in the country's two western, English-speaking regions have persisted since 2016. Movement toward democratic reform is slow, and political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA. ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria **Geographic coordinates:** 6 00 N, 12 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 475,440 sq km land: 472,710 sq km water: 2,730 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania **Land boundaries:** total: 5,018 km border countries (6): Central African Republic 901 km; Chad 1,116 km; Republic of the Congo 494 km; Equatorial Guinea 183 km; Gabon 349 km; Nigeria 1975 km **Coastline:** 402 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm **Climate:** varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north **Terrain:** diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north **Elevation:** highest point: Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 667 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 20.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.) forest: 41% (2023 est.) other: 38.1% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 290 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Chad) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Lake Chad Basin **Population distribution:** population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in the Oku volcanic field sometimes release fatal levels of gas, which killed about 1,700 people in 1986 **Geography - note:** sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa because of its central location on the continent and its position at the west-south juncture of the Gulf of Guinea; areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano ### People and Society **Population:** total: 31,518,954 (2025 est.) male: 15,683,611 female: 15,835,343 **Nationality:** noun: Cameroonian(s) adjective: Cameroonian **Ethnic groups:** Bamileke-Bamu 22.2%, Biu-Mandara 16.4%, Arab-Choa/Hausa/Kanuri 13.5%, Beti/Bassa, Mbam 13.1%, Grassfields 9.9%, Adamawa-Ubangi, 9.8%, Cotier/Ngoe/Oroko 4.6%, Southwestern Bantu 4.3%, Kako/Meka 2.3%, foreign/other ethnic group 3.8% (2022 est.) **Languages:** 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) **Religions:** Roman Catholic 33.1%, Muslim 30.6%, Protestant 27.1% other Christian 6.1%, animist 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 1.2% (2022 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 41.5% (male 6,477,438/female 6,364,987) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 8,488,522/female 8,638,519) 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 463,628/female 533,011) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 77.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 71.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 19.4 years (2025 est.) male: 18.6 years female: 19.2 years **Population growth rate:** 2.37% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 30.79 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 59.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 4.509 million YAOUNDE (capital), 4.063 million Douala (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 20.1 years (2018 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 258 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 44.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 50.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 41.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 64.2 years (2024 est.) male: 62.3 years female: 66.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.87 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.91 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 81.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 52.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 69.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 18.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 30.4% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.8% of GDP (2021) 3.9% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 60.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 39.8% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 11.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 5% (2025 est.) male: 9.2% (2025 est.) female: 0.9% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 11% (2018 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 58.1% (2018 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 10.7% (2018) women married by age 18: 29.8% (2018) men married by age 18: 2.9% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 13.8% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 72.6% (2018 est.) male: 79.7% (2018 est.) female: 66.2% (2018 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 11 years (2023 est.) male: 12 years (2023 est.) female: 10 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; poaching; overfishing; overhunting **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north **Land use:** agricultural land: 20.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.) forest: 41% (2023 est.) other: 38.1% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 59.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 6.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 200 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.658 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.049 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 293.3 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 278.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 166.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 24 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.271 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.6% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 246.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 104.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 737 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 283.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon local long form: République du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English) local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon former: Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon etymology: in the 16th century, Portuguese explorers named an estuary near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; the name Camaroes evolved into "Cameroon" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Yaounde geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Germans founded the city in 1888, but the name comes from the native Ewondo people; the meaning of the name is unclear **Administrative divisions:** 10 regions (régions, singular - région); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extrême-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest) **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon’s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 20 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019) cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 12 October 2025 election results: 2025- Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 53.7%, Issa Tchiroma BAKARY (CNSF) 35.2%, Cabral LIBII (PCRN) 3.4%, Bello Boubou MAIGARI (UNDP)2.4%, other 5.3% 2018: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2% (2018) expected date of next election: October 2032 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parlement - Parliament legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly) number of seats: 180 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/12/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC/CPDM) (152); Other (28) percentage of women in chamber: 33.9% expected date of next election: February 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Sénat - Senate) number of seats: 100 (70 indirectly elected; 30 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 2/9/2020 to 3/22/2020 percentage of women in chamber: 33% expected date of next election: March 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon, a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly; judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for renewable 6-year terms subordinate courts: Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrates' courts **Political parties:** Alliance for Democracy and Development Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM Cameroon People's Party or CPP Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP Progressive Movement or MP Social Democratic Front or SDF Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC Union of Socialist Movements **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826 email address and website: mail@cameroonembassyusa Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, USA (cameroonembassyusa.org) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022) embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé mailing address: 2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 22251-4000 FAX: [237] 22251-4000, Ext. 4531 email address and website: YaoundeACS@state.gov https://cm.usembassy.gov/ branch office(s): Douala **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) **National holiday:** State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), red, and yellow, with a small five-pointed yellow star centered in the red band meaning: red stands for unity; yellow for the sun, happiness, and the northern savannahs; green for hope and the southern forests; the star is called the "star of unity;" the vertical tricolor design is similar to the French flag history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** green, red, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "O Cameroun, Berceau de Nos Ancêtres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers) lyrics/music: Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME history: adopted 1957; lyrics were changed slightly to the current version in 1978 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (two natural and one cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Dja Faunal Reserve (n); Sangha Trinational Forest (n); Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** largest CEMAC economy with many natural resources; recent political instability and terrorism reducing economic output; systemic corruption; poor property rights enforcement; increasing poverty in northern regions **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $143.264 billion (2024 est.) $138.191 billion (2023 est.) $133.843 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.7% (2024 est.) 3.2% (2023 est.) 3.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $4,900 (2024 est.) $4,900 (2023 est.) $4,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $51.327 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4.5% (2024 est.) 7.4% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 17.4% (2024 est.) industry: 25.6% (2024 est.) services: 49.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 74.5% (2024 est.) government consumption: 10.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.4% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 14.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -21.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, maize, taro, tomatoes, sorghum, sugarcane, bananas, vegetables (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair **Industrial production growth rate:** 1.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 11.119 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.6% (2024 est.) 3.7% (2023 est.) 3.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 6.2% (2024 est.) male: 5.9% (2024 est.) female: 6.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 42.2 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 45.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 2.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 31.1% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $6.385 billion (2021 est.) expenditures: $7.624 billion (2021 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 11.3% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$2.019 billion (2023 est.) -$1.505 billion (2022 est.) -$1.794 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $8.353 billion (2023 est.) $8.641 billion (2022 est.) $7.447 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Netherlands 21%, France 14%, UAE 13%, India 9%, China 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, cocoa beans, wood (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $10.294 billion (2023 est.) $9.759 billion (2022 est.) $9.025 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 43%, France 6%, India 6%, Belgium 4%, UAE 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** garments, refined petroleum, plastic products, wheat, rice (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $4.882 billion (2023 est.) $5.133 billion (2022 est.) $4.3 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $11.112 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 71% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 94% electrification - rural areas: 25% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 1.798 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 6.161 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 60 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.238 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 36.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 63.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 200 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 2.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 534.691 million cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 1.821 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 135.071 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 4.271 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 67,500 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 31.5 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), with both TV and radio broadcasts, was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster until 2007, when the government issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster; about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operate under “administrative tolerance,” meaning the stations could be subject to closure at any time (2023) **Internet country code:** .cm **Internet users:** percent of population: 42% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 603,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TJ **Airports:** 37 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 987 km (2014) narrow gauge: 987 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge note: railway connections generally efficient but limited; rail lines connect major cities of Douala, Yaounde, Ngaoundere, and Garoua; passenger and freight service provided by CAMRAIL **Merchant marine:** total: 198 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 91, oil tanker 42, other 63 **Ports:** total ports: 7 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 5 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Douala, Ebome Marine Terminal, Kole Oil Terminal, Kome Kribi 1 Marine Terminal, Kribi Deep Sea Port, Limboh Terminal, Moudi Marine Terminal ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army, Cameroon Navy (includes naval infantry or fusiliers marin), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Firefighting Corps General Delegation for National Security (Délégation Générale à la Sûreté Nationale or DGSN): Cameroon Police (2025) note 1: the Army includes the Rapid Intervention Brigade (Brigade d’Intervention Rapide or BIR), which maintains its own command and control structure and reports directly to the Chief of Defense staff and the Presidency; the BIR includes airborne/airmobile, amphibious, armored reconnaissance, artillery, and counterterrorism forces, as well as support elements, such as intelligence note 2: the Cameroon Police and the National Gendarmerie are responsible for internal security; the Gendarmerie conducts administrative, criminal, and military investigative functions; other missions include customs, air and maritime surveillance, and road traffic control; in times of conflict, it participates in internal defense **Military expenditures:** 1% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 40-50,000 active FAC, including the Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FAC inventory is comprised of armaments from a variety of countries, including China, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, the US, and some Western European countries, particularly France (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (18-28 for medical services); no conscription; service obligation 4 years (2025) **Military deployments:** 750 (plus about 400 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025) note: Cameroon has committed approximately 2,000-2,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations occur occasionally **Military - note:** the Cameroon Armed Forces (FAC) are responsible for defending the country's territorial integrity, providing humanitarian assistance, supporting regional peacekeeping operations, and contributing to internal security; key areas of focus are the threat from the terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and, since 2016, an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions; in addition, the FAC often deploys ground units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits; the Navy’s missions include protecting Cameroon’s oil installations, combating crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and patrolling the country’s lakes and rivers; the FAC's small Air Force supports both the ground and naval forces (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 443,740 (2024 est.) IDPs: 1,058,405 (2024 est.) --- ## Central African Republic **Slug:** central-african-republic **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇨🇫 **Codes:** cek: ct, iso2: CF, iso3: CAF, iso_num: 140, genc: CAF, stanag: CAF, internet: .cf ### Introduction **Background:** The Central African Republic (CAR) is a perennially weak state that sits at the crossroads of ethnic and linguistic groups in the center of the African continent. Among the last areas of Sub-Saharan Africa to be drawn into the world economy, its introduction into trade networks around the early 1700s fostered significant competition among its population. The local population sought to benefit from the lucrative Atlantic, trans-Saharan, and Indian Ocean trade in enslaved people and ivory. Slave raids aided by the local populations fostered animosity between ethnic groups that remains today. The territory was established as a French colony named Ubangui-Shari in 1903, and France modeled its administration of the colony after the Belgian Congo, subcontracting control of the territory to private companies that collected rubber and ivory. Although France banned the domestic slave trade in CAR in the 1910s, the private companies continued to exploit the population through forced labor. The colony of Ubangi-Shari gained independence from France as the Central African Republic in 1960, but the death of independence leader Barthelemy BOGANDA six months prior led to an immediate struggle for power. CAR’s political history has since been marred by a series of coups, the first of which brought Jean-Bedel BOKASSA to power in 1966. Widespread corruption and intolerance for any political opposition characterized his regime. In an effort to prolong his mandate, BOKASSA named himself emperor in 1976 and changed the country’s name to the Central African Empire. His regime’s economic mismanagement culminated in widespread student protests in 1979 that were violently suppressed by security forces. BOKASSA fell out of favor with the international community and was overthrown in a French-backed coup in 1979. After BOKASSA’s departure, the country’s name once again became the Central African Republic. CAR’s fifth coup in 2013 unseated President Francois BOZIZE after the Seleka, a mainly Muslim rebel coalition, seized the capital and forced BOZIZE to flee the country. The Seleka's widespread abuses spurred the formation of mainly Christian self-defense groups that called themselves the anti-Balaka, which have also committed human rights abuses against Muslim populations in retaliation. Since the rise of these groups, conflict in CAR has become increasingly ethnoreligious, although focused on identity rather than religious ideology. Elections in 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he was reelected in 2020. A peace agreement signed in 2019 between the government and the main armed factions has had little effect, and armed groups remain in control of large swaths of the country's territory. TOUADERA's United Hearts Movement has governed the country since 2016, and a new constitution approved by referendum on 30 July 2023 effectively ended term limits, creating the potential for TOUADERA to extend his rule. ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo **Geographic coordinates:** 7 00 N, 21 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 622,984 sq km land: 622,984 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia **Land boundaries:** total: 5,920 km border countries (5): Cameroon 901 km; Chad 1556 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km; South Sudan 1055 km; Sudan 174 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers **Terrain:** vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest **Elevation:** highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m mean elevation: 635 m **Natural resources:** diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 9.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.8% (2023 est.) forest: 72.5% (2023 est.) other: 18.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 10 sq km (2012) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Oubangui (Ubangi) river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin **Population distribution:** majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common **Geography - note:** landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa ### People and Society **Population:** total: 5,750,570 (2025 est.) male: 2,864,870 female: 2,885,700 **Nationality:** noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African **Ethnic groups:** Baya 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peuhl) 6%, Mbum 6%, Ngbanki 5.5%, Zande-Nzakara 3%, other Central African Republic ethnic groups 2%, non-Central African Republic ethnic groups .1% (2003 est.) **Languages:** French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages **Religions:** Roman Catholic 34.6%, Protestant 15.7%, other Christian 22.9%, Muslim 13.8%, ethnic religionist 12%, Baha'i 0.2%, agnostic/atheist 0.7% (2020 est.) note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 38.5% (male 1,113,795/female 1,063,971) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,613,770/female 1,662,522) 65 years and over: 3.5% (2024 est.) (male 86,932/female 109,967) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 71.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 65.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 16.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 20.6 years (2025 est.) male: 19.7 years female: 21.2 years **Population growth rate:** 1.74% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 31.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -3.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 43.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 79.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 86.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 56.4 years (2024 est.) male: 55.1 years female: 57.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.89 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.92 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 48.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 36.3% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 51.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 63.7% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9.1% of GDP (2021) 9% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 53.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 12.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 30.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 46.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 87.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 69.8% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 7.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 18.4% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 65.4% (2019 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 25.8% (2019) women married by age 18: 61% (2019) men married by age 18: 17.1% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 10% national budget (2023 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 42.4% (2019 est.) male: 59.8% (2019 est.) female: 27.1% (2019 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution; tap water not potable; poaching; wildlife mismanagement; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea **Climate:** tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 9.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.8% (2023 est.) forest: 72.5% (2023 est.) other: 18.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 43.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 25.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.106 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.1% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 60.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 12 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 400,000 cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 141 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local long form: République centrafricaine local short form: none former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire abbreviation: CAR etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia, "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Bangui geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: established as a French military post in 1889; the name means "rapids" in the local Bobangui language, because of the city's location above the first great rapid on the Ubangi River **Administrative divisions:** 14 prefectures (préfectures, singular - préfecture), 2 economic prefectures* (préfectures économiques, singular - préfecture économique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga **Legal system:** civil law system based on the French model **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest constitution passed by a national referendum on 30 July 2023 and validated by the Constitutional Court on 30 August 2023 amendment process: proposals require support of the government, two thirds of the National Council of Transition, and assent by the "Mediator of the Central African" crisis; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the National Council membership; non-amendable constitutional provisions include those on the secular and republican form of government, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, or changes to the authorities of various high-level executive, parliamentary, and judicial officials **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 35 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (since 30 March 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Félix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: current president was directly elected for 5-year term; constitutional referendum in July 2023 removed term limits and instituted 7-year terms most recent election date: 28 December 2025 election results: 2025: Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 76.2%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 14.7%, other 9.1% expected date of next election: December 2032 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 140 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 12/27/2020 to 7/25/2021 parties elected and seats per party: United Hearts Movement (MCU) (63); National Movement of Independents (MOUNI) (9); Union for Central African Renewal (URCA) (7); Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) (7); Other (34); Independents (20) percentage of women in chamber: 11.4% expected date of next election: 28 December 2025 note 1: on 27 December 2020, the day of first round elections, voting in many electoral areas was disrupted by armed groups; on 13 February 2021, President TOUADERA announced that new first round elections would be held on 27 February 2021 for those areas controlled by armed groups and the second round on 6 March 2021; ultimately, two additional rounds were held on 23 May and 25 July 2021 in areas that continued to suffer from election security problems note 2: in accordance with article 98 of the constitution published in August 2023, the parliamentary term has increased from five to seven years and will be first applied to the legislature due to be elected in late 2025 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (number of judges unknown); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of whom are women) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judge appointments - 2 by the president, 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly, 2 elected by their peers, 2 are advocates elected by their peers, and 2 are law professors elected by their peers; judges serve 7-year non-renewable terms subordinate courts: high courts; magistrates' courts **Political parties:** Action Party for Development or PAD African Party for Radical Transformation and Integration of States or PATRIE Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP Be Africa ti e Kwe (also known as Central Africa for Us All or BTK) Central African Democratic Rally or RDC Central African Party for Integrated Development or PCDI Democratic Movement for the Renewal and Evolution of Central Africa or MDREC Kodro Ti Mo Kozo Si Movement or MKMKS Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa or KNK) National Movement of Independents or MOUNI National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP National Union of Republican Democrats or UNADER New Impetus for Central Africa or CANE Party for Democracy and Solidarity - Kélémba or KPDS Party for Democratic Governance or PGD Path of Hope or CDE Renaissance for Sustainable Development or RDD Socialist Party or PS Transformation Through Action Initiative or ITA Union for Central African Renewal or URCA Union for Renaissance and Development or URD United Hearts Movement or MCU **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800 FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893 email address and website: centrafricwashington@yahoo.com https://www.usrcaembassy.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Melanie Anne ZIMMERMAN (since July 2025) embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: 2060 Bangui Place, Washington DC 20521-2060 telephone: [236] 2161-0200 FAX: [236] 2161-4494 email address and website: https://cf.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country) (suspended), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 13 August 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Republic Day, 1 December (1958) **Flag:** description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in the center; a five-pointed yellow star sits in the top left corner of the flag, on the blue band meaning: combines the pan-African and French flag colors; red stands for blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue for the sky and freedom, white for peace and dignity, green for hope and faith, and yellow for tolerance; the star represents aspiring to a vibrant future **National symbol(s):** elephant **National color(s):** blue, white, green, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "La Renaissance" (The Renaissance) lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER history: adopted 1960; BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park; Sangha Trinational Forest ### Economy **Economic overview:** enormous natural resources; extreme poverty; weak public institutions and infrastructure; political and gender-based violence have led to displacement of roughly 25% of population; Bangui-Douala corridor blockade reduced activity and tax collection; strong agricultural performance offset COVID-19 downturn **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $5.926 billion (2024 est.) $5.836 billion (2023 est.) $5.795 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.5% (2024 est.) 0.7% (2023 est.) 0.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $1,100 (2024 est.) $1,100 (2023 est.) $1,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.752 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3% (2023 est.) 5.6% (2022 est.) 4.3% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 32.5% (2024 est.) industry: 17.8% (2024 est.) services: 40.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 94.7% (2024 est.) government consumption: 9.7% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 15.4% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 15.5% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -32.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, groundnuts, yams, coffee, maize, sesame seeds, taro, sugarcane, beef, milk (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining **Industrial production growth rate:** 9.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 2 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.9% (2024 est.) 5.9% (2023 est.) 6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 9.5% (2024 est.) male: 8.5% (2024 est.) female: 10.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 68.8% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 43 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 33.1% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $360.48 million (2021 est.) expenditures: $462.104 million (2021 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 8.2% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Exports:** $425.306 million (2024 est.) $369.034 million (2023 est.) $293.074 million (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 54%, China 14%, France 6%, Turkey 5%, Belgium 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, cotton (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $890.572 million (2024 est.) $742.108 million (2023 est.) $784.669 million (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 16%, Cameroon 14%, France 8%, Belgium 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, tanks and armored vehicles (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $479.593 million (2023 est.) $374.405 million (2022 est.) $483.872 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $724.179 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 15.7% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 34.7% electrification - rural areas: 1.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 63,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 132.105 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 99.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 3 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 954,000 Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 2,090 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 1.98 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Télévision Centrafricaine, provides limited TV broadcasting; state-owned radio network is supplemented by a small number of privately owned broadcast stations, as well as a few community radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2017) **Internet country code:** .cf **Internet users:** percent of population: 8% (2019 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1,000 (2022 est.) Data available for 2019 only. subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TL **Airports:** 43 (2025) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine) Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), National Police (2025) note: the Special Republican Protection Group (Groupement Spécial Chargé de la Protection Républicaine or GSPR) provides protection to the head of state; it is part of the Army but reports to the president **Military expenditures:** 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 10-15,000 active FACA (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** most of the military's heavy weapons and equipment were lost during the 2012–2014 civil war; prior to the war, most of its inventory was of French, Russian, or Soviet origin; in recent years, it has received some donated equipment from China and Russia, including armored vehicles, drones, helicopters, jet trainer aircraft, and some light weapons (2025) note: the CAR was under a UNSC arms embargo from 2013-July 2024 **Military service age and obligation:** 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription although the constitution provides for the possibility of conscription in the event of an imminent threat to the country (2025) **Military - note:** the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) are focused on internal security; since the 2013 coup, multiple armed groups have been active in the country, carrying out attacks, controlling territory, and undermining security; the coup resulted in the institutional collapse of the FACA; its forces were overwhelmed and forced to flee to neighboring countries; it has been estimated that only 10% of the FACA returned afterwards; over the past decade, the FACA has sought to rebuild with considerable foreign assistance, including from France, the EU, Russia, Rwanda, Uganda, and the UN; Russian private military contractors and Rwandan military forces have assisted the FACA in its operations against rebel groups the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has operated in the country since 2014; its mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s transitional government (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 53,378 (2024 est.) IDPs: 469,342 (2024 est.) --- ## Chad **Slug:** chad **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇹🇩 **Codes:** cek: cd, iso2: TD, iso3: TCD, iso_num: 148, genc: TCD, stanag: TCD, internet: .td ### Introduction **Background:** Chad emerged from a collection of powerful states that controlled the Sahelian belt starting around the 9th century. These states focused on controlling trans-Saharan trade routes and profited mostly from the slave trade. The Kanem-Bornu Empire, centered around the Lake Chad Basin, existed between the 9th and 19th centuries, and at its peak, the empire controlled territory stretching from southern Chad to southern Libya and included portions of modern-day Algeria, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan. The Sudanese warlord Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR used an army comprised largely of slaves to conquer the Kanem-Bornu Empire in the late 19th century. In southeastern Chad, the Bagirmi and Ouaddai (Wadai) kingdoms emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries and lasted until the arrival of the French in the 19th and 20th centuries. France began moving into the region in the late 1880s and defeated the Bagirmi kingdom in 1897, Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR in 1900, and the Ouddai kingdom in 1909. In the arid regions of northern Chad and southern Libya, an Islamic order called the Sanusiyya (Sanusi) relied heavily on the trans-Saharan slave trade and had upwards of 3 million followers by the 1880s. The French defeated the Sanusiyya in 1910 after years of intermittent war. By 1910, France had incorporated the northern arid region, the Lake Chad Basin, and southeastern Chad into French Equatorial Africa. Chad achieved its independence in 1960 and then saw three decades of instability, oppressive rule, civil war, and a Libyan invasion. With the help of the French military and several African countries, Chadian leaders expelled Libyan forces during the 1987 "Toyota War," so named for the use of Toyota pickup trucks as fighting vehicles. In 1990, Chadian general Idriss DEBY led a rebellion against President Hissene HABRE. Under DEBY, Chad approved a constitution and held elections in 1996. Shortly after DEBY was killed during a rebel incursion in 2021, a group of military officials -- led by DEBY’s son, Mahamat Idriss DEBY -- took control of the government. The military officials dismissed the National Assembly, suspended the Constitution, and formed a Transitional Military Council (TMC), while pledging to hold democratic elections by October 2022. A national dialogue in August-October 2022 culminated in decisions to extend the transition for up to two years, dissolve the TMC, and appoint Mahamat DEBY as Transitional President; the transitional authorities held a constitutional referendum in December 2023 and claimed 86 percent of votes were in favor of the new constitution. The transitional authorities have announced plans to hold elections by October 2024. Chad has faced widespread poverty, an economy severely weakened by volatile international oil prices, terrorist-led insurgencies in the Lake Chad Basin, and several waves of rebellions in northern and eastern Chad. In 2015, the government imposed a state of emergency in the Lake Chad Basin following multiple attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram, now known as ISIS-West Africa. The same year, Boko Haram conducted bombings in N'Djamena. In 2019, the Chadian government also declared a state of emergency in the Sila and Ouaddai regions bordering Sudan and in the Tibesti region bordering Niger, where rival ethnic groups are still fighting. The army has suffered heavy losses to Islamic terror groups in the Lake Chad Basin. ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, south of Libya **Geographic coordinates:** 15 00 N, 19 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 sq km **Area - comparative:** almost nine times the size of New York state; slightly more than three times the size of California **Land boundaries:** total: 6,406 km border countries (6): Cameroon 1,116 km; Central African Republic 1,556 km; Libya 1,050 km; Niger 1,196 km; Nigeria 85 km; Sudan 1,403 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** tropical in south, desert in north **Terrain:** broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south **Elevation:** highest point: Emi Koussi 3,445 m lowest point: Djourab 160 m mean elevation: 543 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt **Land use:** agricultural land: 40% (2023 est.) arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 35.7% (2023 est.) forest: 3.1% (2023 est.) other: 57% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 300 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Lake Chad Basin, Nubian Aquifer System **Population distribution:** the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues **Geography - note:** note 1: Chad is the largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countries note 2: a wide variety of animals lived in modern-day Chad during the African Humid Period, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelope; the last remnant of this "Green Sahara" exists in the Lakes of Ounianga in northern Chad, a series of 18 interconnected freshwater, saline, and hypersaline lakes note 3: Lake Chad, the most significant water body in the Sahel, is a remnant of a former inland sea, paleolake Mega-Chad; at its greatest extent, sometime before 5000 B.C., Lake Mega-Chad was the largest of four Saharan paleolakes that existed during the African Humid Period; it covered an area of about 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq mi), roughly the size of today's Caspian Sea ### People and Society **Population:** total: 19,674,004 (2025 est.) male: 9,756,129 female: 9,917,875 **Nationality:** noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian **Ethnic groups:** Sara (Ngambaye/Sara/Madjingaye/Mbaye) 30.5%, Kanembu/Bornu/Buduma 9.8%, Arab 9.7%, Wadai/Maba/Masalit/Mimi 7%, Gorane 5.8%, Masa/Musseye/Musgum 4.9%, Bulala/Medogo/Kuka 3.7%, Marba/Lele/Mesme 3.5%, Mundang 2.7%, Bidiyo/Migaama/Kenga/Dangleat 2.5%, Dadjo/Kibet/Muro 2.4%, Tupuri/Kera 2%, Gabri/Kabalaye/Nanchere/Somrai 2%, Fulani/Fulbe/Bodore 1.8%, Karo/Zime/Peve 1.3%, Baguirmi/Barma 1.2%, Zaghawa/Bideyat/Kobe 1.1%, Tama/Assongori/Mararit 1.1%, Mesmedje/Massalat/Kadjakse 0.8%, other 4.6%, unspecified 1.7% (2014-15 est.) **Languages:** French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 languages and dialects major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2014-15 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 45.8% (male 4,428,132/female 4,323,398) 15-64 years: 51.7% (male 4,831,744/female 5,031,383) 65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 204,823/female 274,115) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 92.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 87.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 20.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 16.9 years (2025 est.) male: 16.3 years female: 17.2 years **Population growth rate:** 2.98% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 38.62 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 24.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.592 million N'DJAMENA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 18.1 years (2014/15 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 748 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 61.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 68.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 56.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 60 years (2024 est.) male: 58.1 years female: 62 years **Total fertility rate:** 5.13 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.51 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 77.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 43.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 52% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 22.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 56.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 48% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.2% of GDP (2021) 7.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 56.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 6.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 18.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 43.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 93.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 81.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 6.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 6.5% (2025 est.) male: 11.8% (2025 est.) female: 1.3% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 18.2% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 72.6% (2019 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 24.2% (2019) women married by age 18: 60.6% (2019) men married by age 18: 8.1% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 16.5% national budget (2023 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 30.6% (2019 est.) male: 44.5% (2019 est.) female: 18.6% (2019 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 7 years (2015 est.) male: 9 years (2015 est.) female: 6 years (2015 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** inadequate supplies of potable water; soil and water pollution from improper waste disposal in rural areas and poor farming practices; desertification **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention **Climate:** tropical in south, desert in north **Land use:** agricultural land: 40% (2023 est.) arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 35.7% (2023 est.) forest: 3.1% (2023 est.) other: 57% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 24.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 2.054 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.054 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 41.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 101.8 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,282.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 60.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 12 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.359 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.1% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 103.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 103.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 672.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 45.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form: République du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad local short form: Tchad/Tshad etymology: named for Lake Chad, which lies along the country's western border; taken from a local word meaning "large body of water" or "lake" note: the only country whose name is composed of a single syllable with a single vowel **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: N'Djamena geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 15 02 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: said to derive its name from a local word meaning "place of rest" **Administrative divisions:** 23 provinces; Barh-El-Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Ouest, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi-Est, Mayo-Kebbi-Ouest, Moyen-Chari, N'Djamena, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Wadi-Fira **Legal system:** mixed system of civil and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted by National Transitional Council 27 June 2023, approved by referendum 17 December, verified by Chad Supreme Court 28 December, promulgated 1 January 2024 amendment process: previous process: proposed as a revision by the president of the republic after a Council of Ministers (cabinet) decision or by the National Assembly; approval for consideration of a revision requires at least three-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval by referendum or at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Chad dual citizenship recognized: Chadian law does not address dual citizenship residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Mahamat Idriss DÉBY (since 6 May 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Allamaye HALINA (since 23 May 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits) most recent election date: 6 May 2024 election results: 2024: Mahamat Idriss DÉBY elected president; percent of vote - Mahamat Idriss DÉBY (MPS) 61%, Succes MASRA (Transformers) 18.5%, Albert PADACKE 16.9%, other 3.6% expected date of next election: TBD **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (National Assembly) number of seats: 188 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 12/29/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) (124); Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening (RNDT/ Le Réveil) (12); Others (27); Other (25) percentage of women in chamber: 33.5% expected date of next election: December 2029 note: the initial term of the National Assembly was previously established as five years; however the term length will be changed to six years in accordance with constitutional amendments adopted by a joint session of parliament and promulgated by the President of the Republic in October 2025; the date from which the new term is to apply will be decided at a later stage; if the new term of six years is applied to the National Assembly elected in 2024, the next elections will be held in 2030 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Senate) number of seats: 69 (46 indirectly elected; 23 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 2/25/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) (66); Other (3) percentage of women in chamber: 36.2% expected date of next election: February 2031 note: 46 of the Senate's 69 seats are determined by election, and the remaining 23 seats are appointed by the President **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 3 chamber presidents, and 12 judges or councilors and divided into 3 chambers); Supreme Council of the Judiciary (consists of the Judiciary president, vice president and 13 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice selected by the president; councilors - 8 designated by the president and 7 by the speaker of the National Assembly; chief justice and councilors appointed for life; Supreme Council of the Judiciary - with the exception of the Judiciary president and vice president, members are elected for single renewable 4-year terms subordinate courts: High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace **Political parties:** Chadian Convention for Peace and Development or CTPD Federation Action for the Republic or FAR National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR Party for Unity and Reconstruction or PUR Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening or RNDT/Le Reveil Social Democratic Party for a Change-over of Power or PDSA Union for Democracy and the Republic or UDR Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD Transformers note 1: 19 additional parties each contributed one member note 2: on 5 October 2021, Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY appointed 93 members to the interim National Transitional Council (NTC); 30% of the NTC members were retained from parties previously represented in the National Assembly **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires ANWAR SADAT Fatahalbab (since 30 July 2025) chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 652-1312 FAX: [1] (202) 578-0431 email address and website: info@chadembassy.us https://chadembassy.us/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires William FLENS (since July 2025) embassy: Rond-Point Chagoua, B.P. 413, N’Djamena mailing address: 2410 N'Djamena Place, Washington DC 20521-2410 telephone: [235] 6885-1065 FAX: [235] 2253-9102 email address and website: NdjamenaACS@state.gov https://td.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 11 August 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 11 August (1960) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), gold, and red meaning: combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow Pan-African colors; blue stands for the sky, hope, and the south of the country; gold for the sun and the desert in the north; red for progress, unity, and sacrifice note: almost identical to the flag of Romania, but with a darker shade of blue; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design based on France's flag **National symbol(s):** goat (north), lion (south) **National color(s):** blue, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian) lyrics/music: Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD history: adopted 1960 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Lakes of Ounianga (n); Ennedi Massif: Natural and Cultural Landscape (m) ### Economy **Economic overview:** oil-dependent economy challenged by market fluctuations, regional instability, refugee influx, and climate vulnerability; high levels of extreme poverty and food insecurity; recent growth driven by oil and agricultural recovery; debt-restructuring agreement under G20 Common Framework **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $52.895 billion (2024 est.) $51.03 billion (2023 est.) $49.012 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.7% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) 12.9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $2,600 (2024 est.) $2,600 (2023 est.) $2,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $20.626 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 8.9% (2024 est.) 10.8% (2023 est.) 5.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 32.2% (2024 est.) industry: 29.7% (2024 est.) services: 31.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 61.3% (2024 est.) government consumption: 8.7% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 14.4% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 3.4% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 28.1% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -17.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sorghum, groundnuts, millet, beef, cereals, yams, sugarcane, maize, cassava, milk (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials **Industrial production growth rate:** 5.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 6.6 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 1.1% (2024 est.) 1.1% (2023 est.) 1.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 1.5% (2024 est.) male: 2.1% (2024 est.) female: 0.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 44.8% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 37.4 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 29.5% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.129 billion (2020 est.) expenditures: $2.15 billion (2020 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Exports:** $5.799 billion (2024 est.) $5.7 billion (2023 est.) $5.658 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 26%, China 19%, Germany 17%, Netherlands 13%, France 10% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, gold, oil seeds, gum resins, cotton (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $3.557 billion (2024 est.) $3.271 billion (2023 est.) $2.898 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 28%, UAE 23%, Turkey 10%, France 9%, India 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** jewelry, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, cars, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $1.05 billion (2023 est.) $1.013 billion (2022 est.) $211.591 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $2.286 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 11.7% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 46.3% electrification - rural areas: 1.3% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 167,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 282.103 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 109.04 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 94.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 20 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 124,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 1.5 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 1.502 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: (2024 est.) The telephone system is down. No data is available for the year 2024. subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) The telephone system is down. No data is available for the year 2024. **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 14.8 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 73 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-owned TV station; 2 privately-owned TV stations; state-owned radio network, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and regional stations; over 10 private radio stations; some stations rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2017) **Internet country code:** .td **Internet users:** percent of population: 13% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 0 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TT **Airports:** 44 (2025) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT): Ground Forces (l'Armee de Terre, AdT), Chadian Air Force (l'Armee de l'Air Tchadienne, AAT), Chadian National Gendarmerie; General Direction of the Security Services of State Institutions (Direction Generale des Services de Securite des Institutions de l'Etat, GDSSIE) Ministry of Public Security and Immigration: National Nomadic Guard of Chad (GNNT) (2025) note 1: the GDSSIE is the presidential guard force and is considered to be Chad's elite military unit; it is reportedly a division-sized force with infantry, armor, and special forces/anti-terrorism regiments (known as the Special Anti-Terrorist Group or SATG, aka Division of Special Anti-Terrorist Groups or DGSAT); it reports directly to the president note 2: the Chadian National Police are under the Ministry of Public Security and Immigration; border security duties are shared by the ANT, Customs (Ministry of Public Security and Immigration), the National Gendarmerie, and the GNNT **Military expenditures:** 3% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 35-40,000 active Chadian National Army personnel (2025) note: in 2021, Chad pledged to increase the size of the military to 60,000 **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the ANT has a mix of older, secondhand, and some more modern armaments from a variety of suppliers, including Brazil, China, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the UAE (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-25 for voluntary service; men subject to 18-36 months of compulsory service at age 20; women are subject to 12 months of compulsory military or civic service at age 21 (2025) **Military deployments:** note: Chad has committed approximately 1,000-1,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own territories, although cross‐border operations are conducted periodically **Military - note:** internal security is the primary focus of the Chadian National Army, and it is actively engaged in counterinsurgency operations against multiple terrorist and rebel groups; the terrorist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in West Africa operate in the Lake Chad Basin area; meanwhile, a number of anti-government militias operate in northern Chad, some from bases in southern Libya, including the FACT (Front pour le Changement et la Concorde au Tchad), the Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic (le Conseil de Commandement Militaire pour le salut de la République or CCSMR), the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (le Union des Forces pour la Démocratie et le Développement or UFDD), and the Union of Resistance Forces (le Union des Forces de la Résistance UFR); former Chadian President Idriss DEBY was killed in April 2021 during fighting between the FACT and government forces (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - West Africa (ISIS-WA) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 1,286,645 (2024 est.) IDPs: 1,542,532 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 3 — Chad does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Chad was downgraded to Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/chad/ --- ## Comoros **Slug:** comoros **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇰🇲 **Codes:** cek: cn, iso2: KM, iso3: COM, iso_num: 174, genc: COM, stanag: COM, internet: .km ### Introduction **Background:** For centuries prior to colonization in the 19th century, the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean served as a key node in maritime trade networks that connected the Middle East, India, and eastern African regions. Composed of the islands of Anjouan, Mayotte, Moheli, and Grande Comore, Comoros spent most of the 20th century as a colonial outpost until it declared independence from France on 6 July 1975. Residents of Mayotte, however, voted to remain in France, and the French Government has since classified it as a French Overseas Department. Since independence, Comoros has weathered approximately 20 successful and attempted coups, mostly between 1975 and 2000, resulting in prolonged political instability and stunted economic development. In 2002, President AZALI Assoumani became the first elected president following the completion of the Fomboni Accords, in which the islands of Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli agreed to rotate the presidency among the islands every five years. This power-sharing agreement also included provisions allowing each island to maintain its local government. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union of the Comoros, refusing to step down when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis with sanctions and a naval blockade of Anjouan, but in 2008, the AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The island's inhabitants generally welcomed the move. In 2011, Ikililou DHOININE won the presidency in peaceful elections widely deemed to be free and fair. In closely contested elections in 2016, AZALI won a second term, when the rotating presidency returned to Grande Comore. In 2018, a referendum -- which the opposition parties boycotted -- approved a new constitution that extended presidential term limits and abolished the requirement for the presidency to rotate between the three main islands. AZALI formed a new government later that year, and he subsequently ran and was reelected in 2019. AZALI was reelected again in January 2024 in an election that the opposition disputed but the Supreme Court validated. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique **Geographic coordinates:** 12 10 S, 44 15 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 2,235 sq km land: 2,235 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 340 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) **Terrain:** volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills **Elevation:** highest point: Karthala 2,360 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m **Natural resources:** fish **Land use:** agricultural land: 71.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 34.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 28.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8.1% (2023 est.) forest: 17.8% (2023 est.) other: 10.7% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1.3 sq km (2012) **Population distribution:** the capital city of Maroni, on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, Anjouan is the most densely populated of the three islands that comprise Comoros, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore volcanism: Karthala (2,361 m) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud **Geography - note:** important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel; the only Arab League country that lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere ### People and Society **Population:** total: 911,707 (2025 est.) male: 441,215 female: 470,492 **Nationality:** noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran **Ethnic groups:** Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava **Languages:** Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (official; similar to Swahili), Comorian **Religions:** Muslim 98.1% (overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, small Shia Muslim and Ahmadiyya Muslim populations), ethnic religionist 1.1%, Christian 0.6%, other 0.3% (2020 est.) note: Sunni Islam is the state religion **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 32.6% (male 146,480/female 146,626) 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 271,139/female 294,231) 65 years and over: 4.6% (2024 est.) (male 18,139/female 23,526) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 57.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 49.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 13.5 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 23.1 years (2025 est.) male: 22.1 years female: 23.3 years **Population growth rate:** 1.26% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 21.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the capital city of Maroni, on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, Anjouan is the most densely populated of the three islands that comprise Comoros, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 30.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 62,000 MORONI (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 23 years (2012 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 179 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 53.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 64.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 44.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 67.8 years (2024 est.) male: 65.5 years female: 70.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.52 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.24 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 97.4% of population rural: 88.5% of population total: 91% of population unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population rural: 11.5% of population total: 8.9% of population (2017 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.3% of GDP (2021) 4.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.42 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 7.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 14.7% (2025 est.) male: 24.8% (2025 est.) female: 4.7% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 9.1% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 63.1% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 4.9% (2022) women married by age 18: 20.7% (2022) men married by age 18: 6.9% (2022) **Education expenditure:** 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 11.5% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 75.8% (2021 est.) male: 79.9% (2021 est.) female: 72.2% (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; soil degradation and erosion from forest loss and crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; silting of coral reefs **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) **Land use:** agricultural land: 71.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 34.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 28.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8.1% (2023 est.) forest: 17.8% (2023 est.) other: 10.7% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 30.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 91,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.1% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 4.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 500,000 cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 4.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 1.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Union of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Udzima wa Komori (Comorian)/Union des Comores (French)/Al Ittihad al Qumuri (Arabic) local short form: Komori (Comorian)/Les Comores (French)/Juzur al Qamar (Arabic) former: Comorian State, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros etymology: name derives from the Arabic al qamar, meaning "the moon" **Government type:** federal presidential republic **Capital:** name: Moroni geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "at the place of fire," referring to the capital's location below the active volcano Mt. Karthala **Administrative divisions:** 3 islands; Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Moheli (Mwali) **Legal system:** mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1996, 2001; newest adopted 30 July 2018 amendment process: proposed by the president of the union or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Union membership; adoption requires approval by at least three-quarters majority of the total Assembly membership or approval in a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Comoros dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016) head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term most recent election date: 14 January 2024 election results: 2024: AZALI Assoumani reelected president in first round - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 63%, SALIM ISSA Abdallah (PJ) 20.3%, DAOUDOU Abdallah Mohamed (Orange Party) 5.9%, Bourhane HAMIDOU (independent) 5.1% expected date of next election: 2029 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Assembly of the Union (Assemblée de l'Union) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 33 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 1/12/2025 to 2/16/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) (31); Other (2) percentage of women in chamber: 18.2% expected date of next election: January 2030 note: opposition parties, which claimed there was "gross fraud" during the most recent election, boycotted the elections in 2020 and 2025 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges - selection and term of office NA subordinate courts: Court of Appeals (in Moroni); Tribunal de première instance; island village (community) courts; religious courts **Political parties:** Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC Juwa Party (Parti Juwa) or PJ Orange Party (2020) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Issimail CHANFI (since 23 December 2020); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN chancery: Permanent Mission to the UN, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 495, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637 FAX: [1] (212) 750-1657 email address and website: comoros@un.int https://www.un.int/comoros/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the US Ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AMF, AOSIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) **Independence:** 6 July 1975 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 6 July (1975) **Flag:** description: four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the left; a vertical white crescent moon is centered in the triangle, with four five-pointed white stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent meaning: the horizontal bands and the stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -- Mwali, N'gazidja, Ndzuwani, and Mahore (Mayotte is a department of France, but claimed by Comoros) note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam **National symbol(s):** four five-pointed stars and crescent moon **National color(s):** green, white **National coat of arms:** the coat of arms is in the national colors of green and white; was adopted in 1978; the crescent and stars represent Islam, with the four stars also symbolizing the archipelago’s four main islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, Anjouan, and Mayotte (the last of which is a French department claimed by Comoros); above and below the sun’s rays is the name of the nation written in French and Arabic; two olive branches, representing peace, are connected by a banner with the national motto in French, which translates as "Unity, Solidarity, Development" **National anthem(s):** title: "Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (The Union of the Great Islands) lyrics/music: Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH history: adopted 1978 ### Economy **Economic overview:** small trade-based island economy; declining remittances; new structural and fiscal reforms; adverse cyclone and COVID-19 impacts; manageable debts; fragile liquidity environment; large foreign direct investment; state-owned enterprises suffering **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $3.092 billion (2024 est.) $2.99 billion (2023 est.) $2.901 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.4% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 2.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $3,600 (2024 est.) $3,500 (2023 est.) $3,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $1.546 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1% (2017 est.) 1.8% (2016 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 36.6% (2024 est.) industry: 9.6% (2024 est.) services: 50.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 103.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 9.2% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 9.9% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -34.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** bananas, coconuts, cassava, yams, maize, taro, milk, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, pulses (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** fishing, tourism, perfume distillation **Industrial production growth rate:** 3.8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 276,400 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.9% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 3.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 8.9% (2024 est.) male: 8.3% (2024 est.) female: 9.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 44.8% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Remittances:** 21.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 22% of GDP (2022 est.) 22.2% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $212.551 million (2023 est.) expenditures: $230.338 million (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Current account balance:** -$24.621 million (2023 est.) -$5.248 million (2022 est.) -$4.076 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $148.455 million (2023 est.) $166.032 million (2022 est.) $128.331 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Indonesia 25%, India 23%, Turkey 16%, UAE 11%, USA 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cloves, ships, essential oils, vanilla, scrap iron (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $504.036 million (2023 est.) $480.268 million (2022 est.) $415.965 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 24%, UAE 21%, Tanzania 12%, France 7%, India 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, poultry, rice, flavored water, additive manufacturing machines (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $323.946 million (2024 est.) $324.561 million (2023 est.) $283.746 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $267.652 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 454.524 (2024 est.) 454.991 (2023 est.) 467.184 (2022 est.) 415.956 (2021 est.) 430.721 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 89.9% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 82.9% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 32,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 113.052 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 22.1 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 7.139 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 8,200 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 934,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by Anjouan regional government; national state-owned radio; regional governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate a radio station; a few independent and small community radio stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV **Internet country code:** .km **Internet users:** percent of population: 36% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 3,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** D6 **Airports:** 3 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 273 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 17, container ship 7, general cargo 125, oil tanker 36, other 88 **Ports:** total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 4 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Dzaoudzi, Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudu ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** National Army for Development (l'Armee Nationale de Developpement, AND): Comoran Defense Force (Force Comorienne de Defense or FCD; includes Comoran National Gendarmerie); Ministry of Interior: Coast Guard, Federal Police, National Directorate of Territorial Safety (customs and immigration) (2025) note 1: when the Gendarmerie serves as the judicial police, it reports to the Minister of Justice; the Gendarmerie also has an intervention platoon that may act under the authority of the Interior Minister note 2: the FCD is also known as the Comoran Security Force **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 600 Defense Force; estimated 500 Federal Police (2023) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the AND is lightly armed and equipped with small arms, a few light aircraft, and utility vehicles (2024) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023) **Military - note:** the focus for the security forces is search and rescue operations and maintaining internal security; a defense treaty with France provides naval resources for the protection of territorial waters, training of Comoran military personnel, and air surveillance; France maintains a small maritime base and a Foreign Legion contingent on neighboring Mayotte (2024) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 18 (2024 est.) IDPs: 38 (2024 est.) --- ## Congo, Democratic Republic of the **Slug:** congo-democratic-republic-of-the **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇨🇩 **Codes:** cek: cg, iso2: CD, iso3: COD, iso_num: 180, genc: COD, stanag: COD, internet: .cd, comment: formerly Zaire ### Introduction **Background:** Bantu, Sudanic, and other migrants from West and Northeastern Africa arrived in the Congo River Basin between 2000 B.C. and A.D. 500. The territory that is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo has more than 200 ethnic groups that trace their histories to many communal organizations and kingdoms. The Kingdom of Kongo, for example, ruled the area around the mouth of the Congo River from the 14th to 19th centuries. Meanwhile, the Kingdoms of Luba and Lunda, located to the south and east, were also notable political groupings in the territory and ruled from the 16th and 17th centuries to the 19th century. European prospectors in the Congo Basin invaded and splintered these kingdoms in the late 1800’s, sponsored by King LEOPOLD II of Belgium, and the kingdoms were eventually forced to grant Leopold the rights to the Congo territory as his private property. During this period, known as the Congo Free State, the king's private colonial military forced the local population to produce rubber. From 1885 to 1908, millions of Congolese people died as a result of disease and inhumane treatment. International condemnation finally forced LEOPOLD to cede the land to the state of Belgium, creating the Belgian Congo. The Republic of the Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960, but its early years were marred by instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name to MOBUTU Sese Seko and the country's name to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years, using sham elections and brute force. In 1994, a massive inflow of refugees from conflict in neighboring Rwanda and Burundi sparked ethnic strife and civil war. A rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA toppled the MOBUTU regime in 1997. KABILA renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In 1998, another insurrection -- again backed by Rwanda and Uganda -- challenged the KABILA regime, but troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe helped quell the uprising. In 2001, KABILA was assassinated, and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In 2002, the new president negotiated the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; the remaining warring parties subsequently signed the Pretoria Accord to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. KABILA was elected as president in 2006 and 2011. The DRC constitution barred him from running for a third term, so in 2016, the DRC Government delayed national elections for two years. This fueled significant civil and political unrest, with sporadic street protests and exacerbation of tensions in the eastern DRC regions. The results of the 2018 elections were disputed, but opposition candidate Felix TSHISEKEDI, son of long-time opposition leader Etienne TSHISEKEDI, was announced as the election winner. This was the first transfer of power to an opposition candidate without significant violence or a coup since 1960. In 2023, the DRC held its fourth electoral cycle since independence; TSHISEKEDI was proclaimed the winner despite some allegations of fraud, with his Sacred Union alliance retaining a large parliamentary majority. The DRC continues to experience violence -- particularly in the East -- perpetrated by more than 100 armed groups active in the region, including the March 23 (M23) rebel group, the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, or ISIS-DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and assorted local militias known as Mai Mai militias. The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has operated in the region since 1999 and is the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission in the world. ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, northeast of Angola **Geographic coordinates:** 0 00 N, 25 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 2,344,858 sq km land: 2,267,048 sq km water: 77,810 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US **Land boundaries:** total: 11,027 km border countries (9): Angola 2,646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province); Burundi 236 km; Central African Republic 1,747 km; Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Rwanda 221 km; South Sudan 714 km; Tanzania 479 km; Uganda 877 km; Zambia 2,332 km **Coastline:** 37 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: since 2011, the DRC has had a Common Interest Zone agreement with Angola for the mutual development of off-shore resources **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) **Terrain:** vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east **Elevation:** highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 726 m **Natural resources:** cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber note 1: coltan, the industrial name for a columbite–tantalite mineral from which niobium and tantalum are extracted, is mainly artisanal and small-scale; tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold extracted from central Africa are considered "conflict minerals" and as such are subject to international monitoring note 2: the DROC is the World's leading producer of cobalt, accounting for as much as 70% of the World's supply; between 20-30% of this cobalt is produced in artisanal and small-scale mining operations **Land use:** agricultural land: 15.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8% (2023 est.) forest: 61.6% (2023 est.) other: 22.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 110 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Uganda) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Zambia) - 4,350 sq km; Lac Mai-Ndombe - 2,300 sq km; Lake Kivu (shared with Rwanda) - 2,220 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Uganda) - 2,150 sq km; Lac Tumba - 500 sq km; Lac Upemba - 530 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Zaïre (Congo) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, and Republic of Congo) - 2,920 km; Ubangi river mouth (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Republic of Congo) - 2,270 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Congo Basin **Population distribution:** urban clusters are spread throughout the country, particularly in the northeast along the border with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi; the largest city is the capital, Kinshasha, located in the west along the Congo River; the south is least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); active volcanoes in the east along the Great Rift Valley volcanism: the active volcano Nyiragongo (3,470 m) poses a major threat to the city of Goma, home to a quarter of a million people; it produces unusually fast-moving lava, known to travel up to 100 km/hr; Nyiragongo has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; its neighbor Nyamuragira is Africa's most active volcano; Visoke is the only other historically active volcano **Geography - note:** note 1: second-largest country in Africa (after Algeria) and largest country in sub-Saharan Africa; straddles the equator; dense tropical rainforest in central river basin and eastern highlands; the narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River is the DRC's only outlet to the South Atlantic Ocean note 2: the Congo River, most of which flows through the DRC, has never been accurately measured along much of its length because of its speed, cataracts, rapids, and turbulence; nonetheless, it is conceded to be the deepest river in the world, with estimates of the point of greatest depth varying between 220 and 250 meters ### People and Society **Population:** total: 119,038,825 (2025 est.) male: 59,509,076 female: 59,529,749 **Nationality:** noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo **Ethnic groups:** more than 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest groups - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) - make up about 45% of the population **Languages:** French (official), Lingala (a trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba major-language sample(s): Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Christian 93/1% (Roman Catholic 29.9%, Protestant 26.7%, other Christian 36.5%), Kimbanguist 2.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 1.2%, none 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2014 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 45.7% (male 26,584,268/female 26,208,891) 15-64 years: 51.8% (male 29,845,450/female 29,884,958) 65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 1,258,442/female 1,621,018) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 92.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 87.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 16.9 years (2025 est.) male: 16.7 years female: 17 years **Population growth rate:** 3.09% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 38.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** urban clusters are spread throughout the country, particularly in the northeast along the border with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi; the largest city is the capital, Kinshasha, located in the west along the Congo River; the south is least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 47.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 16.316 million KINSHASA (capital), 2.892 million Mbuji-Mayi, 2.812 million Lubumbashi, 1.664 million Kananga, 1.423 million Kisangani, 1.249 million Bukavu (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.9 years (2013/14 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 427 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 55.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 62.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 51.9 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 62.6 years (2024 est.) male: 60.7 years female: 64.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 5.42 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.67 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 59.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 13.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 35.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 40.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 86.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 64.9% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.8% of GDP (2021) 4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 48.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 20.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 33.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 51.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 79.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 66.3% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 6.7% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 10.4% (2025 est.) male: 18.8% (2025 est.) female: 2.3% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 25% (2023 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 58.2% (2018 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 8.4% (2018) women married by age 18: 29.1% (2018) men married by age 18: 5.6% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 13.5% national budget (2017 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 73.6% (2018 est.) male: 87.5% (2018 est.) female: 61.6% (2018 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** poaching; water pollution; deforestation from agriculture and wood used for fuel; soil erosion; damage from mining **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification **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) **Land use:** agricultural land: 15.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8% (2023 est.) forest: 61.6% (2023 est.) other: 22.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 47.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 5.883 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 731,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.152 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 33.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 780.6 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 567.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 499.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 214.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 14.385 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 464.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 146.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 71.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 1.283 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo conventional short form: DRC local long form: République démocratique du Congo local short form: RDC former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire abbreviation: DRC (or DROC) etymology: named for the Congo River, most of which lies within the DRC; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom in the area **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Kinshasa geographic coordinates: 4 19 S, 15 18 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: the DRC has two time zones etymology: founded as a trading post in 1881 and named Leopoldville in honor of King LEOPOLD II of the Belgians; in 1966, Leopoldville was renamed Kinshasa, a Bantu name of unknown meaning **Administrative divisions:** 26 provinces; Bas-Uele (Lower Uele), Equateur, Haut-Katanga (Upper Katanga), Haut-Lomami (Upper Lomami), Haut-Uele (Upper Uele), Ituri, Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental (East Kasai), Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Lomami, Lualaba, Mai-Ndombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Nord-Ubangi (North Ubangi), Sankuru, Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), Tanganyika, Tshopo, Tshuapa **Legal system:** civil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 13 May 2005, approved by referendum 18-19 December 2005, promulgated 18 February 2006 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by either house of Parliament, or by public petition; agreement on the substance of a proposed bill requires absolute majority vote in both houses; passage requires a referendum only if both houses in joint meeting fail to achieve three-fifths majority vote; constitutional articles, including the form of government, universal suffrage, judicial independence, political pluralism, and personal freedoms, cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal and compulsory **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Felix TSHISEKEDI (since 20 January 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Judith SUMINWA Tuluka (since 29 May 2024) cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 20 December 2023 election results: 2023: Felix TSHISEKEDI reelected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 73.3%, Moise KATUMBI (Ensemble) 18.8%, Martin FAYULU (ECIDE) 5.3%, other 2.6% 2018: Felix TSHISEKEDI elected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 38.6%, Martin FAYULU (Lamuka coalition) 34.8%, Emmanuel Ramazani SHADARY (PPRD) 23.9%, other 2.7% expected date of next election: 20 December 2028 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parlement (Parliament) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) number of seats: 500 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/29/2024 to 5/26/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Union for Democracy and Social Progress/TSHISEKEDI (UDPS/TSHISEKEDI) (69); Action of Allies and Union for the Congolese Nation (A/A-UNC) (35); Alliance of Democratic Forces of Congo and Allies (AFDC-A) (35); Act and Build (AB) (26); Action of Allies/All for the Development of the Congo (2A/TDC) (21); Alliance of Stakeholders for the People (AAAP) (21); Alliance Bloc 50 (A/B50) (20); Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) (19); Other (131) percentage of women in chamber: 12.8% expected date of next election: December 2028 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Sénat) number of seats: 109 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 12/20/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 15.8% expected date of next election: April 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of 26 justices and organized into legislative and judiciary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Judicial Service Council, an independent body of public prosecutors and selected judges of the lower courts; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by the president, 3 by the Judicial Service Council, and 3 by the legislature; judges appointed by the president to serve 9-year non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: State Security Court; Court of Appeals (organized into administrative and judiciary sections); Tribunal de Grande Instance; magistrates' courts; customary courts **Political parties:** Christian Democrat Party or PDC Congolese Rally for Democracy or RCD Convention of Christian Democrats or CDC Engagement for Citizenship and Development or ECIDE Forces of Renewal or FR Movement for the Liberation of the Congo or MLC Nouvel Elan Our Congo or CNB ("Congo Na Biso") People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy or PPRD Social Movement for Renewal or MSR Together for Change ("Ensemble") Unified Lumumbist Party or PALU Union for the Congolese Nation or UNC Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael SHAKU YUMI (since 1 August 2024) chancery: 1100 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690 FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609 email address and website: ambassade@ambardcusa.org https://www.ambardcusa.org/ representative office: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan TULLER (since January 2026) embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa, Gombe mailing address: 2220 Kinshasa Place, Washington DC 20521-2220 telephone: [243] 081 556-0151 FAX: [243] 81 556-0175 email address and website: ACSKinshasa@state.gov https://cd.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC (observer), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 30 June 1960 (from Belgium) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 30 June (1960) **Flag:** description: sky-blue field divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner by a red stripe bordered with two narrow yellow stripes; a five-pointed yellow star is in the upper-left corner meaning: blue stands for peace and hope, red for the blood of the country's martyrs, and yellow for the country's wealth and prosperity; the star symbolizes unity and a brilliant future for the country **National symbol(s):** leopard **National color(s):** sky blue, red, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "Debout Congolaise" (Arise, Congolese) lyrics/music: Joseph LUTUMBA/Simon-Pierre BOKA di Mpasi Londi history: adopted 1960; replaced when the country was known as Zaire, but readopted in 1997 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Garamba National Park; Kahuzi-Biega National Park; Okapi Wildlife Reserve; Salonga National Park; Virunga National Park ### Economy **Economic overview:** very poor, large, natural resource-rich sub-Saharan country; possesses the world’s second largest rainforest; increasing Chinese extractive sector trade; massive decrease in government investments; increasing current account deficit and public debts **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $164.367 billion (2024 est.) $154.081 billion (2023 est.) $141.867 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 6.7% (2024 est.) 8.6% (2023 est.) 8.9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $1,500 (2024 est.) $1,500 (2023 est.) $1,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $70.749 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 41.5% (2017 est.) 2.9% (2016 est.) 0.7% (2015 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 17.1% (2024 est.) industry: 46.6% (2024 est.) services: 33% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 62.7% (2024 est.) government consumption: 8.1% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 32.9% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.5% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 46.6% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -50.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, plantains, sugarcane, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, root vegetables, bananas, sweet potatoes, groundnuts (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** mining (copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, coltan, zinc, tin, tungsten), mineral processing, consumer products (textiles, plastics, footwear, cigarettes), metal products, processed foods and beverages, timber, cement, commercial ship repair **Industrial production growth rate:** 10.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 38.546 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4.6% (2024 est.) 4.5% (2023 est.) 4.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 8.5% (2024 est.) male: 10.8% (2024 est.) female: 6.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 56.2% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 44.7 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.1% (2020 est.) highest 10%: 35.7% (2020 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 4.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 5% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $11.568 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $13.026 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 16% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 11.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$3.883 billion (2023 est.) -$3.148 billion (2022 est.) -$587.407 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $29.65 billion (2023 est.) $28.753 billion (2022 est.) $22.354 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 69%, UAE 7%, India 3%, Spain 3%, Egypt 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** refined copper, cobalt, copper ore, raw copper, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $33.68 billion (2023 est.) $31.699 billion (2022 est.) $22.193 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 35%, Zambia 12%, South Africa 12%, India 5%, Belgium 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** trucks, refined petroleum, stone processing machines, plastic products, sulphur (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $5.104 billion (2023 est.) $4.378 billion (2022 est.) $3.467 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $7.926 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Congolese francs (CDF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 2,340.036 (2023 est.) 2,006.708 (2022 est.) 1,989.391 (2021 est.) 1,851.122 (2020 est.) 1,647.76 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 21.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 45.3% electrification - rural areas: 1% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 3.229 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 16.069 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 62 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 1.473 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.242 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** solar: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 86% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 304,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 304,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 987.999 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 19,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 180 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 380,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 380,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 991.09 million cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 1.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: (2023 est.) Currently, operators holding fixed-line telephone licenses do not have an operational distribution network, which explains the low number of customers. subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 56.3 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned TV station with near-national coverage; more than a dozen privately owned TV stations, including 2 with near-national coverage; 2 state-owned radio stations and over 100 private radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available **Internet country code:** .cd **Internet users:** percent of population: 31% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 33,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 9Q **Airports:** 273 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 4,007 km (2014) narrow gauge: 3,882 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified) 125 1.000-mm gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 24 (2023) by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 17 **Ports:** total ports: 3 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Banana, Boma, Matadi ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Land Forces (Forces Terrestres), National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise, FAC); Republican Guard (Garde Républicaine, GR) Ministry of Interior: Congolese National Police (Police Nationale Congolaise, PNC) (2025) note: the Republican Guard is overseen by the office of the presidency rather than the FARDC; it focuses on protecting the president and government institutions and enforcing internal security note 2: community-based self-defense groups, known as Wazalendo militias, are also active in areas contested by illegal armed groups, such as M23 **Military expenditures:** 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 100-150,000 active FARDC (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FARDC is equipped mostly with Soviet-era and older French armaments; in recent years, it has received some more modern equipment, such as armored vehicles and armed drones, from China, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men; it is unclear how much conscription is used (2025) note: in eastern Congo, fighters from armed groups, including some associated with government security forces, have been accused of forced recruitment of child soldiers **Military - note:** the FARDC’s primary focus is internal security and conducting operations against rebels and other illegal armed groups (IOGs) operating in the DRC, particularly in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where more than 15 significant and cohesive IOGs operate; there is also IOG-related violence in Maniema, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika provinces; some estimates place over 100 IOGs operating in the country, including organized militias, such as the Nduma Defense of Congo-Renewal (NDC-R), which operates in North Kivu; Mai Mai groups (local militias that operate variously as self-defense networks and criminal rackets); and foreign-origin groups seeking safe haven and resources, such as the Ugandan-origin Allied Democratic Forces (ADF; aka Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), multiple groups originating from Burundi, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), and the Rwandan-backed March 23 Movement (aka M23 or Congolese Revolutionary Army); the FARDC incorporates some non-state armed groups and has been accused of collaborating with some IOGs, such as the NDC-R the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has operated in the central and eastern parts of the country since 1999; its mandate had been extended to the end of 2026; MONUSCO includes a Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), the first ever UN peacekeeping force specifically tasked to carry out targeted offensive operations to neutralize and disarm groups considered a threat to state authority and civilian security (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 518,445 (2024 est.) IDPs: 6,895,648 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the Democratic Republic of the Congo did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/ --- ## Congo, Republic of the **Slug:** congo-republic-of-the **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇨🇬 **Codes:** cek: cf, iso2: CG, iso3: COG, iso_num: 178, genc: COG, stanag: COG, internet: .cg ### Introduction **Background:** Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. From 1968 to 1992, the country was named the People’s Republic of the Congo. A quarter-century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990, and a democratically elected government took office in 1992, at which time the country reverted to "the Republic of the Congo" name. A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored to power former President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992. A new constitution adopted three years later provided for a multi-party system and a seven-year presidential term, and the next elections retained SASSOU-Nguesso. After a year of renewed fighting, SASSOU-Nguesso and southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in 2003. SASSOU-Nguesso was reelected in 2009 and, after passing a constitutional referendum allowing him to run for additional terms, was reelected again in 2016 and 2021. The Republic of the Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers. ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon **Geographic coordinates:** 1 00 S, 15 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 342,000 sq km land: 341,500 sq km water: 500 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida **Land boundaries:** total: 5,554 km border countries (5): Angola 231 km; Cameroon 494 km; Central African Republic 487 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Gabon 2,567 km **Coastline:** 169 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator **Terrain:** coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin **Elevation:** highest point: Mont Nabeba 1,020 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 430 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 31.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.) forest: 63.9% (2023 est.) other: 4.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 20 sq km (2012) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Oubangui (Ubangi) (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Congo Basin **Population distribution:** the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** seasonal flooding **Geography - note:** about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them ### People and Society **Population:** total: 6,244,005 (2025 est.) male: 3,118,731 female: 3,125,274 **Nationality:** noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo **Ethnic groups:** Kongo (Bakongo) 40.5%, Teke 16.9%, Mbochi 13.1%, foreigner 8.2%, Sangha 5.6%, Mbere/Mbeti/Kele 4.4%, Punu 4.3%, Pygmy 1.6%, Oubanguiens 1.6%, Duma 1.5%, Makaa 1.3%, other and unspecified 1% (2014-15 est.) **Languages:** French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread) major-language sample(s): Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguist 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2007 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 37.8% (male 1,162,298/female 1,143,668) 15-64 years: 57.8% (male 1,770,337/female 1,756,925) 65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 113,338/female 151,099) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 71.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 64 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 13.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 20.9 years (2025 est.) male: 20.5 years female: 20.9 years **Population growth rate:** 2.36% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 28.34 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 69.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 2.638 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.336 million Pointe-Noire (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.6 years (2011/12 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 241 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 29.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 72.9 years (2024 est.) male: 71.5 years female: 74.3 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.72 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.83 (2025 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.9% of GDP (2021) 3.5% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 9.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 15.8% (2025 est.) male: 30% (2025 est.) female: 1.7% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 51.8% (2023 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 6.9% (2015) women married by age 18: 27.3% (2015) men married by age 18: 5.6% (2018 est.) **Education expenditure:** 3.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 14.7% national budget (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator **Land use:** agricultural land: 31.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.) forest: 63.9% (2023 est.) other: 4.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 69.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 2.66 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.826 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 834,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 36.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 308.8 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 19.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 25.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 11.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 451,200 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.2% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 63.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 24 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 4 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 832 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville) local long form: République du Congo local short form: Congo former: French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville etymology: named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom in the area **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Brazzaville geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who founded the town in 1883 **Administrative divisions:** 15 departments; Bouenza, Brazzaville, Congo-Oubangui, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Djoue-Lefini, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Nkeni-Alima, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha **Legal system:** mixed system of French civil law and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; passage of presidential proposals requires Supreme Court review followed by approval in a referendum; such proposals may also be submitted directly to Parliament, in which case passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote of both houses in joint session; proposals by Parliament require three-fourths majority vote of both houses in joint session; constitutional articles including those affecting the country’s territory, republican form of government, and secularity of the state are not amendable **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms) most recent election date: 21 March 2021 election results: 2021: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 88.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 8.0%, other 3.6% 2016: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 60.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 15.1%, Jean-Marie MOKOKO (independent) 13.9%, Pascal Tsaty MABIALA (UPADS) 4.4%, other 6.2% expected date of next election: 21 March 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlement) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) number of seats: 151 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 8/20/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Congolese Workers Party (PCT) (112); Other (39) percentage of women in chamber: 14.6% expected date of next election: July 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Sénat) number of seats: 72 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 7/10/2022 to 7/31/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 31.9% expected date of next election: August 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges elected by Parliament and serve until age 65; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president of the republic - 3 directly by the president and 6 nominated by Parliament; members appointed for renewable 9-year terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts note: a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the President of the Republic **Political parties:** Alliance of the Presidential Majority or AMP Action Movement for Renewal or MAR Citizen's Rally or RC Congolese Labour Party or PCT Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI Congo on the Move or LCEM Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS Club 2002-Party for the Unity and the Republic or Club 2002 Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP Perspectives and Realities Club or CPR Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS Republican and Liberal Party or PRL Union of Democratic Forces or UDF Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR Union of Humanist Democrats or UDH-YUKI Union for the Republic or UR **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Firmine BOUITY (since 6 September 2025) chancery: 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860 email address and website: info@ambacongo-us.org http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Amanda S. JACOBSEN (since 18 July 2025) embassy: 70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville mailing address: 2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090 telephone: [242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9700 email address and website: BrazzavilleACS@state.gov https://cg.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC (observer), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 15 August 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 15 August (1960) **Flag:** description: divided diagonally from the lower-left side by a wide yellow band; the upper triangle (left side) is green, and the lower triangle is red meaning: green stands for agriculture and forests, and yellow for the people's friendship and nobility; the meaning of the red color is not noted but has been associated with the struggle for independence history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement **National symbol(s):** lion, elephant **National color(s):** green, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "La Congolaise" (The Congolese) lyrics/music: Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE history: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sangha Trinational Forest; Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua ### Economy **Economic overview:** primarily an oil- and natural resources-based economy; recovery from mid-2010s oil devaluation has been slow and curtailed by COVID-19; extreme poverty increasing, particularly in southern rural regions; attempting to implement recommended CEMAC reforms; increasing likelihood of debt default **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $39.147 billion (2024 est.) $38.163 billion (2023 est.) $37.448 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.6% (2024 est.) 1.9% (2023 est.) 1.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $6,200 (2024 est.) $6,200 (2023 est.) $6,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $15.72 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.1% (2024 est.) 4.3% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 9.4% (2024 est.) industry: 40.1% (2024 est.) services: 45% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 47.4% (2024 est.) government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 26.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 52.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes **Industrial production growth rate:** 0.3% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 2.563 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 19.7% (2024 est.) 19.9% (2023 est.) 20.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 40% (2024 est.) male: 41% (2024 est.) female: 39% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Remittances:** 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.393 billion (2020 est.) expenditures: $3.231 billion (2020 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 6.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $1.716 billion (2021 est.) $1.441 billion (2020 est.) $1.632 billion (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $7.752 billion (2021 est.) $4.67 billion (2020 est.) $7.855 billion (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $4.487 billion (2021 est.) $3.279 billion (2020 est.) $4.945 billion (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $715.391 million (2023 est.) $835.649 million (2022 est.) $828.56 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $6.36 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 50.6% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 67.5% electrification - rural areas: 12.4% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 842,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 2.832 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 31 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 30.588 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.335 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 79.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 20.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 65 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 267,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 425 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 425 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 283.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 7.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 17,600 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 6.05 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available **Internet country code:** .cg **Internet users:** percent of population: 38% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 78,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TN **Airports:** 56 (2025) **Railways:** total: 510 km (2014) narrow gauge: 510 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 11 (2023) by type: oil tanker 1, other 10 **Ports:** total ports: 5 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 4 ports with oil terminals: 4 key ports: Djeno Terminal, Dussafu Terminal, N'kossa Terminal, Pointe Noire, Yombo Terminal ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025) note: the National Gendarmerie (GN) is a paramilitary force with domestic law enforcement and security responsibilities; it is under the Ministry of Defense, but also reports to the Ministry of Interior; the GN nominally includes the Republican Guard (GR), which is responsible for presidential security and has a separate command structure **Military expenditures:** 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 12-14,000 active FAC, including Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FAC has a mixed inventory of Chinese, French, Italian, Russian/Soviet, and South African armaments (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025) **Military deployments:** has about 175 mostly police personnel deployed to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025) **Military - note:** the FAC's primary focuses are internal and maritime/riverine security; since its creation in 1961, the FAC has had a turbulent history; it has been sidelined by some national leaders in favor of personal militias, endured an internal rebellion (1996), and clashed with various rebel groups and political or ethnic militias (1993-1996, 2002-2005, 2017); during the 1997-1999 civil war, the military generally split along ethnic lines, with most northern officers supporting eventual winner SASSOU-Nguesso, and most southerners backing the rebels; others joined ethnic-based factions loyal to regional warlords; forces backing SASSOU-Nguesso were supported by Angolan troops and received some French assistance; the FAC also has undergone at least three reorganizations that included the incorporation of former rebel combatants and various ethnic and political militias; in recent years, France has provided some advice and training, and a military cooperation agreement was signed with Russia in 2019 (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 69,766 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the Republic of the Congo does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, the Republic of the Congo was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/republic-of-the-congo/ --- ## Cote d'Ivoire **Slug:** cote-divoire **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇨🇮 **Codes:** cek: iv, iso2: CI, iso3: CIV, iso_num: 384, genc: CIV, stanag: CIV, internet: .ci ### Introduction **Background:** Various small kingdoms ruled the area of Cote d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries, when European explorers arrived and then began to expand their presence. In 1844, France established a protectorate. During this period, many of these kingdoms and tribes fought to maintain their cultural identities -- some well into the 20th century. For example, the Sanwi kingdom -- originally founded in the 17th century -- tried to break away from Cote d’Ivoire and establish an independent state in 1969. Cote d’Ivoire achieved independence from France in 1960 but has maintained close ties. Foreign investment and the export and production of cocoa drove economic growth that led Cote d’Ivoire to become one of the most prosperous states in West Africa. Then in 1999, a military coup overthrew the government, and a year later, junta leader Robert GUEI held rigged elections and declared himself the winner. Popular protests forced him to step aside, and Laurent GBAGBO was elected. Ivoirian dissidents and members of the military launched a failed coup in 2002 that developed into a civil war. In 2003, a cease-fire resulted in rebels holding the north, the government holding the south, and peacekeeping forces occupying a buffer zone in the middle. In 2007, President GBAGBO and former rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister. The two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. In 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in five months of violent conflict. Armed OUATTARA supporters and UN and French troops eventually forced GBAGBO to step down in 2011. OUATTARA won a second term in 2015 and a controversial third term in 2020 -- despite the two-term limit in the Ivoirian constitution -- in an election boycotted by the opposition. Through political compromise with OUATTARA, the opposition participated peacefully in 2021 legislative elections and won a substantial minority of seats. Also in 2021, the International Criminal Court in The Hague ruled on a final acquittal for GBAGBO, who was on trial for crimes against humanity, paving the way for GBAGBO’s return to Abidjan the same year. GBAGBO has publicly met with OUATTARA since his return as a demonstration of political reconciliation. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia **Geographic coordinates:** 8 00 N, 5 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 322,463 sq km land: 318,003 sq km water: 4,460 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than New Mexico **Land boundaries:** total: 3,458 km border countries (5): Burkina Faso 545 km; Ghana 720 km; Guinea 816 km; Liberia 778 km; Mali 599 km **Coastline:** 515 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October) **Terrain:** mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest **Elevation:** highest point: Monts Nimba 1,752 m lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m mean elevation: 250 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 86.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 15.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 29.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 41.5% (2023 est.) forest: 12.4% (2023 est.) other: 1.1% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 730 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** salt water lake(s): Lagune Aby - 780 sq km **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) **Population distribution:** the population is primarily located in the forested south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the northern savanna remains sparsely populated, with higher concentrations located along transportation corridors, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible **Geography - note:** most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated ### People and Society **Population:** total: 31,855,971 (2025 est.) male: 15,992,906 female: 15,863,065 **Nationality:** noun: Ivoirian(s) adjective: Ivoirian **Ethnic groups:** Akan 38%, Voltaique or Gur 22%, Northern Mande 22%, Kru 9.1%, Southern Mande 8.6%, other 0.3% (2021 est.) **Languages:** French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim 42.9%, Catholic 17.2%, Evangelical 11.8%, Methodist 1.7%, other Christian 3.2%, animist 3.6%, other religion 0.5%, none 19.1% (2014 est.) note: the majority of foreign migrant workers are Muslim (72.7%) and Christian (17.7%) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 36.1% (male 5,437,108/female 5,390,782) 15-64 years: 60.9% (male 9,200,957/female 9,060,748) 65 years and over: 3% (2024 est.) (male 401,967/female 490,196) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 72.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 67.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 4.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 21.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 20 years (2025 est.) male: 21.2 years female: 21.2 years **Population growth rate:** 2.33% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 29.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.93 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the population is primarily located in the forested south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the northern savanna remains sparsely populated, with higher concentrations located along transportation corridors, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 231,000 YAMOUSSOUKRO (capital) (2018), 5.686 million ABIDJAN (seat of government) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.6 years (2011/12 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 359 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 52.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 59.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 63.2 years (2024 est.) male: 60.9 years female: 65.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.85 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.9 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 86.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 58% of population (2022 est.) total: 72.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 13.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 42% of population (2022 est.) total: 27.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.1% of GDP (2021) 6.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 41.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 64.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 58.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 35.8% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 10.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 7.8% (2025 est.) male: 14.9% (2025 est.) female: 0.6% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 13.6% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 62.7% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 7.4% (2021) women married by age 18: 25.8% (2021) men married by age 18: 1.9% (2021) **Education expenditure:** 3.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 17.6% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 50% (2021 est.) male: 60.2% (2021 est.) female: 40.3% (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 11 years (2023 est.) male: 11 years (2023 est.) female: 11 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; water pollution from sewage and from industrial, mining, and agricultural effluents **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October) **Land use:** agricultural land: 86.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 15.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 29.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 41.5% (2023 est.) forest: 12.4% (2023 est.) other: 1.1% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 16.28 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 11.641 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 4.639 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 36 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 187.7 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 192 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 199.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 28.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.441 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 242 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 84.14 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Côte d'Ivoire conventional short form: Côte d'Ivoire local long form: République de Côte d'Ivoire local short form: Cote d'Ivoire former: Ivory Coast etymology: name, which means "Ivory Coast" in French, reflects the ivory trade in the region from the 15th to 17th centuries; the French version of the name has been used internationally since 1986, at the country's request note: pronounced coat-div-whar **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Yamoussoukro (legislative capital), Abidjan (administrative and economic capital); note - the US Embassy is in Abidjan geographic coordinates: 6 49 N, 5 16 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: formerly a village named N'Gokro, Yamoussoukro is named after Queen YAMOUSSOU, who ruled during the early 20th century; Abidjan's name may have come from a misunderstanding when a French explorer asked a group of women the name of the village -- thinking it was a question about what they were doing, they replied "t'chan m’bi djan," which in the Ebrie language means "I return from cutting leaves," so the explorer recorded the name of the locale as Abidjan **Administrative divisions:** 12 districts and 2 autonomous districts*; Abidjan*, Bas-Sassandra, Comoe, Denguele, Goh-Djiboua, Lacs, Lagunes, Montagnes, Sassandra-Marahoue, Savanes, Vallée du Bandama, Woroba, Yamoussoukro*, Zanzan **Legal system:** civil law system based on the French civil code; Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court reviews legislation **Constitution:** history: previous 1960, 2000; latest draft completed 24 September 2016, approved by the National Assembly 11 October 2016, approved by referendum 30 October 2016, promulgated 8 November 2016 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of drafts or proposals requires an absolute majority vote by the parliamentary membership; passage of amendments affecting presidential elections, presidential term of office and vacancies, and amendment procedures requires approval by absolute majority in a referendum; passage of other proposals by the president requires at least four-fifths majority vote by Parliament; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of the state and its republican and secular form of government cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cote d'Ivoire dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Alassane Dramane OUATTARA (since 25 October 2025) head of government: Prime Minister Robert BREUGRE MAMBE (since 17 October 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single renewable 5-year term; vice president elected on same ballot as president; prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: October 2030 election results: 2025: Alassane OUATTARA reelected president; percent of vote - Alassane OUATTARA (RDR) 91.2%, Jean Louis BILLON (DC) 3.1%, Simone Gbagbo (MCG) 2.4%, Ahoua Don MELLO (Ind.) 2.0%, other 1.3% 2020: Alassane OUATTARA reelected president; percent of vote - Alassane OUATTARA (RDR) 94.3%, Kouadio Konan BERTIN (PDCI-RDA) 2.0%, other 3.7% expected date of next election: October 2030 note: because President OUATTARA promulgated the new constitution in 2016, he has claimed that the clock is reset on term limits, allowing him to run for up to two additional terms **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlement) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) number of seats: 255 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/6/2021 to 6/12/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) (139); Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA)-Together for Democracy and Sovereignty (EDS) (49); Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA) (23); Independents (26); Other (18) percentage of women in chamber: 13.4% expected date of next election: December 2025 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Sénat) number of seats: 99 (66 indirectly elected; 33 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/16/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 24.5% expected date of next election: September 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Judicial, Audit, Constitutional, and Administrative Chambers; consists of the court president, 3 vice presidents for the Judicial, Audit, and Administrative chambers, and 9 associate justices or magistrates) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Superior Council of the Magistrature, a 7-member body consisting of the national president (chairman), 3 "bench" judges, and 3 public prosecutors; judges appointed for life subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (organized into civil, criminal, and social chambers); first instance courts; peace courts **Political parties:** African Peoples' Party-Cote d'Ivoire or PPA-CI Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI Ivorian Popular Front or FPI Liberty and Democracy for the Republic or LIDER Movement of the Future Forces or MFA Pan-African Congress for People's Justice and Equality or COJEP Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace or RHDP Rally of the Republicans or RDR Together for Democracy and Sovereignty or EDS Together to Build (UDPCI, FPI,and allies) Union for Cote d'Ivoire or UPCI Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire or UDPCI **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahima TOURE (since 13 January 2022) chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300 FAX: [1] (202) 204-3967 email address and website: info@ambacidc.org Ambassade de Cote D’ivoire aux USA (ambaciusa.org) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Jessica Davis BA (since 2 March 2023) embassy: B.P. 730 Abidjan Cidex 03 mailing address: 2010 Abidjan Place, Washington DC 20521-2010 telephone: [225] 27-22-49-40-00 FAX: [225] 27-22-49-43-23 email address and website: AbjAmCit@state.gov https://ci.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 7 August 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 7 August (1960) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of orange (left side), white, and green meaning: orange stands for the savannah and fertility, white for peace and unity, green for the forests of the south and the hope for a bright future; design based on France's flag note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is wider and has the colors reversed -- green (left side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (left side), white, and red **National symbol(s):** elephant **National color(s):** orange, white, green **National anthem(s):** title: "L'Abidjanaise" (Song of Abidjan) lyrics/music: Mathieu EKRA, Joachim BONY, and Pierre Marie COTY/Pierre Marie COTY and Pierre Michel PANGO history: adopted 1960; named after the former capital city of Abidjan **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 5 (2 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Comoé National Park (n); Historic Grand-Bassam (c); Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (n); Sudanese-style Mosques (c); Taï National Park (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** one of West Africa’s most influential, stable, and rapidly developing economies; poverty declines in urban but increases in rural areas; strong construction sector and increasingly diverse economic portfolio; increasing but manageable public debt; large labor force in agriculture **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $215.018 billion (2024 est.) $202.943 billion (2023 est.) $190.645 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 6% (2024 est.) 6.5% (2023 est.) 6.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $6,700 (2024 est.) $6,500 (2023 est.) $6,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $86.538 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.5% (2024 est.) 4.4% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 17.9% (2024 est.) industry: 22.1% (2024 est.) services: 53.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 66% (2024 est.) government consumption: 9% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 27.6% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -27.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** yams, cassava, oil palm fruit, cocoa beans, sugarcane, plantains, rice, rubber, maize, cashews (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, gold mining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 12.595 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 2.3% (2024 est.) 2.3% (2023 est.) 2.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 3.9% (2024 est.) male: 3.5% (2024 est.) female: 4.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 37.5% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 35.3 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 37.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 27.8% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $12.351 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $16.03 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 13.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$5.394 billion (2022 est.) -$2.874 billion (2021 est.) -$1.974 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $17.211 billion (2022 est.) $16.23 billion (2021 est.) $13.232 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Switzerland 17%, Netherlands 9%, Mali 7%, USA 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, cocoa beans, rubber, refined petroleum, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $19.948 billion (2022 est.) $16.191 billion (2021 est.) $12.66 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 16%, Nigeria 12%, France 6%, India 5%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, ships, refined petroleum, fish, rice (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $26.576 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 70.4% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 95% electrification - rural areas: 45.3% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 2.315 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 8.746 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 971 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 222.79 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.638 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 68.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 30.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 29,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 87,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 100 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 2.474 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 2.474 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 28.317 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 8.489 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 245,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 58.7 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 184 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-controlled Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI) is made up of 2 radio stations (Radio Cote d'Ivoire and Fréquence2) and 2 TV stations (RTI1 and RTI2) with nationwide coverage, broadcasting mainly in French; 178 proximity radio stations, 16 religious radio stations, 5 commercial radio stations, and 5 international radio stations; government now runs radio station UNOCIFM, previously owned by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire; in 2016, 4 media companies were granted licenses: Live TV, Optimum Media Cote d'Ivoire, the Audiovisual Company of Cote d'Ivoire (Sedaci), and Sorano-CI (2019) **Internet country code:** .ci **Internet users:** percent of population: 41% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 425,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TU **Airports:** 29 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 660 km (2008) narrow gauge: 660 km (2008) 1.000-m gauge note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso **Merchant marine:** total: 25 (2023) by type: oil tanker 2, other 23 **Ports:** total ports: 5 (2024) large: 1 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 4 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Abidjan, Baobab Marine Terminal, Espoir Marine Terminal, Port Bouet, San Pedro ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire (Forces Armees de Cote d'Ivoire, FACI; aka Republican Forces of Ivory Coast, FRCI): Army, National Navy, Air Force, Special Forces; National Gendarmerie Ministry of Security and Civil Protection: National Police (2025) note: the National Gendarmerie is a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Defense that is responsible for ensuring public safety, maintaining order, enforcing laws, and protecting institutions, people, and property; it is organized into mobile and territorial components; the Mobile Gendarmerie is responsible for maintaining and restoring order and is considered the backbone of the country’s domestic security; the Territorial Gendarmerie is responsible for the administrative, judicial, and military police; the Gendarmerie also has separate specialized units for security, intervention (counterterrorism, hostage rescue, etc), VIP protection, and surveillance **Military expenditures:** 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 25-30,000 active FACI, including Gendarmerie personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the inventory of the FACI consists mostly of older or secondhand armaments, typically of French or Soviet-era origin; in recent years, it has received small quantities of newer and secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Bulgaria, China, France, Israel, South Africa, and the US (2025) note: Cote d'Ivoire was under a partial UN arms embargo from 2004 to 2016 **Military service age and obligation:** 18-26 (up to 35 for healthcare professionals) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription is authorized but reportedly not enforced (2025) **Military deployments:** 180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025) **Military - note:** the military (FACI) is responsible for external defense but also has a considerable internal role supporting the National Gendarmerie and other internal security forces; key areas of focus for the FACI are the country's porous international borders and the threat posed by Islamic militants associated with the al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) terrorist group operating across the border in Burkina Faso and Mali; AQIM militants conducted attacks in the country in 2016 and 2020; Côte d’Ivoire since 2016 has stepped up border security and completed building a joint counter-terrorism training center with France near Abidjan in 2020; Cote d'Ivoire has long maintained a close security relationship with France the FACI has mutinied several times since the late 1990s, most recently in 2017, and has had a large role in the country’s political turmoil; it was established in 1960 from home defense units the French colonial government began standing up in 1950 (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** National Office for Technical Studies and Development (Bureau d'Études Techniques et de Développement or BNETD); Côte d’Ivoire Geographic and Digital Information Center (CIGN) (2025) note: in mid-2025, Côte d’Ivoire announced that it would establish the Space Agency of Côte d’Ivoire (ASCI) in 2026 under the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research **Space program overview:** has a small, nascent program focused on satellite technology and geospatial information systems, as well as exploitation for resource management, environmental challenges, agricultural sector support, and national security; member of the African Space Agency and cooperates bilaterally with member states such as Tanzania (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2023 - hosted an Africa-wide space industry conference; announced plans to acquire and launch first small remote sensing satellite (Yam-Sat- CI 01) 2024 - began joint project with Tanzania to build a technology-demonstrator cube satellite (TanSat-1) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM); Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 69,176 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 930,978 (2024 est.) --- ## Djibouti **Slug:** djibouti **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇩🇯 **Codes:** cek: dj, iso2: DJ, iso3: DJI, iso_num: 262, genc: DJI, stanag: DJI, internet: .dj ### Introduction **Background:** Present-day Djibouti was the site of the medieval Ifat and Adal Sultanates. In the late 19th century, the Afar sultans signed treaties with the French that allowed the latter to establish the colony of French Somaliland in 1862. The French signed additional treaties with the ethnic Somali in 1885. Tension between the ethnic Afar and Somali populations increased over time, as the ethnic Somalis perceived that the French unfairly favored the Afar and gave them disproportionate influence in local governance. In 1958, the French held a referendum that provided residents of French Somaliland the option to either continue their association with France or to join neighboring Somalia as it established its independence. Ethnic Somali protested the vote, because French colonial leaders did not recognize many Somali as residents, which gave the Afar outsized influence in the decision to uphold ties with France. After a second referendum in 1967, the French changed the territory’s name to the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas, in part to underscore their relationship with the ethnic Afar and downplay the significance of the ethnic Somalis. A final referendum in 1977 established Djibouti as an independent nation and granted ethnic Somalis Djiboutian nationality, formally resetting the balance of power between the majority ethnic Somalis and minority ethnic Afar residents. Upon independence, the country was named after its capital city of Djibouti. Hassan Gouled APTIDON, an ethnic Somali leader, installed an authoritarian one-party state and served as president until 1999. Unrest between the Afar minority and Somali majority culminated in a civil war during the 1990s that ended in 2001 with a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Somali Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multiparty presidential election resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH as president; he was reelected to a second term in 2005 and extended his tenure in office via a constitutional amendment, which allowed him to serve his third and fourth terms, and to begin a fifth term in 2021. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Its ports handle 95% of Ethiopia’s trade. Djibouti’s ports also service transshipments between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The government has longstanding ties to France, which maintains a military presence in the country, as do the US, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, and China. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia **Geographic coordinates:** 11 30 N, 43 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 23,200 sq km land: 23,180 sq km water: 20 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than New Jersey **Land boundaries:** total: 528 km border countries (3): Eritrea 125 km; Ethiopia 342 km; Somalia 61 km **Coastline:** 314 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** desert; torrid, dry **Terrain:** coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains **Elevation:** highest point: Moussa Ali 2,021 m lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m mean elevation: 430 m **Natural resources:** potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum **Land use:** agricultural land: 73.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 73.3% (2023 est.) forest: 0.3% (2023 est.) other: 26.2% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 10 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** salt water lake(s): Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km **Population distribution:** most densely populated areas are in the east; the largest city is Djibouti, and the other cities in the country are a fraction of its size, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods volcanism: experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active **Geography - note:** strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa and the saltiest lake in the world ### People and Society **Population:** total: 1,013,703 (2025 est.) male: 458,988 female: 554,715 **Nationality:** noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian **Ethnic groups:** Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (mostly Yemeni Arab, also French, Ethiopian, and Italian) **Languages:** French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar **Religions:** Sunni Muslim 94% (nearly all Djiboutians), other 6% (mainly foreign-born residents - Shia Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Baha'i, and atheist) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 28.4% (male 141,829/female 140,696) 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 290,654/female 379,778) 65 years and over: 4.2% (2024 est.) (male 18,313/female 23,704) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 48.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 41.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 15.7 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 26.7 years (2025 est.) male: 24.4 years female: 27.9 years **Population growth rate:** 1.84% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 21.46 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 3.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most densely populated areas are in the east; the largest city is Djibouti, and the other cities in the country are a fraction of its size, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 78.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 600,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.83 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 162 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 44.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 52.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 38 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.) male: 63.4 years female: 68.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.09 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.03 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 84.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 47.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 76.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 15.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 52.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 23.8% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 2.9% of GDP (2021) 5.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 87.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 24.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 74% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 12.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 75.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 26% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 13.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 17.7% (2023 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 46.5% (2017 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 1.4% (2019) women married by age 18: 6.5% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 3.8% of GDP (2018 est.) 14.5% national budget (2018 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; limited arable land; deforestation (forests threatened by agriculture and the use of wood for fuel); desertification; endangered species **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** desert; torrid, dry **Land use:** agricultural land: 73.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 73.3% (2023 est.) forest: 0.3% (2023 est.) other: 26.2% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 78.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 685,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 45,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 640,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 21 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 115,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 16 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 3 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 300 million cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti local long form: République de Djibouti (French)/ Jumhuriyat Jibuti (Arabic) local short form: Djibouti (French)/ Jibuti (Arabic) former: French Somaliland, French Territory of the Afars and Issas etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Djibouti geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is said to derive from the Afar word gabouri, meaning "plate," in reference to a palm-fiber plate used for ceremonial purposes **Administrative divisions:** 6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah **Legal system:** mixed system based primarily on the French civil code (as it existed in 1997), Islamic religious law (in matters of family law and successions), and customary law **Constitution:** history: approved by referendum 4 September 1992 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; Assembly consideration of proposals requires assent of at least one third of the membership; passage requires a simple majority vote by the Assembly and approval by simple majority vote in a referendum; the president can opt to bypass a referendum if adopted by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of Djibouti, its republican form of government, and its pluralist form of democracy cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Djibouti dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term; prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 9 April 2021 election results: 2021: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fifth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 97.4%, Zakaria Ismael FARAH (MDEND) 2.7% expected date of next election: April 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 65 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 2/24/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP) (58); Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) (7) percentage of women in chamber: 26.2% expected date of next election: February 2028 note: most opposition parties boycotted the 2023 polls, stating the elections were "not free, not transparent, and not democratic" **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (consists of NA magistrates); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 magistrates) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court magistrates appointed by the president with the advice of the Superior Council of the Magistracy (CSM), a 10-member body consisting of 4 judges, 3 members (non-parliamentarians and judges) appointed by the president, and 3 appointed by the National Assembly president or speaker; magistrates appointed for life with retirement at age 65; Constitutional Council magistrate appointments - 2 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 2 by the CSM; magistrates appointed for 8-year, non-renewable terms subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003) **Political parties:** Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique) or FRUD National Democratic Party or PND People's Rally for Progress or RPP Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ Union for the Presidential Majority coalition or UMP Union of Reform Partisans or UPR **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Siad DOUALEH (28 January 2016) chancery: 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302 email address and website: info@djiboutiembassyus.org https://www.djiboutiembassyus.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia KIERSCHT (since 17 October 2024) embassy: Lot 350-B Haramouss, B.P. 185 mailing address: 2150 Djibouti Place, Washington DC 20521-2150 telephone: [253] 21-45-30-00 FAX: [253] 21-45-31-29 email address and website: DjiboutiACS@state.gov https://dj.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, ATMIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 27 June 1977 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 27 June (1977) **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green, with a white isosceles triangle based on the left side that has a five-pointed red star in the center meaning: blue stands for sea, sky, and the Issa Somali people, green for earth and the Afar people, and white for peace; the red star stands for the struggle for independence and unity **National symbol(s):** red star **National color(s):** light blue, green, white, red **National anthem(s):** title: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti) lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH history: adopted 1977 ### Economy **Economic overview:** food import-dependent Horn of Africa economy driven by various national military bases and port-based trade; fairly resilient from COVID-19 disruptions; major re-exporter; increasing Ethiopian and Chinese trade relations; investing in infrastructure **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $7.995 billion (2024 est.) $7.546 billion (2023 est.) $7.028 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 6% (2024 est.) 7.4% (2023 est.) 5.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $6,800 (2024 est.) $6,500 (2023 est.) $6,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $4.086 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.1% (2024 est.) 1.5% (2023 est.) 5.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.) industry: 15.4% (2024 est.) services: 75.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 73% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -30.1% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 160.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -148.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** vegetables, beans, milk, beef, camel milk, lemons/limes, goat meat, lamb/mutton, tomatoes, beef offal (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** construction, agricultural processing, shipping **Industrial production growth rate:** 9.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 265,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 25.9% (2024 est.) 26.2% (2023 est.) 26.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 76.3% (2024 est.) male: 75.3% (2024 est.) female: 77.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 21.1% (2017 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 41.6 (2017 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.9% (2017 est.) highest 10%: 32.3% (2017 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $725 million (2019 est.) expenditures: $754 million (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** $610.124 million (2024 est.) $721.349 million (2023 est.) $656.207 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $5.25 billion (2024 est.) $5.877 billion (2023 est.) $5.674 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Ethiopia 77%, UAE 5%, China 3%, Singapore 2%, France 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** raw sugar, seed oils, cars, palm oil, rice (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $4.765 billion (2024 est.) $5.269 billion (2023 est.) $5.096 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 32%, India 12%, UAE 10%, Turkey 6%, Morocco 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, palm oil, fertilizers, cars, seed oils (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $348.725 million (2024 est.) $502.034 million (2023 est.) $589.437 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $2.531 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 177.721 (2024 est.) 177.721 (2023 est.) 177.721 (2022 est.) 177.721 (2021 est.) 177.721 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 65% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 72.8% electrification - rural areas: 36.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 210,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 584.997 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 512 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 128.74 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 65.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 34.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** exports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 19,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 10.428 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 28,700 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 559,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned Radiodiffusion-Télévision de Djibouti operates the sole terrestrial TV station, as well as the 2 domestic radio networks; no private TV or radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2019) **Internet country code:** .dj **Internet users:** percent of population: 65% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 17,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** J2 **Airports:** 10 (2025) **Heliports:** 6 (2025) **Railways:** total: 97 km (2017) (Djibouti segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) standard gauge: 97 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 40 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 13, other 21 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Djibouti, Doraleh ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armées Djiboutiennes or FAD): Djiboutian (or National) Army, Djiboutian Navy (includes Djiboutian Coast Guard), Djiboutian Air Force; Djiboutian National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: National Police (Police Nationale) (2025) note 1: the National Gendarmerie is a security force with military status under the FAD and the Ministry of Defense, but also has responsibilities to the Ministry of Interior; the Gendarmerie's duties include providing security outside of Djibouti City and protecting critical infrastructure within the city, such as the international airport note 2: the National Police are responsible for security within Djibouti City and have primary control over immigration and customs procedures for all land border-crossing points **Military expenditures:** 3.5% of GDP (2019 est.) 3.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 3.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2016 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2015 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 10-12,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FAD's inventory is a mix of mostly older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, Türkiye, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service (2025) **Military deployments:** approximately 1,500 Somalia (AUSSOM) (2025) **Military - note:** Djibouti's military forces are largely focused on border, coastal, and internal security duties; as recently as February 2025, Djiboutian forces have conducted operations near its border with Ethiopia against members of the Armed Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD A), which Djibouti considers a terrorist group China, France, Italy, Japan, and the US maintain bases in Djibouti for regional military missions, including counterterrorism, counter-piracy, crisis response, and security assistance; other countries, such as Germany and Spain, have smaller military contingents; the EU and NATO also maintain a presence in Djibouti to support multinational naval counter-piracy operations and maritime training efforts (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 32,636 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Djibouti does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Djibouti was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/djibouti/ --- ## Egypt **Slug:** egypt **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇪🇬 **Codes:** cek: eg, iso2: EG, iso3: EGY, iso_num: 818, genc: EGY, stanag: EGY, internet: .eg ### Introduction **Background:** The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations in Egypt. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. Arab conquerors introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and ruled for the next six centuries. The Mamluks, a local military caste, took control around 1250 and continued to govern after the Ottoman Turks conquered Egypt in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but the country's nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Egypt gained partial independence from the UK in 1922 and full sovereignty in 1952. British forces evacuated the Suez Canal Zone in 1956. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have reaffirmed the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's fast-growing population as it implements large-scale infrastructure projects, energy cooperation, and foreign direct investment appeals. Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster in 2011. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new legislature was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed MORSI won the presidential election. Following protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian Armed Forces intervened and removed MORSI from power in July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. Simultaneously, the government began enacting laws to limit freedoms of assembly and expression. In 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum and then elected former defense minister Abdel Fattah EL-SISI president. EL-SISI was reelected to a second four-year term in 2018 and a third term in December 2023. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula **Geographic coordinates:** 27 00 N, 30 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1,001,450 sq km land: 995,450 sq km water: 6,000 sq km **Area - comparative:** more than eight times the size of Ohio; slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico **Land boundaries:** total: 2,612 km border countries (4): Gaza Strip 13 km; Israel 208 km; Libya 1,115 km; Sudan 1,276 km **Coastline:** 2,450 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or the equidistant median line with Cyprus continental shelf: 200 nm **Climate:** desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters **Terrain:** vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta **Elevation:** highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m mean elevation: 321 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, rare earth elements, zinc **Land use:** agricultural land: 4.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2023 est.) other: 95.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 36,500 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** salt water lake(s): Lake Manzala - 1,360 sq km note - largest of Nile Delta lakes **Major rivers (by length in km):** An Nīl (Nile) river mouth (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Nubian Aquifer System **Population distribution:** approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km (12 mi) of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes; flash floods; landslides; hot, driving windstorms called khamsin occur in spring; dust storms; sandstorms **Geography - note:** controls Sinai Peninsula, the only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea ### People and Society **Population:** total: 112,870,457 (2025 est.) male: 57,960,635 female: 54,909,822 **Nationality:** noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian **Ethnic groups:** Egyptian 99.7%, other 0.3% (2006 est.) note: data represent respondents by nationality **Languages:** Arabic (official); English and French widely understood by educated classes major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، أفضل مصدر للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%, Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox, other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10% **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 33.8% (male 19,349,395/female 18,243,571) 15-64 years: 60.6% (male 34,646,369/female 32,792,151) 65 years and over: 5.6% (2024 est.) (male 3,146,720/female 3,069,042) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 63.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 54.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 9.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 10.5 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 24.6 years (2025 est.) male: 24.3 years female: 24.4 years **Population growth rate:** 1.4% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 18.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.33 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km (12 mi) of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 43.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 22.183 million CAIRO (capital), 5.588 million Alexandria, 778,000 Bur Sa'id (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 22.6 years (2014 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 16.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 75 years (2024 est.) male: 73.8 years female: 76.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.53 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.23 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 4.6% of GDP (2021) 7.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.67 physicians/1,000 population (2020) **Hospital bed density:** 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 32% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 25.8% (2025 est.) male: 51% (2025 est.) female: 0.3% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 3.7% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 65.6% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 1.8% (2021) women married by age 18: 15.8% (2021) **Education expenditure:** 3.9% of GDP (2015 est.) 12% national budget (2015 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 79.5% (2022 est.) male: 85.3% (2022 est.) female: 73.3% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 13 years (2023 est.) male: 13 years (2023 est.) female: 13 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** rapid growth in population straining natural resources; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution in coastal ecosystems; water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Nile **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters **Land use:** agricultural land: 4.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2023 est.) other: 95.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 43.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 236.618 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 6.966 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 114.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 115.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 66.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 690.8 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 548.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 874 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 9.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 21 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 26.6% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 10.75 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 5.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 61.35 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 57.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt conventional short form: Egypt local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah local short form: Misr former: United Arab Republic (short-lived unification with Syria) etymology: the English name Egypt derives from the ancient Greek name for the country, "Aguptos," and the ancient Roman name, "Aegyptus," with the Greek form coming from the words aia gupos, or "land of the vulture;" the Arabic name for the country, Misr, can be traced to the Assyrian word misir, meaning "fort" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Cairo geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last Friday in October etymology: the ancient Egyptian name of the original city was Khere-ohe or Kheri-aha; the modern city's name may also derive from the Arabic al-qahir, meaning "the victorious;" this is an Arabic name for the planet Mars, which was in the ascendant on the day in 969 A.D. when construction on the new part of the city began **Administrative divisions:** 27 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Uqsur (Luxor), Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina' (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Suhaj **Legal system:** mixed system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws; Supreme Constitutional Court reviews laws **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest approved by a constitutional committee in December 2013, approved by referendum held on 14-15 January 2014, ratified by interim president on 19 January 2014 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by one fifth of the House of Representatives members; a decision to accept the proposal requires majority vote by House members; passage of amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote by House members and passage by majority vote in a referendum; articles of reelection of the president and principles of freedom are not amendable unless the amendment "brings more guarantees" **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: if the father was born in Egypt dual citizenship recognized: only with prior permission from the government residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal and compulsory **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Abdel Fattah EL-SISI (since 8 June 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Mostafa MADBOULY (since 7 June 2018) cabinet: Cabinet ministers nominated by the executive branch and approved by the House of Representatives election/appointment process: president elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for 3 consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of Representatives most recent election date: 10-12 December 2023 election results: 2023: Abdel Fattah EL-SISI reelected president in first round; percent of valid votes cast - Abdel Fattah EL-SISI (independent) 89.6%, Hazam OMAR (Republican People’s Party) 4.5%, Farid ZAHRAN (Egyptian Social Democratic Party 4%, Abdel-Samad YAMAMA 1.9% 2018: Abdelfattah ELSISI reelected president in first round; percent of valid votes cast - Abdelfattah ELSISI (independent) 97.1%, Moussa Mostafa MOUSSA (El Ghad Party) 2.9%; note - more than 7% of ballots cast were deemed invalid expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab) number of seats: 596 (568 directly elected; 28 appointed) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/24/2020 to 12/8/2020 parties elected and seats per party: Future of the Nation (Mostakbal Watan) (317); Republican People's party (El Shaab el Gomhory) (49); Independents (117); Other (109) percentage of women in chamber: 27.7% expected date of next election: November 2025 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Majlis Al-Shiyoukh) number of seats: 300 (200 directly elected; 100 appointed) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 8/4/2025 to 8/28/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Future of the Nation (Mostakbal Watan) (148); Republican People's party (17); Independents (88); Other (47) percentage of women in chamber: 10.7% expected date of next election: July 2030 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) (consists of the court president and 10 justices); the SCC serves as the final court of arbitration on the constitutionality of laws and conflicts between lower courts regarding jurisdiction and rulings; Court of Cassation (CC) (consists of the court president and 550 judges organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges); the CC is the highest appeals body for civil and criminal cases, also known as "ordinary justices"; Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) (consists of the court president and NA judges and organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges); the SAC is the highest court of the State Council judge selection and term of office: under the 2014 constitution, all judges and justices selected and appointed by the Supreme Judiciary Council and approved as a formality by the president of the Republic; judges appointed for life; under the 2019 amendments, the president has the power to appoint heads of judiciary authorities and courts, the prosecutor general, and the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; courts of limited jurisdiction; Family Court (established in 2004) **Political parties:** Al-Nour Arab Democratic Nasserist Party Congress Party Conservative Party Democratic Peace Party Egyptian National Movement Party Egyptian Social Democratic Party El Ghad Party El Serh El Masry el Hor Eradet Geel Party Free Egyptians Party Freedom Party Justice Party Homeland’s Protector Party Modern Egypt Party My Homeland Egypt Party Nation's Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan) National Progressive Unionist (Tagammu) Party Reform and Development Party Republican People’s Party Revolutionary Guards Party Wafd Party **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Motaz Mounir ZAHRAN (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: (202) 244-4319 email address and website: embassy@egyptembassy.net https://www.egyptembassy.net/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Herro MUSTAFA GARG (since 15 November 2023) embassy: 5 Tawfik Diab St., Garden City, Cairo mailing address: 7700 Cairo Place, Washington DC 20512-7700 telephone: [20-2] 2797-3300 FAX: [20-2] 2797-3200 email address and website: ConsularCairoACS@state.gov https://eg.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Alexandria **International organization participation:** ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BRICS, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, CICA, COMESA, D-8, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, LCBC (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the military-led revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956) note: the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically around 3200 B.C. **National holiday:** Revolution Day, 23 July (1952) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; centered in the white band is the national emblem, a gold Eagle of Saladin; it faces the left side, with a shield on its chest, above a scroll with the country's name in Arabic meaning: the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black) overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white) note: similar to the flags of Syria (two green stars in the white band), Iraq (an Arabic inscription centered in the white band), and Yemen (plain white band) **National symbol(s):** golden eagle, white lotus **National color(s):** red, white, black **National coat of arms:** adopted in 1984, the coat of arms features the national symbol, the Eagle of Saladin; the eagle holds a golden scroll with the name of the country, “Gumhuriyet Miṣr al-ʿArabiyyah” (Arab Republic of Egypt), in Arabic script; the shield on the eagle’s chest shows the national colors of red, white, and black **National anthem(s):** title: "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (My Homeland, My Homeland, My Homeland) lyrics/music: Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH history: adopted 1979; the current anthem was written after the 1979 peace treaty with Israel; the composer is considered the father of modern Egyptian music; of the three verses, only the first verse is sung, preceded and followed by the chorus **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Memphis and its Necropolis (c); Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (c); Nubian Monuments (c); Saint Catherine Area (c); Abu Mena (c); Historic Cairo (c); Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** Africa’s second-largest economy; 2030 Vision to diversify markets and energy infrastructure; improving fiscal, external, and current accounts; underperforming private sector; poor labor force participation; expanded credit access **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $1.958 trillion (2024 est.) $1.912 trillion (2023 est.) $1.842 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.4% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 6.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $16,800 (2024 est.) $16,700 (2023 est.) $16,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $389.06 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 28.3% (2024 est.) 33.9% (2023 est.) 13.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 13.7% (2024 est.) industry: 32.6% (2024 est.) services: 48.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 87.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 6.3% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 1.3% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 16.4% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -23.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugarcane, sugar beets, wheat, maize, potatoes, tomatoes, rice, milk, onions, oranges (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures **Industrial production growth rate:** -1.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 33.749 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 7.2% (2024 est.) 7.4% (2023 est.) 7.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 18.7% (2024 est.) male: 12.4% (2024 est.) female: 47.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 29.7% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 28.5 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 36.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 4.2% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.6% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 4.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 5.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 7.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $69.999 billion (2015 est.) expenditures: $96.057 billion (2015 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 103% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover central government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions **Taxes and other revenues:** 12.5% (of GDP) (2015 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$12.564 billion (2023 est.) -$10.537 billion (2022 est.) -$18.611 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $68.218 billion (2023 est.) $76.295 billion (2022 est.) $58.339 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Saudi Arabia 10%, Turkey 9%, Italy 6%, USA 5%, UAE 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** refined petroleum, natural gas, fertilizers, garments, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $82.265 billion (2023 est.) $97.144 billion (2022 est.) $94.039 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 16%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Russia 6%, USA 6%, Germany 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, wheat, plastics, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $44.921 billion (2024 est.) $33.07 billion (2023 est.) $32.144 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $117.272 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 45.299 (2024 est.) 30.626 (2023 est.) 19.16 (2022 est.) 15.645 (2021 est.) 15.759 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 59.68 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 162.026 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 1.785 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 187 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 45.67 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 87.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 4 (2025) **Coal:** production: 69,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 3.262 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 68,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 3.263 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 182 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 667,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 830,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 3.3 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 57.181 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 58.695 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 5.344 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 9.126 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.784 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 34.975 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 13.3 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 113 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** mix of state-run and private broadcast media; state-run TV operates 2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks, as well as a few satellite channels; dozens of private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available for free; some limited satellite services are also available via subscription; state-run radio operates about 30 stations belonging to 8 networks; privately-owned radio includes 8 major stations (2019) **Internet country code:** .eg **Internet users:** percent of population: 73% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 13.6 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** SU **Airports:** 73 (2025) **Heliports:** 60 (2025) **Railways:** total: 5,085 km (2014) standard gauge: 5,085 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) **Merchant marine:** total: 441 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 14, container ship 6, general cargo 23, oil tanker 42, other 356 **Ports:** total ports: 31 (2024) large: 5 medium: 1 small: 8 very small: 16 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 17 key ports: Ain Sukhna Terminal, Al Iskandariyh (Alexandria), As Suways, Bur Sa'id, Damietta, Ras Shukhier ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF): Army (includes Republican Guard), Navy (includes Coast Guard), Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Border Guard Forces Interior Ministry: Public Security Sector Police, the Central Security Force, National Security Agency (2025) note: the Public Security Sector Police are responsible for law enforcement nationwide; the Central Security Force protects infrastructure and is responsible for crowd control; the National Security Agency is responsible for internal security threats and counterterrorism along with other security services **Military expenditures:** 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 450,000 active Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the EAF's inventory is comprised of a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more modern, typically Western, weapons systems; in recent years, the EAF has embarked on an equipment modernization program with purchases from foreign suppliers, including China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, UAE, the UK, and the US; Egypt's defense industry produces a range of products from small arms to armored vehicles and naval vessels; it also has licensed and co-production agreements with several countries, including Germany and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** voluntary enlistment possible from age 16 for men and 17 for women; 18-30 years of age for compulsory service for men; service obligation 14-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; active service length depends on education; high school drop-outs serve for the full 36 months, while college graduates serve for lesser periods of time, depending on their education level (2025) **Military deployments:** 775 (plus nearly 200 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,100 Somalia (AUSSOM); also has about 200 police deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo under MONUSCO (2025) **Military - note:** the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) are responsible for external defense but also have an internal role assisting police and paramilitary security forces during emergencies and in anti-terrorism operations; the EAF participates in foreign peacekeeping and other security missions, as well as both bilateral and multinational exercises; the military has considerable political power and independence; it has long had a role in Egypt’s politics and has a stake in the civilian economy, including running banks, businesses, gas stations, shipping lines, and utilities, and producing consumer and industrial goods, importing commodities, and building and managing infrastructure projects, such as bridges, roads, hospitals, and housing key areas of concern for the EAF include Islamist militant groups operating out of the Sinai Peninsula, regional challenges such as ongoing conflicts and instability, and maritime security; since 2011, the EAF has been conducting operations alongside other security forces in the North Sinai governorate against several militant groups, particularly the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); over the past decade, it has deployed additional units along the border with Libya, provided air support to the Saudi-led coalition's intervention in Yemen, and most recently boosted its presence on the border with Gaza in response to the HAMAS-Israel conflict; the Navy in recent years has sought to modernize and expand its capabilities and profile in the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, including the acquisition of helicopter carriers, modern frigates, and attack submarines, as well as the establishment of a joint service military base on the Red Sea the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) has operated in the Sinai since 1982 as a peacekeeping and monitoring force to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace; the MFO is an independent international organization, created by agreement between Egypt and Israel; it has about 1,150 troops from 13 countries; Colombia, Fiji, and the US are the leading providers of troops to the MFO (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA; established 2019); National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science (NARSS; formed in 1994 from the Remote Sensing Center, which was established in 1971) (2025) **Space program overview:** has a growing space program and seeks to become a regional space power; operates satellites; builds satellites jointly with foreign partners but developing localized satellite manufacturing and support infrastructure; acquiring other space-related technologies through transfers and domestic development, including in communications, Earth imaging/remote sensing (RS), and satellite payloads and components; works with a variety of foreign governments and commercial space companies, including those of Belarus, Canada, China, the ESA and its member states (particularly France, Germany, Italy), Ghana, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, the UAE, and the US; also a member of the Arab Space Coordination Group; has an active commercial space sector (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1960 - initiated a space program 1998 - first communications satellite (NileSat-101) built in Europe and launched on a European rocket (first African country to have its own communications satellite) 2007 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Egypsat-1) built and launched by Russia 2019 - first domestically produced RS cube satellites (NARSSCube-1 and 2) released from International Space Station; signed agreement with China for construction of satellite assembly, integrating, and testing facilities 2020 - announced a 10-year national space program, including initiating an astronaut training program and jointly developing with several African countries an RS satellite for monitoring climate changes 2022 - inaugurated a “space city” containing a satellite manufacturing facility, a research center, a space academy, and the headquarters of the African Space Agency (AfSA; inaugurated 2025); latest NileSat-series (NileSat-301) communications satellite acquired from Europe and launched by the US 2023 - three RS satellites (Horus-1, Horus-2, and MisrSat-2) built jointly with and launched by China; joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station project 2024 - experimental RS satellite (Nexsat-1) jointly developed with a European commercial company and launched by China ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Army of Islam; Harakat Sawa'd Misr (HASM); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Sinai Province (ISIS-SP); al-Qa’ida note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 876,962 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.) --- ## Equatorial Guinea **Slug:** equatorial-guinea **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇬🇶 **Codes:** cek: ek, iso2: GQ, iso3: GNQ, iso_num: 226, genc: GNQ, stanag: GNQ, internet: .gq ### Introduction **Background:** Equatorial Guinea consists of a continental territory and five inhabited islands; it is one of the smallest countries by area and population in Africa. The mainland region was most likely predominantly inhabited by Pygmy ethnic groups prior to the migration of various Bantu-speaking ethnic groups around the second millennium BC. The island of Bioko, the largest of Equatorial Guinea’s five inhabited islands and the location of the country’s capital of Malabo, has been occupied since at least 1000 B.C. In the early 1470s, Portuguese explorers landed on Bioko Island, and Portugal soon after established control of the island and other areas of modern Equatorial Guinea. In 1778, Portugal ceded its colonial hold over present-day Equatorial Guinea to Spain in the Treaty of El Pardo. The borders of modern-day Equatorial Guinea would evolve between 1778 and 1968 as the area remained under European colonial rule. In 1968, Equatorial Guinea was granted independence from Spain and elected Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA as its first president. MACIAS consolidated power soon after his election and ruled brutally for over a decade. Under his regime, Equatorial Guinea experienced mass suppression, purges, and killings. Some estimates indicate that a third of the population either went into exile or was killed under MACIAS’ rule. In 1979, present-day President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo, then a senior military officer, deposed MACIAS in a violent coup. OBIANG has ruled since and has been elected in non-competitive contests several times, most recently in 2022. The president exerts near-total control over the political system. Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996. Production peaked in 2004 and has declined since. The country's economic windfall from oil production resulted in massive increases in government revenue, a significant portion of which was earmarked for infrastructure development. Systemic corruption, however, has hindered socio-economic development, and the population has seen only limited improvements to living standards. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy, increase foreign investment, and assume a greater role in regional and international affairs.  ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon **Geographic coordinates:** 2 00 N, 10 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 28,051 sq km land: 28,051 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Maryland **Land boundaries:** total: 528 km border countries (2): Cameroon 183 km; Gabon 345 km **Coastline:** 296 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical; always hot, humid **Terrain:** coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic **Elevation:** highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 577 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay **Land use:** agricultural land: 3.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.) forest: 86.4% (2023 est.) other: 9.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** NA **Population distribution:** the two large cities are Bata on the mainland and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko; small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** violent windstorms; flash floods volcanism: Santa Isabel (3,007 m), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel and two dormant volcanoes form Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea **Geography - note:** insular and continental regions widely separated; despite its name, no part of the equator passes through Equatorial Guinea -- the mainland part of the country is located just north of the equator ### People and Society **Population:** total: 1,853,559 (2025 est.) male: 994,672 female: 858,887 **Nationality:** noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean **Ethnic groups:** Fang 78.1%, Bubi 9.4%, Ndowe 2.8%, Nanguedambo 2.7%, Bisio 0.9%, foreigner 5.3%, other 0.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.) **Languages:** Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Fa d'Ambo spoken in Annobon) 32.4% (1994 est.) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2015 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 35.6% (male 330,636/female 309,528) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 585,139/female 481,121) 65 years and over: 5% (2024 est.) (male 46,610/female 42,800) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 67.4 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 59 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 8.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 11.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 22.3 years (2025 est.) male: 22.7 years female: 21.5 years **Population growth rate:** 3.1% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 28.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 11.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the two large cities are Bata on the mainland and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko; small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 74.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 297,000 MALABO (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.22 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.09 male(s)/female total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 174 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 83.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 71.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 63.9 years (2024 est.) male: 61.6 years female: 66.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.05 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.99 (2025 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.4% of GDP (2021) 4.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 6.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation (agricultural expansion, fires, and grazing); desertification; water pollution; tap water non-potable; wildlife preservation **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** tropical; always hot, humid **Land use:** agricultural land: 3.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.) forest: 86.4% (2023 est.) other: 9.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 74.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 5.471 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 896,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 4.575 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 129.8 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 0.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 10 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 198,400 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 15.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 26 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ République de Guinée équatoriale (French) local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/Guinée équatoriale (French) former: Spanish Guinea etymology: the country is named for the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; the "equatorial" refers to the fact that the country lies just north of the Equator **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Malabo; note - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; some months of the year, the government operates out of Bata on the mainland region. geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: English settlers who founded the city in 1827 named it Port Clarence after the Duke of CLARENCE; the Spanish renamed it Santa Isabel in 1843, for Queen ISABELLA II of Spain; it was renamed again in 1973 after King MALABO (1837–1937), the last king of the Bubi (local ethnic group) **Administrative divisions:** 8 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Djibloho, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas **Legal system:** mixed system of civil and customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979) head of government: Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua (since 17 August 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president most recent election date: 20 November 2022 election results: 2022: OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 95%, other 6.1% 2016: OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5% expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlamento) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de los Diputados) number of seats: 100 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/20/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and its allies (100) percentage of women in chamber: 31% expected date of next election: November 2027 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Senado) number of seats: 70 (55 directly elected; 15 appointed) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/20/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and its allies (55) percentage of women in chamber: 25% expected date of next election: November 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the President of the Supreme Court and nine judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president for five-year terms; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president, 2 of whom are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies subordinate courts: Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals **Political parties:** Center Right Union or UCD Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD Liberal Party or PL National Congress of Equatorial Guinea (CNGE) National Democratic Party (PNDGE) National Democratic Union or UDENA National Union for Democracy PUNDGE Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE Popular Union or UP Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP Social and Popular Convergence Party or CSDP Social Democratic Coalition Party (PCSD) Social Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea or PSDGE Social Democratic Union or UDS Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Crisantos OBAMA ONDO (since 27 February 2024) chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252 email address and website: info@egembassydc.com https://www.egembassydc.com/ consulate(s) general: Houston **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador David R. GILMOUR (since 24 May 2022) embassy: Malabo II Highway (between the Headquarters of Sonagas and the offices of the United Nations), Malabo mailing address: 2320 Malabo Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [240] 333 09-57-41 email address and website: Malaboconsular@state.gov https://gq.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, Francophonie, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer) **Independence:** 12 October 1968 (from Spain) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 12 October (1968) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six six-pointed yellow stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield with a silk-cotton tree; below is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice) meaning: green stands for the jungle and natural resources, blue for the sea, white for peace, and red for the fight for independence **National symbol(s):** silk cotton tree **National color(s):** green, white, red, blue **National coat of arms:** the national symbol, the silk cotton tree, is in the center of the coat of arms; the tree represents the location where the first treaty was signed between local rulers and the Portuguese; the stars above the tree symbolize the mainland and the five offshore islands; a ribbon below the shield displays the national motto, “Unidad, Paz, Justicia” (Unity, Peace, Justice) **National anthem(s):** title: "Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path) lyrics/music: Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed) history: adopted 1968 ### Economy **Economic overview:** growing CEMAC economy and new OPEC member; large oil and gas reserves; targeting economic diversification and poverty reduction; still recovering from CEMAC crisis; improving public financial management; persistent poverty; hard-hit by COVID-19 **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $29.248 billion (2024 est.) $28.985 billion (2023 est.) $30.539 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 0.9% (2024 est.) -5.1% (2023 est.) 3.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $15,500 (2024 est.) $15,700 (2023 est.) $16,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $12.766 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4.8% (2022 est.) -0.1% (2021 est.) 4.8% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 3.1% (2024 est.) industry: 45.8% (2024 est.) services: 51.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 52.9% (2024 est.) government consumption: 28.3% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 9.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 35.2% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -25.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sweet potatoes, cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, root vegetables, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa beans, chicken (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling **Industrial production growth rate:** 0.8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 715,000 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 7.9% (2024 est.) 8.4% (2023 est.) 8.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 14.7% (2024 est.) male: 13.9% (2024 est.) female: 15.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 38.5 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.6% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 29.1% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $3.62 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $2.051 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 6.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Exports:** $4.489 billion (2024 est.) $4.516 billion (2023 est.) $7.25 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 27%, Netherlands 12%, Spain 10%, Italy 7%, Germany 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, natural gas, alcohols, wood, scrap iron (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $3.24 billion (2024 est.) $3.065 billion (2023 est.) $3.948 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 20%, Spain 17%, USA 10%, Gabon 5%, UK 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** ships, poultry, plastic products, beer, valves (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $1.538 billion (2023 est.) $1.458 billion (2022 est.) $44.271 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 67% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 89.8% electrification - rural areas: 1.4% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 349,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.402 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 170.527 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 68.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 31.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 98,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 6.013 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 2.332 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 3.63 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 139.007 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 54.509 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 11,400 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 893,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** the state maintains control of broadcast media; 1 state-owned TV station, 1 private TV station owned by the president's eldest son, 1 state-owned radio station, and 1 private radio station owned by the president's eldest son; satellite TV service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are generally accessible (2019) **Internet country code:** .gq **Internet users:** percent of population: 60% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 2,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 3C **Airports:** 7 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 53 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 16, oil tanker 7, other 29 **Ports:** total ports: 7 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 6 ports with oil terminals: 6 key ports: Bata, Ceiba Terminal, Cogo, Luba, Malabo, Punta Europa Terminal, Serpentina Terminal ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial, FAGE): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie (Guardia Civil) (2025) note: the National Police report to the Ministry of National Security, while the Gendarmerie reports to the Ministry of National Defense; police generally are responsible for maintaining law and order in the cities, while gendarmes are responsible for security outside cities and for special events **Military expenditures:** 1% of GDP (2024) 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 2,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FAGE is armed with mostly older (typically Soviet-era) and secondhand weapons systems; in recent years, it has sought to modernize its naval inventory with purchases of vessels from several countries, including Bulgaria and Israel; China and Russia have also supplied some equipment to the FAGE (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-25 for voluntary military service; selective compulsory military service for men; 24-month service obligation (2025) **Military - note:** the Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea (FAGE) are responsible for defending the territory and sovereignty of the country; the FAGE also has some internal security duties, including fulfilling some police functions in border areas, sensitive sites, and high-traffic areas; maritime security, particularly protecting offshore oil installations and combating piracy and crime in the Gulf of Guinea, is a key priority (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 5 (2024 est.) --- ## Eritrea **Slug:** eritrea **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇪🇷 **Codes:** cek: er, iso2: ER, iso3: ERI, iso_num: 232, genc: ERI, stanag: ERI, internet: .er ### Introduction **Background:** Eritrea won independence from Italian colonial control in 1941, but the UN only established it as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952, after a decade of British administrative control. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year conflict for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean fighters defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been characterized by highly autocratic and repressive actions. His government has created a highly militarized society by instituting an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service -- divided between military and civilian service -- of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in 2000. Ethiopia rejected a subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 when the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC’s 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Eritrean leaders then engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for al-Shabaab. The country’s rapprochement with Ethiopia led to a resumption of economic ties, but the level of air transport, trade, and tourism have remained roughly the same since late 2020. The Eritrean economy remains agriculture-dependent, and the country is still one of Africa’s poorest nations. Eritrea faced new international condemnation and US sanctions in mid-2021 for its participation in the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional State, where Eritrean forces were found to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. As most Eritrean troops were departing northern Ethiopia in January 2023, ISAIAS began a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at bolstering Eritrea’s foreign partnerships and regional influence. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression, and conscription and militarization continue. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan **Geographic coordinates:** 15 00 N, 39 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 117,600 sq km land: 101,000 sq km water: 16,600 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Pennsylvania **Land boundaries:** total: 1,840 km border countries (3): Djibouti 125 km; Ethiopia 1,033 km; Sudan 682 km **Coastline:** 2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km; islands in Red Sea 1,083 km) **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm **Climate:** hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands **Terrain:** dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains **Elevation:** highest point: Soira 3,018 m lowest point: near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m mean elevation: 853 m **Natural resources:** gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish **Land use:** agricultural land: 62.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 56.9% (2023 est.) forest: 12% (2023 est.) other: 25.3% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 210 sq km (2012) **Population distribution:** density is highest in the center of the country, in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** frequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarms volcanism: Dubbi (1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country's only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life in 2011 **Geography - note:** strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes ### People and Society **Population:** total: 6,416,435 (2025 est.) male: 3,158,281 female: 3,258,154 **Nationality:** noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean **Ethnic groups:** Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Afar 4%, Kunama 4%, Bilen 3%, Hedareb/Beja 2%, Nara 2%, Rashaida 1% (2021 est.) note: data represent Eritrea's nine recognized ethnic groups **Languages:** Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages **Religions:** Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Sunni Muslim **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 35.7% (male 1,138,382/female 1,123,925) 15-64 years: 60.3% (male 1,882,547/female 1,944,266) 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 101,504/female 153,332) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 64.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 57.6 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 15.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 21.7 years (2025 est.) male: 20.8 years female: 21.8 years **Population growth rate:** 1.16% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 25.92 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -7.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** density is highest in the center of the country, in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 43.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.073 million ASMARA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 21.3 years (2010 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 291 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 39 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 46.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 67.5 years (2024 est.) male: 64.9 years female: 70.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.35 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.65 (2025 est.) **Health expenditure:** 4.2% of GDP (2021) 2.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 7.5% (2020 est.) male: 14.7% (2020 est.) female: 0.2% (2020 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 8 years (2015 est.) male: 9 years (2015 est.) female: 7 years (2015 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement **Climate:** hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands **Land use:** agricultural land: 62.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 56.9% (2023 est.) forest: 12% (2023 est.) other: 25.3% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 43.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 15.7 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 117.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 20.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 2.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 727,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.8% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 31 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 550 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 7.315 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek name Erythra Thalassa, meaning "Red Sea," the body of water that borders the country **Government type:** authoritarian **Capital:** name: Asmara geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name's origin is unclear; according to Tigrinya oral tradition, the name is part of a phrase meaning "the women made them unite," referring to a group of women who made four clans unite to defeat a common enemy; asmara also means "flowery wood" in the Tigrinya language **Administrative divisions:** 6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); 'Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K'eyyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash-Barka, Ma'ikel (Central), Semienawi K'eyyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea) **Legal system:** mixed system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law **Constitution:** history: ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (never implemented) amendment process: proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 24 May 1993) head of government: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term), according to the constitution most recent election date: 24 May 1993, following independence from Ethiopia election results: 1993: ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5% expected date of next election: postponed indefinitely note 1: Eritrea’s authoritarian regime is controlled entirely by the president, who heads the sole political party, which has ruled the country since 1991; national elections have not taken place since 1991 and the constitution has not been implemented. note 2: the president is both chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Hagerawi Baito) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 150 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/1/1994 note: in 1997, after the new constitution was adopted, the government formed a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections to form a National Assembly could be held; the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all National Assembly members will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely due to the war with Ethiopia; as of 2025, no sitting legislative body exists **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): High Court (consists of 20 judges and organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections) judge selection and term of office: High Court judges appointed by the president subordinate courts: regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military courts **Political parties:** People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ (the only party recognized by the government) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Berhane Gebrehiwet SOLOMON (since 15 March 2011) chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304 email address and website: embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org https://us.embassyeritrea.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Christine E. MEYER (since July 2025) embassy: 179 Alaa Street, Asmara mailing address: 7170 Asmara Place, Washington DC 20521-7170 telephone: [291] (1) 12-00-04 FAX: [291] (1) 12-75-84 email address and website: consularasmara@state.gov https://er.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO **Independence:** 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 24 May (1991) **Flag:** description: a red isosceles triangle (based on the left side) divides the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower is blue; a gold wreath around a gold olive branch is on the left side of the red triangle meaning: green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red for the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue for the sea's bounty; the shape of the red triangle mimics the country's shape note: one of four national flags that reflect the country's shape in the flag design; the others are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Vanuatu **National symbol(s):** camel **National color(s):** green, red, blue **National coat of arms:** Eritrea adopted its coat of arms on May 24, 1993, when it won independence from Ethiopia; the camel was used to transport supplies and goods during the war, and it became a symbol of the country’s success; the olive wreath represents peace, reconciliation, and harmony; under the camel is name of the country in its three official languages: Tigrinya, English, and Arabic **National anthem(s):** title: "Ertra, Ertra, Ertra" (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea) lyrics/music: SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and ARON Tekle Tesfatsion history: adopted 1993, after gaining independence from Ethiopia **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Asmara: A Modernist African City ### Economy **Economic overview:** largely agrarian economy with a significant mining sector; substantial fiscal surplus due to tight controls; high and vulnerable debts; increased Ethiopian trade and shared port usage decreasing prices; financial and economic data integrity challenges **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $2.534 billion (2024 est.) $2.465 billion (2023 est.) $2.398 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5% (2017 est.) 1.9% (2016 est.) 2.6% (2015 est.) **Real GDP per capita:** $700 (2024 est.) $700 (2023 est.) $700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.535 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 7.4% (2022 est.) 6.6% (2021 est.) 5.6% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **Agricultural products:** sorghum, milk, barley, vegetables, root vegetables, cereals, pulses, wheat, beef, maize (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement **Labor force:** 1.71 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.6% (2024 est.) 5.6% (2023 est.) 5.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 9.4% (2024 est.) male: 8.5% (2024 est.) female: 10.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Budget:** revenues: $633 million (2018 est.) expenditures: $549 million (2018 est.) **Exports:** $624.3 million (2017 est.) $485.4 million (2016 est.) $374.898 million (2011 est.) **Exports - partners:** China 67%, UAE 26%, Philippines 5%, Italy 1%, Croatia 1% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** copper ore, zinc ore, gold, garments, liquor (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $494.229 million (2010 est.) $435.275 million (2009 est.) **Imports - partners:** China 32%, UAE 27%, Turkey 9%, USA 7%, Italy 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** trucks, sorghum, construction vehicles, wheat flours, other foods (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $191.694 million (2019 est.) $163.034 million (2018 est.) $143.412 million (2017 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $461.376 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 15.075 (2024 est.) 15.075 (2023 est.) 15.075 (2022 est.) 15.075 (2021 est.) 15.075 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 55.4% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 75.5% electrification - rural areas: 36% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 243,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 388.987 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 51.528 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 89.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 10.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 2.977 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 68,200 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 2.02 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** government controls broadcast media, with private ownership prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; 2 state-owned radio networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted (2023) **Internet country code:** .er **Internet users:** percent of population: 20% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 6,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** E3 **Airports:** 11 (2025) **Railways:** total: 306 km (2018) narrow gauge: 306 km (2018) 0.950-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 9 (2023) by type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 4 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Assab, Mitsiwa Harbor ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF): Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, Eritrean Air Force; People's Militia (aka People's Army or Hizbawi Serawit) (2024) note: police are responsible for maintaining internal security, but the government sometimes uses the armed forces, reserves, demobilized soldiers, or civilian militia to meet domestic as well as external security requirements; the armed forces have authority to arrest and detain civilians **Military expenditures:** 10% of GDP (2019 est.) 10.2% of GDP (2018 est.) 10.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 10.4% of GDP (2016 est.) 10.6% of GDP (2015 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** available information varies widely; estimated 150,000-200,000 active Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the EDF's inventory is comprised primarily of Soviet-era weapons and equipment (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** Eritrea mandates military service for all citizens age 18-40; 18-month conscript service obligation, which reportedly includes 4-6 months of military training and 12 months of military or other national service (military service is most common); in practice, military and national service is often extended indefinitely; citizens up to the age of 59 eligible for recall during mobilization (2025) **Military - note:** the military’s primary responsibilities are external defense, border security, and providing the regime a vehicle for national cohesion; the conscript-based Army is the dominant service since the country's independence in 1991, the Eritrean military has participated in numerous conflicts, including the Hanish Island Crisis with Yemen (1995), the First Congo War (1996-1997), the Second Sudanese Civil War (1996-1998), the Eritrea-Ethiopia War (1998-2000), the Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict (2008), and the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia (2020-2022); during the Tigray conflict, the Eritrean Defense Forces were accused of human rights abuses; in recent years, it has provided training support to the military of Somalia (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 119 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 3 — Eritrea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore Eritrea remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/eritrea/ --- ## Eswatini **Slug:** eswatini **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇸🇿 **Codes:** cek: wz, iso2: SZ, iso3: SWZ, iso_num: 748, genc: SWZ, stanag: SWZ, internet: .sz ### Introduction **Background:** A Swazi kingdom was founded in the mid-18th century and ruled by a series of kings, including MSWATI II, a 19th century ruler whose name was adopted for the country and its predominant ethnic group. European countries defined the kingdom’s modern borders during the late-19th century, and Swaziland (as it became known) was administered as a UK high commission territory from 1903 until its independence in 1968. A new constitution that came into effect in 2005 included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear, and the kingdom is still considered an absolute monarchy. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018 to reflect the name most commonly used by its citizens. In 2021, MSWATI III used security forces to suppress prodemocracy protests. A national dialogue and reconciliation process agreed to in the wake of violence has not materialized. In November 2023, King MSWATI III appointed a new prime minister following peaceful national elections. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty, corruption, and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections. Eswatini is the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa **Geographic coordinates:** 26 30 S, 31 30 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 17,364 sq km land: 17,204 sq km water: 160 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than New Jersey **Land boundaries:** total: 546 km border countries (2): Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** varies from tropical to near temperate **Terrain:** mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains **Elevation:** highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m mean elevation: 305 m **Natural resources:** asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc **Land use:** agricultural land: 69.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.) forest: 25.4% (2023 est.) other: 5.2% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 500 sq km (2012) **Population distribution:** because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** drought **Geography - note:** landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa ### People and Society **Population:** total: 1,137,268 (2025 est.) male: 557,204 female: 580,064 **Nationality:** noun: liSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural); note - former term, Swazi(s), still used among English speakers adjective: Swati; note - former term, Swazi, still used among English speakers **Ethnic groups:** predominantly Swazi; smaller populations of other African ethnic groups, including the Zulu, as well as people of European ancestry **Languages:** English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official) **Religions:** Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and traditional African religions - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other Christian 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ, Jehovah's Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish) (2015 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 31.6% (male 180,328/female 179,840) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 341,298/female 390,884) 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 16,974/female 28,765) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 52.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 44.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 13.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 24.8 years (2025 est.) male: 23.4 years female: 25.8 years **Population growth rate:** 0.87% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 20.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -3.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 24.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 68,000 MBABANE (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 40.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 32.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 60.7 years (2024 est.) male: 58.7 years female: 62.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.64 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.3 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 73.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 26.5% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7% of GDP (2021) 11.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 92.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 84.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 86.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 7.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 15.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 16.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 5.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 8.5% (2025 est.) male: 16.1% (2025 est.) female: 1.2% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 5% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 36.4% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.1% (2022) women married by age 18: 1.9% (2022) men married by age 18: 0% (2022) **Education expenditure:** 6% of GDP (2024 est.) 19.2% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 90.8% (2022 est.) male: 91.1% (2022 est.) female: 90.4% (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** limited supplies of potable water; overhunting depleting wildlife; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** varies from tropical to near temperate **Land use:** agricultural land: 69.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.) forest: 25.4% (2023 est.) other: 5.2% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 24.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 1.326 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 410,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 916,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 16.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 218,200 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 41.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 20.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.006 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 4.51 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kingdom of Eswatini conventional short form: Eswatini local long form: Umbuso weSwatini local short form: eSwatini former: Swaziland etymology: the country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified note: pronounced ay-swatini or eh-swatini **Government type:** absolute monarchy **Capital:** name: Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital) geographic coordinates: 26 19 S, 31 08 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; it may come from the Mbabane River next to the city, whose name is said to derive from the word lubabe, a type of shrub; another theory cites a local chief, Mbabane KUNENE, as the source of the name **Administrative divisions:** 4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni **Legal system:** mixed system of civil, common, and customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006 amendment process: proposed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both houses and/or majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of amendments affecting "specially entrenched" constitutional provisions requires at least three-fourths majority vote by both houses, passage by simple majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of "entrenched" provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent of the king **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Eswatini dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age **Executive branch:** chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Russell DLAMINI (since 6 November 2023) cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch; at least one-half of the cabinet membership must be appointed from among elected members of the House of Assembly election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Libandla) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Assembly number of seats: 74 (59 directly elected; 4 indirectly elected; 10 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/29/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 21.6% expected date of next election: September 2028 note: four women, one representing each region, elected by the members if representation of elected women is less than 30% **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate number of seats: 30 (10 indirectly elected; 20 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/6/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 46.7% expected date of next election: November 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 justices) and the High Court (consists of the chief justice ex officio and 4 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices of the Supreme Court and High Court appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75 subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens) note: the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in all constitutional matters **Political parties:** political parties exist but conditions for their operations, particularly in elections, are undefined, legally unclear, or culturally restricted; the following are considered political associations: African United Democratic Party or AUDP Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Kennedy Fitzgerald GROENING (7 June 2022) chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002 FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254 email address and website: swaziland@compuserve.com **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) Chargé d’Affaires Marc WEINSTOCK (since August 2025) embassy: Corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini, P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106 mailing address: 2350 Mbabane Place, Washington DC 20521-2350 telephone: (268) 2417-9000 FAX: [268] 2416-3344 email address and website: ConsularMbabane@state.gov Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Eswatini (usembassy.gov) **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 6 September 1968 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968) **Flag:** description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple-width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow, with a large black-and-white shield in the center that covers two horizontal spears and a staff with feather tassels meaning: blue stands for peace and stability, red for past struggles, and yellow for the mineral resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize protection from enemies, and the shield colors stand for ethnic groups living in peaceful coexistence **National symbol(s):** lion, elephant **National color(s):** blue, yellow, red **National coat of arms:** the national coat of arms was adopted in 1968 after independence from the United Kingdom; two national symbols, the lion (representing the king of Eswatini) and the elephant (representing the queen mother), support a traditional Nguni shield; above the shield is the king's lidlabe, or crown of feathers, and at the bottom is Eswatini's motto, Siyinqaba, or "We are the fortress” **National anthem(s):** title: "Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (O God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi) lyrics/music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT history: adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles ### Economy **Economic overview:** landlocked southern African economy; South African trade dependent and currency pegging; CMA and SACU member state; COVID-19 economic slowdown; growing utilities inflation; persistent poverty and unemployment; HIV/AIDS labor force disruptions **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $12.885 billion (2024 est.) $12.553 billion (2023 est.) $12.135 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.6% (2024 est.) 3.4% (2023 est.) 1.1% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $10,400 (2024 est.) $10,200 (2023 est.) $10,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $4.892 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.6% (2019 est.) 4.8% (2018 est.) 6.2% (2017 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 6.8% (2023 est.) industry: 34.7% (2023 est.) services: 51.7% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 64% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.5% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 48.7% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -51.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugarcane, maize, root vegetables, grapefruits, oranges, milk, pineapples, bananas, beef, sweet potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel **Industrial production growth rate:** 0.5% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 390,600 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 34.4% (2024 est.) 35.1% (2023 est.) 35.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 58.2% (2024 est.) male: 56% (2024 est.) female: 60.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 58.9% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 54.6 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.4% (2016 est.) highest 10%: 42.7% (2016 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.217 billion (2021 est.) expenditures: $1.439 billion (2021 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 35.9% of GDP (2021 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 24.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $107.534 million (2023 est.) -$140.972 million (2022 est.) $125.318 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $2.174 billion (2023 est.) $2.095 billion (2022 est.) $2.132 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** South Africa 61%, Ireland 4%, Mozambique 4%, Kenya 4%, Nigeria 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** scented mixtures, raw sugar, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, garments, wood (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $2.351 billion (2023 est.) $2.288 billion (2022 est.) $2.173 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** South Africa 71%, China 8%, India 4%, USA 2%, Mozambique 1% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, electricity, plastic products, cotton fabric, garments (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $479.261 million (2023 est.) $452.352 million (2022 est.) $572.282 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $923.266 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** emalangeni per US dollar - Exchange rates: 18.318 (2024 est.) 18.454 (2023 est.) 16.362 (2022 est.) 14.783 (2021 est.) 16.47 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 82.3% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 86.1% electrification - rural areas: 81.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 285,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.308 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 928.237 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 167.476 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 54.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 37.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 253,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 202,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 201,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 4.644 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 18.823 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 35,600 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 1.74 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-owned TV station; satellite dishes can access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2019) **Internet country code:** .sz **Internet users:** percent of population: 58% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 34,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 3DC **Airports:** 16 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 301 km (2014) narrow gauge: 301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing); the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) (2025) **Military expenditures:** 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 3,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the UEDF has a small inventory of mostly older light weapons and equipment originating from Europe, South Africa, Taiwan, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025) **Military - note:** the UEDF’s primary mission is external defense, which includes mostly securing the borders; it also has domestic security responsibilities, including protecting members of the royal family; the king is the UEDF commander in chief and holds the position of minister of defense, although the UEDF reports to the Army commander and principal undersecretary of defense for day-to-day operations; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is responsible for maintaining internal security as well as migration and border crossing enforcement; it is under the prime minister, although the king is the force’s titular commissioner in chief; the UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 4,459 (2024 est.) IDPs: 56 (2024 est.) --- ## Ethiopia **Slug:** ethiopia **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇪🇹 **Codes:** cek: et, iso2: ET, iso3: ETH, iso_num: 231, genc: ETH, stanag: ETH, internet: .et ### Introduction **Background:** The area that is modern-day Ethiopia is rich in cultural and religious diversity with more than 80 ethnic groups. The oldest hominid yet found comes from Ethiopia, and Ethiopia was the second country to officially adopt Christianity in the 4th century A.D. A series of monarchies ruled the area that is now Ethiopia from 980 B.C. to 1855, when the Amhara kingdoms of northern Ethiopia united in an empire under Tewodros II. Many Ethiopians still speak reverently about the Battle of Adwa in 1896, when they defeated Italian forces and won their freedom from colonial rule. Emperor Haile SELASSIE became an internationally renowned figure in 1935, when he unsuccessfully appealed to the League of Nations to prevent Italy from occupying Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941. SELASSIE survived an attempted coup in 1960, annexed modern-day Eritrea in 1962, and played a leading role in establishing the Organization of African Unity in 1963. However, in 1974, a military junta called the Derg deposed him and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, drought, and massive displacement, the Derg regime was toppled in 1991 by a coalition of opposing forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The EPRDF became an ethno-federalist political coalition that ruled Ethiopia from 1991 until its dissolution in 2019. Ethiopia adopted its constitution in 1994 and held its first multiparty elections in 1995. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Eritrea in the late 1990s ended with a peace treaty in 2000. Ethiopia subsequently rejected the 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission demarcation. This resulted in more than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate between the two countries. In 2012, longtime Prime Minister MELES Zenawi died in office and was replaced by his Deputy Prime Minister HAILEMARIAM Desalegn, marking the first peaceful transition of power in decades. Following a wave of popular dissent and anti-government protest that began in 2015, HAILEMARIAM resigned in 2018, and ABIY Ahmed Ali took office the same year as Ethiopia's first ethnic Oromo prime minister. In 2018, ABIY promoted a rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea that was marked with a peace agreement and a reopening of their shared border. In 2019, Ethiopia's nearly 30-year ethnic-based ruling coalition, the EPRDF, merged into a single unity party called the Prosperity Party; however, the lead coalition party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), declined to join. In 2020, a military conflict erupted between forces aligned with the TPLF and the Ethiopian military. The conflict -- which was marked by atrocities committed by all parties -- ended in 2022 with a cessation of hostilities agreement between the TPLF and the Ethiopian Government. However, Ethiopia continues to experience ethnic-based violence as other groups -- including the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and Amhara militia Fano -- seek concessions from the Ethiopian Government. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Africa, west of Somalia **Geographic coordinates:** 8 00 N, 38 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1,104,300 sq km land: 1,096,570 sq km water: 7,730 sq km note: area numbers are approximate since a large portion of the Ethiopia-Somalia border is undefined **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 5,925 km border countries (6): Djibouti 342 km; Eritrea 1,033 km; Kenya 867 km; Somalia 1,640 km; South Sudan 1,299 km; Sudan 744 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation **Terrain:** high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley **Elevation:** highest point: Ras Dejen 4,550 m lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m mean elevation: 1,330 m **Natural resources:** small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 34.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.) forest: 23.7% (2023 est.) other: 42.2% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,814 sq km (2020) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Tana - 3,600 sq km; Abaya Hayk - 1,160 sq km; Ch'amo Hayk - 550 sq km salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Kenya) - 6,400 sq km; Abhe Bid Hayk/Abhe Bad (shared with Djibouti) - 780 sq km; **Major rivers (by length in km):** Blue Nile river source (shared with Sudan [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Ogaden-Juba Basin, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer) **Population distribution:** highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts volcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m) is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir **Geography - note:** the most populous landlocked country in the world; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia ### People and Society **Population:** total: 121,372,632 (2025 est.) male: 60,461,406 female: 60,911,226 **Nationality:** noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian **Ethnic groups:** Oromo 35.8%, Amhara 24.1%, Somali 7.2%, Tigray 5.7%, Sidama 4.1%, Guragie 2.6%, Welaita 2.3%, Afar 2.2%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 13.5% (2022 est.) **Languages:** Oromo (official regional working language) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official regional working language) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official regional working language) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official regional working language) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (2007 est.) major-language sample(s): Kitaaba Addunyaa Waan Qabataamaatiif - Kan Madda Odeeffannoo bu’uraawaatiif baay’ee barbaachisaa ta’e. (Oromo) የአለም እውነታ መጽሐፍ፣ ለመሠረታዊ መረጃ እጅግ አስፈላጊ የሆነ ምንጭ። (Amharic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslim 31.3%, Protestant 22.8%, Catholic 0.7%, traditional 0.6%, other 0.8% (2016 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 38.7% (male 23,092,496/female 22,765,882) 15-64 years: 58% (male 34,175,328/female 34,536,238) 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,794,269/female 2,186,085) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 71.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 65.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 20.6 years (2025 est.) male: 20.2 years female: 20.7 years **Population growth rate:** 2.34% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 29.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 5.461 million ADDIS ABABA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.3 years (2019 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 195 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 37.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.6 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.) male: 65.4 years female: 70 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.77 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.86 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 42.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 51.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 57.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 48.5% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.2% of GDP (2021) 5.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 50.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 17.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 49.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 82.2% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 4.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 1.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 4.5% (2025 est.) male: 7.7% (2025 est.) female: 1.4% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 21.2% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 66.3% (2019 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 14.1% (2016) women married by age 18: 40.3% (2016) men married by age 18: 5% (2016) **Education expenditure:** 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 16.7% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 60.5% (2022 est.) male: 71% (2022 est.) female: 50% (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; loss of biodiversity; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management; industrial pollution and pesticides contribute to air, water, and soil pollution **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation **Land use:** agricultural land: 34.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.) forest: 23.7% (2023 est.) other: 42.2% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 18.519 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 15.092 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 23.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 1,108.5 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,948.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 356.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 143.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.533 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.8% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 810 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 51.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 9.687 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 122 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: Ityop'iya former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa abbreviation: FDRE etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek word used to describe the inhabitants, aithiops, meaning "burnt appearance" **Government type:** federal parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Addis Ababa geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name in Amharic means "new flower;" Empress TAITU gave the name to the new capital city in 1887 **Administrative divisions:** 12 ethnically based regional states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 chartered cities* (astedader akabibiwach, singular - astedader akabibi); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela), Hareri Hizb (Harari), Oromia, Sidama, Sumale, Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples), YeDebub M'irab Ityop'iya Hizboch (Southwest Ethiopia Peoples), Southern Ethiopia Peoples **Legal system:** civil law system **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995 amendment process: proposals submitted for discussion require two-thirds majority approval in either house of Parliament or majority approval of one-third of the State Councils; passage of amendments other than constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms and the initiation and amendment of the constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of Parliament and majority vote by two thirds of the State Councils; passage of amendments affecting rights and freedoms and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote in each house of Parliament and majority vote by all the State Councils **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Ethiopia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President TAYE Atske Selassie (since 7 October 2024) head of government: Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by both chambers of Parliament for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the majority party following legislative elections most recent election date: 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (scheduled 29 August 2020 election was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) election results: 2021: SAHLE-WORK Zewde reelected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); ABIY confirmed Prime Minister by House of Peoples' Representatives (4 October 2021) **Legislative branch:** legislative structure: bicameral note: the House of Federation is responsible for interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues, and the House of People's Representatives is responsible for passing legislation **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Peoples' Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete) number of seats: 547 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 6/21/2021 to 9/30/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Prosperity Party (448); Other (22) percentage of women in chamber: 41.9% expected date of next election: June 2026 note: only 470 of the 547 seats in the House of People's Representatives were filled during the 2021 elections due to security issues in the Tigray State and other areas **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: House of the Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete) number of seats: 153 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/4/2021 percentage of women in chamber: 29.7% expected date of next election: October 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 11 judges) judge selection and term of office: president and vice president of Federal Supreme Court recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council (a 10-member body chaired by the president of the Federal Supreme Court) and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges serve until retirement at age 60 subordinate courts: federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (mirror structure of federal system); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts note: the House of Federation has jurisdiction for all constitutional issues **Political parties:** Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice and Democracy or EZEMA Gedeo People's Democratic Party Independent Kucha People Democratic Party National Movement of Amhara or NAMA Prosperity Party or PP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador BINALF Andualem Ashenef (since 25 February 2025) chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200 FAX: [1] (202) 587-0195 email address and website: ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org https://ethiopianembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, St. Paul (MN) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Ervin MASSINGA (since 4 October 2023) embassy: Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa mailing address: 2030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington DC 20521-2030 telephone: [251] 111-30-60-00 FAX: [251] 111-24-24-01 email address and website: AddisACS@state.gov https://et.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, BRICS, COMESA, EITI, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (accession candidate) **Independence:** oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, at least 2,000 years; may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which appeared in the first century B.C. **National holiday:** Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a light blue disk centered on the three bands; on the disk is a yellow pentagram with single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points meaning: green stands for hope and the land's fertility, yellow for justice and harmony, and red for sacrifice and heroism; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace, and the pentagram represents the Ethiopian people's unity and equality history: the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996 note: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and newly independent African countries often adopted the Ethiopian flag's colors, which were later known as the Pan-African movement's colors **National symbol(s):** Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by government) **National color(s):** green, yellow, red **National coat of arms:** adopted in 1996, the coat of arms features the national symbol, a pentagram; the blue circle symbolizes peace, and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the Ethiopian people **National anthem(s):** title: "Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia" (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia) lyrics/music: DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu history: adopted 1992 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 12 (10 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (c); Simien National Park (n); Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (c); Aksum (c); Lower Valley of the Awash (c); Lower Valley of the Omo (c); Tiya (c); Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (c); Konso Cultural Landscape (c); Gedeo Cultural Landscape (c); Bale Mountains National Park (n); Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income, fast-growing Horn of Africa economy; widespread poverty and food insecurity worsened by conflict and environmental factors; landlocked with tensions over seaport access; development aid supporting reforms to boost private-sector growth and financial stability; challenge of creating jobs for growing labor force **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $380.895 billion (2024 est.) $354.926 billion (2023 est.) $332.97 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 7.3% (2024 est.) 6.6% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $2,900 (2024 est.) $2,800 (2023 est.) $2,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $126.773 billion (2022 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 21% (2024 est.) 30.2% (2023 est.) 33.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 34.9% (2024 est.) industry: 25.4% (2024 est.) services: 37.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 80.2% (2024 est.) government consumption: 5.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 5.6% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -11.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, cereals, wheat, milk, sorghum, barley, taro, beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement **Industrial production growth rate:** 9.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 54.47 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.4% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 3.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 5.4% (2024 est.) male: 4% (2024 est.) female: 7.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 23.5% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 31.1 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 37.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.5% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.8% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.33% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $8.808 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $12.49 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 31.4% of GDP (2019 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 3.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$4.788 billion (2023 est.) -$5.16 billion (2022 est.) -$4.507 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $10.865 billion (2023 est.) $10.971 billion (2022 est.) $9.496 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** USA 12%, China 10%, UAE 8%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** coffee, garments, dried legumes, cut flowers, oil seeds (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $22.951 billion (2023 est.) $24.187 billion (2022 est.) $20.859 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 26%, Djibouti 16%, India 7%, Kuwait 7%, Saudi Arabia 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, raw sugar, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $3.784 billion (2024 est.) $2.028 billion (2023 est.) $1.192 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $25.426 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** birr (ETB) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 54.601 (2023 est.) 51.756 (2022 est.) 43.734 (2021 est.) 34.927 (2020 est.) 29.07 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 55% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 94% electrification - rural areas: 43% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 5.69 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 12.298 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 1.762 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.194 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 96.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) geothermal: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 456,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 1.653 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 102,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 428,000 barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** proven reserves: 24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 2.366 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 766,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 85.9 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 10 public/state broadcasters; 9 public/state radio stations; 13 commercial FM radio stations; 18 commercial TV stations; 45 community radio stations; 5 community TV stations (2023) **Internet country code:** .et **Internet users:** percent of population: 17% (2021 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 566,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** ET **Airports:** 58 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 659 km (2017) (Ethiopian segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) standard gauge: 659 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge note: electric railway with redundant power supplies; under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia and managed by a Chinese contractor **Merchant marine:** total: 12 (2023) by type: general cargo 10, oil tanker 2 ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF; aka Federal Defense Force of Ethiopia, FDRE): Army, Air Force, Naval Force, Defense Cyber Main Directorate (2025) note 1: national and regional police forces are responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order, with the ENDF sometimes providing internal security support; the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP) report to the Prime Minister’s Office note 2: the regional governments control regional security forces, including "special" paramilitary forces, which generally operate independently from the federal government and in some cases operate as regional defense forces maintaining national borders; in April 2023, the federal government ordered the integration of these regional special forces into the EFP or ENDF; in some cases, the regional governments have maintained former members of the special forces for “crowd control/Adma Bitena” as a separate unit within their security structures; local militias also operate across the country in loose and varying coordination with regional security and police forces, the ENDF, and the EFP note 3: in 2018, Ethiopia established a Republican Guard military unit as a separate command operationally under the Office of the Prime Minister and administratively accountable to the Ministry of Defense; it is responsible for protecting senior officials and government institutions and conducting some military operations **Military expenditures:** 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** available information varies widely; estimated 150-300,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the ENDF's inventory has traditionally been comprised of Russian, Soviet, and Eastern Bloc armaments; it suffered considerable equipment losses during the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict; in more recent years, Ethiopia has diversified its arms sources to include such suppliers as China, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the UAE; Ethiopia's defense industry produces small arms, as well as armored vehicles under license (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; 24-month service obligation; no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2025) **Military deployments:** 1,500 South Sudan (UNMISS); estimated to have as many as 10,000 troops Somalia (approximately 2,500 under the AU; the remainder under a bilateral agreement with the Somali Government) (2025) **Military - note:** the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is focused on both external threats emanating from its neighbors and internal threats from multiple internal armed groups; since 1998, the ENDF has engaged in several conventional and counterinsurgency operations, including border wars with Eritrea (1998-2000) and Somalia (2006-2008) and internal conflicts with the Tigray regional state (2020-2022), multiple insurgent groups and ethnic militias, and the al-Shabaab terrorist group; as of 2025, the ENDF was actively conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-government militants in several states, including the Amhara militia Fano and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), as well as al-Shabaab in Somalia (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute (ESSGI; formed in 2022 from the joining of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute or ESSTI and the Ethiopian Geospatial Information Institute or EGII) (2025) **Space program overview:** focuses on acquiring and operating satellites, as well as conducting research; jointly builds satellites with foreign partners, and operates and exploits remote sensing (RS) satellites; developing the ability to manufacture satellites and their payloads; involved in astronomy and the construction of space observatories; works with a variety of countries, including China, France, India, Russia, and multiple African countries, particularly Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda; shares RS data with neighboring countries (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2015 - established Entoto Observatory and Space Science Research Center 2019 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Ethiopia RS Satellite or ETRSS-1) built and launched by China 2020 - second RS satellite (ET-SMART-RSS) built with assistance from and launched by China; began construction of satellite manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing facility 2021 - established a multi-mission ground control station for RS satellites 2024 - declared second satellite ground station operational 2025 - announced plans to launch third RS satellite (ETRSS-02) in partnership with China in 2026 ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 1,071,881 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,134,600 (2024 est.) --- ## Gabon **Slug:** gabon **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇬🇦 **Codes:** cek: gb, iso2: GA, iso3: GAB, iso_num: 266, genc: GAB, stanag: GAB, internet: .ga ### Introduction **Background:** Gabon, a sparsely populated country known for its dense rainforests and vast petroleum reserves, is one of the most prosperous and stable countries in central Africa. Approximately 40 ethnic groups are represented, the largest of which is the Fang, a group that covers the northern third of Gabon and expands north into Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. From about the early 1300s, various kingdoms emerged in present-day Gabon and the surrounding area, including the Kingdoms of Loango and Orungu. Because most early Bantu languages spoken in these kingdoms did not have a written form, much of Gabon's early history was lost over time. Portuguese traders who arrived in the mid-1400s gave the area its name of Gabon. At that time, indigenous trade networks began to engage with European traders, exchanging goods such as ivory and wood. For a century beginning in the 1760s, trade came to focus mostly on enslaved people. While many groups in Gabon participated in the slave trade, the Fang were a notable exception. As the slave trade declined in the late 1800s, France colonized the country and directed a widespread extraction of Gabonese resources. Anti-colonial rhetoric by Gabon’s educated elites increased significantly in the early 1900s, but no widespread rebellion materialized. French decolonization after World War II led to the country’s independence in 1960. Within a year of independence, the government changed from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and Leon M’BA won the first presidential election in 1961. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba was M’BA’s vice president and assumed the presidency after M’BA’s death in 1967. BONGO went on to dominate the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009). In 1968, he declared Gabon a single-party state and created the still-dominant Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG). In the early 1990s, he reintroduced a multiparty system under a new constitution in response to growing political opposition. He was reelected by wide margins in 1995, 1998, 2002, and 2005 against a divided opposition and amidst allegations of fraud. After BONGO's death in 2009, a new election brought his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, to power, and he was reelected in 2016. He won a third term in the August 2023 election but was overthrown in a military coup a few days later. Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema led a military group called the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions that arrested BONGO, canceled the election results, and dissolved state institutions. In September 2023, OLIGUI was sworn in as transitional president of Gabon. ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea **Geographic coordinates:** 1 00 S, 11 45 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Colorado **Land boundaries:** total: 3,261 km border countries (3): Cameroon 349 km; Republic of the Congo 2,567 km; Equatorial Guinea 345 km **Coastline:** 885 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical; always hot, humid **Terrain:** narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south **Elevation:** highest point: Mont Bengoue 1,050 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 377 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 8.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.) forest: 91.5% (2023 est.) other: 0.2% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 40 sq km (2012) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Congo Basin **Population distribution:** the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** none **Geography - note:** the country has maintained its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,513,738 (2025 est.) male: 1,299,085 female: 1,214,653 **Nationality:** noun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese **Ethnic groups:** Fang 23.5%, Shira-Punu'Vii 20.6%, Nzabi-Duma 11.2%, Mbede-Teke 5.6%, Myene 4.4%, Kota-Kele 4.3%, Okande-Tsogho 1.6%, other 12.6%, foreigner 16.2% (2021 est.) **Languages:** French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi **Religions:** Protestant 46.4% (Revival Church 37%, other Protestant 9.4%), Roman Catholic 29.8%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 10.8%, traditional/animist 1.1%, other 0.9%, none 7% (2019-21 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 34.6% (male 429,133/female 421,120) 15-64 years: 61.1% (male 787,480/female 711,913) 65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 53,410/female 52,049) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 63 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 55.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 13.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 22.3 years (2025 est.) male: 22.5 years female: 21.5 years **Population growth rate:** 2.35% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 25.51 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 3.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 91% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 870,000 LIBREVILLE (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.6 years (2012 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 233 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 29.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 70.4 years (2024 est.) male: 68.6 years female: 72.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.16 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.56 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 90.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 54.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 86.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 9.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 45.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 13.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 2.7% of GDP (2021) 9.6% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.52 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 81.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 55.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 78.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 18.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 44.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 21.1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 15% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 6.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 5.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 5.4% (2020 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 48.5% (2020 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 2.9% (2021) women married by age 18: 13.3% (2021) men married by age 18: 4.8% (2021) **Education expenditure:** 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 13.6% national budget (2023 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 88.9% (2021 est.) male: 90.8% (2021 est.) female: 87.1% (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation from logging; solid-waste disposal; water pollution from oil industry; wildlife poaching **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical; always hot, humid **Land use:** agricultural land: 8.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.) forest: 91.5% (2023 est.) other: 0.2% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 91% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 3.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 230,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 908,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 29.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 272.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 4.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 18.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 5.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 238,100 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 84.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 40.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 166 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Gabonese Republic conventional short form: Gabon local long form: République Gabonaise local short form: Gabon etymology: name originates from the Portuguese word gabão, meaning "cloak," possibly used by early explorers to describe the shape of the Komo River estuary **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Libreville geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the city was founded in 1849 by freed slaves, and the name means "free town" in French **Administrative divisions:** 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem **Legal system:** mixed system of French civil law and customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1961, 1991; latest approved in November 2024 referendum amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by the Council of Ministers, or by one third of either house of Parliament; passage requires Constitutional Court evaluation, at least two-thirds majority vote of two thirds of the Parliament membership convened in joint session, and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on Gabon’s democratic form of government cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Gabon dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 3 May 2025) head of government: President Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 3 May 2025) cabinet: cabinet appointed by president election/appointment process: the president directly elected by plurality vote to a 7-year term (no term limits) most recent election date: 12 April 2025 election results: 2025: Brice OLIGUI Nguema elected president; percent of vote - Brice OLIGUI Nguema (Ind.) 90.35%, Alain Claude Bilie By Nze (EPG) 3.02%, other 6.63% 2016: Ali BONGO Ondimba reelected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0% **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) number of seats: 145 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/6/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 21.6% expected date of next election: November 2030 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Senate) number of seats: 70 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/27/2025 to 10/11/2025 percentage of women in chamber: 20.3% expected date of next election: November 2025 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 4 permanent specialized supreme courts - Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation, Administrative Supreme Court or Conseil d'Etat, Accounting Supreme Court or Cour des Comptes, Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, and the non-permanent Court of State Security, initiated only for cases of high treason by the president and criminal activity by executive branch officials) judge selection and term of office: appointment and tenure of Supreme, Administrative, Accounting, and State Security courts NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed - 3 by the national president, 3 by the president of the Senate, and 3 by the president of the National Assembly; judges serve single renewable 7-year terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts **Political parties:** Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG Restoration of Republican Values or RV The Democrats or LD Paul Mba Abessole **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Noël Nelson MESSONE (12 December 2022) chancery: 2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000 FAX: [1] (301) 332-0668 email address and website: info@gaboneembassyusa.org https://gabonembassyusa.org/en/ consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Vernelle Trim FITZPATRICK (since 26 January 2024); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe embassy: Sabliere, B.P. 4000, Libreville mailing address: 2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270 telephone: [241] 011-45-71-00 FAX: [241] 011-45-71-05 email address and website: ACSLibreville@state.gov https://ga.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 17 August 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 17 August (1960) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue meaning: green stands for the country's forests and natural resources, gold for the equator and the sun, and blue for the sea **National symbol(s):** black panther **National color(s):** green, yellow, blue **National coat of arms:** the panthers represent vigilance and courage, and they support a shield with a ship and an okoume tree, which is a symbol of the timber trade; the ribbon below the shield has the national motto in French, Union, Travail, Justice ("Union, Work, Justice"), and the ribbon above the shield has the Latin phrase Uniti Progrediemur ("We shall go forward united") **National anthem(s):** title: "La Concorde" (The Concorde) lyrics/music: Georges Aleka DAMAS history: adopted 1960 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda (m); Ivindo National Park (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** natural-resource-rich, upper-middle-income, Central African economy; significant reliance on oil and mineral exports; highly urbanized population; high levels of poverty and unemployment; uncertainty on institutional and development reform progress following 2023 military coup **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $48.045 billion (2024 est.) $46.472 billion (2023 est.) $45.363 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.4% (2024 est.) 2.4% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $18,900 (2024 est.) $18,700 (2023 est.) $18,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $20.867 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.2% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 6.2% (2024 est.) industry: 50.9% (2024 est.) services: 37.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 33.7% (2024 est.) government consumption: 12.2% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 65.3% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -29.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** oil palm fruit, plantains, cassava, sugarcane, yams, taro, vegetables, maize, groundnuts, game meat (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 824,400 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 20.1% (2024 est.) 20.3% (2023 est.) 20.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 36% (2024 est.) male: 31.1% (2024 est.) female: 42.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 33.4% (2017 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 38 (2017 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.2% (2017 est.) highest 10%: 27.7% (2017 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.939 billion (2021 est.) expenditures: $3.226 billion (2021 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 9.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $140.996 million (2015 est.) $1.112 billion (2014 est.) $1.463 billion (2013 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $13.622 billion (2024 est.) $12.869 billion (2023 est.) $13.814 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 26%, Indonesia 8%, Spain 7%, Israel 6%, Congo, Republic of the 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, ships, manganese ore, refined petroleum, wood (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $6.094 billion (2024 est.) $5.38 billion (2023 est.) $5.005 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** France 14%, China 13%, S. Korea 13%, USA 7%, India 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** ships, refined petroleum, iron pipes, cars, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $1.447 billion (2023 est.) $1.415 billion (2022 est.) $1.304 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $6.442 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Coopération Financière en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 93.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 98.5% electrification - rural areas: 29% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 785,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 3.173 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 584.039 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 604 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 51.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 47.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 75,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 204,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 463 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 463 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 25.995 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 22.101 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 67,100 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 3.18 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 2 state-run TV stations and 2 state-run radio stations; a few private radio and TV stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available **Internet country code:** .ga **Internet users:** percent of population: 72% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 80,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TR **Airports:** 42 (2025) **Railways:** total: 649 km (2014) standard gauge: 649 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 87 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 19, oil tanker 30, other 37 **Ports:** total ports: 9 (2024) large: 0 medium: 2 small: 2 very small: 5 ports with oil terminals: 7 key ports: Libreville, Oguendjo Terminal, Port Gentil, Port Owendo ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Gabonese Armed Forces (Force Armées Gabonaise or FAG; aka National Defense and Security Forces of Gabon or des Forces Nationales de Défense et de Sécurité (FNDS) du Gabon): Army, Navy, Air Force, Light Aviation, Fire Brigade; Gabon National Gendarmerie (GENA); Republican Guard (GR); Military Health Service; Military Engineering (2025) note: the National Police Forces, under the Ministry of Interior, and the National Gendarmerie (GENA), under the Ministry of Defense, are responsible for law enforcement and public security; elements of the armed forces and the Republican Guard, an elite unit that protects the president under his direct authority, sometimes perform internal security functions; the GENA is organized into regionally-based “legions,” mobile forces, a national parks security unit, and a special intervention group **Military expenditures:** 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 7,000 active-duty Armed Forces including the Republican Guard and Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Gabonese military has a mix of older and limited quantities of more modern armaments; suppliers include Brazil, China, France, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, and Spain (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025) **Military - note:** the Gabonese military is a small and lightly armed force that is responsible for both external and internal security; the military may also participate in the economic and social development work of the nation; key defense priorities include securing the country's borders and maritime domain; it has contributed to regional peacekeeping and joint security operations; in August 2023, officers from the Republican Guard seized control of the government and placed the president under arrest (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Gabonese Studies and Space Observations Agency (Agence Gabonaise d’Etudes et d’Observations Spatiales or AGEOS; established 2015) (2025) **Space program overview:** has a small space program focused on using data from remote sensing (RS) satellites for environmental and natural-resource management, mapping, land-use planning, maritime surveillance, and research; member of the African Space Agency; has relationships with Brazil, China, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France), and the US, as well as African countries such as Kenya, Niger, Rwanda, and South Africa; shares RS satellite data with neighboring countries (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1986 - ESA established a ground station in Gabon 2018 - completed mapping Gabon’s forests 2019 - founding member of the Space Climate Observatory 2021 - began acquisition process for first satellite in joint project with Japan, known as BIRDs 2025 - became member of new African Space Agency ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 261 (2024 est.) --- ## Gambia, The **Slug:** gambia-the **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇬🇲 **Codes:** cek: ga, iso2: GM, iso3: GMB, iso_num: 270, genc: GMB, stanag: GMB, internet: .gm ### Introduction **Background:** In the 10th century, Muslim merchants established some of The Gambia’s earliest large settlements as trans-Saharan trade hubs. These settlements eventually grew into major export centers sending slaves, gold, and ivory across the Sahara. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, European colonial powers began establishing trade with The Gambia. In 1664, the United Kingdom established a colony in The Gambia focused on exporting enslaved people across the Atlantic. During the roughly 300 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the UK and other European powers may have exported as many as 3 million people from The Gambia. The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed the short-lived confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1994, Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup overthrowing the president and banning political activity. He subsequently won every presidential election until 2016, when he lost to Adama BARROW, who headed an opposition coalition during free and fair elections. BARROW won reelection in 2021. The Gambia is the only member of the Economic Community of West African States that does not have presidential term limits. Since the 2016 election, The Gambia and the US have enjoyed improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported democracy-strengthening activities, capacity building, economic development, and security sector education and training programs. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal **Geographic coordinates:** 13 28 N, 16 34 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 11,300 sq km land: 10,120 sq km water: 1,180 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of Delaware **Land boundaries:** total: 749 km border countries (1): Senegal 749 km **Coastline:** 80 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: extent not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May) **Terrain:** flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills **Elevation:** highest point: unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 34 m **Natural resources:** fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon **Land use:** agricultural land: 62.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.) forest: 22% (2023 est.) other: 15.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 50 sq km (2012) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major aquifers:** Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin **Population distribution:** settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** droughts **Geography - note:** almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,577,553 (2025 est.) male: 1,277,624 female: 1,299,929 **Nationality:** noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian **Ethnic groups:** Mandinka/Jahanka 33.3%, Fulani/Tukulur/Lorobo 18.2%, Wolof 12.9%, Jola/Karoninka 11%, Serahuleh 7.2%, Serer 3.5%, other 4%, non-Gambian 9.9% (2019-20 est.) **Languages:** English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars **Religions:** Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1% (2019-20 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 38.2% (male 486,472/female 477,309) 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 723,360/female 743,127) 65 years and over: 3.7% (2024 est.) (male 40,658/female 52,401) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 70.4 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 63.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 15.4 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 20.5 years (2025 est.) male: 19.8 years female: 20.6 years **Population growth rate:** 2.09% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 26.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023) note: includes the local government areas of Banjul and Kanifing **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 20.7 years (2019/20 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 68.4 years (2024 est.) male: 66.7 years female: 70.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.39 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.67 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 90.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 85.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 9.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 14.4% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.2% of GDP (2021) 7.5% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 74.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 32% of population (2022 est.) total: 59.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 25.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 68% of population (2022 est.) total: 40.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 10.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 2.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 8.6% (2025 est.) male: 17% (2025 est.) female: 0.5% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 11.6% (2020 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 63% (2020 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 5.6% (2020) women married by age 18: 23.1% (2020) men married by age 18: 0.2% (2020) **Education expenditure:** 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 14.2% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 51.6% (2021 est.) male: 65.3% (2021 est.) female: 40.5% (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May) **Land use:** agricultural land: 62.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.) forest: 22% (2023 est.) other: 15.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 193,400 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 41.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 39.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia etymology: named for the Gambia River that flows through the country; Portuguese explorers in the 15th century derived the name for the river from its local name, Ba-Dimma, meaning "the river" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Banjul geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from a misunderstanding between Portuguese colonists and inhabitants in the 15th century; when asked what the area was called, the inhabitants thought they were being asked what they were doing and replied, "bangjulo," or "rope making" **Administrative divisions:** 5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly membership in each of several readings and approval by the president of the republic; a referendum is required for amendments affecting national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public funding; passage by referendum requires participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast note: in 2024, The Gambian government announced its commitment to adopting a new constitution **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022) head of government: Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); vice president appointed by the president most recent election date: 4 December 2021 election results: 2021: Adama BARROW reelected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (NPP) 53.2%, Ousainou DARBOE (UDP) 27.7%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 12.3%, other 6.8% 2016: Adama BARROW elected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (Coalition 2016) 43.3%, Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 39.6%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 17.1% expected date of next election: 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/9/2022 parties elected and seats per party: National People's Party (NPP) (18); United Democratic Party (UDP) (15); National Reconciliation Party (NRP) (4); Independents (12); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 8.6% expected date of next election: April 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 75 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts **Political parties:** Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC Gambia Moral Congress or GMC National People's Party or NPP People's Progressive Party or PPP United Democratic Party or UDP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022) chancery: 5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430 email address and website: info@gambiaembassydc.us https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Eugene S. YOUNG (since 14 October 2025) embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul mailing address: 2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC 20521-2070 telephone: [220] 439-2856 FAX: [220] 439-2475 email address and website: ConsularBanjul@state.gov https://gm.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 18 February 1965 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 18 February (1965) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green meaning: red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue for the Gambia River, and green for forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** red, blue, green, white **National anthem(s):** title: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland" lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE history: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya" **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income West African economy; agriculture-dominant; high poverty rate; heightened inflation; dependent on foreign assistance and remittances; structural reforms conditioned by IMF Extended Credit Facility program **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $8.365 billion (2024 est.) $7.911 billion (2023 est.) $7.549 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5.7% (2024 est.) 4.8% (2023 est.) 5.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $3,000 (2024 est.) $2,900 (2023 est.) $2,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.508 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 11.6% (2024 est.) 17% (2023 est.) 11.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 24.1% (2024 est.) industry: 14.7% (2024 est.) services: 53.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 83.2% (2024 est.) government consumption: 8.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 39% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 6.6% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -37.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 783,100 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 6.5% (2024 est.) 6.5% (2023 est.) 6.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 10.9% (2024 est.) male: 10.9% (2024 est.) female: 10.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 53.4% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 38.8 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.6% (2020 est.) highest 10%: 30.5% (2020 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 21.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 21.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 22.8% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $308.887 million (2018 est.) expenditures: $221.137 million (2018 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Current account balance:** -$74.374 million (2024 est.) -$120.064 million (2023 est.) -$90.251 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $838.409 million (2024 est.) $717.774 million (2023 est.) $267.377 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Kazakhstan 92%, Guinea-Bissau 2%, China 1%, India 1%, Greece 1% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $1.549 billion (2024 est.) $1.353 billion (2023 est.) $829.516 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Kazakhstan 26%, China 18%, Senegal 8%, India 7%, Brazil 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $577.028 million (2023 est.) $568.244 million (2022 est.) $652.671 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $902.421 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 61.096 (2023 est.) 54.923 (2022 est.) 51.484 (2021 est.) 51.502 (2020 est.) 50.062 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 65.4% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 82.8% electrification - rural areas: 31.2% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 162,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 410.824 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 104.176 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 2.731 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 44,100 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 3.48 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-run TV-channel; one privately owned TV station; 1 online TV station; 3 state-owned and 31 privately owned radio stations; 8 community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available; cable and satellite TV subscription services in some parts of the country (2019) **Internet country code:** .gm **Internet users:** percent of population: 46% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 6,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** C5 **Airports:** 1 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 15 (2023) by type: general cargo 5, other 10 **Ports:** total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Banjul ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Gambian Armed Forces (GAF; aka Armed Forces of the Gambia): the Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambia Navy, Gambia Air Force, Republican National Guard (RNG) Ministry of Interior: Gambia Police Force (GPF) (2025) note: the RNG is responsible for VIP protection, riot control, and presidential security, while the GPF maintains internal security **Military expenditures:** 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 3,000-4,000 active Gambian Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military of Gambia has a limited inventory of mostly older, obsolescent, or donated equipment originating from several suppliers, including Taiwan, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-28 years of age for men and women depending on enlisted, officer, or specialized positions (2025) **Military - note:** the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) are responsible for external defense and aiding civil authorities in internal emergencies and natural disaster relief; they participate in multinational peacekeeping missions, as well as domestic support activities such as agricultural development, construction, education, and health services; the Gambian security forces have a history of involvement in domestic politics, including multiple coup attempts and mutinies, with the latest being an attempted coup in 2022 since January 2017, several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have provided security forces for Gambia's stability, plus assistance and training for the GAF and other Gambian security forces through the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG); as of 2025, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal were providing military and gendarmerie personnel for ECOMIG (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 4,411 (2024 est.) IDPs: 7,462 (2024 est.) --- ## Ghana **Slug:** ghana **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇬🇭 **Codes:** cek: gh, iso2: GH, iso3: GHA, iso_num: 288, genc: GHA, stanag: GHA, internet: .gh ### Introduction **Background:** Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, but little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of the Akan people's power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and competed for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first Sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader. Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo **Geographic coordinates:** 8 00 N, 2 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 238,533 sq km land: 227,533 sq km water: 11,000 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Oregon **Land boundaries:** total: 2,420 km border countries (3): Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km **Coastline:** 539 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north **Terrain:** mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area **Elevation:** highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 190 m **Natural resources:** gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone **Land use:** agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.) forest: 30.7% (2023 est.) other: 13.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 360 sq km (2013) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km) **Population distribution:** population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts **Geography - note:** Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created after the Akosombo Dam was completed in 1965 ### People and Society **Population:** total: 35,336,133 (2025 est.) male: 17,278,776 female: 18,057,357 **Nationality:** noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian **Ethnic groups:** Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.) **Languages:** Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.) note: English is the official language **Religions:** Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 37.4% (male 6,527,386/female 6,400,245) 15-64 years: 58.2% (male 9,690,498/female 10,444,197) 65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 684,189/female 842,577) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 70.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 63.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 13.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 21.6 years (2025 est.) male: 20.6 years female: 22.3 years **Population growth rate:** 2.12% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 27.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.768 million Kumasi, 2.660 million ACCRA (capital), 1.078 million Sekondi Takoradi (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 22.1 years (2022 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 234 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 34.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.) male: 68.4 years female: 71.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.51 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.73 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 74.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 88.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 25.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 11.6% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 4.2% of GDP (2021) 7.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.27 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2015 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 85.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 55.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 73.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 14.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 44.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 26.9% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 10.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 2.8% (2025 est.) male: 5.4% (2025 est.) female: 0.3% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 12% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 53.4% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 3.3% (2022) women married by age 18: 16.1% (2022) men married by age 18: 2.4% (2022) **Education expenditure:** 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 13.2% national budget (2022 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 76.5% (2021 est.) male: 81.3% (2021 est.) female: 72.1% (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 12 years (2022 est.) male: 12 years (2022 est.) female: 12 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** drought in north; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction; water pollution; inadequate potable water **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation **Climate:** tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north **Land use:** agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.) forest: 30.7% (2023 est.) other: 13.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 20.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 107,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 13.349 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 7.366 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 43.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 164.9 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 166.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 134 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 28.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.538 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 299.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 95 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 56.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast etymology: named for a tribal chieftain who ruled a large part of the region prior to the 13th century, even though his territory was northwest of modern-day Ghana; the former name, Gold Coast, came from the gold that Portuguese explorers discovered in the region in the late 15th century **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Accra geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the Akan word nkran, meaning "ant," and may refer to the nickname local forest dwellers gave to the Nigerian tribes who settled in the area in the 16th century **Administrative divisions:** 16 regions; Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, Western North **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993 amendment process: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to "entrenched" constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025) head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); the president is both chief of state and head of government most recent election date: 7 December 2024 election results: 2024: John Dramani MAHAMA elected president in the first round; percent of vote- John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 56.5%, Mahamudu BAWUMIA (NPC) 41%, other 2.5% 2020: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3% (2020) expected date of next election: 7 December 2028 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 276 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 12/7/2024 parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Congress (NDC) (183); New Patriotic Party (NPP) (88); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 14.5% expected date of next election: December 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices) judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals **Political parties:** All Peoples Congress or APC Convention People's Party or CPP Ghana Freedom Party or GFP Ghana Union Movement or GUM Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP Liberal Party of Ghana or LPG National Democratic Congress or NDC National Democratic Party or NDP New Patriotic Party or NPP People's National Convention or PNC Progressive People's Party or PPP United Front Party or UFP United Progressive Party or UPP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Victor Emmanuel SMITH (since 19 September 2025) chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527 email address and website: info.washington@mfa.gov.gh https://washington.mfa.gov.gh/ consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Rolf OLSON (since 29 May 2025) embassy: No. 24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra mailing address: 2020 Accra Place, Washington DC 20521-2020 telephone: [233] (0) 30-274-1000 email address and website: ACSAccra@state.gov https://gh.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 6 March 1957 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 6 March (1957) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large five-pointed black star centered in the yellow band meaning: red stands for the blood shed for independence, yellow for the country's mineral wealth, and green for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement note: similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band **National symbol(s):** black star, golden eagle **National color(s):** red, yellow, green, black **National anthem(s):** title: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO history: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings ### Economy **Economic overview:** West African lower-middle income economy; major gold, oil and cocoa exporter; macroeconomic challenges following nearly four decades of sustained growth; recent progress in debt restructuring, fiscal reforms, financial stability, and curbing runaway inflation under 2023-26 IMF credit facility program **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $243.124 billion (2024 est.) $230.046 billion (2023 est.) $223.043 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5.7% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $7,100 (2024 est.) $6,800 (2023 est.) $6,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $82.825 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 22.8% (2024 est.) 38.1% (2023 est.) 31.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 20.7% (2024 est.) industry: 28.8% (2024 est.) services: 43.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 84.1% (2024 est.) government consumption: 4.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 9.8% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 35.3% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -34.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum **Industrial production growth rate:** 7.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 13.928 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.1% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 5.4% (2024 est.) male: 5.5% (2024 est.) female: 5.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 23.4% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 43.5 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 39.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.6% (2016 est.) highest 10%: 32.2% (2016 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $11.684 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $19.102 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 12.3% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $1.407 billion (2023 est.) -$1.741 billion (2022 est.) -$2.541 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $25.365 billion (2023 est.) $25.52 billion (2022 est.) $23.901 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Switzerland 24%, UAE 18%, India 8%, South Africa 7%, China 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, manganese ore, cocoa paste (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $26.024 billion (2023 est.) $26.329 billion (2022 est.) $25.967 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 30%, Netherlands 8%, India 5%, USA 5%, Russia 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, plastics, plastic products, footwear (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $3.624 billion (2023 est.) $5.205 billion (2022 est.) $9.917 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $29.241 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** cedis (GHC) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 11.02 (2023 est.) 8.272 (2022 est.) 5.806 (2021 est.) 5.596 (2020 est.) 5.217 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 85.1% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 95% electrification - rural areas: 71.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 5.519 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 19.534 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 48.449 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.796 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 37.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 51,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 52,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 176,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 96,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 660 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 3.116 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 3.755 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 639.204 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 22.653 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 10.493 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 269,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 39.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable **Internet country code:** .gh **Internet users:** percent of population: 70% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 223,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 9G **Airports:** 11 (2025) **Heliports:** 7 (2025) **Railways:** total: 947 km (2022) narrow gauge: 947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 52 (2023) by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41 **Ports:** total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 1 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Saltpond, Sekondi, Takoradi, Tema ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Ghana Armed Forces (GAF): Army, Air Force, Ghana Navy Ministry of Interior: Ghana Police Service (2025) note: the GAF also has a Medical Service/Corps **Military expenditures:** 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 15-20,000 active Armed Forces (2025) note: over the past decade, Ghana has sought to increase the size of the GAF, particularly the Army, which has added a number of new units **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is a mix of older (mostly Soviet-era) and some newer armaments from such suppliers as China, Japan, Jordan, Türkiye, the UK, and the US; the government has committed to an increase in funding for equipment acquisitions, including armor, mechanized, and special forces capabilities for the Army, light attack aircraft for the Air Force, and more modern coastal patrol vessels for the Navy (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025) note: as of 2024, women comprised approximately 15% of the military; Ghanaian women first began serving in the late 1950s **Military deployments:** 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 670 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025) note: since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions **Military - note:** the military’s primary missions are border defense, assisting with internal security, peacekeeping, and protecting the country’s territorial waters, particularly its offshore oil and gas infrastructure; it has benefited from cooperation with foreign partners, such as the UK and the US, and experience gained from participation in multiple international peacekeeping missions in recent years, Ghana has expanded the Army and reinforced its presence in the northern part of the country to shore up porous borders, interdict smuggling routes, and counter threats from the terrorist organization Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups which has a considerable presence in Burkina Faso and has conducted attacks in Cote d'Ivoire and Togo; Ghana has also made efforts to increase the Navy's capabilities to protect its maritime claims and counter threats such as piracy and illegal fishing (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI; established 2011) (2025) note: the GSSTI is eventually slated to become the Ghana Space Agency **Space program overview:** has nascent space program focused on Earth observation, space science education, and telecommunications; seeks to exploit remote sensing (RS) technology for agriculture, natural-resource management, weather forecasting, and national security; relies on foreign imagery for analysis but seeks to develop its own RS satellite capabilities; has established cooperative relationships with China, Japan, and a number of regional states, particularly South Africa; working with Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda on a satellite to monitor climate changes in the African continent; member of the African Space Agency; partner in the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2017 - first satellite (GhanaSat-1), a technology demonstration/remote sensing nanosatellite built by a Gabonese university with assistance from Japan and released from the International Space Station; established Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory 2024 - released a national space policy ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 17,334 (2024 est.) IDPs: 4,937 (2024 est.) --- ## Guinea **Slug:** guinea **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇬🇳 **Codes:** cek: gv, iso2: GN, iso3: GIN, iso_num: 324, genc: GIN, stanag: GIN, internet: .gn ### Introduction **Background:** Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea and encouraged its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that provided one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. European traders first arrived in the 16th century, and the French secured colonial rule in the 19th century. In 1958, Guinea achieved independence from France. Sekou TOURE became Guinea’s first post-independence president; he established a dictatorial regime and ruled until his death in 1984, after which General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. He too established an authoritarian regime and manipulated presidential elections until his death in 2008, when Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and was exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections, and his first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. CONDE won a third term in 2020 after a constitutional change to term limits. In 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led another successful military coup, establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), suspending the constitution, and dissolving the government and the legislature. DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transition president and appointed Mohamed BEAVOGUI as transition prime minister. The National Transition Council (CNT), which acts as the legislative body for the transition, was formed in 2022 and consists of appointed members representing a broad swath of Guinean society. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone **Geographic coordinates:** 11 00 N, 10 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 245,857 sq km land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania **Land boundaries:** total: 4,046 km border countries (6): Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 km **Coastline:** 320 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds **Terrain:** generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior **Elevation:** highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 472 m **Natural resources:** bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt **Land use:** agricultural land: 73.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 24.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 5.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2023 est.) forest: 20.3% (2023 est.) other: 6.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 949 sq km (2017) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km) **Population distribution:** areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season **Geography - note:** the Niger and its important tributary, the Milo River, have their sources in the Guinean highlands ### People and Society **Population:** total: 14,374,590 (2025 est.) male: 7,179,661 female: 7,194,929 **Nationality:** noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean **Ethnic groups:** Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.) **Languages:** French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language **Religions:** Muslim 85.2%, Christian 13.4%, animist 0.2%, none 1.2% (2018 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 40.9% (male 2,884,146/female 2,835,794) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,846,852/female 3,856,366) 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 254,608/female 308,413) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 81.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 74.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 13.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 19.5 years (2025 est.) male: 19.2 years female: 19.6 years **Population growth rate:** 2.74% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 35.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.69 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 2.111 million CONAKRY (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.9 years (2018 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 494 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 45.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 64.6 years (2024 est.) male: 62.7 years female: 66.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.75 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.34 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 92% of population (2022 est.) rural: 59% of population (2022 est.) total: 71.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 41% of population (2022 est.) total: 28.5% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.8% of GDP (2021) 5% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 39.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 60.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 60.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 39.4% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 7.7% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 15% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 70.9% (2018 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 17% (2018) women married by age 18: 46.5% (2018) men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 9.2% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 39.6% (2018 est.) male: 54.4% (2018 est.) female: 27.7% (2018 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 9 years (2021 est.) male: 9 years (2021 est.) female: 8 years (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices; water pollution; improper waste disposal **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds **Land use:** agricultural land: 73.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 24.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 5.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2023 est.) forest: 20.3% (2023 est.) other: 6.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 4.505 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.504 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 34.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 596,900 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 230 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 226 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: République de Guinée local short form: Guinée former: French Guinea etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea, but the name itself derives from the Tuareg word aginaw, meaning "black people" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from konakri, a Susu word meaning "over the water" and referring to the city's location on a peninsula; it was originally the name of a local village **Administrative divisions:** 7 administrative regions (régions administratives, singular - région administrative) and 1 governorate (gouvenorat)*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore **Legal system:** civil law system based on the French model **Constitution:** history: previous 1958, 1990; 2010 and a referendum in 2020, which was suspended on 5 September 2021 via a coup d'état; on 27 September, the Transitional Charter was released, which supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: na **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 17 January 2026) head of government: Prime Minister Amadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024) cabinet: formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: the president is directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year single term, and the prime minister is appointed by the president most recent election date: 28 December 2025 election results: 2025: Mamady DOUMBOUYA elected president in the first round; percent of vote -Mamady DOUMBOUYA (Independent) 86.7%, Abdoulaye Yero BALDE (DFG) 6.5%, other 7% 2020: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7% note 1: in 2021, the military arrested and detained the president, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature note 2: the transitional government has not announced a new election timetable note 3: new constitution approved in 2025 with presidential term changed to a single seven-year term note 4: elections held 28 December 2025, transitional president wins and is sworn in 17 January 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Transitional National Council (Conseil national de transition) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 81 (all appointed) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal most recent election date: 1/22/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 29.6% expected date of next election: December 2025 note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; in January 2022, an 81-member Transitional National Council was installed; in February 2024, Guinea's military leaders dissolved the government **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court - suspended on 5 September 2021 judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve 9-year terms until age 65 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Première Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts **Political parties:** African Congress for Democracy and Renewal or CADRE Alliance for National Renewal or ARN Alliance for National Renewal or ARENA Bloc Liberal or BL Citizen Generation or GECI Citizen Party for the Defense of Collective Interests or PCDIC Democratic Alliance for Renewal or ADR Democratic National Movement or MND Democratic Union for Renewal and Progress or UDRP Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG Democratic People's Movement of Guinea or MPDG Democratic Workers' Party of Guinea or PDTG Front for the National Alliance or FAN Generation for Reconciliation Union and Prosperity or GRUP Guinea for Democracy and Balance or GDE Guinean Party for Peaceful Coexistence and Development or PGCD Guinean Party for Solidarity and Democracy or PGSD Guinean Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD Guinean Rally for Development or RGD Guinean Rally for Unity and Development or RGUD Guinean Renaissance Party or PGR Modern Guinea Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD National Committee for Reconciliation and Development National Front for Development or FND National Union for Prosperity or UNP National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN New Democratic Forces or NFD New Generation for the Republic or NGR New Guinea or NG New Political Generation or NGP Party for Progress and Change or PPC Party of Citizen Action through Labor or PACT Party of Democrats for Hope or PADES Party of Freedom and Progress or PLP Party of Hope for National Development or PEDN Rally for Renaissance and Development or RRD Rally for the Guinean People or RPG Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea or RDIG Rally for the Republic or RPR Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR Union for the Defense of Republican Interests or UDIR Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG Union of Democratic Forces or UFD a or UFDG Union of Democrats for the Renaissance of Guinea or UDRG Union of Republican Forces or UFR Unity and Progress Party or PUP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Fatoumata KABA (since 19 April 2023) chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 986-3800 email address and website: http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/ consulate(s): Los Angelos **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Mary E. DASCHBACH (since 15 July 2025) embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry mailing address: 2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC 20521-2110 telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00 FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97 email address and website: ConakryACS@state.gov https://gn.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 2 October 1958 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 2 October (1958) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), yellow, and green meaning: red stands for the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow for the sun, the riches of the earth, and justice; green for the country's vegetation and unity history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement note: the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal **National symbol(s):** elephant **National color(s):** red, yellow, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Liberté" (Liberty) lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA history: adopted 1958 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve ### Economy **Economic overview:** growing but primarily agrarian West African economy; major mining sector; improving fiscal and debt balances prior to COVID-19; economy increasingly vulnerable to climate change; slow infrastructure improvements; gender wealth and human capital gaps **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $59.439 billion (2024 est.) $56.251 billion (2023 est.) $53.297 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5.7% (2024 est.) 5.5% (2023 est.) 4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $4,000 (2024 est.) $3,900 (2023 est.) $3,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $25.334 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 8.1% (2024 est.) 7.8% (2023 est.) 10.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 29.6% (2024 est.) industry: 25.3% (2024 est.) services: 37.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 67.4% (2024 est.) government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 32.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -0.9% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 44% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -56.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** rice, cassava, maize, groundnuts, oil palm fruit, plantains, potatoes, fonio, yams, sweet potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing **Industrial production growth rate:** 7.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 4.534 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.3% (2024 est.) 5.3% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 7.1% (2024 est.) male: 6.2% (2024 est.) female: 8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 43.7% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 29.6 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.5% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 23.1% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.949 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $2.014 billion (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** $2.288 billion (2023 est.) $3.35 billion (2022 est.) $4.639 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $12.008 billion (2023 est.) $8.898 billion (2022 est.) $10.266 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 50%, China 36%, India 8%, Switzerland 1%, Spain 1% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, aluminum ore, cocoa beans, crude petroleum, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $8.365 billion (2023 est.) $5.749 billion (2022 est.) $5.353 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 39%, India 9%, Netherlands 7%, Belgium 6%, UAE 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, rice, garments, construction vehicles, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $1.887 billion (2023 est.) $2.11 billion (2022 est.) $2.183 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $3.764 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 9,565.082 (2020 est.) 9,183.876 (2019 est.) 9,011.134 (2018 est.) 9,088.319 (2017 est.) 8,967.927 (2016 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 47.7% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 91% electrification - rural areas: 21.3% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 1.06 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 3.624 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 424.356 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 25.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 74.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 400 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 5.235 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 0 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 15.3 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** government maintains control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private TV stations; many privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2022) **Internet country code:** .gn **Internet users:** percent of population: 27% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 3X **Airports:** 16 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 1,086 km (2017) standard gauge: 279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 2 (2023) by type: other 2 **Ports:** total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Benti, Conakry, Kamsar, Victoria ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Guinean (or National) Armed Forces (Forces Armées Guinéennes): Army, Air Force, Navy, National Gendarmerie Ministry of Security: National Police (2025) note: the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security; Guinea's military and security forces are sometimes collectively referred to as the Defense and Security Forces **Military expenditures:** 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 10-12,000 active Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Guinean military's inventory consists almost entirely of ageing Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with small amounts of secondhand arms from China, France, Russia, and South Africa (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service; 9-12 months of service (2025) **Military - note:** the Guinean military is responsible for territorial defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities and has historically been involved in suppressing public protests; in 2021 the Army’s special forces led a military overthrow of the government; the military-led government has since been accused of cracking down on dissent, the media, and political opposition; border security is a key focus for the Guinean military, particularly a territorial dispute with Sierra Leone that dates back to 2001 (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 2,343 (2024 est.) IDPs: 5,160 (2024 est.) --- ## Guinea-Bissau **Slug:** guinea-bissau **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇬🇼 **Codes:** cek: pu, iso2: GW, iso3: GNB, iso_num: 624, genc: GNB, stanag: GNB, internet: .gw ### Introduction **Background:** For much of its history, Guinea-Bissau was under the control of the Mali Empire and the Kaabu Kingdom. In the 16th century, Portugal began establishing trading posts along Guinea-Bissau’s shoreline. Initially, the Portuguese were restricted to the coastline and islands. However, the slave and gold trades were lucrative to local African leaders, and the Portuguese were slowly able to expand their power and influence inland. Starting in the 18th century, the Mali Empire and Kingdom of Kaabu slowly disintegrated into smaller local entities. By the 19th century, Portugal had fully incorporated Guinea-Bissau into its empire. Since gaining independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. VIEIRA's regime suppressed political opposition and purged political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him, but a military mutiny and civil war in 1999 led to VIEIRA's ouster. In 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA. In 2003, a bloodless military coup overthrew YALA and installed businessman Henrique ROSA as interim president. In 2005, VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was then elected president, but he passed away in 2012 from a long-term illness. A military coup blocked the second round of the election to replace him, but after mediation from the Economic Community of Western African States, a civilian transitional government assumed power. In 2014, Jose Mario VAZ was elected president in a free and fair election, and in 2019, he became the first president in Guinea-Bissau’s history to complete a full term. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO was elected president in 2019, but he did not take office until 2020 because of a prolonged challenge to the election results. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal **Geographic coordinates:** 12 00 N, 15 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 36,125 sq km land: 28,120 sq km water: 8,005 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut **Land boundaries:** total: 762 km border countries (2): Guinea 421 km; Senegal 341 km **Coastline:** 350 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds **Terrain:** mostly low-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets **Elevation:** highest point: Dongol Ronde 277 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 70 m **Natural resources:** fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum **Land use:** agricultural land: 29.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 14.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.9% (2023 est.) forest: 75% (2023 est.) other: 0% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 250 sq km (2012) **Major aquifers:** Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin **Population distribution:** approximately one fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight mainly rural regions, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires **Geography - note:** this small country is swampy along its western coast and is low-lying inland ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,187,293 (2025 est.) male: 1,070,326 female: 1,116,967 **Nationality:** noun: Bissau-Guinean(s) adjective: Bissau-Guinean **Ethnic groups:** Balanta 30%, Fulani 30%, Manjaco 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%, unspecified smaller ethnic groups 6% (2015 est.) **Languages:** Portuguese-based Creole, Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language), Pular (a Fula language), Mandingo **Religions:** Muslim 46.1%, folk religions 30.6%, Christian 18.9%, other or unaffiliated 4.4% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 42.3% (male 453,513/female 448,514) 15-64 years: 54.6% (male 561,868/female 602,280) 65 years and over: 3.1% (2024 est.) (male 27,529/female 38,621) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 82.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 76.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.8 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 18.5 years (2025 est.) male: 17.8 years female: 18.9 years **Population growth rate:** 2.55% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 35.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -3.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** approximately one fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight mainly rural regions, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 45.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 664,000 BISSAU (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 505 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 45.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 52 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 64.5 years (2024 est.) male: 62.2 years female: 66.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.59 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.26 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 73.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 52.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 26.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.2% of GDP (2021) 5.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.25 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 72.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 23.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 45.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 27.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 76.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 54.4% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 9.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 3.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 6.7% (2025 est.) male: 13.2% (2025 est.) female: 0.5% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 18.8% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 59% (2019 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 8.1% (2019) women married by age 18: 25.7% (2019) men married by age 18: 2.2% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 2.7% of GDP (2020 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 63.9% (2022 est.) male: 77.3% (2022 est.) female: 52.2% (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation (overharvesting of trees for timber and agricultural purposes); soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds **Land use:** agricultural land: 29.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 14.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.9% (2023 est.) forest: 75% (2023 est.) other: 0% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 45.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 366,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 366,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 42.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 289,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.1% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 34.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 11.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 144 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 31.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau local short form: Guine-Bissau former: Portuguese Guinea etymology: the country is partly named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea; the name itself is derived from the Tuareg word aginaw, meaning "black people;" Bissau, the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea and is derived from the local Bijuga people **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Bissau geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is derived from the local Bijuga people and is used to distinguish the country from neighboring Guinea **Administrative divisions:** 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali **Legal system:** mixed system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence; influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law **Constitution:** history: promulgated 16 May 1984 amendment process: proposed by the National People’s Assembly if supported by at least one third of its members, by the Council of State (a presidential consultant body), or by the government; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government and national sovereignty cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Interim President Gen. Horta Nta Na MAN (since 27 November 2025) head of government: Interim Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira TE (since 28 November 2025) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for up to 2 consecutive 5-year terms; prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly most recent election date: 23 November 2025 election results: 2025: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) and Fernando DIAS da Costa (PRS) both claimed victory in first round; a coup prevented the release of election results after ballots were destroyed 2019: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Domingos Simoes PEREIRA (PAIGC) 40.1%, Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) 27.7%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (APU-PDGB) 13.2%, Jose Mario VAZ (independent) 12.4%, other 6.6%; percent of vote in second round - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.5% (2019) expected date of next election: 2025 note: elections were held on 23 November 2025; a military coup on 26 November suspended the election process, arrested the sitting president, swore in a transitional president, and appointed a cabinet for one year **Legislative branch:** legislature name: People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 102 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 11/23/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Inclusive Alliance Platform/Terra Coalition (54); Movement for Democratic Alternation (MADEM G.15) (29); Party for Social Renewal (PRS) (12); Bissau-Guinean Workers’ Party (6); Other (1) percentage of women in chamber: 9.8% expected date of next election: November 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president for life subordinate courts: Appeals Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court note: the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction **Political parties:** African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde or PAIGC Democratic Convergence Party or PCD Movement for Democratic Alternation Group of 15 or MADEM-G15 National People’s Assembly – Democratic Party of Guinea Bissau or APU-PDGB New Democracy Party or PND Party for Social Renewal or PRS Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID Union for Change or UM **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Maria Da Conceição NOBRE CABRAL (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 918 16th Street, NW (Mezzanine Suite) Washington DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 872-4222 FAX: [1] (202) 872-4226 **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 20 April 2022) mailing address: 2080 Bissau Place, Washington DC 20521-2080 email address and website: dakarACS@state.gov https://gw.usmission.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 24 September (1973) **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; a five-pointed black star is centered in the red band meaning: yellow stands for the sun, green for hope, red for blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement; the Ghanaian flag heavily influenced the design **National symbol(s):** black star **National color(s):** red, yellow, green, black **National anthem(s):** title: "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This is Our Beloved Country) lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He history: adopted 1974; a delegation from Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRAL, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to fight for independence **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago – Omatí Minhô (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** extremely poor West African economy; ethnically diverse labor force; increasing government expenditures; slight inflation due to food supply disruptions; major cashew exporter; systemic banking instabilities and corruption; vulnerable to oil price shocks **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $5.912 billion (2024 est.) $5.64 billion (2023 est.) $5.399 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4.8% (2024 est.) 4.5% (2023 est.) 5.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $2,700 (2024 est.) $2,600 (2023 est.) $2,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.12 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.8% (2024 est.) 7.1% (2023 est.) 9.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 36.8% (2024 est.) industry: 16.6% (2024 est.) services: 42.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 77% (2024 est.) government consumption: 17.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.8% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -1.9% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 12.5% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** rice, groundnuts, cashews, root vegetables, oil palm fruit, plantains, cassava, coconuts, vegetables, sweet potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks **Industrial production growth rate:** 8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 845,300 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 2.7% (2024 est.) 2.7% (2023 est.) 2.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 2.8% (2024 est.) male: 3.4% (2024 est.) female: 2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 50.5% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 33.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.4% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 26.1% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 9.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 11% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $269.794 million (2023 est.) expenditures: $450.953 million (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 8.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$160.169 million (2023 est.) -$146.64 million (2022 est.) -$14.128 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $284.5 million (2023 est.) $280.065 million (2022 est.) $334.904 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** India 66%, Chile 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Ghana 4%, Netherlands 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, fish, fish oil, processed crustaceans, malt extract (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $592.095 million (2023 est.) $577.899 million (2022 est.) $518.162 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Senegal 28%, Portugal 24%, China 11%, Gambia, The 10%, Pakistan 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, iron bars, rice, plastics, flavored water (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $896.812 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 37.4% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 61% electrification - rural areas: 15.8% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 29,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 79.8 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 6 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 96.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 2.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 0 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 3.24 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-owned TV station, Televisao da Guine-Bissau (TGB) and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2019) **Internet country code:** .gw **Internet users:** percent of population: 33% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 7,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** J5 **Airports:** 7 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 20 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 12, other 5 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Bissau, Rio Cacheu ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** People's Revolutionary Armed Force (Forcas Armadas Revolucionarias do Povo or FARP): Army, Navy, Air Force Ministry of Internal Administration: National Guard (a gendarmerie force), Public Order Police, Border Police, Rapid Intervention Police, Maritime Police (2025) note: the Public Order Police is responsible for maintaining law and order, while the Judicial Police, under the Ministry of Justice, has primary responsibility for investigating drug trafficking, terrorism, and other transnational crimes **Military expenditures:** 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 4,000 active FARP (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FARP is outfitted mostly with Soviet-era weapons and equipment (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service for men and women (Air Force service is voluntary) (2025) **Military - note:** the Armed Forces (FARP) are focused on external security, but also has some internal security duties; the FARP and the paramilitary National Guard have been influential in the country’s politics since independence and have attempted several coups; since the 2000s, the FARP has undergone various attempts at defense and security sector reforms under the auspices of the African Union, the EU, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), and the UN (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 54 (2024 est.) --- ## Kenya **Slug:** kenya **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇰🇪 **Codes:** cek: ke, iso2: KE, iso3: KEN, iso_num: 404, genc: KEN, stanag: KEN, internet: .ke ### Introduction **Background:** Trade centers such as Mombasa have existed along the Kenyan and Tanzanian coastlines, known as the Land of Zanj, since at least the 2nd century. These centers traded with the outside world, including China, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Persia. By around the 9th century, the mix of Africans, Arabs, and Persians who lived and traded there became known as Swahili ("people of the coast") with a distinct language (KiSwahili) and culture. The Portuguese arrived in the 1490s and, using Mombasa as a base, sought to monopolize trade in the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese were pushed out in the late 1600s by the combined forces of Oman and Pate, an island off the coast. In 1890, Germany and the UK divided up the region, with the UK taking the north and the Germans the south, including present-day Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. In 1895, the British established the East Africa Protectorate, which in 1920 was converted into a colony, and named Kenya after its highest mountain. Numerous political disputes between the colony and the UK led to the violent Mau Mau Uprising, which began in 1952, and the eventual declaration of independence in 1963. Jomo KENYATTA, the founding president and an icon of the liberation struggle, led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when Vice President Daniel Arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982, after which time the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) changed the constitution to make itself the sole legal political party. MOI gave in to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in 1991, but the ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud. MOI stepped down in 2002 after fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA, the son of the founding president, and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. Opposition candidate Raila ODINGA challenged KIBAKI's reelection in 2007 on the grounds of widespread vote rigging, leading to two months of ethnic violence that caused more than 1,100 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands. African Union-sponsored mediation resulted in a power-sharing accord that brought ODINGA into the government as prime minister and outlined a reform agenda. In 2010, Kenyans overwhelmingly voted to adopt a new constitution that eliminated the prime minister, introduced additional checks and balances to executive power, and devolved power and resources to 47 newly created counties. Uhuru KENYATTA won the first presidential election under the new constitution in 2013. He won a second and final term in office in 2017 after a contentious repeat election. In 2022, William RUTO won a close presidential election; he assumed the office the following month after the Kenyan Supreme Court upheld the victory. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania **Geographic coordinates:** 1 00 N, 38 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 580,367 sq km land: 569,140 sq km water: 11,227 sq km **Area - comparative:** five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada **Land boundaries:** total: 3,457 km border countries (5): Ethiopia 867 km; Somalia 684 km; South Sudan 317 km; Tanzania 775 km; Uganda 814 km **Coastline:** 536 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior **Terrain:** low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west **Elevation:** highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 762 m **Natural resources:** limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 49.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 36.7% (2023 est.) forest: 6.5% (2023 est.) other: 44% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,030 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Uganda) - 62,940 sq km salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Ethiopia) - 6,400 sq km **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Ogaden-Juba Basin **Population distribution:** population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano **Geography - note:** the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second-largest freshwater lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda ### People and Society **Population:** total: 55,751,717 (2025 est.) male: 27,857,519 female: 27,894,198 **Nationality:** noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan **Ethnic groups:** Kikuyu 17.1%, Luhya 14.3%, Kalenjin 13.4%, Luo 10.7%, Kamba 9.8%, Somali 5.8%, Kisii 5.7%, Mijikenda 5.2%, Meru 4.2%, Maasai 2.5%, Turkana 2.1%, non-Kenyan 1%, other 8.2% (2019 est.) **Languages:** English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili) **Religions:** Christian 85.5% (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4%, African Instituted Churches 7%, other Christian 4.1%), Muslim 10.9%, other 1.8%, none 1.6%, don't know/no answer 0.2% (2019 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 35.8% (male 10,464,384/female 10,366,997) 15-64 years: 60.9% (male 17,731,068/female 17,723,012) 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 896,348/female 1,064,569) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 64 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 58.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 18.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 21.5 years (2025 est.) male: 21.1 years female: 21.4 years **Population growth rate:** 2.15% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 25.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 29.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 5.325 million NAIROBI (capital), 1.440 million Mombassa (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 20.3 years (2014 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 379 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 26.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 29 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 70.4 years (2024 est.) male: 68.6 years female: 72.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.09 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.53 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 86.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 53.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 62.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 13.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 46.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 4.5% of GDP (2021) 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 84.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 60.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 15.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 39.1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 7.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 1.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 8.6% (2025 est.) male: 15.5% (2025 est.) female: 1.9% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 9.8% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 53.2% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 2.2% (2022) women married by age 18: 12.5% (2022) men married by age 18: 1.8% (2022) **Education expenditure:** 4% of GDP (2024 est.) 28.5% national budget (2025 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution from urban and industrial wastes and from use of pesticides and fertilizers; flooding; water-hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior **Land use:** agricultural land: 49.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 36.7% (2023 est.) forest: 6.5% (2023 est.) other: 44% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 29.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 19.023 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.316 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 15.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 12.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 334.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,241 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 127.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 32.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.595 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 495 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 303 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 3.234 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 30.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya local long form: Republic of Kenya (English)/ Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili) local short form: Kenya former: British East Africa etymology: named for Mount Kenya; the mountain's name may derive from the Kikuyu word kere nyaga, or "white mountain" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Nairobi geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the Maasai expression meaning "cool waters," which was used to refer to a local water hole, Enkare Nairobi **Administrative divisions:** 47 counties; Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang'a, Nairobi City, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews laws **Constitution:** history: current constitution passed by referendum on 4 August 2010 amendment process: amendments can be proposed by either house of Parliament or by petition of at least one million eligible voters; passage of amendments by Parliament requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses in each of two readings, approval in a referendum by majority of votes cast by at least 20% of eligible voters in at least one half of Kenya’s counties, and approval by the president; passage of amendments introduced by petition requires approval by a majority of county assemblies, approval by majority vote of both houses, and approval by the president **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kenya dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022) head of government: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly election/appointment process: president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by majority vote nationwide and at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties; failure to meet these thresholds requires a runoff between the top two candidates most recent election date: 9 August 2022 election results: 2022: William RUTO elected president in first round; percent of vote - William RUTO (UDA) 50.5%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 48.9%, other 0.6% expected date of next election: 10 August 2027 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament of Kenya legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 350 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 8/9/2022 parties elected and seats per party: United Democratic Alliance (UDA) (145); Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) (86); Jubilee Party (JP) (28); Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya (WDM-K) (26); Others (19); Other (45) percentage of women in chamber: 23.4% expected date of next election: August 2027 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate number of seats: 68 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 8/9/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Kenya Kwanza Alliance (33); Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Coalition Party (32); Other (1) percentage of women in chamber: 31.3% expected date of next election: August 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges) judge selection and term of office: chief and deputy chief justices nominated by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appointed by the president with approval of the National Assembly; other judges nominated by the JSC and appointed by president; chief justice serves a nonrenewable 10-year term or until age 70, whichever comes first; other judges serve until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Appeal; military courts; magistrates' courts; religious courts **Political parties:** Azimio La Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party Amani National Congress or ANC Chama Cha Kazi or CCK Democratic Action Party or DAP-K Democratic Party or DP Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya or FORD-Kenya Grand Dream Development Party or GDDP Jubilee Party or JP Kenya African National Union or KANU Kenya Kwanza coalition Kenya Union Party or KUP Maendeleo Chap Chap Party or MCC Movement for Democracy and Growth or MDG National Agenda Party or NAP-K National Ordinary People Empowerment Union or NOPEU Orange Democratic Movement or ODM Pamoja African Alliance or PAA] The Service Party or TSP United Democratic Alliance or UDA United Democratic Movement or UDM United Democratic Party or UDP United Party of Independent Alliance or UPIA United Progressive Alliance or UPA Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya or WDM-K **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador David Kipkorir Kiplagat KERICH (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 2249 R St NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829 email address and website: information@kenyaembassydc.org https://kenyaembassydc.org/# consulate(s): New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Susan M. BURNS (since 25 August 2025) embassy: P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi mailing address: 8900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC 20521-8900 telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000 FAX: [254] (20) 363-6157 email address and website: kenya_acs@state.gov https://ke.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCT, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 12 December 1963 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963) note: Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963), marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is at the center meaning: black stands for the majority population, red for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** black, red, green, white **National coat of arms:** the two lions symbolize protection as they hold a traditional East African shield and spears in defense of freedom and unity; the shield features the national colors: black for the people, green for agriculture and natural resources, red for the struggle for freedom, and white for unity and peace; on the shield, a rooster greets the new day, and the axe represents both authority and the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU) that led the country to independence; at the base of the shield is Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak; the scroll has the Swahili word Harambee, meaning “all for one” or “pulling together” **National anthem(s):** title: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (O God of All Creation) lyrics/music: Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE history: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 8(5 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Turkana National Parks (n); Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest (n); Lamu Old Town (c); Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (c); Fort Jesus, Mombasa (c); Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (n); Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site (c); The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** fast growing, third largest Sub-Saharan economy; strong agriculture sector with emerging services and tourism industries; IMF program to address current account and debt service challenges; business-friendly policies foster infrastructure investment, digital innovation and public-private partnerships; vulnerable to climate change-induced droughts **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $328.632 billion (2024 est.) $314.491 billion (2023 est.) $297.938 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4.5% (2024 est.) 5.6% (2023 est.) 4.9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $5,800 (2024 est.) $5,700 (2023 est.) $5,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $124.499 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4.5% (2024 est.) 7.7% (2023 est.) 7.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 21.3% (2024 est.) industry: 16.1% (2024 est.) services: 55.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 75.5% (2024 est.) government consumption: 11.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -0.9% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 11.1% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -19.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugarcane, milk, maize, bananas, tea, potatoes, cassava, cabbages, camel milk, mangoes/guavas (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** agriculture, transportation, services, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, tourism, retail **Industrial production growth rate:** 0.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 23.781 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.5% (2024 est.) 5.6% (2023 est.) 5.8% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 11.9% (2024 est.) male: 8.3% (2024 est.) female: 16% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 38.6% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 38.7 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 42.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 31.8% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 3.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 3.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $20.202 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $30.924 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 14% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$4.317 billion (2023 est.) -$5.889 billion (2022 est.) -$5.597 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $12.626 billion (2023 est.) $13.954 billion (2022 est.) $11.815 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Uganda 10%, USA 10%, UAE 8%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** tea, cut flowers, garments, gold, tropical fruits (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $22.046 billion (2023 est.) $24.606 billion (2022 est.) $22.001 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 22%, UAE 14%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, palm oil, wheat, plastics, garments (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $10.067 billion (2024 est.) $7.342 billion (2023 est.) $7.969 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $31.451 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 134.822 (2024 est.) 139.846 (2023 est.) 117.866 (2022 est.) 109.638 (2021 est.) 106.451 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 76% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 98% electrification - rural areas: 65.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 3.824 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 10.002 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 34 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 316 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.069 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 10.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 15.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 20.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) geothermal: 47.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 30 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 113,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 5.486 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 57,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 71.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** about a half-dozen large, privately owned media companies with TV and radio stations, as well as a state-owned TV broadcaster, provide service nationwide; satellite and cable TV subscription services available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional and local radio services in multiple languages; many private radio stations broadcast nationally, with over 100 private and non-profit regional stations broadcasting in local languages; TV transmissions of all major international broadcasters available, mostly via paid subscriptions (2019) **Internet country code:** .ke **Internet users:** percent of population: 35% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1.32 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5Y **Airports:** 368 (2025) **Railways:** total: 3,819 km (2018) standard gauge: 485 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 3,334 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 26 (2023) by type: oil tanker 4, other 22 **Ports:** total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 2 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Kilifi, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Kenya Defense Forces (KDF): Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force Ministry of Interior: National Police Service, Kenya Coast Guard (2025) note: the National Police Service maintains internal security and includes a paramilitary General Service Unit and Rapid Deployment Unit, as well as a Border Police Unit **Military expenditures:** 1.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 25,000 active Kenya Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the KDF's inventory is a mix of older, donated/secondhand, and some modern weapon systems from a variety of sources; major suppliers have included China, France, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the US; in 2023, the Kenyan Government unveiled a five-year defense spending plan with a focus on upgraded military equipment, including aerial surveillance drones, tactical vehicles, and air defense systems (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-26 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (under 18 with parental consent; upper limit 30 years of age for specialists, tradesmen, or women with a diploma; 39 years of age for chaplains/imams); 7-9 year service obligations (2026) **Military deployments:** 400 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); approximately 1,400 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025) **Military - note:** the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) are responsible for protecting the country's sovereignty and territory and assisting civil authorities in responding to emergency, disaster, or political unrest as requested; the KDF's chief security concerns include regional disputes and instability, maritime crime and piracy, and the threat posed by the Somalia-based al-Shabaab terrorist group, which has conducted attacks inside Kenya; it has conducted operations in neighboring Somalia since 2011 and taken part in numerous regional peacekeeping and security missions; the KDF is a leading member of the Africa Standby Force; it participates in multinational exercises, and has ties to a variety of foreign militaries, including those of France, the UK, and the US the Kenya Military Forces were created following independence in 1963; the current KDF was established and its composition laid out in the 2010 constitution; it is governed by the Kenya Defense Forces Act of 2012; the Army traces its origins back to the Kings African Rifles (KAR), a British colonial regiment raised from Britain's East Africa possessions from 1902 until independence in the 1960s; the KAR conducted both military and internal security functions within the colonial territories, and served outside the territories during both World Wars (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Kenya Space Agency (KSA; established 2017) (2025) note: KSA's predecessor, the National Space Secretariat, was established in 2009 **Space launch site(s):** Luigi Broglio Space Center (aka Malindi Space Center, Malindi Station, San Marco Satellite Launching and Tracking Station; Kilifi County; over 20 sounding rockets and nine satellites launched from the site, 1967-1989); in 2020, Kenya concluded a new deal with Italy to conduct rocket launches from the site again in the future (2025) **Space program overview:** has a national space strategy focused on acquiring and applying space technologies for agriculture, communications, disaster and resource management, security, urban planning, and weather monitoring; jointly develops and builds nanosatellites with foreign partners; operates satellites; researching and developing satellite payloads and imagery data analysis capabilities; has cooperated on space issues with China, Japan, India, Italy, and the US, as well as a variety of African partners; member of the African Space Agency (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1970 - first satellite (US-made Uhura) launched from Kenya 2008 - established country's first satellite ground station 2018 - first remote-sensing (RS)/technology-demonstrator cube nanosatellite (1KUNS-PF) produced jointly with Japan and Italy and deployed from the International Space Station 2023 - first domestically designed RS satellite (TAIFA-1) built by Bulgaria and launched by US ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 823,904 (2024 est.) IDPs: 284,886 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 9,800 (2024 est.) --- ## Lesotho **Slug:** lesotho **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇱🇸 **Codes:** cek: lt, iso2: LS, iso3: LSO, iso_num: 426, genc: LSO, stanag: LSO, internet: .ls ### Introduction **Background:** Paramount chief MOSHOESHOE I consolidated what would become Basutoland in the early 19th century and made himself king in 1822. Continuing encroachments by Dutch settlers from the neighboring Orange Free State caused the king to enter into an 1868 agreement with the UK that made Basutoland first a British protectorate and, after 1884, a crown colony. After gaining independence in 1966, the country was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Basotho National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE II was exiled in 1990, returned to Lesotho in 1992, was reinstated in 1995, and was then succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Batswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections in 2007 were hotly contested, and aggrieved parties disputed how seats were awarded. In 2012, competitive elections saw Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas THABANE form a coalition government -- the first in the country's history -- that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha MOSISILI, who peacefully transferred power the following month. MOSISILI returned to power in snap elections in 2015 after the collapse of THABANE’s coalition government and an alleged attempted military coup. In 2017, THABANE returned to become prime minister but stepped down in 2020 after being implicated in his estranged wife’s murder. He was succeeded by Moseketsi MAJORO. In 2022, Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE was inaugurated as prime minister and head of a three-party coalition. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa **Geographic coordinates:** 29 30 S, 28 30 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 30,355 sq km land: 30,355 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Maryland **Land boundaries:** total: 1,106 km border countries (1): South Africa 1,106 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers **Terrain:** mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains **Elevation:** highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m mean elevation: 2,161 m **Natural resources:** water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone **Land use:** agricultural land: 77.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 65.9% (2023 est.) forest: 1.1% (2023 est.) other: 21.1% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 12 sq km (2013) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Orange river source (shared with South Africa and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) **Population distribution:** relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** periodic droughts **Geography - note:** landlocked, surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m (5,900 ft) above sea level ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,222,962 (2025 est.) male: 1,099,314 female: 1,123,648 **Nationality:** noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho **Ethnic groups:** Sotho 99.7%, other 0.3% (includes Kwena, Nguni (Hlubi and Phuthi), Zulu) **Languages:** Sesotho (official), English (official), Phuthi, Xhosa, Zulu **Religions:** Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%, Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%, Anglican 7.4%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, other Christian 9.1%, non-Christian 1.4%, none 2.3% (2014 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 32% (male 358,137/female 353,618) 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 699,197/female 696,626) 65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 44,625/female 75,345) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 48.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 11.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 24 years (2025 est.) male: 23.4 years female: 24.3 years **Population growth rate:** 0.73% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 21.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -4.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 30.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 20.9 years (2014 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 478 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 52.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 60.2 years (2024 est.) male: 58.1 years female: 62.3 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.49 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.23 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 93% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 74% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 34.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 26% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 10.2% of GDP (2021) 13.1% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 93.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 62.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 71.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 6.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 37.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 28.3% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 16.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 3.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 22.8% (2025 est.) male: 42.4% (2025 est.) female: 4.1% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 12.5% (2024 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 46.9% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 1% (2018) women married by age 18: 16.4% (2018) men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 6.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 10.4% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 90.4% (2024 est.) male: 83.2% (2024 est.) female: 96.6% (2024 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 11 years (2017 est.) male: 11 years (2017 est.) female: 11 years (2017 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** overgrazing; severe soil erosion; soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 77.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 65.9% (2023 est.) forest: 1.1% (2023 est.) other: 21.1% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 30.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 1.148 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 175,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 973,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 73,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 3.022 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho local short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland etymology: the name comes from the Sotho people, whose name means "dark-skinned;" Le- is a singular noun prefix; the former name, Basutoland, uses the plural noun prefix, Ba- **Government type:** parliamentary constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Maseru geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "[place of] red sandstones" in the Sesotho language **Administrative divisions:** 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; High Court and Court of Appeal review legislative acts **Constitution:** history: previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version) amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including fundamental rights and freedoms, sovereignty of the kingdom, the office of the king, and powers of Parliament, requires a majority vote by the National Assembly, approval by the Senate, approval in a referendum by a majority of qualified voters, and assent of the king; passage of amendments other than those specified provisions requires at least a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE (28 October 2022) cabinet: consists of the prime minister (appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State), the deputy prime minister, and 18 other ministers; the prime minister is the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the National Assembly election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary but has no executive or legislative powers under the constitution; under traditional law, the College of Chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine next in line of succession, or serve as regent in the event that a successor is not of mature age note: King LETSIE III previously occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 122 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/2/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) (56); Democratic Congress (DC) (29); All Basotho Convention (ABC) (8); Basotho Action Party (BAP) (6); Other (20) percentage of women in chamber: 25% expected date of next election: October 2027 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate number of seats: 33 (11 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/7/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 21.2% expected date of next election: November 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75 subordinate courts: Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts note: both the Court of Appeal and the High Court have jurisdiction in constitutional issues **Political parties:** All Basotho Convention or ABC Alliance of Democrats or AD Basotho Action Party or BAP Basotho National Party or BNP Democratic Congress or DC Democratic Party of Lesotho or DPL Lesotho People's Congress or LPC Movement of Economic Change or MEC National Independent Party or NIP Popular Front for Democracy of PFD Reformed Congress of Lesotho or RCL **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Tumisang MOSOTHO (since 16 September 2022) chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815 email address and website: lesothoembassy@verizon.net https://www.gov.ls/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Thomas HINES (since August 2024) embassy: 254 Kingsway Avenue, Maseru mailing address: 2340 Maseru Place, Washington DC 20521-2340 telephone: [266] 22312666 FAX: [266] 22310116 email address and website: USConsularMaseru@state.gov https://ls.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 4 October 1966 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 4 October (1966) **Flag:** description: three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green; centered on the white stripe is a black mokorotlo, a traditional Basotho straw hat and national symbol meaning: blue stands for rain, white for peace, and green for prosperity history: the redesigned flag was introduced in 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence **National symbol(s):** mokorotio (Basotho hat) **National color(s):** blue, white, green, black **National anthem(s):** title: "Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers) lyrics/music: Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR history: adopted 1967; music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Maloti-Drakensberg Park ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower middle-income economy surrounded by South Africa; environmentally fragile and politically unstable; key infrastructure and renewable energy investments; dire poverty; urban job and income losses due to COVID-19; systemic corruption **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $6.166 billion (2024 est.) $6 billion (2023 est.) $5.893 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.8% (2024 est.) 1.8% (2023 est.) 2.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $2,600 (2024 est.) $2,600 (2023 est.) $2,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.272 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 6.1% (2024 est.) 6.3% (2023 est.) 8.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 6.5% (2024 est.) industry: 31% (2024 est.) services: 48% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 92.9% (2023 est.) government consumption: 35.6% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.3% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -1.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 42.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -98.6% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, potatoes, maize, vegetables, fruits, sorghum, wheat, game meat, beans, wool (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 884,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 16.2% (2024 est.) 16.5% (2023 est.) 16.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 24.2% (2024 est.) male: 17.7% (2024 est.) female: 36.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 49.7% (2017 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 44.9 (2017 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.7% (2017 est.) highest 10%: 32.9% (2017 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 22% of GDP (2024 est.) 22.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 22.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.13 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $1.256 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 3% of GDP (2020 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 30.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $84.393 million (2024 est.) -$151.577 million (2023 est.) -$268.876 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $983.027 million (2024 est.) $885.789 million (2023 est.) $1.07 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** South Africa 31%, Belgium 26%, USA 20%, UAE 8%, India 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** diamonds, garments, wool, power equipment, bedding (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $2.083 billion (2024 est.) $2.077 billion (2023 est.) $2.247 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** South Africa 78%, China 10%, Taiwan 3%, Japan 1%, India 1% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, fabric, trucks, garments, cotton fabric (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $1.008 billion (2024 est.) $854.089 million (2023 est.) $771.278 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $928.019 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** maloti (LSL) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 18.329 (2024 est.) 18.45 (2023 est.) 16.356 (2022 est.) 14.779 (2021 est.) 16.459 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 50% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 83.6% electrification - rural areas: 37.7% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 104,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 833.009 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 453.992 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 102.88 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 99.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 57,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 81,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 8.117 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 7,980 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 1.64 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; most private broadcast media transmitters are connected to government radio signal towers; satellite TV subscription service available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters obtainable (2019) **Internet country code:** .ls **Internet users:** percent of population: 48% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 9,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 7P **Airports:** 34 (2025) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) (2025) note: the Lesotho Mounted Police Service is responsible for internal security and reports to the Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police **Military expenditures:** 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 2,000 active Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the LDF is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older or secondhand equipment of European, South African, and US origin (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 20-30 years of age for voluntary military service for both men and women (2026) **Military - note:** the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) is responsible for the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; the LDF is a small force that began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 610 (2024 est.) --- ## Liberia **Slug:** liberia **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇱🇷 **Codes:** cek: li, iso2: LR, iso3: LBR, iso_num: 430, genc: LBR, stanag: LBR, internet: .lr ### Introduction **Background:** With 28 ethnic groups and languages, Liberia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. For hundreds of years, the Mali and Songhai Empires claimed most of Liberia. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders began establishing outposts along the Liberian coast. Unlike its neighbors, however, Liberia did not fall under European colonial rule. In the early 19th century, the US began sending freed enslaved people and other people of color to Liberia to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared independence from the US, writing their own constitution and establishing Africa’s first republic. Early in Liberia’s history, tensions arose between the Americo-Liberian settlers and the indigenous population. In 1980, Samuel DOE, who was from the indigenous population, led a military coup and ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 permitted an election that brought TAYLOR to power. In 2000, fighting resumed. A 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted TAYLOR’s resignation. He was later convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. In 2005, Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF became president after two years of transitional governments; she was the first female head of state in Africa. In 2011, JOHNSON SIRLEAF won reelection but struggled to rebuild Liberia's economy -- particularly after the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic -- and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. In 2017, former soccer star George WEAH won the presidential runoff election, marking the first successful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another since the end of Liberia’s civil wars. Like his predecessor, WEAH struggled to improve the country’s economy. In 2023, former Vice President Joseph BOAKAI was elected president, edging out WEAH by a thin margin, the first time since 1927 that an incumbent was not re-elected after one term. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone **Geographic coordinates:** 6 30 N, 9 30 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 111,369 sq km land: 96,320 sq km water: 15,049 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 1,667 km border countries (3): Guinea 590 km; Cote d'Ivoire 778 km; Sierra Leone 299 km **Coastline:** 579 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers **Terrain:** mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast **Elevation:** highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,447 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 243 m **Natural resources:** iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 20% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.) forest: 66.5% (2023 est.) other: 13.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 30 sq km (2012) **Population distribution:** more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one third living within an 80-km (50-mi) radius of Monrovia, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March) **Geography - note:** facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture ### People and Society **Population:** total: 5,563,541 (2025 est.) male: 2,774,006 female: 2,789,535 **Nationality:** noun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian **Ethnic groups:** Kpelle 20.2%, Bassa 13.6%, Grebo 9.9%, Gio 7.9%, Mano 7.2%, Kru 5.5%, Lorma 4.8%, Krahn 4.5%, Kissi, 4.3%, Mandingo 4.2%, Vai 3.8%, Gola 3.8%, Gbandi 2.9%, Mende 1.7%, Sapo 1%, Belle 0.7%, Dey 0.3%, other Liberian ethnic group 0.4%, other African 3%, non-African 0.2% (2022 est.) **Languages:** English 20% (official) and 27 indigenous languages, including Liberian English variants **Religions:** Christian 84.9%, Muslim 12%, Traditional 0.5%, other 0.1%, none 2.6% (2022 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 38.9% (male 1,064,100/female 1,052,556) 15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,566,263/female 1,579,835) 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 80,961/female 93,534) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 72 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 66.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 18 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 20.1 years (2025 est.) male: 19.8 years female: 20 years **Population growth rate:** 2.27% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 31.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one third living within an 80-km (50-mi) radius of Monrovia, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.1 years (2019/20 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 628 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 55.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 50.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 61.6 years (2024 est.) male: 59.9 years female: 63.3 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.84 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.89 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 75.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 24.4% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 16.6% of GDP (2021) 4.8% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 70.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 25.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 49% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 29.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 74.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 51% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 9.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 3.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 6.4% (2025 est.) male: 11.5% (2025 est.) female: 1.5% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 10.9% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 51.4% (2020 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 5.8% (2020) women married by age 18: 24.9% (2020) men married by age 18: 8.4% (2020) **Education expenditure:** 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 7.4% national budget (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** tropical rainforest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; hunting of endangered species for bushmeat; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage; pollution of rivers from industrial run-off; burning and dumping of household waste **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers **Land use:** agricultural land: 20% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.) forest: 66.5% (2023 est.) other: 13.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 4 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 41.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 564,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 80.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 53.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 12.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 232 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Liberia conventional short form: Liberia etymology: name derives from the Latin word liber, meaning "free;" so named because the nation was created as a homeland for liberated African-American slaves **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Monrovia geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after James MONROE (1758-1831), the fifth president of the United States and supporter of Liberia's colonization by freed slaves **Administrative divisions:** 15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe **Legal system:** mixed system of common law, based on Anglo-American law and customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986 amendment process: proposed by agreement of at least two thirds of both National Assembly houses or by petition of at least 10,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval of both houses and approval in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of registered voters **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024) head of government: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 10 October 2023, with a runoff on 14 November 2023 election results: 2023: Joseph BOAKAI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (CDC) 43.8%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 43.4%, Edward APPLETON (GDM) 2.2%, Lusinee KAMARA (ALCOP) 2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS, Jr. (CPP) 1.6%, Tiawan Saye GONGLOE (LPP) 1.4%, other 5.6%; percentage of vote in second round - Joseph BOAKAI 50.6%, George WEAH 49.4% 2017: George WEAH elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (Coalition for Democratic Change) 38.4%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 28.8%, Charles BRUMSKINE (LP) 9.6%, Prince JOHNSON (MDR) 8.2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS (ANC) 7.2%, other 7.8%; percentage of vote in second round - George WEAH 61.5%, Joseph BOAKAI 38.5% expected date of next election: October 2029 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Legislature legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives number of seats: 73 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 10/10/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (25); Unity Party (UP) (11); Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) (6); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (4); Independents (19); Other (8) percentage of women in chamber: 11% expected date of next election: October 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: The Liberian Senate number of seats: 30 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 9 years most recent election date: 10/10/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (6); Unity Party (UP) (1); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (1); Liberia Restoration Party (LRP) (1); Independents (6) percentage of women in chamber: 10% expected date of next election: October 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 4 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: chief justice and associate justices appointed by the president of Liberia with consent of the Senate; judges can serve until age 70 subordinate courts: judicial circuit courts; special courts, including criminal, civil, labor, traffic; magistrate and traditional or customary courts note: the Supreme Court has jurisdiction for all constitutional cases **Political parties:** All Liberian Party or ALP Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD Alternative National Congress or ANC Coalition for Democratic Change (includes CDC, NPP, and LPDP) Collaborating Political Parties or CPP (coalition includes ANC, LP; CPP dissolved in April 2024) Congress for Democratic Change or CDC Liberia Destiny Party or LDP Liberia National Union or LINU Liberia Transformation Party or LTP Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP Liberian People's Party or LPP Liberian Restoration Party or LRP Liberty Party or LP Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR Movement for Economic Empowerment Movement for Progressive Change or MPC National Democratic Coalition or NDC National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL National Patriotic Party or NPP National Reformist Party or NRP National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP People's Unification Party or PUP Unity Party or UP United People's Party Victory for Change Party or VCP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Al-Hassan CONTEH (since 24 July 2025) chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437 FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436 email address and website: info@liberianembassyus.org http://www.liberianembassyus.org/ consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Joseph ZADROZNY (since August 2025) embassy: 502 Benson Street, Monrovia mailing address: 8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20521-8800 telephone: [231] 77-677-7000 FAX: [231] 77-677-7370 email address and website: ACSMonrovia@state.gov https://lr.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 26 July 1847 **National holiday:** Independence Day, 26 July (1847) **Flag:** description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a five-pointed white star sits on a blue square in the upper-left corner meaning: the stripes stand for the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence, the blue square for the African mainland, and the star for the freedom granted to ex-slaves; the blue stands for liberty, justice, and fidelity; the white for purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness; the red for steadfastness, valor, and fervor note: the design is based on the US flag **National symbol(s):** white star **National color(s):** red, white, blue **National anthem(s):** title: "All Hail, Liberia, Hail!" lyrics/music: Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA history: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income West African economy; food scarcity, especially in rural areas; high poverty and inflation; bad recession prior to COVID-19 due to Ebola crisis; growing government debt; longest continuously operated rubber plantation; large informal economy **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $9.308 billion (2024 est.) $8.882 billion (2023 est.) $8.484 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4.8% (2024 est.) 4.7% (2023 est.) 4.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $1,700 (2024 est.) $1,600 (2023 est.) $1,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $4.75 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 10.1% (2023 est.) 7.6% (2022 est.) 7.8% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 33.6% (2024 est.) industry: 23.3% (2024 est.) services: 42.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** cassava, sugarcane, rice, oil palm fruit, bananas, rubber, vegetables, plantains, taro, maize (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** mining (iron ore and gold), rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds **Industrial production growth rate:** 6.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 2.607 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 2.9% (2024 est.) 3% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 2.1% (2024 est.) male: 2.2% (2024 est.) female: 2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 50.9% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 35.3 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2016 est.) highest 10%: 27.1% (2016 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 18.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 15.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $5 million (2019 est.) expenditures: $6 million (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** $64.806 million (2022 est.) -$101.746 million (2021 est.) -$274.971 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.22 billion (2022 est.) $1.041 billion (2021 est.) $731.658 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Switzerland 30%, UK 13%, France 8%, Germany 7%, Lebanon 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $1.961 billion (2022 est.) $1.739 billion (2021 est.) $1.371 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 48%, Japan 21%, Germany 8%, Brazil 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** ships, refined petroleum, rice, trucks, centrifuges (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $599.66 million (2022 est.) $700.829 million (2021 est.) $340.966 million (2020 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $1.335 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 174.956 (2023 est.) 152.934 (2022 est.) 166.154 (2021 est.) 191.518 (2020 est.) 186.43 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 31.8% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 53.7% electrification - rural areas: 14.9% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 199,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 215.96 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 179.222 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 66.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 32.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 75,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 1.822 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 6,250 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 1.72 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** 8 private and 1 state-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; about 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with about 80 more local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international broadcasters are available (2019) **Internet country code:** .lr **Internet users:** percent of population: 24% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 15,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** A8 **Airports:** 19 (2025) **Railways:** total: 429 km (2008) standard gauge: 345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge note: most sections of the railways inoperable due to damage sustained during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt **Merchant marine:** total: 4,821 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1,895, container ship 1,013, general cargo 170, oil tanker 1,038, other 705 **Ports:** total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Buchanan, Cape Palmas, Greenville, Monrovia ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberian Coast Guard Ministry of Justice: Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (2025) **Military expenditures:** 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military has a limited inventory; in recent years, it has received small quantities of equipment, including donations, from countries such as China, UAE, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025) **Military - note:** the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are responsible for external defense and some domestic security responsibilities if called upon, such as humanitarian assistance during natural disasters and support to law enforcement; it is a small, lightly equipped force comprised of two combat infantry battalions and supporting units, as well as a few coastal patrol craft for the Coast Guard; the infantry battalions were rebuilt with US assistance in 2007-2008 from the restructured AFL following the end of the second civil war in 2003 when military and police forces were disbanded and approximately 100,000 military, police, and rebel combatants were disarmed the first militia unit established for defense of the Liberia colony was raised in 1832; the AFL traces its origins to the 1908 establishment of the Liberia Frontier Force, which became the Liberian National Guard in 1965; the AFL was established in 1970 (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 1,854 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Liberia remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/liberia/ --- ## Libya **Slug:** libya **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇱🇾 **Codes:** cek: ly, iso2: LY, iso3: LBY, iso_num: 434, genc: LBY, stanag: LBY, internet: .ly ### Introduction **Background:** Berbers have inhabited central north Africa since ancient times, but Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians, Romans, and Vandals have all settled and ruled the region. In the 7th century, Islam spread through the area. In the mid-16th century, Ottoman rule began; the Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and held it until 1943, when they were defeated in World War II. Libya then came under UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership with a military coup in 1969 and began to espouse a political system that combined socialism and Islam. During the 1970s, QADHAFI used oil revenues to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversive and terrorist activities that included the downing of two airliners -- one over Scotland and another in Northern Africa -- and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically; the sanctions were lifted in 2003 when Libya accepted responsibility for the bombings and agreed to claimant compensation. QADHAFI also agreed to end Libya's program to develop weapons of mass destruction, and he made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. Unrest that began in several Middle Eastern and North African countries in 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in 2011. QADHAFI's brutal crackdown on protesters spawned an eight-month civil war that saw the emergence of a National Transitional Council (NTC), UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community, and the toppling of the QADHAFI regime. In 2012, the NTC handed power to an elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC), which was replaced two years later with the House of Representatives (HoR). In 2015, the UN brokered the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) among a broad array of political parties and social groups, establishing an interim executive body. However, hardliners continued to oppose and hamper the LPA implementation, leaving Libya with eastern and western-based rival governments. In 2018, the international community supported a recalibrated plan that aimed to break the political deadlock with a National Conference in 2019. These plans, however, were derailed when the eastern-based, self-described Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive to seize Tripoli. The LNA offensive collapsed in 2020, and a subsequent UN-sponsored cease-fire helped formalize the pause in fighting between rival camps. In 2021, the UN-facilitated Libyan Political Dialogue Forum selected a new prime minister for an interim government -- the Government of National Unity (GNU) -- and a new presidential council charged with preparing for elections and uniting the country’s state institutions. The HoR approved the GNU and its cabinet the same year, providing Libya with its first unified government since 2014, but the parliament then postponed the planned presidential election to an undetermined date in the future. In 2022, the HoR voted to replace GNU interim Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid DUBAYBAH, with another government led by Fathi BASHAGHA. GNU allegations of an illegitimate HoR vote allowed DUBAYBAH to remain in office and rebuff BASHAGHA's attempts to seat his government in Tripoli. In 2023, the HoR voted to replace BASHAGHA with Osma HAMAD. Special Representative of the UN Security-General for Libya, Abdoulaye BATHILY, is leading international efforts to persuade key Libyan political actors to resolve the core issues impeding elections. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria **Geographic coordinates:** 25 00 N, 17 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** about 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly larger than Alaska **Land boundaries:** total: 4,339 km border countries (6): Algeria 989 km; Chad 1,050 km; Egypt 1,115 km; Niger 342 km; Sudan 382 km; Tunisia 461 km **Coastline:** 1,770 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north **Climate:** Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior **Terrain:** mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions **Elevation:** highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m mean elevation: 423 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, gypsum **Land use:** agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.) forest: 0.1% (2023 est.) other: 91.2% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 4,700 sq km (2012) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Nubian Aquifer System, North Western Sahara Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin **Population distribution:** over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and its lack of surface water, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms **Geography - note:** note 1: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert note 2: the volcano Waw an Namus lies in south central Libya in the middle of the Sahara; the caldera is an oasis -- the name means "oasis of mosquitoes" -- containing several small lakes that host many species of insects and birds ### People and Society **Population:** total: 7,464,417 (2025 est.) male: 3,792,617 female: 3,671,800 note: immigrants make up just over 12% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) **Nationality:** noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan **Ethnic groups:** Amazigh and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Maltese, Pakistani, Tunisian, and Turkish) **Languages:** Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Tamazight (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq) major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, folk religion <1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.) note: non-Sunni Muslims include native Ibadhi Muslims (<1% of the population) and foreign Muslims **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 32.3% (male 1,211,087/female 1,165,648) 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 2,385,152/female 2,263,780) 65 years and over: 4.6% (2024 est.) (male 151,125/female 184,471) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 57.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 49.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 13.4 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 26.4 years (2025 est.) male: 26.3 years female: 26.2 years **Population growth rate:** 1.35% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 19.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and its lack of surface water, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.183 million TRIPOLI (capital), 984,000 Misratah, 859,000 Benghazi (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 59 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.) male: 75.5 years female: 80 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.96 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.44 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.1% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2017) **Hospital bed density:** 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 32.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 4.3% (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** desertification; limited natural freshwater resources; water pollution; threats to coastal ecosystem from sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Law of the Sea **Climate:** Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior **Land use:** agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.) forest: 0.1% (2023 est.) other: 91.2% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 46.479 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 29.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 16.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 29.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 1,357.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 63.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 77.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 3.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.148 million tons (2024 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 280 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 4.85 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: State of Libya conventional short form: Libya local long form: Dawlat Libiya local short form: Libiya etymology: the name probably derives from the Libu, a North African tribe first mentioned in texts from the 13th century B.C.; the ancient Greeks and Romans used the name for the entire North African coast west of Egypt **Government type:** in transition **Capital:** name: Tripoli (Tarabulus) geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the Greek words tri and polis, meaning "three cities;" the modern-day city was founded in the 14th century to replace the three ancient cities of Pallantium, Tegea, and Mantineia **Administrative divisions:** 22 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat); Al Butnan, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jabal al Gharbi, Al Jafarah, Al Jufrah, Al Kufrah, Al Marj, Al Marqab, Al Wahat, An Nuqat al Khams, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi (Benghazi), Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus (Tripoli), Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati **Legal system:** Libya's post-revolution system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities **Constitution:** history: previous 1951, 1977, 2011 (interim) note: a draft constitution was approved in 2017, but it is not yet ratified **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Libya dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: varies from 3 to 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age, universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President, Presidential Council, Mohammed al-MANFI (since 5 February 2021) head of government: GNU Interim Prime Minister Abd-al-Hamid DUBAYBAH (since 5 February 2021) election/appointment process: first direct presidential election was not held as planned most recent election date: scheduled for 24 December 2021 but not held expected date of next election: no new date has been set for elections **Legislative branch:** legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwaab) number of seats: 200 (all directly elected) electoral system: other systems scope of elections: full renewal most recent election date: 6/25/2014 percentage of women in chamber: 16.5% expected date of next election: December 2026 note: 32 seats are reserved for women **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Libya's judicial system consists of a supreme court, central high courts (in Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sabha), and a series of lower courts **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Fadil S M OMAR (since 17 July 2023) chancery: 1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012 telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601 FAX: [1] (202) 944-9606 email address and website: info@embassyoflibyadc.com https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jeremy BERNDT (since 14 October 2023) embassy: US Embassy Tripoli operations suspended in 2014 mailing address: 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850 telephone: [216] 71-107-000 email address and website: Webmaster_Libya@state.gov https://ly.usembassy.gov/ note: the US Embassy in Tripoli closed in July 2014 due to Libyan civil unrest; embassy staff and operations currently are located at US Embassy Tunis, Tunisia **International organization participation:** ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BDEAC, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, LCBC, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNSMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) **Independence:** 24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship) **National holiday:** Liberation Day, 23 October (2011) **Flag:** description: three horizontal bands of red (top), black (double-width), and green, with a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe meaning: the colors represent the three major regions of the country: red stands for Fezzan, black for Cyrenaica, and green for Tripolitania; the crescent and star represent Islam history: the National Transitional Council reintroduced this flag design from the former Kingdom of Libya (1951-69) in 2011 to replace the all-green banner of the QADHAFI regime **National symbol(s):** star and crescent, hawk **National color(s):** red, black, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Libya, Libya, Libya" lyrics/music: Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB history: adopted 1951, but replaced in 1969 when QADHAFI came to power; readopted 2011 with some modification to the lyrics; also known as "Ya Beladi" (O My Country) **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Site of Cyrene; Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, Archaeological Site of Sabratha; Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus; Old Town of Ghadamès ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper middle-income, fossil fuel-based North African economy; 31% economic contraction due to COVID-19 and 2020 oil blockade; reduced government spending; central bank had to devalue currency; public wages are over 60% of expenditures **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $90.609 billion (2024 est.) $91.161 billion (2023 est.) $82.756 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** -0.6% (2024 est.) 10.2% (2023 est.) -8.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $12,300 (2024 est.) $12,500 (2023 est.) $11,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $46.636 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.1% (2024 est.) 2.4% (2023 est.) 4.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.) industry: 68.3% (2024 est.) services: 34.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 32.7% (2024 est.) government consumption: 36.7% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 14.8% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 74.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -59.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** potatoes, onions, watermelons, tomatoes, dates, olives, milk, chicken, wheat, vegetables (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement **Industrial production growth rate:** -5.8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 2.585 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 18.7% (2024 est.) 18.8% (2023 est.) 19.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 49.5% (2024 est.) male: 41.5% (2024 est.) female: 68.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Remittances:** 0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $28.005 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $37.475 billion (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** $1.865 billion (2023 est.) $9.607 billion (2022 est.) $5.675 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $37.753 billion (2023 est.) $39.831 billion (2022 est.) $32.38 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Italy 23%, Germany 15%, Spain 9%, France 7%, China 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, gold, scrap iron (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $33.284 billion (2023 est.) $27.872 billion (2022 est.) $25.406 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 17%, Turkey 15%, Italy 8%, UAE 8%, Egypt 8% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, tobacco, garments, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $92.894 billion (2024 est.) $92.427 billion (2023 est.) $86.683 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 4.832 (2024 est.) 4.813 (2023 est.) 4.813 (2022 est.) 4.514 (2021 est.) 1.389 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 70% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 10.519 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 28.826 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 800 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 7.081 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 1.245 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 207,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 48.363 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 11.16 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 8.633 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 2.527 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.505 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 100.844 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1.22 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 13.9 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 193 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio (2019) **Internet country code:** .ly **Internet users:** percent of population: 89% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 326,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5A **Airports:** 75 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 96 (2023) by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 13, other 81 **Ports:** total ports: 14 (2024) large: 0 medium: 2 small: 3 very small: 9 ports with oil terminals: 10 key ports: Al Burayqah, Az Zawiya, Banghazi, Mersa Tobruq, Mina Tarabulus (Tripoli) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** the Libyan Armed Forces of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) have various ground, air, and naval/coast guard forces, which include a mix of nominally integrated and semi-regular units, tribal armed groups and militias, civilian volunteers, and foreign military contractors; the GNU's armed forces are nominally under the control of the Ministry of Defense; the GNU also has various internal security forces under both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior (2025) note: the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA; aka Libyan Arab Armed Forces, LAAF) under Khalifa HAFTER also includes various ground, air, and naval/coast guard forces comprised of semi-regular military personnel, militias, other armed groups, and foreign military contractors; some of the armed units nominally under the LNA operate under their own command structures and engage in their own operations **Military expenditures:** not available **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimates not available **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** both the forces aligned with the GNU and the LNA are largely equipped with weapons of Russian or Soviet origin; in recent years, Türkiye has the been the primary supplier of arms to the GNU, while the LNA has received quantities from Russia and the United Arab Emirates (2025) note: Libya is under a UN-imposed arms embargo **Military service age and obligation:** not available **Military - note:** the western-based forces aligned with the GNU and the eastern-based LNA forces are separated by a fortified line of control just west of the coastal city of Sirte; Turkey has provided support to the GNU forces, including military trainers, ammunition, weapons, and aerial drones; Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have been the main supporters of the LNA (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Sharia groups; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Libya (ISIS-L); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 277,010 (2024 est.) IDPs: 139,305 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/libya/ --- ## Madagascar **Slug:** madagascar **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇲🇬 **Codes:** cek: ma, iso2: MG, iso3: MDG, iso_num: 450, genc: MDG, stanag: MDG, internet: .mg ### Introduction **Background:** Madagascar was one of the last major habitable landmasses on earth to be settled by humans. While there is some evidence of human presence on the island in the millennia B.C., large-scale settlement began between A.D. 350 and 550 with settlers from present-day Indonesia. The island attracted Arab and Persian traders as early as the 7th century, and migrants from Africa arrived around A.D. 1000. Madagascar was a pirate stronghold during the late 17th and early 18th centuries and served as a slave trading center into the 19th century. From the 16th to the late 19th century, a native Merina Kingdom dominated much of Madagascar. The French conquered the island in 1896 and made it a colony; independence was regained in 1960. Free presidential and National Assembly elections were held in 1992-93, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing half the country to secede. In 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. He won a second term in 2006 but, following protests in 2009, handed over power to the military, which then conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA, in what amounted to a coup d'etat. After a lengthy mediation process, Madagascar held UN-supported presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013. Former de facto finance minister Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA won in a runoff and was inaugurated in 2014. In 2019, RAJOELINA was declared the winner against RAVALOMANANA. In 2023, RAJOELINA won another term in an election that most of the opposition boycotted, including RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA and RAVALOMANANA, who claimed it was rigged in favor of RAJOELINA. International observers, however, saw no evidence of systemic fraud, leading the international community to accept the election results. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique **Geographic coordinates:** 20 00 S, 47 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 587,041 sq km land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,501 sq km **Area - comparative:** almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 4,828 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath **Climate:** tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south **Terrain:** narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center **Elevation:** highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 615 m **Natural resources:** graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 64.1% (2023 est.) forest: 17.5% (2023 est.) other: 12.2% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 10,860 sq km (2012) **Population distribution:** most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in recorded history **Geography - note:** world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel; despite Madagascar’s close proximity to the African continent, ocean currents isolate the island, resulting in high rates of endemic plant and animal species; approximately 90% of the flora and fauna on the island are found nowhere else ### People and Society **Population:** total: 31,345,040 (2025 est.) male: 15,647,362 female: 15,697,678 **Nationality:** noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy **Ethnic groups:** Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran **Languages:** Malagasy (official) 99.9%, French (official) 23.6%, English 8.2%, other 0.6% (2018 est.) note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census **Religions:** Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Malagasy Lutheran Church/Anglican Church 34%, Roman Catholic 32.3%, other Christian 8.1%, traditional/Animist 1.7%, Muslim 1.4%, other 0.6%, none 21.9% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 37% (male 5,507,847/female 5,400,551) 15-64 years: 59.1% (male 8,720,012/female 8,673,880) 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 532,642/female 617,782) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 73.4 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 66.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 15.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 20.5 years (2025 est.) male: 21.1 years female: 21.5 years **Population growth rate:** 2.15% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 27.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 40.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.5 years (2021 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 445 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 40.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 68.8 years (2024 est.) male: 67.3 years female: 70.3 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.47 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.71 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 36% of population (2022 est.) total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 64% of population (2022 est.) total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.5% of GDP (2021) 5.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 53.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 25.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 36.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 46.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 74.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 63.3% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 5.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 24.1% (2025 est.) male: 40.2% (2025 est.) female: 8.2% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 22.6% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 62.3% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 12.7% (2021) women married by age 18: 38.8% (2021) men married by age 18: 11.2% (2021) **Education expenditure:** 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 18% national budget (2019 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 74.7% (2021 est.) male: 77.9% (2021 est.) female: 71.8% (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 9 years (2019 est.) male: 9 years (2019 est.) female: 9 years (2019 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** erosion and soil degradation from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; water pollution from raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 64.1% (2023 est.) forest: 17.5% (2023 est.) other: 12.2% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 40.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 3.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.057 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.879 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 16.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.769 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.2% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 395 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 161.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 337 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: République de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara former: Malagasy Republic etymology: a variant of the name was first used by 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO when he confused the island with the Somali port of Mogadishu; the transliteration was later adopted as the official name **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Antananarivo geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "City of the Thousand," from the Malagasy an- (a prefix denoting a place name), tanana (town), and arivo (thousand); in the 17th century, King ADRIANJAKA named the original fortress after the 1,000 soldiers stationed there **Administrative divisions:** 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara **Legal system:** civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation **Constitution:** history: previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles, including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar’s collectivities, cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: unknown **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Michael RANDRIANIRINA (Col.) head of government: Prime Minister Herintsalama RAJAONARIVELO (since 22 October 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president most recent election date: 16 November 2023 election results: 2023: Andry RAJOELINA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.4%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%, other 14.5% expected date of next election: November 2028 note: on 14 October 2025 Col. Michael Randrianirina, commander of an elite unit of the country’s armed forces, announced the formation of a transitional government made up of civilians, which would rule for two years; the constitution, the country’s top court, and the electoral commission were suspended, and a referendum will be held to formulate a new constitution; the lower house of Parliament was not suspended and impeached former-President Andry RAJOELINA **Legislative branch:** legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Antenimierampirenena) number of seats: 163 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 12/11/2020 parties elected and seats per party: Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina (IRMAR) (84); Firaisankina (22); Independents (50); Other (7) percentage of women in chamber: 14.1% expected date of next election: May 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Antenimierandoholona) number of seats: 18 (12 indirectly elected; 6 appointed) term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 5/29/2024 parties elected and seats per party: IRMAR (10); MALAGASY MIARA-MIAINGA (2) percentage of women in chamber: 11.1% expected date of next election: 31 December 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 11 members; addresses cases brought against the president of Madagascar and senior officials for high treason, grave violations of the Constitution, or breach of duties incompatible with the exercise of the presidential mandate) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve 3-year, single renewable terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 7-year terms; High Court of Justice members include: first president of the Supreme Court; 2 presidents from the Court of Cassation; 2 presidents from the Court of Appeal; 2 deputies from the National Assembly; 2 senators from the Senate; 2 members from the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and the State of law subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional courts (dina); Trade Court **Political parties:** Group of Young Malagasy Patriots (Groupe des Jeunes Malgaches Patriotes) or GJMP I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina coalition or IRD Malagasy Aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS Malagasy Tia Tanindrazana or MATITA or ANGADY Movement for Democracy in Madagascar (Mouvement pour la Démocratie à Madagascar) or MDM Rally for Democratic Socialism (Rassemblement pour Socialisme Démocratique - Nouveau) or RPSD Vaovao Young Malagasies Determined (Tanora Malagasy Vonona) or TGV **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Lantosoa RAKOTOMALALA (since 13 January 2025) chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525 FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034 email address and website: madagascar.embassy.dc@gmail.com https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022) embassy: Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar mailing address: 2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040 telephone: [261] 33-44-320-00 FAX: [261] 33-44-320-35 email address and website: antanACS@state.gov https://mg.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 26 June 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 26 June (1960) **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a vertical white band on the left side meaning: red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, and white for purity **National symbol(s):** traveller's palm (ravenala), zebu **National color(s):** red, green, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (O Our Beloved Fatherland) lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA history: adopted 1959 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n); Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c); Atsinanana Rainforests (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income East African island economy; natural resource rich; extreme poverty; return of political stability has helped growth; sharp tax revenue drop due to COVID-19; leading vanilla producer; environmentally fragile **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $52.968 billion (2024 est.) $50.833 billion (2023 est.) $48.782 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4.2% (2024 est.) 4.2% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $1,700 (2024 est.) $1,600 (2023 est.) $1,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $17.421 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 9.9% (2023 est.) 8.2% (2022 est.) 5.8% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 22.5% (2024 est.) industry: 22.8% (2024 est.) services: 46.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 69.8% (2024 est.) government consumption: 15.3% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 23.6% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -31.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** rice, sugarcane, cassava, sweet potatoes, milk, bananas, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, maize, potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism, mining **Industrial production growth rate:** 3.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 16.519 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.1% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 5.4% (2024 est.) male: 5.3% (2024 est.) female: 5.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Remittances:** 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.066 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $2.876 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 9.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$829.376 million (2022 est.) -$721.953 million (2021 est.) -$623.653 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $4.689 billion (2022 est.) $3.362 billion (2021 est.) $2.589 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** USA 16%, France 15%, Japan 8%, China 6%, S. Korea 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** garments, nickel, vanilla, cloves, gold (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $6.041 billion (2022 est.) $4.769 billion (2021 est.) $3.718 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 19%, Oman 13%, France 10%, India 8%, South Africa 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, rice, fabric, cotton fabric, wheat (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $2.785 billion (2024 est.) $2.632 billion (2023 est.) $2.16 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $3.548 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 4,525.425 (2024 est.) 4,429.579 (2023 est.) 4,096.116 (2022 est.) 3,829.978 (2021 est.) 3,787.754 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 36.1% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 71.6% electrification - rural areas: 10.9% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 759,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 2.506 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 139 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 64.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 150 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 1.816 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 3,410 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 23.5 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy (TVM) have an extensive national network reach; privately owned radio and TV broadcasters in cities and major towns; state-run radio dominates in rural areas; relays of 2 international broadcasters are available in Antananarivo (2019) **Internet country code:** .mg **Internet users:** percent of population: 20% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 34,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5R **Airports:** 93 (2025) **Railways:** total: 836 km (2018) narrow gauge: 836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 29 (2023) by type: general cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11 **Ports:** total ports: 13 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 11 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Andoany, Antsiranana, Antsohim Bondrona, Iharana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Manakara, Mananjary, Maroantsetra, Morondava, Toamasina, Tolanaro, Toliara ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Madagascar Armed Forces (aka Armed forces of the Republic of Madagascar); Malagasy Army, Naval Forces (or National Navy), Air Force; Malagasy National Gendarmerie (2025) note: the National Gendarmerie is under the Ministry of Defense but separate from the PAF and is responsible for maintaining law and order in rural areas at the village level, protecting government facilities, and operating a maritime police contingent; the National Police under the Ministry of Security is responsible for maintaining law and order in urban areas **Military expenditures:** 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 13,000 Armed Forces; estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand armaments originating from countries such as France, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, the UAE, the UK, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation 18 months; conscription available in times of national emergency or war (2025) **Military - note:** the military’s responsibilities include ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting Madagascar’s maritime domain, particularly against piracy, drug trafficking, and smuggling; it also assists the Gendarmerie with maintaining law and order in rural areas, largely in areas affected by banditry, cattle rustling, and criminal groups; the military has a history of influence in domestic politics and seized control of the government in October 2025; security relationships have included France, India, and Russia; Madagascar's small Navy has traditionally looked to India for assistance with maritime security (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 1,256 (2024 est.) IDPs: 9,868 (2024 est.) --- ## Malawi **Slug:** malawi **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇲🇼 **Codes:** cek: mi, iso2: MW, iso3: MWI, iso_num: 454, genc: MWI, stanag: MWI, internet: .mw ### Introduction **Background:** Malawi shares its name with the Chewa word for flames and is linked to the Maravi people from whom the Chewa language originated. The Maravi settled in what is now Malawi around 1400, during one of the later waves of Bantu migration across central and southern Africa. A powerful Maravi kingdom established around 1500 reached its zenith around 1700, when it controlled what is now southern and central Malawi and portions of neighboring Mozambique and Zambia. The kingdom eventually declined because of destabilization from the escalating global trade in enslaved people. In the early 1800s, widespread conflict in southern Africa displaced various ethnic Ngoni groups, some of which moved into Malawi and further undermined the Maravi. Members of the Yao ethnic group -- which had long traded with Malawi from Mozambique -- introduced Islam and began to settle in Malawi in significant numbers in the mid-1800s, followed by members of the Lomwe ethnic group. British missionary and trading activity increased in the area around Lake Nyasa in the mid-1800s, and in 1891, Britain declared a protectorate called British Central Africa over what is now Malawi. The British renamed the territory Nyasaland in 1907, and it was part of the colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland -- including present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe -- from 1953 to 1963 before gaining independence as Malawi in 1964. Hastings Kamuzu BANDA served as prime minister at independence and then as president when the country became a republic in 1966. He later instituted one-party rule under his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and was declared president for life. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Bakili MULUZI of the United Democratic Front party became the first freely elected president of Malawi when he defeated BANDA at the polls in 1994; he won reelection in 1999. President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA was elected in 2004 and reelected to a second term in 2009. He died abruptly in 2012 and was succeeded by Vice President Joyce BANDA. MUTHARIKA's brother, Peter MUTHARIKA, defeated BANDA in the election in 2014. Peter MUTHARIKA was reelected in a disputed election in 2019 that resulted in countrywide protests. The courts ordered a new election, and in 2020, Lazarus CHAKWERA of the MCP was elected president. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique **Geographic coordinates:** 13 30 S, 34 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 118,484 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,404 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Pennsylvania **Land boundaries:** total: 2,857 km border countries (3): Mozambique 1,498 km; Tanzania 512 km; Zambia 847 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November) **Terrain:** narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains **Elevation:** highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m mean elevation: 779 m **Natural resources:** limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite **Land use:** agricultural land: 64.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 42.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.6% (2023 est.) forest: 22.4% (2023 est.) other: 13.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 740 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Tanzania) - 22,490 salt water lake(s): Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) **Population distribution:** population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** flooding; droughts; earthquakes **Geography - note:** landlocked; Lake Nyasa, about 580 km (360 mi) long, is the country's most prominent physical feature; it contains more fish species than any other lake on earth ### People and Society **Population:** total: 20,550,954 (2025 est.) male: 10,097,082 female: 10,453,872 **Nationality:** noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian **Ethnic groups:** Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang'anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1.8%, Nkhonde 1%, other 2.2%, foreign 0.3% (2018 est.) **Languages:** English (official), Chewa (dominant), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao note: Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects; Nkhonde and Nyakyusa are mutually intelligible dialects **Religions:** Protestant 33.5% (includes Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 14.2%, Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist 9.4%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 2.3%), Roman Catholic 17.2%, other Christian 26.6%, Muslim 13.8%, traditionalist 1.1%, other 5.6%, none 2.1% (2018 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 37.7% (male 4,080,567/female 4,132,710) 15-64 years: 58.4% (male 6,217,761/female 6,487,273) 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 376,266/female 468,732) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 74.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 68.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 16.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 19.4 years (2025 est.) male: 20 years female: 20.6 years **Population growth rate:** 2.16% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 28.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 3.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 18.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.276 million LILONGWE (capital), 1.031 million Blantyre-Limbe (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.1 years (2015/16 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 225 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 28.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 36.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 73 years (2024 est.) male: 69.9 years female: 76.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.33 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.65 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 85.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 68.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 71.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 14.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 31.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 28.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.4% of GDP (2021) 3.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 87.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 73.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 75.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 12.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 26.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 24.2% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 5.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 2.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 6.3% (2025 est.) male: 11.7% (2025 est.) female: 1.4% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 11.6% (2020 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 62.1% (2020 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 7.5% (2020) women married by age 18: 37.7% (2020) men married by age 18: 7% (2020) **Education expenditure:** 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 16% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 70.2% (2020 est.) male: 78.6% (2020 est.) female: 62.7% (2020 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 10 years (2021 est.) male: 10 years (2021 est.) female: 10 years (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of fish spawning grounds; high temperatures and changing precipitation patterns **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November) **Land use:** agricultural land: 64.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 42.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.6% (2023 est.) forest: 22.4% (2023 est.) other: 13.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 18.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 2.265 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 65,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.2 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 18.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.298 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.6% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 143.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 47.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.166 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 17.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi local long form: Dziko la Malawi local short form: Malawi former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland etymology: named for the Maravi people who inhabited the area since the 14th century; the word maravi means "flames" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Lilongwe geographic coordinates: 13 58 S, 33 47 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after the Lilongwe River that flows through the city; the origin of the river's name is unclear **Administrative divisions:** 28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law and customary law; Supreme Court of Appeal reviews legislative acts **Constitution:** history: previous 1953 (pre-independence), 1964, 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty and territory of the state, fundamental constitutional principles, human rights, voting rights, and the judiciary, requires majority approval in a referendum and majority approval by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Peter MUTHARIKA (since 4 October 2025) head of government: President Peter MUTHARIKA (since 4 October 2025) cabinet: Cabinet named by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: September 2030 election results: 2025: Peter MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote- Peter MUTHARIKA (DPP) 56.8%, Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 33.0%, Dalitso KABAMBE (UTM) 3.95, Atupele MULUZI (UDF) 1.92%, Joyce BANDA (PP) 1.61%, other 2.72% 2020: Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.8% expected date of next election: September 2030 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 229 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/16/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (78); Malawi Congress Party (MCP) (52); Independents (73); Other (21) percentage of women in chamber: 21.4% expected date of next election: September 2025 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; other judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, which regulates judicial officers; judges serve until age 65 subordinate courts: High Court; magistrate courts; Industrial Relations Court; district and city traditional or local courts **Political parties:** Democratic Progressive Party or DPP Malawi Congress Party or MCP People's Party or PP United Democratic Front or UDF United Transformation Movement or UTM **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Esme Jynet CHOMBO (since 19 April 2022) chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 451- 0409 email address and website: malawidc@aol.com Home | Malawi Embassy USA **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jonathan FISCHER (since 8 August 2025) embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3 mailing address: 2280 Lilongwe Place, Washington DC 20521-2280 telephone: [265] (0) 177-3166 FAX: [265] (0) 177-0471 email address and website: LilongweConsular@state.gov https://mw.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 6 July 1964 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 6 July (1964) note: also called Republic Day since 6 July 1966 **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green, with a rising red sun centered on the black band meaning: black stands for ethnic groups, red for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, and green for nature; the sun represents the hope of freedom for the continent of Africa **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** black, red, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (O God, Bless Our Land of Malawi) lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA history: adopted 1964 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Malawi National Park (n); Chongoni Rock-Art Area (c); Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income East African economy; primarily agrarian; investing in human capital; urban poverty increasing due to COVID-19; high public debt; endemic corruption and poor property rights; poor hydroelectric grid; localized pharmaceutical industry **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $35.425 billion (2024 est.) $34.789 billion (2023 est.) $34.143 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.8% (2024 est.) 1.9% (2023 est.) 0.9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $1,600 (2024 est.) $1,600 (2023 est.) $1,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $11.009 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 32.2% (2024 est.) 28.8% (2023 est.) 21% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 32.4% (2024 est.) industry: 16% (2024 est.) services: 44.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, sugarcane, mangoes/guavas, potatoes, tomatoes, pigeon peas, pumpkins/squash, plantains (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 8.602 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.1% (2024 est.) 5.1% (2023 est.) 5.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 6.8% (2024 est.) male: 6.4% (2024 est.) female: 7.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 50.7% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 38.5 (2019 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2019 est.) highest 10%: 31% (2019 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.208 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $3.523 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 55.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 13.5% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$2.276 billion (2023 est.) -$2.218 billion (2022 est.) -$1.918 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.526 billion (2023 est.) $1.487 billion (2022 est.) $1.587 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 11%, India 7%, Zimbabwe 6%, South Africa 5%, USA 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** tobacco, tea, dried legumes, soybean meal, raw sugar (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $3.995 billion (2023 est.) $3.834 billion (2022 est.) $3.768 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 17%, South Africa 16%, UAE 12%, India 7%, Tanzania 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, garments, postage stamps/documents (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $594.498 million (2020 est.) $846.84 million (2019 est.) $766.155 million (2018 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $2.269 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1,161.094 (2023 est.) 949.039 (2022 est.) 805.9 (2021 est.) 749.527 (2020 est.) 745.541 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 14% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 54% electrification - rural areas: 5.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 731,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.585 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 19.938 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 231.785 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 92.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 22,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 19,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 801.999 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 1.792 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 4,870 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 15 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 69 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** radio is the main broadcast medium; privately owned Zodiak radio has the widest national reach, followed by state-run radio; numerous private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns; the largest TV network is state-owned, but at least 4 private TV networks broadcast in urban areas; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019) **Internet country code:** .mw **Internet users:** percent of population: 18% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 17,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 7Q **Airports:** 27 (2025) **Railways:** total: 767 km (2014) narrow gauge: 767 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Malawi Defense Force (MDF): Malawi Army (Land Forces), Malawi Maritime Force (MMF), Malawi Air Force (MAF), Malawi National Service (MNS) Ministry of Homeland Security: Malawi Police Service (2025) note: the MDF reports directly to the president as commander in chief **Military expenditures:** 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 10,000 active Malawi Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the MDF's inventory is comprised of mostly older or secondhand armaments originating from such countries as China, France, Israel, South Africa, and the UK (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-24 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025) **Military deployments:** 750 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025) **Military - note:** the MDF’s primary responsibility is external security; it is also tasked as necessary with providing support to civilian authorities during emergencies, supporting the Police Service, protecting national forest reserves, and participating in regional peacekeeping missions, as well as assisting with infrastructure development; key areas of concern include border security, regional conflict, and international terrorism; the MDF participates in exercises with foreign partners and contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operations; Malawi contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operations the MDF was established in 1964 from elements of the Kings African Rifles (KAR), a British colonial regiment raised from Great Britain's various possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s; the KAR conducted both military and internal security functions within the colonial territories, and served outside the territories during the World Wars (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 56,659 (2024 est.) IDPs: 135,728 (2024 est.) --- ## Mali **Slug:** mali **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇲🇱 **Codes:** cek: ml, iso2: ML, iso3: MLI, iso_num: 466, genc: MLI, stanag: MLI, internet: .ml ### Introduction **Background:** Present-day Mali is named after the Mali Empire that ruled the region between the 13th and 16th centuries. At its peak in the 14th century, it was the largest and wealthiest empire in West Africa and controlled an area about twice the size of modern-day France. Primarily a trading empire, Mali derived its wealth from gold and maintained several goldfields and trade routes in the Sahel. The empire also influenced West African culture through the spread of its language, laws, and customs, but by the 16th century, it had fragmented into mostly small chiefdoms. The Songhai Empire, previously a Mali dependency centered in Timbuktu, gained prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries. Under Songhai rule, Timbuktu became a large commercial center, well-known for its scholarship and religious teaching. Timbuktu remains a center of culture in West Africa today. In the late 16th century, the Songhai Empire fell to Moroccan invaders and disintegrated into independent sultanates and kingdoms. France, expanding from Senegal, seized control of the area in the 1890s and incorporated it into French West Africa as French Sudan. In 1960, French Sudan gained independence from France and became the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, the remaining area was renamed the Republic of Mali. Mali saw 31 years of dictatorship until 1991, when a military coup led by Amadou Toumani TOURE ousted the government, established a new constitution, and instituted a multi-party democracy. Alpha Oumar KONARE won Mali's first two democratic presidential elections in 1992 and 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou Toumani TOURE, who won a second term in 2007. In 2012, rising ethnic tensions and an influx of fighters -- some linked to Al-Qa’ida -- from Libya led to a rebellion and military coup. Following the coup, rebels expelled the military from the country’s three northern regions, allowing terrorist organizations to develop strongholds in the area. With a 2013 French-led military intervention, the Malian government managed to retake most of the north. However, the government’s grasp in the region remains weak with local militias, terrorists, and insurgent groups competing for control. In 2015, the Malian Government and northern rebels signed an internationally mediated peace accord. Despite a 2017 target for implementation of the agreement, the signatories have made little progress. Terrorist groups were left out of the peace process, and terrorist attacks remain common. Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA won the Malian presidential elections in 2013 and 2018. Aside from security and logistic shortfalls, international observers deemed these elections credible. Terrorism, banditry, ethnic-based violence, and extra-judicial military killings plagued the country during KEITA’s second term. In 2020, the military arrested KEITA, his prime minister, and other senior members of the government and established a military junta called the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP). The junta then established a transition government and appointed Bah N’DAW, a retired army officer and former defense minister, as interim president and Colonel Assimi GOITA, the coup leader and chairman of the CNSP, as interim vice president. The transition government’s charter allowed it to rule for up to 18 months before calling a general election. In 2021, GOITA led a military takeover, arresting the interim president after a Cabinet shake-up removed GOITA’s key allies. GOITA was sworn in as transition president, and Choguel Kokalla MAIGA was sworn in as prime minister. In 2022, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on the transition government, and member states closed their borders with Mali after the transition government presented a five-year extension to the electoral calendar. The transition government and ECOWAS agreed to a new two-year timeline, which would have included presidential elections in February 2024, but the transition government postponed the elections indefinitely in September 2023 and withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2024. ### Geography **Location:** interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger **Geographic coordinates:** 17 00 N, 4 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1,240,192 sq km land: 1,220,190 sq km water: 20,002 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 7,908 km border countries (6): Algeria 1,359 km; Burkina Faso 1,325 km; Cote d'Ivoire 599 km; Guinea 1,062 km; Mauritania 2,236 km; Niger 838 km, Senegal 489 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February) **Terrain:** mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast **Elevation:** highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m lowest point: Senegal River 23 m mean elevation: 343 m **Natural resources:** gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited **Land use:** agricultural land: 35.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 28.4% (2023 est.) forest: 8.8% (2023 est.) other: 55.8% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 3,780 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lac Faguibine - 590 sq km note - the Niger River is the only source of water for the lake; in recent years the lake is dry **Major rivers (by length in km):** Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Niger, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal, and Mauritania [m]) - 1,641 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Taodeni-Tanezrouft Basin **Population distribution:** the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding **Geography - note:** landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan ### People and Society **Population:** total: 22,634,423 (2025 est.) male: 10,999,331 female: 11,635,092 **Nationality:** noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian **Ethnic groups:** Bambara 33.3%, Fulani (Peuhl) 13.3%, Sarakole/Soninke/Marka 9.8%, Senufo/Manianka 9.6%, Malinke 8.8%, Dogon 8.7%, Sonrai 5.9%, Bobo 2.1%, Tuareg/Bella 1.7%, other Malian 6%, from members of Economic Community of West Africa 0.4%, other 0.3% (2018 est.) **Languages:** Bambara (official), French 17.2%, Peuhl/Foulfoulbe/Fulani 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/Soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/Djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, Bobo 2.1%, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2009 est.) note: Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language **Religions:** Muslim 93.9%, Christian 2.8%, animist 0.7%, none 2.5% (2018 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 46.8% (male 5,175,714/female 5,114,128) 15-64 years: 50.1% (male 5,178,742/female 5,842,456) 65 years and over: 3.1% (2024 est.) (male 334,299/female 345,268) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 98.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 92.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 16.5 years (2025 est.) male: 15.7 years female: 17.1 years **Population growth rate:** 2.88% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 39.44 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 46.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 2.929 million BAMAKO (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.2 years (2018 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 367 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 55.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 62.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 52 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 63.2 years (2024 est.) male: 60.9 years female: 65.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 5.26 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.59 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 74.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 83.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 25.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 16.4% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 4.5% of GDP (2021) 5.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 0.2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 88.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 49.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 67.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 11.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 50.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 32.8% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 6.9% (2025 est.) male: 13.1% (2025 est.) female: 0.6% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 15% (2024 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 79.2% (2018 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 15.9% (2018) women married by age 18: 53.7% (2018) men married by age 18: 2.1% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 4.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 17.8% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 35.5% (2018 est.) male: 46.2% (2018 est.) female: 25.7% (2018 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 7 years (2017 est.) male: 8 years (2017 est.) female: 6 years (2017 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; loss of pasture land; inadequate supplies of potable water **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February) **Land use:** agricultural land: 35.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 28.4% (2023 est.) forest: 8.8% (2023 est.) other: 55.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 46.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 6.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 83 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 6.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 48.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.937 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 107 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 4 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 5.075 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 120 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: République de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan, Sudanese Republic, Mali Federation etymology: name derives from the Mali Empire of the 13th to 16th centuries A.D.; the Mali name may come from a local ethnic group, the Malinke, whose name is derived from the words ma, meaning "mother," and dink, meaning "child" -- a reference to the matrilinear descent of Malinke families **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Bamako geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name is unclear, but it comes from the Bambara language and can refer either to a crocodile or to a person's name **Administrative divisions:** 19 regions (régions, singular - région), 1 district*; Bamako*, Bandiagara, Bougouni, Dioila, Douentza, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Kita, Koulikoro, Koutiala, Menaka, Mopti, Nara, Nioro, San, Segou, Sikasso, Taoudenni, Tombouctou (Timbuktu) **Legal system:** civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest drafted 13 October 2022 and submitted to Transition President Assimi GOITA; final draft completed 1 March 2023; approved by referendum 18 June 2023; validated by Constitutional Court 22 July 2023 **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mali dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Transition President Assimi GOITA (since 7 June 2021) head of government: Transition Prime Minister Abdoulaye MAIGA (since 22 November 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 29 July 2018, with runoff on 12 August 2018 election results: 2018: Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (RPM) 41.7%, Soumaila CISSE (URD) 17.8%, other 40.5%; percent of vote in second round - Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 67.2%, Soumaila CISSE 32.8% note: in 2022, the transition government adopted a charter allowing transition authorities to rule for up to 5 years; in July 2025, the military-appointed National Transitional Council (CNT) unanimously adopted a revised transitional charter that granted transitional president General Assimi GOITA a five-year presidential mandate, renewable indefinitely, following the earlier dissolution of all political parties in May **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Transitional National Council (Conseil national de transition) legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: Transitional National Council (Conseil national de transition) number of seats: 147 (all appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal most recent election date: 12/5/2020 percentage of women in chamber: 30.1% expected date of next election: December 2030 note 1: the National Assembly was dissolved on 18 August 2020 after a military coup; the transitional government created a Transitional National Council (CNT) that acts as the transitional government's legislative body; a new constitution was ratified in July 2023 that expanded the military junta's powers, and no plans for legislative elections have been announced note 2: coup leaders appointed a president and vice president; the president then apportioned CNT seats to various groups and political parties **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (consists of 19 judges organized into judicial, administrative, and accounting sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Ministry of Justice to serve 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges selected - 3 each by the president, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; members serve single renewable 7-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases of high treason or criminal offenses by the president or ministers while in office); administrative courts (first instance and appeal); commercial courts; magistrate courts; labor courts; juvenile courts; special court of state security **Political parties:** African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP-Maliba Alliance for Democracy in Mali-Pan-African Party for Liberty, Solidarity, and Justice or ADEMA-PASJ Alliance for the Solidarity of Mali-Convergence of Patriotic Forces or ASMA-CFP Convergence for the Development of Mali or CODEM Democratic Alliance for Peace or ADP-Maliba Movement for Mali or MPM Party for National Renewal (also Rebirth or Renaissance or PARENA) Rally for Mali or RPM Social Democratic Convention or CDS Union for Democracy and Development or UDD Union for Republic and Democracy or URD Yéléma note 1: only parties with 2 or more seats in the last National Assembly parliamentary elections (30 March and 19 April 2020) included note 2: the National Assembly was dissolved on 18 August 2020 following a military coup and replaced with a National Transition Council; currently 121 members, party affiliations unknown **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Sékou BERTHE (since 16 September 2022) chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603 email address and website: administration@maliembassy.us https://www.maliembassy.us/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Rachna KORHONEN (since 16 March 2023) embassy: ACI 2000, Rue 243, (located off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge west of the Bamako central district), Porte 297, Bamako mailing address: 2050 Bamako Place, Washington DC 20521-2050 telephone: [223] 20-70-23-00 FAX: [223] 20-70-24-79 email address and website: ACSBamako@state.gov https://ml.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOPS, UN Women, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, World Bank Group, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 22 September 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 22 September (1960) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), yellow, and red history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement note: the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal (which has an additional green central star) and the reverse of the flag of neighboring Guinea **National symbol(s):** Great Mosque of Djenne **National color(s):** green, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "Le Mali" (Mali) lyrics/music: Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO history: adopted 1962 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Towns of Djenné (c); Timbuktu (c); Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) (m); Tomb of Askia (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income Saharan economy; recession due to COVID-19 and political instability; extreme poverty; environmentally fragile; high public debt; agricultural and gold exporter; terrorism and warfare are common **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $71.253 billion (2024 est.) $67.857 billion (2023 est.) $64.8 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5% (2024 est.) 4.7% (2023 est.) 3.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $2,900 (2024 est.) $2,900 (2023 est.) $2,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $26.588 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.2% (2024 est.) 2.1% (2023 est.) 9.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 33.4% (2024 est.) industry: 22.7% (2024 est.) services: 36.7% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 71.9% (2024 est.) government consumption: 13.1% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.6% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -0.7% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 22.5% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, rice, millet, sorghum, onions, okra, sugarcane, cotton, mangoes/guavas, sweet potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining **Industrial production growth rate:** -2.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 9.126 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.1% (2024 est.) 3% (2023 est.) 2.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 4% (2024 est.) male: 4% (2024 est.) female: 3.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 44.6% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 35.7 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.2% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 28.3% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 4.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 4.9% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.841 billion (2020 est.) expenditures: $3.563 billion (2020 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 12% (of GDP) (2020 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$1.61 billion (2023 est.) -$1.475 billion (2022 est.) -$1.469 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $6.13 billion (2023 est.) $5.855 billion (2022 est.) $5.381 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 73%, Switzerland 15%, Australia 5%, China 1%, Uganda 1% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, cotton, oil seeds, fertilizers, gum resins (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $8.066 billion (2023 est.) $7.942 billion (2022 est.) $7.596 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Cote d'Ivoire 25%, Senegal 19%, China 12%, France 5%, Burkina Faso 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cement, cotton fabric, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $4.085 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 53% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99.7% electrification - rural areas: 18.3% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 1.222 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 4.261 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 661.63 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 880 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 320.616 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 57.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 37.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 36 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 46,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 4.307 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 307,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 25.9 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately owned companies provide subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of privately owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019) **Internet country code:** .ml **Internet users:** percent of population: 35% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 179,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TZ, TT **Airports:** 30 (2025) **Heliports:** 4 (2025) **Railways:** total: 593 km (2014) narrow gauge: 593 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Malian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Maliennes or FAMa): Army (l’Armée de Terre), Air Force (l’Armée de l’Air); National Guard (la Garde Nationale du Mali); National Gendarmerie of Mali (Gendarmerie Nationale du Mali) (2025) note 1: the Gendarmerie and the National Guard are under the authority of the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs (Ministere De La Defense Et Des Anciens Combattants, MDAC), but operational control is shared with the Ministry of Internal Security and Civil Protection which also controls the National Police; the National Police has responsibility for law enforcement and maintenance of order in urban areas and supports the FAMa in internal military operations note 2: the Gendarmerie's primary mission is internal security and public order; its duties also include territorial defense, humanitarian operations, intelligence gathering, and protecting private property, mainly in rural areas; it also has a specialized border security unit note 3: the National Guard is a military force responsible for providing security to government facilities and institutions, prison service, public order, humanitarian operations, some border security, and intelligence gathering; its forces include a camel corps for patrolling the deserts and borders of northern Mali note 4: there are also pro-government militias operating in Mali, such as the Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (GATIA); the leader of GATIA is also a general in the national army **Military expenditures:** 4.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 4% of GDP (2023 est.) 3.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** information varies; estimated 35-40,000 active FAMa, Gendarmerie, and National Guard (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FAMa's inventory includes mostly Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with smaller quantities of more modern material from a variety of suppliers, including France, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, and the UAE (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for men and women for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 24-month compulsory service obligation (2025) **Military - note:** the FAMa is responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, but also has some domestic security duties, including the maintenance of public order and support to law enforcement; it also participates in socio-economic development projects; the military has traditionally played a large role in Mali’s politics; prior to the coup in August 2020 and military takeover in May 2021, it had intervened in the political arena at least five times since the country gained independence in 1960 (1968, 1976, 1978, 1991, 2012) the FAMa and other security forces are actively engaged in combat operations against several insurgent/terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), as well as other armed rebel organizations, communal militias, and criminal bands spread across the central, northern, and southern regions of the country; a large portion of the country--up to 50% by some estimates--is outside of government control the FAMa and the remainder of the security forces collapsed in 2012 during the fighting against Tuareg rebels and Islamic militants and were rebuilt beginning in 2013 with external assistance from the EU and the UN; the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM) ended their missions in 2023 and 2024, respectively; France intervened militarily in Mali in 2013 to assist with regaining the northern half of the country from rebel and Islamic militant groups; French troops withdrew in 2022; since 2021, Mali has increased security ties with Russia, which has provided equipment, training, and other forms of military support (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Dine; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 135,827 (2024 est.) IDPs: 378,363 (2024 est.) --- ## Mauritania **Slug:** mauritania **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇲🇷 **Codes:** cek: mr, iso2: MR, iso3: MRT, iso_num: 478, genc: MRT, stanag: MRT, internet: .mr ### Introduction **Background:** The Amazigh and Bafour people were among the earliest settlers in what is now Mauritania and among the first in recorded history to convert from a nomadic to agricultural lifestyle. These groups account for roughly one third of Mauritania’s ethnic makeup. The remainder of Mauritania’s ethnic groups derive from Sub-Saharan ethnic groups originating mainly from the Senegal River Valley, including descendants of former enslaved peoples. These three groups are organized according to a strict caste system with deep ethnic divides that impact access to resources and power dynamics. A former French colony, Mauritania achieved independence from France in 1960. Mauritania initially began as a single-party, authoritarian regime and experienced 49 years of dictatorships, flawed elections, failed attempts at democracy, and military coups. Ould Abdel AZIZ led the last coup in 2008, was elected president in 2009, and was reelected in 2014. Mohamed Ould Cheikh GHAZOUANI was elected president in 2019, and his inauguration marked the first peaceful transition of power from one democratically elected president to another, solidifying the country's status as an emerging democracy. International observers recognized the elections as relatively free and fair. GHAZOUANI is seeking re-election in June 2024 for a second, and final, five-year term. The country is working to address vestigial practices of slavery and its hereditary impacts. Mauritania officially abolished slavery in 1981, but the practice was not criminalized until 2007. Between 2005 and 2011, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) launched a series of attacks killing western tourists and aid workers, attacking diplomatic and government facilities, and ambushing Mauritanian soldiers and gendarmes. Although Mauritania has not seen an attack since 2011, AQIM and similar groups remain active in the Sahel region. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara **Geographic coordinates:** 20 00 N, 12 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1,030,700 sq km land: 1,030,700 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico; about six times the size of Florida **Land boundaries:** total: 5,002 km border countries (4): Algeria 460 km; Mali 2,236 km; Morocco 1,564 km; Senegal 742 km **Coastline:** 754 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin **Climate:** desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty **Terrain:** mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills **Elevation:** highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m mean elevation: 276 m **Natural resources:** iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish **Land use:** agricultural land: 38.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.) forest: 1% (2023 est.) other: 60.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 450 sq km (2012) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Senegal river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal and Mali) - 1,641 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin, Taodeni-Tanzerouft Basin **Population distribution:** vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are desert and lack sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts **Geography - note:** Mauritania is considered part of both North Africa's Maghreb region and West Africa's Sahel region; most of the population is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country ### People and Society **Population:** total: 5,202,109 (2025 est.) male: 2,578,114 female: 2,623,995 **Nationality:** noun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian **Ethnic groups:** Black Moors (Haratines - Arabic-speaking descendants of African origin who are or were enslaved by White Moors) 40%, White Moors (of Arab-Amazigh descent, known as Beydane) 30%, Sub-Saharan Mauritanians (non-Arabic speaking, largely resident in or originating from the Senegal River Valley, including Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambara ethnic groups) 30% **Languages:** Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: the spoken Arabic in Mauritania differs considerably from Modern Standard Arabic; the Mauritanian dialect, which incorporates many Tamazight words, is referred to as Hassaniya **Religions:** Muslim (official) 100% **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 35.7% (male 776,035/female 770,132) 15-64 years: 59.9% (male 1,227,347/female 1,363,938) 65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 80,308/female 110,280) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 84.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 77.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 18.6 years (2025 est.) male: 21.1 years female: 23.1 years **Population growth rate:** 2.88% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 34.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are desert and lack sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 57.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.492 million NOUAKCHOTT (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 21.8 years (2019/21) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 381 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 29.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 54.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.9 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.) male: 63.4 years female: 68.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.76 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.34 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 94.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 55.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 77.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 5.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 44.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 22.2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 4.1% of GDP (2021) 6.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 89.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 33.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 65.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 10.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 66.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 34.5% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 12.7% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 8.3% (2025 est.) male: 15.5% (2025 est.) female: 1.7% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 22.4% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 66.1% (2020 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 15.5% (2021) women married by age 18: 36.6% (2021) men married by age 18: 1.2% (2021) **Education expenditure:** 4.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 32% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 59.5% (2020 est.) male: 70.1% (2020 est.) female: 51.8% (2020 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 8 years (2020 est.) male: 8 years (2020 est.) female: 8 years (2020 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** desertification caused in part by overgrazing, deforestation, and drought-aggravated soil erosion; limited natural freshwater resources; locust infestation **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty **Land use:** agricultural land: 38.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.) forest: 1% (2023 est.) other: 60.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 57.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 35.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 454,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 95.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 31.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.223 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 11.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah etymology: named for the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.); its name derives from the Mauri (Moors) of northwest Africa **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Nouakchott geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 15 58 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the meaning of the name is unclear; it may derive from the Berber nawakshut, meaning "place of the winds;" other variants could translate as "the place where water appears in a new well," "the land where shells abound," "a place with pasture," "a windy place," or "without ears" (the last referring to a local chieftain who could have been the place's namesake) **Administrative divisions:** 15 regions (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott Nord, Nouakchott Ouest, Nouakchott Sud, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza **Legal system:** mixed system of Islamic and French civil law **Constitution:** history: previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mauritania dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Moctar Ould DIAY (since 2 August 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 29 June 2024 election results: 2024: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (UPR) 56.1%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 22.1%, Hamadi Sidi el MOKHTAR independent) 12.8%, other 9.0% expected date of next election: June 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Barlamane) legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: National Assembly (Al Jamiya-Al-Wataniya) number of seats: 176 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 5/13/2023 to 5/27/2023 parties elected and seats per party: El Insaf (107); Tawassoul (11); Other (58) percentage of women in chamber: 23.3% expected date of next election: May 2028 note: the early parliamentary elections in 2023 were the first to be held under President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El GHAZOUANI, elected in 2019 in the first peaceful transition of power; the elections followed the agreement between the government and parties in September 2022 to renew the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and hold the elections in the first semester of 2023 for climatic and logistical reasons **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (subdivided into 7 chambers: 2 civil, 2 labor, 1 commercial, 1 administrative, and 1 criminal, each with a chamber president and 2 councilors); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic to serve a 5-year renewable term; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, 1 by the prime minister, 1 by the leader of the democratic opposition, 1 by the largest opposition party in the National Assembly, and 1 by the second largest party in the National Assembly; members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years; High Court of Justice members appointed by Parliament - 6 by the ruling Coalition of Majority Parties and 3 by opposition parties subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; courts of first instance, or wilya courts, are established in the regions' headquarters and include commercial and labor courts, criminal courts, Moughataa (district) Courts, and informal/customary courts **Political parties:** Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal or AJD/MR El Insaf or Equity Party El Islah or Reform Party El Karama or Dignity Party El Vadila or Virtue Party Mauritanian Party of Union and Change or HATEM National Democratic Alliance or AND National Rally for Reform and Development or RNRD or TAWASSOUL Nida El-Watan Party for Conciliation and Prosperity or HIWAR Party of the Mauritanian Masses or Hakam Republican Front for Unity and Democracy or FRUD Sawab Party Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP Union of Planning and Construction or UPC **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Cissé Mint Cheikh Ould BOIDE (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623 email address and website: ambarimwashington@diplomatie.gov.mr mauritaniaembassyus.org – Mauritania Embassy washington **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Corina R. SANDERS (since September 2025) embassy: Nouadhibou Road, Avenue Al Quds, NOT PRTZ, Nouakchott mailing address: 2430 Nouakchott Place, Washington DC 20521-2430 telephone: [222] 4525-2660 FAX: [222] 4525-1592 email address and website: consularnkc@state.gov https://mr.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 28 November 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 28 November (1960) **Flag:** description: green with red stripes along the top and bottom edges; on the green field, a five-pointed yellow star is centered over a yellow, upward-pointing crescent moon meaning: the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; green also represents hope for a bright future; yellow stands for the sands of the Sahara, and red for blood shed in the fight for independence **National symbol(s):** five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon **National color(s):** green, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "National Anthem of Mauritania" lyrics/music: unknown/Rageh DAOUD history: adopted 2017 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient Ksour (Fortified Villages) of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata (c); Banc d'Arguin National Park (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower middle-income West African economy; primarily agrarian; rising urbanization; poor property rights; systemic corruption; endemic social and workforce tensions; wide-scale terrorism; foreign over-fishing; environmentally fragile **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $33.069 billion (2024 est.) $31.434 billion (2023 est.) $29.514 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5.2% (2024 est.) 6.5% (2023 est.) 6.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $6,400 (2024 est.) $6,300 (2023 est.) $6,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $10.767 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.5% (2024 est.) 5% (2023 est.) 9.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 18.6% (2024 est.) industry: 30.6% (2024 est.) services: 43.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 55.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 17.2% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.5% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 18.9% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.3% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** rice, milk, goat milk, sorghum, sheep milk, lamb/mutton, beef, camel meat, camel milk, dates (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper) note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 1.21 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 10.4% (2024 est.) 10.5% (2023 est.) 10.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 23.2% (2024 est.) male: 19.9% (2024 est.) female: 30.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 31.8% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 32 (2019 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.1% (2019 est.) highest 10%: 24.6% (2019 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.617 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $1.407 billion (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** -$966.506 million (2023 est.) -$1.424 billion (2022 est.) -$807.862 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $3.955 billion (2023 est.) $4.132 billion (2022 est.) $3.18 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 25%, Switzerland 14%, Canada 12%, UAE 9%, Spain 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, iron ore, fish, processed crustaceans, copper ore (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $5.271 billion (2023 est.) $5.77 billion (2022 est.) $4.312 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 19%, UAE 14%, Morocco 6%, Spain 6%, France 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, raw sugar, palm oil, wheat, soybean oil (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $2.039 billion (2021 est.) $1.493 billion (2020 est.) $1.029 billion (2019 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $3.072 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 36.489 (2023 est.) 36.935 (2022 est.) 36.063 (2021 est.) 37.189 (2020 est.) 36.691 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 49% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 91.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 812,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.7 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 378 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 320 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 72.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 12.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 20 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** proven reserves: 28.317 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 14.135 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 16,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 4.76 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 12 TV stations, 6 state-owned and 6 private; 19 radio broadcasters, including 15 state-owned and 4 (Radio Nouakchott Libre, Radio Tenwir, Radio Kobeni and Mauritanid) private; of the 15 government stations, 4 broadcast from Nouakchott (Radio Mauritanie, Radio Jeunesse, Radio Koran and Mauritanid) and the other 12 broadcast from each of the 12 regions outside Nouakchott (2022) **Internet country code:** .mr **Internet users:** percent of population: 37% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 14,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5T **Airports:** 25 (2025) **Heliports:** 3 (2025) **Railways:** total: 728 km (2014) standard gauge: 728 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 11 (2023) by type: general cargo 2, other 9 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 1 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Nouadhibou, Nouakchott ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Mauritanian Armed Forces (aka Armée Nationale Mauritanienne): National Army, National Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior and Decentralization: National Police, National Guard (2025) note 1: the National Police are responsible for enforcing the law and maintaining order in urban areas, while the paramilitary Gendarmerie is responsible for maintaining civil order around metropolitan areas and providing law enforcement services in rural areas; like the Mauritanian Armed Forces, the Gendarmerie is under the Ministry of Defense, but also supports the ministries of Interior and Justice note 2: the National Guard performs a limited police function in keeping with its peacetime role of providing security at government facilities, to include prisons; regional authorities may call upon the National Guard to restore civil order during riots and other large-scale disturbances; the National Guard includes the nomadic Camel Corps or Nomad Group, also known as the Méhariste **Military expenditures:** 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 17,000 active Mauritanian Armed Forces; estimated 3,000 Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is limited and made up largely of older French and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, Mauritania has received some secondhand and new military equipment from several suppliers, including China, France, and the UAE (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; has a compulsory two-year military service law, but the law has reportedly never been applied (2025) **Military deployments:** 450 (plus about 325 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025) **Military - note:** founded in 1960, the Mauritanian military is responsible for territorial defense and internal security; it also assists in economic development projects, humanitarian missions, and disaster response; border and maritime security, regional stability, and the threat of terrorist groups operating in the Sahel, particularly Mali, are key areas of focus; Mauritania has received security assistance from the EU, France, NATO, and the US (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 162,277 (2024 est.) --- ## Mauritius **Slug:** mauritius **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇲🇺 **Codes:** cek: mp, iso2: MU, iso3: MUS, iso_num: 480, genc: MUS, stanag: MUS, internet: .mu ### Introduction **Background:** Although known to Arab and European sailors since at least the early 1500s, the island of Mauritius was uninhabited until 1638 when the Dutch established a settlement named in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU. Their presence led to the rapid disappearance of the flightless dodo bird that has since become one of the most well-known examples of extinction in modern times. The Dutch abandoned their financially distressed settlement in 1710, although a number of formerly enslaved people remained. In 1722, the French established what would become a highly profitable settlement focused on sugar cane plantations that were reliant on the labor of enslaved people brought to Mauritius from other parts of Africa. In the 1790s, the island had a brief period of autonomous rule when plantation owners rejected French control because of laws ending slavery that were temporarily in effect during the French Revolution. Britain captured the island in 1810 as part of the Napoleonic Wars but kept most of the French administrative structure, which remains to this day in the form of the country’s legal codes and widespread use of the French Creole language. The abolition of slavery in 1835 -- later than most other British colonies -- led to increased reliance on contracted laborers from the Indian subcontinent to work on plantations. Today their descendants form the majority of the population. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base and later an air station, and it played a role during World War II in anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as in the collection of signals intelligence. Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968 as a Parliamentary Republic and has remained a stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record. The country also attracted considerable foreign investment and now has one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Mauritius’ often-fractious coalition politics has been dominated by two prominent families, each of which has had father-son pairs who have been prime minister over multiple, often nonconsecutive, terms. Seewoosagur RAMGOOLAM (1968-76) was Mauritius’ first prime minister, and he was succeeded by Anerood JUGNAUTH (1982-95, 2000-03, 2014-17); his son Navin RAMGOOLAM (1995-2000, 2005-14); and Paul Raymond BERENGER (2003-05), the only non-Hindu prime minister of post-independence Mauritius. In 2017, Pravind JUGNAUTH became prime minister after his father stepped down short of completing his term, and he was elected in his own right in 2019. Mauritius claims the French island of Tromelin and the British Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory). Since 2017, Mauritius has secured favorable UN General Assembly resolutions and an International Court of Justice advisory opinion relating to its sovereignty dispute with the UK. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar **Geographic coordinates:** 20 17 S, 57 33 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 2,040 sq km land: 2,030 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues **Area - comparative:** almost 11 times the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 177 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin note: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines **Climate:** tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May) **Terrain:** small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau **Elevation:** highest point: Mont Piton 828 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m **Natural resources:** arable land, fish **Land use:** agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.) arable land: 37.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.) forest: 19.2% (2023 est.) other: 37.8% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 143 sq km (2022) **Population distribution:** population density is one of the highest in the world; urban clusters are found throughout the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; the population on Rodrigues Island is fairly evenly spread, with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards **Geography - note:** the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; former home of the extinct dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons ### People and Society **Population:** total: 1,311,375 (2025 est.) male: 639,707 female: 671,668 **Nationality:** noun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian **Ethnic groups:** Indo-Mauritian (compose approximately two thirds of the total population), Creole, Sino-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian note: Mauritius has not had a question on ethnicity on its national census since 1972 **Languages:** Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, one of the two official languages of the National Assembly, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.) **Religions:** Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4%, other 0.6%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.1% (male 100,973/female 96,711) 15-64 years: 71% (male 462,833/female 467,509) 65 years and over: 13.9% (2024 est.) (male 75,464/female 107,014) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 41.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 20.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 40 years (2025 est.) male: 38.1 years female: 41 years **Population growth rate:** 0.06% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population density is one of the highest in the world; urban clusters are found throughout the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; the population on Rodrigues Island is fairly evenly spread, with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 149,000 PORT LOUIS (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 66 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 75.4 years (2024 est.) male: 72.6 years female: 78.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.66 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.4% of GDP (2021) 9.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 1.44 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 3.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 10.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 3.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 19.6% (2025 est.) male: 37.4% (2025 est.) female: 2.6% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 51.6% (2022 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 14.2% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 94.3% (2023 est.) male: 96.3% (2023 est.) female: 92.8% (2023 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 14 years (2020 est.) male: 14 years (2020 est.) female: 15 years (2020 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution, degradation of coral reefs; soil erosion; wildlife preservation; solid-waste disposal **International environmental agreements:** party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May) **Land use:** agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.) arable land: 37.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.) forest: 19.2% (2023 est.) other: 37.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 5.551 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.495 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.056 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 438,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 303 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 2.751 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius local long form: Republic of Mauritius local short form: Mauritius etymology: named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder (governor) of the Dutch Republic, in 1598 note: pronounced mahr-ish-us **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Port Louis geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after LOUIS XV, who was king of France in 1736 when the port became the administrative center of Mauritius **Administrative divisions:** 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne **Legal system:** civil system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty of the state, fundamental rights and freedoms, citizenship, or the branches of government, requires approval in a referendum by at least three-fourths majority of voters followed by a unanimous vote by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Dharam GOKHOOL (since 7 December 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 13 November 2024) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers (Council of Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for 5-year renewable terms; the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister who have the majority support in the National Assembly most recent election date: 6 December 2024 election results: 2019: Prithvirajsing ROOPUN (MSM) elected president by the National Assembly - unanimous vote expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly - Assemblée nationale legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 67 (62 directly elected; 4 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/10/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Alliance Du Changement (Alliance for Change, AdC) (60); Other (2) percentage of women in chamber: 17.9% expected date of next election: October 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Mauritius (consists of the chief justice, a senior puisne judge, and 24 puisne judges) judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister; senior puisne judge appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; other puisne judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Commission, a 4-member body of judicial officials including the chief justice; all judges serve until retirement at age 67 subordinate courts: lower regional courts known as District Courts, Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal note: the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal **Political parties:** Alliance Morisien (Mauritian Alliance) Jean-Claude Barbier Movement (Mouvement Jean-Claude Barbier) or MJCB Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMM Mauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSD Mauritius Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR or MLP Militant Platform (Plateforme Militante) or PM Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM Muvman Liberater or ML National Alliance Patriotic Movement (Mouvement Patriotique) or MAG Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Gajjaluxmi MOOTOOSAMY (since 5 June 2025) chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983 email address and website: mauritius.embassy@verizon.net https://mauritius-washington.govmu.org/Pages/index.aspx **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023); note - also accredited to Seychelles embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Avenue, Port Louis mailing address: 2450 Port Louis Place, Washington, DC 20521-2450 telephone: [230] 202-4400 FAX: [230] 208-9534 email address and website: PTLConsular@state.gov https://mu.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 12 March 1968 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968, 1992) note: became independent and a republic on the same date in 1968 and 1992, respectively **Flag:** description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green meaning: red stands for self-determination and independence; blue for the Indian Ocean; yellow for the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future; and green for agriculture or the island's lush vegetation note: Mauritius has the only national flag with four horizontal color bands **National symbol(s):** dodo bird, earring tree flower (Trochetia boutoniana) **National color(s):** red, blue, yellow, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Motherland" lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL history: adopted 1968 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Aapravasi Ghat; Le Morne Cultural Landscape ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; diversified portfolio; investing in maritime security; strong tourism sector decimated by COVID-19; expanding in information and financial services; environmentally fragile **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $34.406 billion (2024 est.) $32.864 billion (2023 est.) $31.296 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4.7% (2024 est.) 5% (2023 est.) 8.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $27,300 (2024 est.) $26,100 (2023 est.) $24,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $14.953 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.6% (2024 est.) 7.1% (2023 est.) 10.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 4.3% (2024 est.) industry: 17.8% (2024 est.) services: 64.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 68.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 46.2% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -57.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugarcane, chicken, pumpkins/squash, tomatoes, eggs, potatoes, cabbages, bananas, onions, cucumbers/gherkins (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism **Industrial production growth rate:** 4.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 594,900 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.5% (2024 est.) 5.6% (2023 est.) 6.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 16.6% (2024 est.) male: 15.3% (2024 est.) female: 18.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 10.3% (2017 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 36.8 (2017 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2017 est.) highest 10%: 29.9% (2017 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $3.801 billion (2024 est.) expenditures: $5.042 billion (2024 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 58% of GDP (2019 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 20.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$647.743 million (2023 est.) -$1.437 billion (2022 est.) -$1.497 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $6.381 billion (2023 est.) $6.138 billion (2022 est.) $4.213 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** USA 11%, France 11%, Zimbabwe 10%, South Africa 7%, Zambia 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** fish, garments, raw sugar, fertilizers, diamonds (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $8.027 billion (2023 est.) $8.052 billion (2022 est.) $6.057 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 15%, UAE 11%, India 10%, South Africa 9%, France 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, fish, coal, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $8.506 billion (2024 est.) $7.248 billion (2023 est.) $7.793 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $3.632 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 46.415 (2024 est.) 45.267 (2023 est.) 44.183 (2022 est.) 41.692 (2021 est.) 39.347 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99% electrification - rural areas: 100% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 955,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 3.084 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 179.996 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 82.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 651,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 610,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 60.188 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 469,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 2.2 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 173 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is the national public TV and radio broadcaster, with programming in French, English, Hindi, Creole, and Chinese; MBC provides 17 television channels in Mauritius; 9 FM radio stations and 2 AM radio stations (2022) **Internet country code:** .mu **Internet users:** percent of population: 80% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 343,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 3B **Airports:** 5 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 32 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 4, other 27 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Port Louis, Port Mathurin ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** no regular military forces; the Mauritius Police Force (MPF) under the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the country's security; it includes a paramilitary unit known as the Special Mobile Force, which includes some motorized infantry and light armored units; the MPF also has a Police Helicopter Squadron, a Special Support Unit (riot police), and the National Coast Guard (2025) **Military - note:** key security priorities for the Maritius Police Force (MPF) include combating narcotics trafficking, ensuring public order, fighting cybercrime, improving maritime security, and responding to natural disasters; the MPF's primary security partner is India, which provides training and other support to the National Coast Guard, while Indian naval vessels often patrol the country's waters; the MPF has also received assistance and training from France, the UK, and the US the Special Mobile Force was created in 1960 following the withdrawal of the British garrison (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 82 (2024 est.) IDPs: 39 (2024 est.) --- ## Morocco **Slug:** morocco **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇲🇦 **Codes:** cek: mo, iso2: MA, iso3: MAR, iso_num: 504, genc: MAR, stanag: MAR, internet: .ma ### Introduction **Background:** In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Muslim dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad al-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. The Alaouite Dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, dates from the 17th century. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half-century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy and in 1957 assumed the title of king. Since Spain's 1976 withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco has extended its de facto administrative control to roughly 75% of this territory; however, the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara. The UN since 1991 has monitored a cease-fire, which broke down in late 2020, between Morocco and the Polisario Front -- an organization advocating the territory’s independence -- and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in 2018. In 2020, the US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara. In 2011, King MOHAMMED VI responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the North Africa region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister, but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. Later that year, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) -- a moderate Islamist democratic party -- won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In 2015, Morocco held its first direct elections for regional councils, which was one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in 2016, but it lost its plurality to the probusiness National Rally of Independents (RNI) in 2021. In 2020, Morocco signed a normalization agreement with Israel, similar to those that Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan had concluded with Israel earlier that year. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania **Geographic coordinates:** 28 30 N, 10 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 716,550 sq km land: 716,300 sq km water: 250 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than twice the size of California **Land boundaries:** total: 3,523.5 km border countries (3): Algeria 1,941 km; Mauritania 1,564 km; Spain (Ceuta) 8 km and Spain (Melilla) 10.5 km note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera **Coastline:** 2,945 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** Mediterranean in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew note: data does not include former Western Sahara **Terrain:** mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains; the south is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces **Elevation:** highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m lowest point: Sebkha Tah -59 m mean elevation: 909 m **Natural resources:** phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt **Land use:** agricultural land: 66.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 15.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 47.1% (2023 est.) forest: 12.8% (2023 est.) other: 20.3% (2023 est.) note: does not include the area of the former Western Sahara, which is almost exclusively desert **Irrigated land:** 17,645 sq km (2019) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Draa - 1,100 km **Population distribution:** the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are scattered through the Atlas Mountains, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** in the north, the mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts; windstorms; flash floods; landslides; in the south, a hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility **Geography - note:** strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar; the only African nation to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines; the waters off the Atlantic coast are particularly rich fishing areas ### People and Society **Population:** total: 37,698,780 (2025 est.) male: 18,824,284 female: 18,874,496 **Nationality:** noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan **Ethnic groups:** Arab-Amazigh 99%, other 1% note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara **Languages:** Arabic (official), Tamazight languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy) major-language sample(s): كتاب ديال لحقائق متاع العالم، احسن مصدر متاع المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: the proportion of Tamazight speakers is disputed **Religions:** Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 3,000-3,500 (2020 est.) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 25.7% (male 4,898,154/female 4,701,786) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 12,236,752/female 12,410,567) 65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,529,357/female 1,610,969) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 38.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 13.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 7.5 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 30.9 years (2025 est.) male: 30.1 years female: 31 years **Population growth rate:** 0.81% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 16.5 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are scattered through the Atlas Mountains, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 65.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data does not include former Western Sahara **Major urban areas - population:** 3.893 million Casablanca, 1.959 million RABAT (capital), 1.290 million Fes, 1.314 million Tangier, 1.050 million Marrakech, 979,000 Agadir (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 70 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 74.2 years (2024 est.) male: 72.5 years female: 76 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.24 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.09 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 87% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 34.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 13% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.7% of GDP (2021) 6.8% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2021) **Hospital bed density:** 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 98.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 72.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 89.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 27.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 10.9% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 26.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 12.3% (2025 est.) male: 23.7% (2025 est.) female: 0.9% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 3% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 58% (2018 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.5% (2018) women married by age 18: 13.7% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 6% of GDP (2023 est.) 23.3% national budget (2024 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** in the north: land degradation and desertification, with soil erosion from farming, overgrazing, and vegetation removal; water and soil pollution from industrial-waste dumping; in the south: desertification; overgrazing; sparse water note: data does not include former Western Sahara **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification **Climate:** Mediterranean in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew note: data does not include former Western Sahara **Land use:** agricultural land: 66.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 15.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 47.1% (2023 est.) forest: 12.8% (2023 est.) other: 20.3% (2023 est.) note: does not include the area of the former Western Sahara, which is almost exclusively desert **Urbanization:** urban population: 65.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data does not include former Western Sahara **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 64.173 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 23.024 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 39.329 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.82 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 13.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 36.6 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 283.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 377.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.852 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.4% (2022 est.) note: data does not include former Western Sahara **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 1.063 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 212 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 9.156 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) note: data does not include former Western Sahara **Total renewable water resources:** 29 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) note: data does not include former Western Sahara **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: M'Goun (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib former: French Protectorate in Morocco, Spanish Protectorate in Morocco, Ifni, Spanish Sahara, Western Sahara etymology: the English name of Morocco derives from, respectively, the Spanish and Portuguese names Marruecos and Marrocos, which stem from Marrakesh, the Latin name for the former capital of ancient Morocco; the Arabic name, Al Maghrib, translates as "The West" **Government type:** parliamentary constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Rabat geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: derives from the Arabic name Ribat el-Fath, from the words ribat (fortified monastery) and fath (conquest); the third Almohad sultan, Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Manṣur, gave the name to a fort on the site in the 12th century **Administrative divisions:** 12 regions; Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Safi, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima note: effective 10 December 2020, the US government recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over the territory of former Western Sahara **Legal system:** mixed system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest drafted 17 June 2011, approved by referendum 1 July 2011 amendment process: proposed by the king, by the prime minister, or by members in either chamber of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; the king can opt to submit self-initiated proposals directly to a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Aziz AKHANNOUCH (since 7 October 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch; the monarch chooses the ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Islamic Affairs, and National Defense Administration election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; monarch appoints the prime minister from the majority party following legislative elections **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Barlaman) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives (Majliss-annouwab) number of seats: 395 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/8/2021 parties elected and seats per party: National Rally of Independents (RNI) (102); Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) (87); Istiqlal Party (PI) (81); Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) (34); Popular Movement (MP) (28); Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) (22); Other (41) percentage of women in chamber: 24.3% expected date of next election: September 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: House of Councillors (Majlis al-Mustacharin) number of seats: 120 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 10/5/2021 percentage of women in chamber: 11.7% expected date of next election: October 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of 5-judge panels organized into civil, family matters, commercial, administrative, social, and criminal sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided over by the monarch, which includes the Supreme Court president, the prosecutor general, representatives of the appeals and first instance courts (among them 1 woman magistrate), the president of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), and 5 "notable persons" appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court members - 6 designated by the monarch and 6 elected by Parliament; court president appointed by the monarch from among the court members; members serve 9-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: courts of appeal; High Court of Justice; administrative and commercial courts; regional and Sadad courts (for religious, civil and administrative, and penal adjudication); first instance courts **Political parties:** Action Party or PA Amal (hope) Party An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj or Democratic Way Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM Constitutional Union Party or UC Democratic and Social Movement or MDS Democratic Forces Front or FFD Environment and Sustainable Development Party or PEDD Federation of the Democratic Left or FGD Green Left Party or PGV Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI Moroccan Liberal Party or PML Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD National Democratic Party National Rally of Independents or RNI Neo-Democrats Party Party of Development Reform or PRD Party of Justice and Development or PJD Party of Liberty and Social Justice or PLJS Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS Popular Movement or MP Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV Renaissance Party Renewal and Equity Party or PRE Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP Unified Socialist Party or GSU Unity and Democracy Party **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Youssef AMRANI (since 27 February 2024) chancery: 3508 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 email address and website: washingtonembmorocco@maec.gov.ma Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in the United States (diplomatie.ma) consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Richard Duke BUCHAN III (since 3 December 2025) embassy: Km 5.7 Avenue Mohammed VI, Souissi, Rabat 10170 mailing address: 9400 Rabat Place, Washington DC 20521-9400 telephone: [212] 0537-637-200 FAX: [212] 0537-637-201 email address and website: https://ma.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Casablanca **International organization participation:** ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 2 March 1956 (from France) **National holiday:** Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999) **Flag:** description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag meaning: red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian Gulf; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and the association between God and the nation history: the design dates to 1912 **National symbol(s):** pentacle symbol, lion **National color(s):** red, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif) lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN history: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Medina of Fez; Medina of Marrakesh; Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou; Historic City of Meknes; Archaeological Site of Volubilis; Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin); Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador); Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida); Historic and Modern Rabat ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower middle-income North African economy; ongoing recovery from recent drought and earthquake; rebounding via tourism, manufacturing, and raw materials processing; significant trade and investment with EU; reform programs include fiscal rebalancing, state enterprise governance and private sector investments **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $350.594 billion (2024 est.) $339.603 billion (2023 est.) $328.425 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.2% (2024 est.) 3.4% (2023 est.) 1.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $9,100 (2024 est.) $8,900 (2023 est.) $8,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $154.431 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1% (2024 est.) 6.1% (2023 est.) 6.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 10.1% (2024 est.) industry: 24.1% (2024 est.) services: 54.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 61.3% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 26.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 3.8% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.3% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -52.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, milk, potatoes, sugar beets, tomatoes, barley, olives, apples, tangerines/mandarins, onions (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism **Industrial production growth rate:** 5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 12.475 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 9% (2024 est.) 9.1% (2023 est.) 9.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 22.1% (2024 est.) male: 22% (2024 est.) female: 22.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 3.9% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Average household expenditures:** on food: 34.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 2.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Remittances:** 8.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 7.7% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $38.458 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $44.819 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 21% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$891.222 million (2023 est.) -$4.8 billion (2022 est.) -$3.349 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $61.746 billion (2023 est.) $58.575 billion (2022 est.) $47.09 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Spain 20%, France 17%, Germany 6%, UK 5%, Italy 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** fertilizers, cars, garments, insulated wire, tomatoes (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $73.759 billion (2023 est.) $73.81 billion (2022 est.) $60.215 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Spain 16%, China 11%, France 10%, USA 9%, Turkey 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, coal (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $37.134 billion (2024 est.) $36.328 billion (2023 est.) $32.314 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $42.262 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 9.942 (2024 est.) 10.131 (2023 est.) 10.161 (2022 est.) 8.988 (2021 est.) 9.497 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 14.615 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 36.379 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 462 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 2.311 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 7.781 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 78.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 15.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 10.304 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 25 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 10.344 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 96 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 25 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 296,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 684,000 barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 55.473 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 912.277 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 861.38 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.444 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 23.52 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 3.04 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 58.3 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 153 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 2 TV broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV is available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks, with RTM operating one; the state-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2019) **Internet country code:** .ma **Internet users:** percent of population: 91% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 2.42 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** CN **Airports:** 48 (2025) **Heliports:** 17 (2025) **Railways:** total: 2,067 km (2014) standard gauge: 2,067 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) **Merchant marine:** total: 94 (2023) by type: container ship 6, general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 81 **Ports:** total ports: 12 (2024) large: 3 medium: 1 small: 3 very small: 5 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Agadir, Casablanca, Tanger, Tangier-Mediterranean ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes the Moroccan Royal Guard), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force, Moroccan Royal Guard, Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: General Directorate for National Security (DGSN; aka National Police), Auxiliary Forces (2025) note 1: the Royal Guard is officially part of the Army but is under the direct operational control of the Royal Military Household of His Majesty the King; it provides for the security and safety of the King and royal family; it was established in the 11th century and is considered one of the world's oldest active units still in military service note 2: the DGSN manages internal law enforcement in cities; the Gendarmerie is responsible for law enforcement in rural regions and on national highways and has a counterterrorism role; the Auxiliary Forces provide support to the Gendarmerie and DGSN **Military expenditures:** 4% of GDP (2024 est.) 4% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 4.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 4.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 220,000 active Armed Forces (175,000 Army; 10,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force, 20,000 Gendarmerie) (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Moroccan military's inventory is mostly a mix of older and some more modern armaments from France and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 19-25 years of age for 12-month compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women (2025) **Military deployments:** 775 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 890 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025) **Military - note:** the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) are responsible for protecting Morocco’s national interests, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; key areas of concern for the FAR include international terrorism, maritime security, and regional challenges such as the Polisario Front in Western Sahara and Algeria; the Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), an organization that seeks the independence of Western Sahara, disputes Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over the territory; Moroccan and Polisario forces fought intermittently from 1975, when Spain relinquished colonial authority over the territory, until a 1991 cease-fire and the establishment of a UN peacekeeping mission; the Polisario withdrew from the cease-fire in November 2020, and since then there have been reports of low-intensity hostilities between Morocco and the Polisario Front across the 2,500-kilometer-long berm built in 1987 that separates the two sides; Algeria is seen as a regional rival and has openly backed the Polisario Front the FAR participates in international peacekeeping operations, as well as both bilateral and multinational training exercises; it has relations with a variety of partners including the militaries of France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the US, as well as NATO, the Arab League, and the African Union; Morocco has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation the FAR was created in May 1956; Moroccans were recruited for service in the Spahi and Tirailleur regiments of the French Army during the period of the French protectorate (1912-1956), and Moroccans fought under the French Army during both World Wars, as well as the First Indochina War (1946-1954); the Spanish Army recruited Moroccans from the Spanish Protectorate during both the Rif War (1921-26) and the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 in April 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in August 1988 by Morocco and the Polisario Front; MINURSO was unable to carry out all the original settlement proposals, but continues to monitor the cease-fire and reduce the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and has provided logistic support to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 18,848 (2024 est.) IDPs: 256 (2024 est.) --- ## Mozambique **Slug:** mozambique **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇲🇿 **Codes:** cek: mz, iso2: MZ, iso3: MOZ, iso_num: 508, genc: MOZ, stanag: MOZ, internet: .mz ### Introduction **Background:** In the first half of the second millennium A.D., northern Mozambican port towns were frequented by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, and India. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from Arab Muslims in the centuries after 1500, and they set up their own colonies. Portugal did not relinquish Mozambique until 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid-1990s. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free-market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando GUEBUZA, served two terms and then passed executive power to Filipe NYUSI in 2015. RENAMO’s residual armed forces intermittently engaged in a low-level insurgency after 2012, but a 2016 cease-fire eventually led to the two sides signing a comprehensive peace deal in 2019. Since 2017, violent extremists -- who an official ISIS media outlet recognized as ISIS's network in Mozambique for the first time in 2019 -- have been conducting attacks against civilians and security services in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. In 2021, Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community deployed forces to support Mozambique’s efforts to counter the extremist group. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania **Geographic coordinates:** 18 15 S, 35 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 799,380 sq km land: 786,380 sq km water: 13,000 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California **Land boundaries:** total: 4,783 km border countries (6): Malawi 1498 km; South Africa 496 km; Eswatini 108 km; Tanzania 840 km; Zambia 439 km; Zimbabwe 1,402 km **Coastline:** 2,470 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical to subtropical **Terrain:** mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west **Elevation:** highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 345 m **Natural resources:** coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite **Land use:** agricultural land: 52.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.) forest: 41.7% (2023 est.) other: 5.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,180 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490 **Major rivers (by length in km):** Rio Zambeze (Zambezi) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 2,740 km; Rio Limpopo river mouth (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 1,800 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) **Population distribution:** three large population clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces **Geography - note:** the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country ### People and Society **Population:** total: 34,206,144 (2025 est.) male: 16,880,529 female: 17,325,615 **Nationality:** noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican **Ethnic groups:** African 99% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Mestizo 0.8%, other (includes European, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese) 0.2% (2017 est.) **Languages:** Makhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 16.6%, Tsonga 8.6%, Nyanja 8.1, Sena 7.1%, Lomwe 7.1%, Chuwabo 4.7%, Ndau 3.8%, Tswa 3.8%, other Mozambican languages 11.8%, other 0.5%, unspecified 1.8% (2017 est.) **Religions:** Catholic 27.3%, Islam 19.1%, Pentecostal 16.7%, Saio/Zione 16.3%, no religion 13.5%, other 4.3%, Anglican 1.7%, unknown 1.2% (2017 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 44.7% (male 7,548,247/female 7,350,012) 15-64 years: 52.4% (male 8,428,457/female 9,061,065) 65 years and over: 2.9% (2024 est.) (male 473,030/female 490,143) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 89.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 83.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 18.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 17.4 years (2025 est.) male: 16.7 years female: 17.9 years **Population growth rate:** 2.53% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 36.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.34 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** three large population clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 38.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.852 million Matola, 1.163 million MAPUTO (capital), 969,000 Nampula (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.2 years (2011 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 82 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 56.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 60.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 56.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 58.3 years (2024 est.) male: 57.1 years female: 59.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.58 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.26 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 87.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 48.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 63.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 12.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 51.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 36.8% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9.1% of GDP (2021) 8% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 71.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 24.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 28.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 75.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 7.2% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 14.3% (2020 est.) male: 23% (2020 est.) female: 5.6% (2020 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 15.4% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 64.8% (2023 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 16.8% (2015) women married by age 18: 52.9% (2015) men married by age 18: 9.7% (2015) **Education expenditure:** 6% of GDP (2022 est.) 20.4% national budget (2021 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 61.7% (2022 est.) male: 74.1% (2022 est.) female: 50.9% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 10 years (2017 est.) male: 11 years (2017 est.) female: 10 years (2017 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** increased population migration to urban and coastal areas; desertification; soil erosion; deforestation; water pollution from artisanal mining; pollution of surface and coastal waters; wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory) **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical to subtropical **Land use:** agricultural land: 52.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.) forest: 41.7% (2023 est.) other: 5.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 38.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 9.549 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: -68,287 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 6.244 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 3.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 17.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 320.1 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 169.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 117.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.5 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.2% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 372 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 25 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 217.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique etymology: named for an offshore island; the island was named after Mussa bin BIQUE (or Mussa Ibn MALIK), an influential Arab slave trader who set himself up as sultan on the island in the 15th century **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Maputo geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after the Maputo River, which drains into Maputo Bay south of the city; the river is said to be named after the son of Muagobe, a local chief in the 18th century **Administrative divisions:** 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia **Legal system:** mixed system of Portuguese civil law and customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1975, 1990; latest adopted 16 November 2004, effective 21 December 2004 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Republic membership; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including the independence and sovereignty of the state, the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, and universal suffrage, requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and approval in a referendum; referenda not required for passage of other amendments **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mozambique dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Daniel Francisco CHAPO (since 15 January 2025) head of government: Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Delfina LEVI (since 17 January 2025) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election/appointment process: president elected directly by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 9 October 2024 election results: 2024: Daniel CHAPO elected president in first round; percent of vote - Daniel CHAPO (FRELIMO) 65.2%, Venâncio MONDLANE (PODEMOS) 24.2%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 6.6% expected date of next election: October 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 250 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/9/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) (171); Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS) (43); Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) (28); Other (8) percentage of women in chamber: 38.3% expected date of next election: October 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic; vice president appointed by the president in consultation with the Higher Council of the Judiciary (CSMJ) and ratified by the Assembly of the Republic; other judges elected by the Assembly; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Council judges appointed - 1 by the president, 5 by the Assembly, and 1 by the CSMJ; judges serve 5-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Administrative Court (capital city only); provincial courts or Tribunais Judicias de Provincia; District Courts or Tribunais Judicias de Districto; customs courts; maritime courts; courts marshal; labor courts; community courts **Political parties:** Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO Mozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Fabião NUVUNGA (since 19 April 2023) chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7147 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245 email address and website: washington.dc@embamoc.gov.mz https://usa.embamoc.gov.mz/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Abigail L. DRESSEL (since 11 August 2025) embassy: Avenida Marginal 5467, Maputo mailing address: 2330 Maputo Place, Washington DC 20521-2330 telephone: [258] (84) 095-8000 email address and website: MaputaConsular@state.gov https://mz.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCDF, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNDSS, UNECA, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNODC, UNOPS, UNV, UNWTO, Union Latina, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 25 June 1975 (from Portugal) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 25 June (1975) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow, with a red isosceles triangle based on the left side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a five-pointed yellow star with a crossed black-and-white rifle and hoe, on top of an open white book meaning: green stands for the riches of the land, white for peace, black for the African continent, yellow for the country's minerals, and red for the fight for independence; the rifle stands for defense and vigilance, the hoe for agriculture, the open book for the importance of education, and the star for Marxism and internationalism note: one of two national flags featuring a firearm; the other is Guatemala **National symbol(s):** rifle, hoe, and book **National color(s):** green, black, yellow, white, red **National anthem(s):** title: “Pátria Amada” (Lovely Fatherland) lyrics/music: Salomão J. MANHICA/unkown history: adopted 2002; the new anthem reflects the new multi-party political system **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Mozambique ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income East African economy; subsistence farming dominates labor force; return to growth led by agriculture and extractive industries; Islamist insurgency threatens natural gas projects in north; ongoing foreign debt restructuring and resolution under IMF Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $51.786 billion (2024 est.) $50.844 billion (2023 est.) $48.222 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.9% (2024 est.) 5.4% (2023 est.) 4.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $1,500 (2024 est.) $1,500 (2023 est.) $1,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $22.417 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4.1% (2024 est.) 7.1% (2023 est.) 10.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 26.3% (2024 est.) industry: 24.6% (2024 est.) services: 38.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 69% (2024 est.) government consumption: 17.1% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 42.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -52.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, maize, sugarcane, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, coconuts, onions (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** aluminum, petroleum products, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco, food, beverages **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 15.173 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.6% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 3.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 7.4% (2024 est.) male: 7.5% (2024 est.) female: 7.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 62.8% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 50.3 (2019 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.7% (2019 est.) highest 10%: 41.1% (2019 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $6.243 billion (2024 est.) expenditures: $7.223 billion (2024 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 76.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 22.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$2.498 billion (2024 est.) -$2.207 billion (2023 est.) -$6.367 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $9.358 billion (2024 est.) $9.405 billion (2023 est.) $9.409 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** India 18%, China 13%, South Africa 9%, UAE 6%, Thailand 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** coal, natural gas, aluminum, gold, precious stones (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $10.488 billion (2024 est.) $11.18 billion (2023 est.) $15.932 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** South Africa 34%, China 14%, India 13%, UAE 6%, Singapore 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, chromium ore, iron alloys, iron ore, palm oil (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $3.843 billion (2024 est.) $3.637 billion (2023 est.) $2.939 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $8.274 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** meticais (MZM) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 63.905 (2024 est.) 63.886 (2023 est.) 63.851 (2022 est.) 65.465 (2021 est.) 69.465 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 33.2% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 79.4% electrification - rural areas: 5% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 2.86 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 12.983 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 11.483 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 8.287 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.38 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 10.583 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 10.658 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.792 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 42,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 8.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 1.625 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 7.09 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.832 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 5.789 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 28,300 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 17.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-run TV station supplemented by a private TV station; Portuguese state TV's African service, RTP Africa, and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available; state-run radio provides nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple languages; a number of privately owned and community-operated stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019) **Internet country code:** .mz **Internet users:** percent of population: 20% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 65,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** C9 **Airports:** 92 (2025) **Railways:** total: 4,787 km (2014) narrow gauge: 4,787 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 36 (2023) by type: general cargo 9, other 27 **Ports:** total ports: 11 (2024) large: 0 medium: 2 small: 5 very small: 4 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Beira, Chinde, Inhambane, Maputo, Mocambique, Pebane, Porto Belo ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Army, Mozambique Navy, Mozambique Air Force Ministry of Interior: Mozambique National Police (PRM; includes the Rapid Intervention Unit, UIR), the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), Border Security Force; other security forces include the Presidential Guard and the Force for the Protection of High-Level Individuals (2025) note 1: the FADM and other security forces are referred to collectively as the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS) note 2: the PRM, SERNIC, and the UIR are responsible for law enforcement and internal security; the Border Security Force is responsible for protecting the country’s international borders and for carrying out police duties within 24 miles of borders note 3: in 2023, the Mozambique Government legalized local militias that have been assisting security forces operating in Cabo Delgado against Islamic militants since 2020; this Local Force is comprised of ex-combatants and other civilians and receives training, uniforms, weapons, and logistical support from the FADM **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 12,000 active FADM (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FADM's inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era armaments, although in recent years it has received some secondhand equipment from a number of countries, including India, South Africa, and the UAE, mostly as donations (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** registration for military service is mandatory for all men and women at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; initial 60-month service obligation (2025) **Military - note:** the FADM is responsible for external security, cooperating with police on internal security, and responding to natural disasters and other emergencies; the primary focus of the FADM is countering an insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado by militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham terrorist group (ISIS-Mozambique; known locally as Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama‘a); since 2017, the conflict has claimed an estimated 6,000 lives and displaced an estimated one million persons; at Mozambique's request, Rwanda and several southern African countries under the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) deployed forces to Mozambique to combat the insurgency in 2021; the SADC forces departed in 2024; as of 2025, Rwanda continued to provide approximately 3,000 military and police personnel to assist Mozambican Defense and Security Forces, along with several hundred Tanzanian troops; the EU has also provided training assistance (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Mozambique (ISIS-M) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 24,250 (2024 est.) IDPs: 718,154 (2024 est.) --- ## Namibia **Slug:** namibia **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇳🇦 **Codes:** cek: wa, iso2: NA, iso3: NAM, iso_num: 516, genc: NAM, stanag: NAM, internet: .na ### Introduction **Background:** Various ethnic groups occupied southwestern Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia gained independence in 1990, and SWAPO has governed it since, although the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA, who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority, and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa **Geographic coordinates:** 22 00 S, 17 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 824,292 sq km land: 823,290 sq km water: 1,002 sq km **Area - comparative:** almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska **Land boundaries:** total: 4,220 km border countries (4): Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km **Coastline:** 1,572 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic **Terrain:** mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east **Elevation:** highest point: Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 1,141 m **Natural resources:** diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore **Land use:** agricultural land: 47.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.) forest: 9.8% (2023 est.) other: 43.1% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 80 sq km (2012) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin **Population distribution:** population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** prolonged periods of drought **Geography - note:** the Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,852,777 (2025 est.) male: 1,402,136 female: 1,450,641 **Nationality:** noun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian **Ethnic groups:** Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5% **Languages:** Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4%, Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.) note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages **Religions:** Christian 97.5%, other 0.6% (includes Muslim, Baha'i, Jewish, Buddhist), unaffiliated 1.9% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 34.1% (male 482,790/female 473,306) 15-64 years: 62% (male 846,810/female 890,099) 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 47,686/female 62,969) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 60.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 54 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 15.5 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 23.1 years (2025 est.) male: 22.1 years female: 23.5 years **Population growth rate:** 1.76% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 23.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 54.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 477,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 21.6 years (2013 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 139 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 27.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.) male: 64.2 years female: 67.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.85 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.4 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 96.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 73.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 85.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 3.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 26.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 14.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9.4% of GDP (2021) 11.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 70.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 49% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 29.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 51% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 17.2% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 2.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 11.8% (2025 est.) male: 20.5% (2025 est.) female: 3.9% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 33.7% (2018 est.) **Education expenditure:** 9.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 24.6% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 87.6% (2023 est.) male: 87.9% (2023 est.) female: 87.4% (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity; wildlife poaching **International environmental agreements:** party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic **Land use:** agricultural land: 47.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.) forest: 9.8% (2023 est.) other: 43.1% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 54.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 3.46 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 48,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.412 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 11.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 2.1 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 193.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 13.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 256,700 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19.6% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 61.568 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 18.61 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 201 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 39.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia local long form: Republic of Namibia local short form: Namibia former: German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa etymology: named for the coastal Namib Desert; the word namib comes from the local Nama language and means "an area where there is nothing" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Windhoek geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is an Afrikaans word meaning "windy corner;" a local Khoikhoin chief first used the name in the 19th century and may have derived it from the name of his childhood South African village of Winterhoek **Administrative divisions:** 14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi note: the Karas region was renamed //Karas in 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language **Legal system:** mixed system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law **Constitution:** history: adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990 amendment process: passage requires majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; if the National Council fails to pass an amendment, the president can call for a referendum; passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast; amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended, and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025) head of government: President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 27 November 2024 election results: 2024: Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH elected president in the first round; percent of vote -Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (SWAPO) 57%, Panduleni ITULA (IPC) 26%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.10%, Bernadus SWARTBOOI (LPM) 4.72%, Job AMUPANDA (AR) 1.80%, Hendrik GAOBEAB (UDF) 1.16%; other 3.31% 2019: Hage GEINGOB reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 56.3%, Panduleni ITULA (independent) 29.4%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.3%, other .9% expected date of next election: November 2029 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 104 (96 directly elected; 8 appointed) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/27/2024 to 11/30/2024 parties elected and seats per party: SWAPO Party (51); Independent Patriots of Change (IPC) (20); Affirmative Repositioning (AR) (6); Landless People's Movement (LPM) (5); Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) (5); Other (9) percentage of women in chamber: 42.3% expected date of next election: November 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: National Council number of seats: 42 (all indirectly elected) electoral system: proportional representation term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 12/15/2020 percentage of women in chamber: 14.3% expected date of next election: December 2025 note: the Council primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65, but terms can be extended by the president until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Electoral Court, Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts **Political parties:** All People's Party or APP Christian Democratic Voice or CDV Landless People's Movement or LPM National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters or NEFF Popular Democratic Movement or PDM (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance or DTA) Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP Republican Party or RP South West Africa National Union or SWANU South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO United Democratic Front or UDF United People's Movement or UPM **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Wilbard HELLAO (since 16 December 2025) chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443 email address and website: info@namibiaembassyusa.org https://namibiaembassyusa.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador John GIORDANO (since 29 October 2025) embassy: 38 Metje Street, Klein Windhoek, Windhoek mailing address: 2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC 20521-2540 telephone: [264] (61) 202-5000 FAX: [264] (61) 202-5219 email address and website: ConsularWindhoek@state.gov https://na.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 21 March (1990) **Flag:** description: a wide red stripe edged with narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower-left corner to upper-right corner; the upper triangle is blue and has a golden-yellow, 12-ray sunburst, and the lower triangle is green meaning: red stands for the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue stands for the sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the sun for power and existence, and green for vegetation and agricultural resources **National symbol(s):** oryx (antelope) **National color(s):** blue, red, green, white, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "Namibia, Land of the Brave" lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB history: adopted 1991 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c); Namib Sand Sea (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper middle-income, export-driven Sub-Saharan economy; natural resource rich; Walvis Bay port expansion for trade; high potential for renewable power generation and energy independence; major nature-based tourist locale; natural resource rich; shortage of skilled labor **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $31.154 billion (2024 est.) $30.039 billion (2023 est.) $28.761 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.7% (2024 est.) 4.4% (2023 est.) 5.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $10,300 (2024 est.) $10,100 (2023 est.) $10,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $13.372 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4.2% (2024 est.) 5.9% (2023 est.) 6.1% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 7.3% (2024 est.) industry: 28.9% (2024 est.) services: 54.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 79.3% (2024 est.) government consumption: 21.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 1.9% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 41.6% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -68% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** root vegetables, milk, maize, beef, grapes, onions, wheat, fruits, pulses, vegetables (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture **Industrial production growth rate:** 1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 1.131 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 19.2% (2024 est.) 19.4% (2023 est.) 19.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 37.3% (2024 est.) male: 36.7% (2024 est.) female: 38% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 17.4% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 59.1 (2015 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1% (2015 est.) highest 10%: 47.2% (2015 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $4.415 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $4.779 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 4.64% of GDP (2019 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 33% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$2.055 billion (2024 est.) -$1.893 billion (2023 est.) -$1.605 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $5.887 billion (2024 est.) $5.729 billion (2023 est.) $5.361 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** South Africa 27%, China 12%, Botswana 8%, Belgium 7%, France 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, diamonds, radioactive chemicals, fish, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $9.199 billion (2024 est.) $8.443 billion (2023 est.) $7.43 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** South Africa 36%, China 9%, India 7%, UAE 4%, USA 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, copper ore, ships, electricity, trucks (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $3.356 billion (2024 est.) $2.956 billion (2023 est.) $2.803 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 18.329 (2024 est.) 18.446 (2023 est.) 16.356 (2022 est.) 14.779 (2021 est.) 16.463 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 56.2% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 74.8% electrification - rural areas: 33.2% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 646,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 3.891 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 169 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 2.917 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 747.409 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 26,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 350 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 23,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** proven reserves: 62.297 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 21.734 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 77,400 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 2.58 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 85 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available **Internet country code:** .na **Internet users:** percent of population: 64% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 104,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** V5 **Airports:** 259 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 2,628 km (2014) narrow gauge: 2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 15 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, other 14 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Luderitz Bay, Walvis Bay ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Namibian Army, Namibian Navy, Namibian Air Force (2025) note: the Namibian Police Force is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security; it has a paramilitary Special Field Force responsible for protecting borders and government installations **Military expenditures:** 2.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 3% of GDP (2022 est.) 3% of GDP (2021 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 12,000 active Namibian Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the NDF's inventory consists mostly of Soviet-era weapons and equipment; over the past decade, it has received a limited number of newer weapons systems from China and South Africa; Namibia has a small defense industry that produces items such as armored personnel carriers (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-25 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026) **Military - note:** the NDF’s primary responsibility is defending Namibia's territorial integrity and national interests; other responsibilities include support to civil authorities and participating in peace and stability missions under the African Union, Southern African Development Community, and the UN; Namibia has bilateral defense ties with several countries, including Botswana, India, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia the NDF was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); the PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDF (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 6,575 (2024 est.) IDPs: 1,399 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 14,796 (2024 est.) --- ## Niger **Slug:** niger **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇳🇪 **Codes:** cek: ng, iso2: NE, iso3: NER, iso_num: 562, genc: NER, stanag: NER, internet: .ne ### Introduction **Background:** Nomadic peoples from the Saharan north and agriculturalists from the south settled present-day Niger. The Taureg kingdom of Takedda was one of the largest kingdoms in the north and played a prominent role in regional trade in the 14th century. In the south, the primary ethnic groups were the Songhai-Zarma in the west, the Hausa in the center, and the Kanuri in the east. When European colonizers arrived in the 19th century, the region was an assemblage of disparate local kingdoms. In the late 19th century, the British and French agreed to partition the middle regions of the Niger River, and France began its conquest of what would become the colony of Niger. France experienced determined local resistance -- particularly during the Tuareg uprising (1916-1917) -- but established a colonial administration in 1922. After achieving independence from France in 1960, Niger experienced single-party or military rule until 1991, when political pressure forced General Ali SAIBOU to allow multiparty elections. Political infighting and democratic backsliding led to coups in 1996 and 1999. In 1999, military officers restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and spearheaded a 2009 constitutional amendment allowing him to extend his presidential term. In 2010, military officers led another coup that deposed TANDJA. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou was elected in 2011 and reelected in 2016. In 2021, BAZOUM Mohamed won the presidential election, marking Niger’s first transition from one democratically elected president to another. Nonetheless, a military junta led by General Abdourahamane TIANI once again seized power in July 2023, detaining President BAZOUM and announcing the creation of a National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP). Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. It is ranked fourth to last in the world on the UN Development Program's Human Development Index of 2023/2024. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Government continues its attempts to diversify the economy through increased oil production and mining projects. In addition, Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict and terrorism in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, southeast of Algeria **Geographic coordinates:** 16 00 N, 8 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1.267 million sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 5,834 km border countries (7): Algeria 951 km; Benin 277 km; Burkina Faso 622 km; Chad 1,196 km; Libya 342 km; Mali 838 km; Nigeria 1,608 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south **Terrain:** predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north **Elevation:** highest point: Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m lowest point: Niger River 200 m mean elevation: 474 m **Natural resources:** uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum **Land use:** agricultural land: 36.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 14% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 22.7% (2023 est.) forest: 0.8% (2023 est.) other: 62.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 2,881 sq km (2022) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year **Major rivers (by length in km):** Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Murzuk-Djado Basin **Population distribution:** majority of the populace is located in the southernmost extreme of the country along the border with Nigeria and Benin, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** recurring droughts **Geography - note:** landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna that is suitable for livestock and limited agriculture ### People and Society **Population:** total: 27,322,555 (2025 est.) male: 13,542,629 female: 13,779,926 **Nationality:** noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien **Ethnic groups:** Hausa 53.1%, Zarma/Songhai 21.2%, Tuareg 11%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.5%, Kanuri 5.9%, Gurma 0.8%, Arab 0.4%, Tubu 0.4%, other/unavailable 0.9% (2006 est.) **Languages:** Hausa, Zarma, French (official), Fufulde, Tamashek, Kanuri, Gurmancema, Tagdal note: represents the most-spoken languages; Niger has 10 national languages: Arabic, Buduma, Fulfuldé, Guimancema, Hausa, Kanuri, Sonay-Zarma, Tamajaq, Tassawaq, and Tubu **Religions:** Muslim 95.5%, ethnic religionist 4.1%, Christian 0.3%, agnostics and other 0.1% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 49.5% (male 6,567,460/female 6,463,877) 15-64 years: 47.8% (male 6,146,355/female 6,451,574) 65 years and over: 2.7% (2024 est.) (male 342,388/female 371,130) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 108.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 102.6 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.7 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 15.3 years (2025 est.) male: 14.9 years female: 15.6 years **Population growth rate:** 3.65% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 46.29 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** majority of the populace is located in the southernmost extreme of the country along the border with Nigeria and Benin, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 17.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.437 million NIAMEY (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 18.5 years (2012 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 350 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 63 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 69.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 59.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 60.9 years (2024 est.) male: 59.3 years female: 62.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 6.55 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 3.23 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 88.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 40.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 48.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 11.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 59.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 51.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.8% of GDP (2021) 7.1% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 15.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 26.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 84.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 73.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 5.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 7.5% (2025 est.) male: 13.7% (2025 est.) female: 1.2% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 34.6% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 81.3% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 12.8% national budget (2023 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 35.6% (2022 est.) male: 47.9% (2022 est.) female: 25.7% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 6 years (2017 est.) male: 7 years (2017 est.) female: 6 years (2017 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; contaminated water; inadequate potable water; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened by poaching and habitat destruction **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south **Land use:** agricultural land: 36.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 14% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 22.7% (2023 est.) forest: 0.8% (2023 est.) other: 62.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 17.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 3.132 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 622,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.457 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 52,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 59.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 137.8 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 713.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 128.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 11.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.866 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 193.247 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 38.654 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 2.351 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 34,050,000,000 cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Niger conventional short form: Niger local long form: République du Niger local short form: Niger etymology: named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; the name of the river probably comes from the local Tuareg name, egereou n-igereouen (big rivers) note: pronounced nee-ZHAIR **Government type:** formerly, semi-presidential republic Note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger's government, dissolved all government institutions, and rules by decree **Capital:** name: Niamey geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; one of many stories says that an African chief told his seven slaves "Wa niammane," meaning "stay here," and the name was later shortened to its present form **Administrative divisions:** 7 regions (régions, singular - région) and 1 capital district* (communauté urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder **Legal system:** note: following the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland assumed control of all government institutions and rules by decree; formerly, mixed system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010 amendment process: formerly proposed by the president of the republic or the National Assembly; consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote; if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum; constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger's government, dissolved the country's constitution **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: unknown **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023) head of government: CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the CNSP election/appointment process: the CNSP rules by decree; previously, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister was appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly most recent election date: 27 December 2020, with a runoff held on 21 February 2021 election results: 2020/2021: Mohamed BAZOUM elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 39.3%, Mahamane OUSMANE (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 9%, Albade ABOUDA (MPR-Jamhuriya) 7.1%, other 27.6%; percent of vote in second round - Mohamed BAZOUM 55.7%, Mahamane OUSMANE 44.3% expected date of next election: 2030 note 1: deposed president Mohamed BAZOUM has been under house arrest since a military coup on 26 July 2023 note 2: on 26 March 2025, the CNSP leader TIANI issued a decree promulgating the Charter of the Refoundation and was sworn in as the country’s president for a transition period of five years **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 194 (all appointed) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal most recent election date: 5/1/2025 percentage of women in chamber: 19.6% expected date of next election: April 2030 note 1: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger's government, dissolved the National Assembly; a commission recommended to the junta in February 2025 a minimum of a five-year transition to democratic rule note 2: In May 2025, Transitional President Tiani signed decrees nominating 194 members of the Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation or CCR), CCR Bureau members, and the Speaker, Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey; the first session of the CCR convened on 28 June 2025 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members); Supreme Court (membership NA); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary to 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society; all appointed by the president; judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years subordinate courts: Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts **Political parties:** Alliance for Democracy and the Republic Alliance for Democratic Renewal or ARD-Adaltchi-Mutuntchi Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger or AMEN AMIN Congress for the Republic or CPR-Inganci Democratic Alternation for Equity in Niger Democratic and Republican Renewal-RDR-Tchanji Democratic Movement for the Emergence of Niger Falala Democratic Patriots' Rally or RPD Bazara National Movement for the Development of Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation or MODEN/FA Lumana Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya Nigerien Patriotic Movement or MPN-Kishin Kassa Nigerien Rally for Democracy and Peace Patriotic Movement for the Republic or MPR-Jamhuriya Peace, Justice, Progress–Generation Doubara Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a Rally for Peace and Progress or RPP Farilla Social Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya Social Democratic Party or PSD-Bassira note: after the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland dissolved the National Assembly and prohibited all political party activity **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Hassane IDI (since 3 August 2023) chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 FAX: [1] (202) 483-3169 email address and website: communication@embassyofniger.org http://www.embassyofniger.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Kathleen FITZGIBBON (since 2 December 2023) embassy: BP 11201, Niamey mailing address: 2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC 20521-2420 telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61 FAX: [227] 20-73-55-60 email address and website: consulateniamey@state.gov https://ne.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINUSCA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 3 August 1960 (from France) **National holiday:** Republic Day, 18 December (1958) note: commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger, which predated independence from France in 1960 **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green, with an orange disk centered on the white band meaning: orange stands for the northern Sahara regions, white for purity and innocence, and green for hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River; the orange disc represents the sun and the people's sacrifices note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered on the white band **National symbol(s):** zebu **National color(s):** orange, white, green **National anthem(s):** title: "L'Honneur de la Patrie" (The Honor of the Fatherland) lyrics/music: a government-appointed committee wrote both the lyrics and the music history: adopted 2023; replaced previous national anthem, "La Nigérienne" (The Nigerien), that was adopted in 1961 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Historic Agadez (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income Sahel economy; major instability and humanitarian crises limit economic activity; COVID-19 eliminated recent antipoverty gains; economy rebounding since December 2020 Nigerian border reopening and new investments; uranium resource rich **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $47.921 billion (2024 est.) $44.199 billion (2023 est.) $43.474 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 8.4% (2024 est.) 1.7% (2023 est.) 11.9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $1,800 (2024 est.) $1,700 (2023 est.) $1,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $19.538 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 9.1% (2024 est.) 3.7% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 33.8% (2024 est.) industry: 17.8% (2024 est.) services: 45.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 59.2% (2024 est.) government consumption: 11.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 31.2% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -20.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** millet, cowpeas, sorghum, onions, milk, sugarcane, cabbages, cassava, groundnuts, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses **Industrial production growth rate:** 12.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 10.486 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 0.4% (2024 est.) 0.5% (2023 est.) 0.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 0.3% (2024 est.) male: 0.4% (2024 est.) female: 0.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 45.5% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 32.9 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.8% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 27.8% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 3.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.325 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $2.785 billion (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** -$2.333 billion (2023 est.) -$2.5 billion (2022 est.) -$2.099 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.223 billion (2023 est.) $1.376 billion (2022 est.) $1.487 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 31%, France 23%, China 18%, India 6%, Sweden 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, oil seeds, uranium and thorium ore, radioactive chemicals, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $3.808 billion (2023 est.) $4.194 billion (2022 est.) $4.027 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 26%, France 15%, India 12%, Nigeria 7%, UAE 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** rice, aircraft parts, iron structures, refined petroleum, centrifuges (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $3.793 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 19.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 66.1% electrification - rural areas: 7.7% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 377,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.645 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 1.213 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 372.245 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 97% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 427,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 426,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 400 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 90 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 26.805 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 26.872 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 1.772 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 172,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 17.2 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-run TV station; 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming; state-run radio has the only radio station with national coverage; about 30 private local radio stations; as many as 100 community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available **Internet country code:** .ne **Internet users:** percent of population: 23% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 14,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5U **Airports:** 26 (2025) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force, Niger Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization: Niger National Guard, National Police (2025) note 1: the Niger Gendarmerie (GN) and the Niger National Guard (GNN) are paramilitary forces; the GN has primary responsibility for rural security while the GNN is responsible for domestic security and the protection of high-level officials and government buildings note 2: the Directorate of Territorial Surveillance under the National Police is charged with border management **Military expenditures:** 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie; estimated 15-20,000 National Guard (2025) note: in 2020, the Nigerien Government announced it intended to increase the size of the FAN to 50,000 by 2025 and 100,000 by 2030 **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FAN's inventory is comprised of older, typically Soviet-era weapons and equipment, along with smaller quantities of more modern armaments such as unmanned aerial vehicles/drones, air defense systems, and armored vehicles; suppliers over the past decade include China, France, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 is the legal minimum age for selective compulsory or voluntary military service for unmarried men and women; 24-month service term (2025) **Military - note:** the military of Niger is responsible for territorial defense, but most of its focus is on internal and border security operations; the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and the al-Qaida affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) terrorist groups are active in western Niger and in adjacent strongholds in Burkina Faso and Mali, while the Nigeria-based Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa groups threaten southeast Niger; parts of Niger also face spillover from communal, criminal, and vigilante violence in neighboring Nigeria; since the 2023 coup, some former ethnic separatist rebels have taken up arms in support of deposed President BAZOUM the military has played a role in Niger's domestic politics since its establishment in 1960-61; prior to seizing control of the government in 2023, it attempted coups in 1974, 1996, 1999, 2010, and 2021, and ruled the country for much of the period before 1999 (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa (ISIS-WA); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 421,795 (2024 est.) IDPs: 891,565 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Niger remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/niger/ --- ## Nigeria **Slug:** nigeria **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇳🇬 **Codes:** cek: ni, iso2: NG, iso3: NGA, iso_num: 566, genc: NGA, stanag: NGA, internet: .ng ### Introduction **Background:** In ancient and pre-colonial times, the area of present-day Nigeria was occupied by a variety of ethnic groups with different languages and traditions. These included large Islamic kingdoms such as Borno, Kano, and the Sokoto Caliphate dominating the north, the Benin and Oyo Empires that controlled much of modern western Nigeria, and more decentralized political entities and city states in the south and southeast. In 1914, the British amalgamated their separately administered northern and southern territories into a Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Nigeria achieved independence from Britain in 1960 and transitioned to a federal republic with three constituent states in 1963 under President Nnamdi AZIKIWE. This structure served to enflame regional and ethnic tension, contributing to a bloody coup led by predominately southeastern military officers in 1966 and a countercoup later that year masterminded by northern officers. In the aftermath of this tension, the governor of Nigeria’s Eastern Region, centered on the southeast, declared the region independent as the Republic of Biafra. The ensuring civil war (1967-1970), resulted in more than a million deaths, many from starvation. While the war forged a stronger Nigerian state and national identity, it contributed to long-lasting mistrust of the southeast’s predominantly Igbo population. Wartime military leader Yakubu GOWON ruled until a bloodless coup by frustrated junior officers in 1975. This generation of officers, including Olusegun OBASANJO, Ibrahim BABANGIDA, and Muhammadu BUHARI, who would all later serve as president, continue to exert significant influence in Nigeria to the present day. Military rule predominated until the first durable transition to civilian government and adoption of a new constitution in 1999. The elections of 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history. National and state elections in 2011 and 2015 were generally regarded as credible. The 2015 election was also heralded for the fact that the then-umbrella opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, defeated the long-ruling (since 1999) People's Democratic Party and assumed the presidency, marking the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another. Presidential and legislative elections in 2019 and 2023 were deemed broadly free and fair despite voting irregularities, intimidation, and violence. The government of Africa's most populous nation continues to face the daunting task of institutionalizing democracy and reforming a petroleum-based economy whose revenues have been squandered through decades of corruption and mismanagement. In addition, Nigeria faces increasing violence from Islamic terrorism, largely in the northeast, large scale criminal banditry, secessionist violence in the southeast, and competition over land and resources nationwide. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon **Geographic coordinates:** 10 00 N, 8 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 923,768 sq km land: 910,768 sq km water: 13,000 sq km **Area - comparative:** about six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California **Land boundaries:** total: 4,477 km border countries (4): Benin 809 km; Cameroon 1,975 km; Chad 85 km; Niger 1,608 km **Coastline:** 853 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north **Terrain:** southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north **Elevation:** highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 380 m **Natural resources:** natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 76.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 40.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.6% (2023 est.) forest: 19.1% (2023 est.) other: 4.7% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 2,188 sq km (2017) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year **Major rivers (by length in km):** Niger river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Niger) - 4,200 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System **Population distribution:** largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** periodic droughts; flooding **Geography - note:** the Niger River enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rainforests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea ### People and Society **Population:** total: 244,344,065 (2025 est.) male: 123,511,557 female: 120,832,508 **Nationality:** noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian **Ethnic groups:** Hausa 30%, Yoruba 15.5%, Igbo (Ibo) 15.2%, Fulani 6%, Tiv 2.4%, Kanuri/Beriberi 2.4%, Ibibio 1.8%, Ijaw/Izon 1.8%, other 24.9% (2018 est.) note: Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups **Languages:** English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages **Religions:** Muslim 53.5%, Roman Catholic 10.6%, other Christian 35.3%, other 0.6% (2018 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 40.4% (male 48,856,606/female 46,770,810) 15-64 years: 56.2% (male 66,897,900/female 66,187,584) 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 3,759,943/female 4,274,287) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 78 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 72.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 19.4 years (2025 est.) male: 19.1 years female: 19.6 years **Population growth rate:** 2.39% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 33.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 15.946 million Lagos, 4.348 million Kano, 3.875 million Ibadan, 3.840 million ABUJA (capital), 3.480 million Port Harcourt, 1.905 million Benin City (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 20.4 years (2018 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 993 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 65.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 58.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 48.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 62.2 years (2024 est.) male: 60.4 years female: 64.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.59 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.23 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 93.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 63.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 79.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 6.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 36.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 20.4% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 4.1% of GDP (2021) 4.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 41.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 62.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 58.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 4.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 2.6% (2025 est.) male: 4.8% (2025 est.) female: 0.3% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 24.4% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 67.6% (2018 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 12.3% (2021) women married by age 18: 30.3% (2021) men married by age 18: 1.6% (2021) note: due to prolonged insecurity concerns, some parts of states, including Borno state, were not sampled **Education expenditure:** 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 3% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 63.2% (2021 est.) male: 73.7% (2021 est.) female: 53.3% (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** urban air and water pollution; rapid deforestation; soil degradation; loss of arable land; water, air, and soil pollution from oil spills **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Tropical Timber 2006 **Climate:** varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north **Land use:** agricultural land: 76.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 40.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.6% (2023 est.) forest: 19.1% (2023 est.) other: 4.7% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 114.397 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.962 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 72.425 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 39.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 56 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 2,794.3 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,991.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 729.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 362.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 27.615 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.7% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.965 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 5.51 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 286.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria etymology: named for the Niger River that flows through the west of the country to the Atlantic Ocean; the name of the river probably comes from the local Tuareg name, egereou n-igereouen (big rivers) **Government type:** federal presidential republic **Capital:** name: Abuja geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the newly built city of Abuja replaced Lagos as the capital city in 1991; Abuja takes its name from a nearby town, now renamed Suleja, that was named after Abu JA ("Abu the Red") in 1828 **Administrative divisions:** 36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses and approval by the Houses of Assembly of at least two thirds of the states; amendments to constitutional articles on the creation of a new state, fundamental constitutional rights, or constitution-amending procedures requires at least four-fifths majority vote by both houses of the National Assembly and approval by the Houses of Assembly in at least two thirds of the states; passage of amendments limited to the creation of a new state require at least two-thirds majority vote by the proposing National Assembly house and approval by the Houses of Assembly in two thirds of the states **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023) head of government: President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023) cabinet: Federal Executive Council appointed by the president but constitutionally required to include at least one member from each of the 36 states election/appointment process: president directly elected by qualified-majority popular vote with at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states; president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 25 February 2023 election results: 2023: Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU elected president; percent of vote - Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (APC) 36.6%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 29.1%, Peter OBI (LP) 25.4%, Rabiu KWANKWASO (NNPP) 6.4%, other 2.5% 2019: Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (APC) 53%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 39%, other 8% expected date of next election: 27 February 2027 note: the president is chief of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives number of seats: 360 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/25/2023 parties elected and seats per party: All Progressives Congress (APC) (180); People's Democratic Party (PDP) (116); Labour Party (LP) (35); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) (19); Other (10) percentage of women in chamber: 4.2% expected date of next election: February 2027 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate number of seats: 109 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/25/2023 parties elected and seats per party: All Progressives Congress (APC) (59); People's Democratic Party (PDP) (36); Labour Party (LP) (8); Other (6) percentage of women in chamber: 3.7% expected date of next election: February 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials; judge appointments confirmed by the Senate; judges serve until age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; state court system similar in structure to federal system **Political parties:** Accord Party or ACC Africa Democratic Congress or ADC All Progressives Congress or APC All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA Labor Party or LP New Nigeria People’s Party or NNPP Peoples Democratic Party or PDP Young Progressive Party or YPP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Samson Sunday ITEGBOJE (since 22 October 2024) chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 800-7201 (ext. 100) FAX: [1] (202) 362-6541 email address and website: info@nigeriaembassyusa.org https://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILLS, Jr. (since 25 July 2024) embassy: Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja mailing address: 8320 Abuja Place, Washington DC 20521-8320 telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000 FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036 email address and website: AbujaACS@state.gov https://ng.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Lagos **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, CD, D-8, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINURSO, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 1 October 1960 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green meaning: green stands for the country's forests and natural resources, and white for peace and unity **National symbol(s):** eagle **National color(s):** green, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" lyrics/music: Lillie Jean WILLIAMS/Frances BERDA history: adopted 2024 note: Parliament voted in 2024 to revert to the former national anthem used from 1960 to 1978 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sukur Cultural Landscape; Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove ### Economy **Economic overview:** largest African market economy; enormous but mostly lower middle income labor force; major oil exporter; key telecommunications and finance industries; susceptible to energy prices; regional leader in critical infrastructure; primarily agrarian employment **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $1.318 trillion (2024 est.) $1.275 trillion (2023 est.) $1.239 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.4% (2024 est.) 2.9% (2023 est.) 3.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $5,700 (2024 est.) $5,600 (2023 est.) $5,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $187.76 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 33.2% (2024 est.) 24.7% (2023 est.) 18.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 20.4% (2024 est.) industry: 29.6% (2024 est.) services: 47% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, taro, bananas, vegetables, sorghum, groundnuts (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 113.35 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 5.1% (2024 est.) male: 3.7% (2024 est.) female: 6.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 40.1% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 35.1 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 59.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 26.7% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 11.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 5.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $37.298 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $59.868 billion (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** $17.215 billion (2024 est.) $6.423 billion (2023 est.) $1.019 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $57.536 billion (2024 est.) $60.261 billion (2023 est.) $69.091 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** USA 10%, Spain 9%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, India 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, fertilizers, cocoa beans (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $57.73 billion (2024 est.) $65.423 billion (2023 est.) $77.049 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 26%, Singapore 14%, Belgium 8%, India 6%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, tanks and armored vehicles, wheat, plastics, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $38.612 billion (2024 est.) $32.035 billion (2023 est.) $35.564 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $45.009 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** nairas (NGN) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1,478.965 (2024 est.) 645.194 (2023 est.) 425.979 (2022 est.) 401.152 (2021 est.) 358.811 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 60.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 89% electrification - rural areas: 27% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 4.094 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 34.135 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2.4 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 5.974 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 77.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 22.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 1.322 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 1.326 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 17 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.144 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 1.514 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 527,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 36.89 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 38.248 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 19.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 16.324 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 5.761 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 7.993 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 103,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 165 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** nearly 70 federal government-controlled national and regional TV stations; all 36 states operate TV stations; several private TV stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; network of federal government-controlled national, regional, and state radio stations; roughly 40 state government-owned radio stations; about 20 private radio stations; transmissions of international broadcasters are available; transition to digital completed in three states in 2018 (2019) **Internet country code:** .ng **Internet users:** percent of population: 39% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 117,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5N **Airports:** 50 (2025) **Heliports:** 15 (2025) **Railways:** total: 3,798 km (2014) standard gauge: 293 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 3,505 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge note: as of the end of 2018, there were only six operational locomotives in Nigeria primarily used for passenger service; the majority of the rail lines are in a severe state of disrepair and need to be replaced **Merchant marine:** total: 928 (2023) by type: general cargo 23, oil tanker 128, other 777 **Ports:** total ports: 28 (2024) large: 2 medium: 1 small: 1 very small: 24 ports with oil terminals: 23 key ports: Antan Oil Terminal, Bonny, Lagos, Pennington Oil Terminal ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN): Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy (includes Coast Guard), Nigerian Air Force Ministry of Interior: Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC); Ministry of Police Affairs: Nigeria Police Force (NPF) (2025) note 1: the NSCDC is a paramilitary agency commissioned to assist the military in the management of threats to internal security, including attacks and natural disasters note 2: some states have created local security forces in response to increased violence, insecurity, and criminality that have exceeded the response capacity of federal government security forces, but official security forces remained the constitutional prerogative of the federal government; in 2023, the federal government began deploying thousands of "agro rangers" across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory to help safeguard farmland and mediate conflicts, especially in areas hit by farmer-herder clashes **Military expenditures:** 0.6% of GDP (2024) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** information varies; estimated 140,000 active Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory consists primarily of imported weapons systems from a range of countries, including Brazil, China, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, Türkiye, and the US; Nigeria is developing a defense-industry capacity, including small arms, light armored personnel vehicles, and small-scale naval production (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025) **Military deployments:** 180 Sudan/South Sudan (UNISFA); 200 Gambia (ECOWAS); 150 Guinea-Bissau (ECOWAS) (2025) note: Nigeria has committed an Army combat brigade (approximately 3,000 troops) to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional counter-terrorism force comprised of troops from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger; MNJTF conducts operations against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations are conducted periodically **Military - note:** the Nigerian military is responsible for defending against external aggression, maintaining the country's territorial integrity, securing national borders, participating in international peacekeeping and other security missions, suppressing insurrection, and aiding civil authorities in restoring order, as well as other duties such as providing humanitarian assistance; its primary concerns are internal and maritime security; in the northeast part of the country, the military is conducting operations against the Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in West Africa (ISIS-WA) terrorist groups, where it has deployed as many as 70,000 troops at times and terrorist-related violence has killed an estimated 35-40,000 people, mostly civilians, since 2009; in the northwest, the military faces threats from criminal gangs--locally referred to as bandits--and violence associated with long-standing farmer-herder conflicts, as well as BH and ISIS-WA terrorists; the military also continues to protect the oil industry in the Niger Delta region against militants and criminal activity and since 2021, has deployed troops alongside other security forces to quell renewed agitation in the state of Biafra; maritime security concerns include piracy and the protection of natural resources in the Gulf of Guinea the Nigerian military traces its origins to the Nigeria Regiment of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison Great Britain's West African colonies; the WAFF (the honorary title "Royal" was added later) served in both World Wars; in 1956, the Nigeria Regiment of the Royal WAFF was renamed the Nigerian Military Forces (NMF) and in 1958, the colonial government of Nigeria took over control of the NMF from the British War Office; the Nigerian Armed Forces were established following independence in 1960 (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA; established 1999); Defense Space Administration (DSA; established 2014) (2025) note: NARSDA originated from the National Centre for Remote Sensing, the National Committee on Space Applications (both established in 1987), and the Directorate of Science (established 1993) **Space program overview:** has a national space program that focuses on acquiring satellites for agricultural and environmental applications, meteorology, mining and disaster monitoring, security, and socio-economic development; designs, builds (mostly with foreign assistance), and operates satellites; processes overhead imagery data for analysis and sharing; developing additional capabilities in satellite and satellite payload production, including remote sensing technologies; has a sounding rocket program for researching rockets and rocket propulsion, with goal of launching domestically produced satellites into space from a Nigerian spaceport by 2030; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Ghana, India, Japan, Kenya, Mongolia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, the US, and Vietnam; has a government-owned satellite company and a small commercial aerospace sector (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2003 - first remote sensing (RS) microsatellite (NigeriaSat-1) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia 2007 - first communications satellite (NigSatCom-1) built and launched by China (failed in orbit, 2008) 2011 - first domestically built remote sensing (RS) satellite (NigeriaSat-X) launched by Russia 2019 - inaugurated a geospatial data analysis center 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2023 - first military reconnaissance RS satellite (DelSat-1) launched by China ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa; Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan (Ansaru) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 127,131 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,709,022 (2024 est.) **Illicit drugs:** USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025) --- ## Rwanda **Slug:** rwanda **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇷🇼 **Codes:** cek: rw, iso2: RW, iso3: RWA, iso_num: 646, genc: RWA, stanag: RWA, internet: .rw ### Introduction **Background:** Rwanda -- a small and centralized country dominated by rugged hills and fertile volcanic soil -- has exerted disproportionate influence over the African Great Lakes region for centuries. A Rwandan kingdom increasingly dominated the region from the mid-18th century onward, with the Tutsi monarchs gradually extending the power of the royal court into peripheral areas and expanding their borders through military conquest. While the current ethnic labels Hutu and Tutsi predate colonial rule, their flexibility and importance have varied significantly over time and often manifested more as a hierarchical class distinction than an ethnic or cultural distinction. The majority Hutu and minority Tutsi have long shared a common language and culture, and intermarriage was frequent. The Rwandan royal court centered on the Tutsi king (mwami), who relied on an extensive network of political, cultural, and economic relationships. Social categories became more rigid during the reign of RWABUGIRI (1860-1895), who focused on aggressive expansion and solidifying Rwanda’s bureaucratic structures. German colonial conquest began in the late 1890s, but the territory was ceded to Belgian forces in 1916 during World War I. Both European nations quickly realized the benefits of ruling through the already centralized Rwandan Tutsi kingdom. Colonial rule reinforced existing trends toward autocratic and exclusionary rule, leading to the elimination of traditional positions of authority for Hutus. Belgian administrators significantly increased requirements for communal labor and instituted harsh taxes, which fed the population's frustration. Changing political attitudes in Belgium contributed to colonial and Catholic officials shifting their support from Tutsi to Hutu leaders in the years leading up to independence. Simmering resentment of minority rule exploded in 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, when Hutus overthrew the Tutsi king. Thousands of Tutsis were killed over the next several years, and some 150,000 were driven into exile in neighboring countries. Army Chief of Staff Juvenal HABYARIMANA seized power in a coup in 1973 and ruled Rwanda as a single-party state for two decades. HABYARIMANA increasingly discriminated against Tutsis, and extremist Hutu factions gained prominence after multiple parties were introduced in the early 1990s. The children of Tutsi exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and began a civil war in 1990. The civil war exacerbated ethnic tensions and culminated in the shooting down of HABYARIMANA’s private jet in 1994. The event sparked a state-orchestrated genocide in which Rwandans killed more than 800,000 of their fellow citizens, including approximately three-quarters of the Tutsi population. The genocide ended later the same year when the predominantly Tutsi RPF, operating out of Uganda and northern Rwanda, defeated the national army and Hutu militias and established an RPF-led government of national unity. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in 2003, formalizing President Paul KAGAME’s de facto role as head of government. KAGAME was formally elected in 2010, and again in 2017 after changing the constitution to allow him to run for a third term. ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north of Burundi **Geographic coordinates:** 2 00 S, 30 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 26,338 sq km land: 24,668 sq km water: 1,670 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Maryland **Land boundaries:** total: 930 km border countries (4): Burundi 315 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 221 km; Tanzania 222 km; Uganda 172 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible **Terrain:** mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east **Elevation:** highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m mean elevation: 1,598 m **Natural resources:** gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 76.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 47% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 15.6% (2023 est.) forest: 24.5% (2023 est.) other: 0% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 96 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Kivu (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,220 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Nile river source (shared with Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) **Population distribution:** one of Africa's most densely populated countries; large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga Mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo volcanism: Visoke (3,711 m), on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only historically active volcano **Geography - note:** landlocked; most of the country is intensively cultivated and rugged, with the population predominantly rural ### People and Society **Population:** total: 14,277,558 (2025 est.) male: 6,996,698 female: 7,280,860 **Nationality:** noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan **Ethnic groups:** Hutu, Tutsi, Twa **Languages:** Kinyarwanda (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%, French (official) <0.1%, English (official) <0.1%, Swahili/Kiswahili (official, used in commercial centers) <0.1%, more than one language, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.3% (2002 est.) major-language sample(s): Inkoranya nzimbuzi y'isi, isoko fatizo y'amakuru y'ibanze. (Kinyarwanda) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Catholic 39.9%, Pentecostal 21.3%, Protestant 14.6%, Adventist 12.2%, other Christians 4.2%, no religion 3.0%, Muslim 2.0%, other religions 2.0%; less than 1%: Jehovah Witness, not specified, Animist (2022 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 37.2% (male 2,561,884/female 2,508,218) 15-64 years: 59.7% (male 3,954,608/female 4,179,844) 65 years and over: 3.1% (2024 est.) (male 168,163/female 250,585) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 67.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 60.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 14.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 21.3 years (2025 est.) male: 20.1 years female: 21.5 years **Population growth rate:** 2% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 25.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** one of Africa's most densely populated countries; large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 17.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.07% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.248 million KIGALI (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 23 years (2019/20 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 229 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 27.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 66.6 years (2024 est.) male: 64.6 years female: 68.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.2 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.58 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 88.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 60.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 65.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 11.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 39.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 34.9% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.3% of GDP (2021) 9.5% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 91.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 87% of population (2022 est.) total: 87.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 8.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 13% of population (2022 est.) total: 12.2% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 5.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 6.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 11.4% (2025 est.) male: 17% (2025 est.) female: 6.3% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 7.7% (2020 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 49.9% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.3% (2020) women married by age 18: 5.5% (2020) men married by age 18: 0.4% (2020) **Education expenditure:** 4.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 13.9% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 78.8% (2022 est.) male: 81% (2022 est.) female: 76.7% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 13 years (2023 est.) male: 13 years (2023 est.) female: 13 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; overgrazing; land degradation; soil erosion; a decline in soil fertility (soil exhaustion); wetland degradation and loss of biodiversity; widespread poaching **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea **Climate:** temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible **Land use:** agricultural land: 76.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 47% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 15.6% (2023 est.) forest: 24.5% (2023 est.) other: 0% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 17.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.07% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 1.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 226,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.295 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 124,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 35.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.385 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.5% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 230 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 361 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 13.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda conventional short form: Rwanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda local short form: Rwanda former: Kingdom of Rwanda, Ruanda, German East Africa etymology: the country is named for a local people, but the meaning of their own name is obscure **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Kigali geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 03 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the city takes its name from nearby Mount Kigali; the name is composed of the Bantu prefix ki- and the Rwandan word gali, meaning "broad," which is probably meant to describe the terrain **Administrative divisions:** 4 provinces (provinces, singular - province (French); intara for singular and plural (Kinyarwanda)) and 1 city* (ville (French); umujyi (Kinyarwanda)); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern) **Legal system:** mixed system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 26 May 2003, effective 4 June 2003 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic (with Council of Ministers approval) or by two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote in both houses; changes to constitutional articles on national sovereignty, the presidential term, the form and system of government, and political pluralism also require approval in a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Rwanda; if the father is stateless or unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Justin NSENGIYUMVA (since 23 July 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 4 August 2017 election results: 2024: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 99.2%, Frank HABINEZA (DGPR) 0.5%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent) 0.3% 2017: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 98.8%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent), other 1.2% expected date of next election: 15 July 2029 note: a constitutional amendment in 2016 reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years but included an exception that allowed President KAGAME to serve another 7-year term in 2017, potentially followed by two additional 5-year terms **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parlement (Parliament) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés) number of seats: 80 (53 directly elected; 27 indirectly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 7/15/2024 to 7/16/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) and its allies (37); Liberal Party (PL) (5); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (5); Other (6) percentage of women in chamber: 63.8% expected date of next election: July 2029 note: 24 women are selected for seats by special-interest groups, and 3 members are selected by youth and disability organizations **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Sénat) number of seats: 26 (18 indirectly elected; 8 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/16/2024 to 9/16/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 53.8% expected date of next election: September 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges; normally organized into 3-judge panels); High Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 24 judges and organized into 5 chambers) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president after consultation with the Cabinet and the Superior Council of the Judiciary (SCJ), a 27-member body of judges, other judicial officials, and legal professionals, and approved by the Senate; chief and deputy chief justices appointed for 8-year nonrenewable terms; tenure of judges NA; High Court president and vice president appointed by the president of the republic upon approval by the Senate; judges appointed by the Supreme Court chief justice upon approval of the SCJ; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: High Court of the Republic; commercial courts including the High Commercial Court; intermediate courts; primary courts; and military specialized courts **Political parties:** Democratic Green Party of Rwanda or DGPR Liberal Party or PL Party for Progress and Concord or PPC Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition (includes RPF, PPC, PSP, UDPR, PDI, PSR, PDC) Social Democratic Party or PSD Social Party Imberakuri or PS-Imberakuri **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Mathilde MUKANTABANA (since 18 July 2013) chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544 email address and website: info@rwandaembassy.org https://rwandaembassy.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Eric KNEEDLER (since 3 October 2023) embassy: 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kaciyiru), P. O. Box 28 Kigali mailing address: 2210 Kigali Place, Washington DC 20521-2210 telephone: [250] 252 596-400 FAX: [250] 252 580-325 email address and website: consularkigali@state.gov https://rw.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 1 July (1962) **Flag:** description: three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double-width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays on the right end of the blue band meaning: blue stands for happiness and peace, yellow for economic development and mineral wealth, and green for hope for prosperity and natural resources; the sun symbolizes unity and enlightenment **National symbol(s):** traditional woven basket with peaked lid **National color(s):** blue, yellow, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country) lyrics/music: Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA history: adopted 2001 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero (c); Nyungwe National Park (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income Sub-Saharan economy; services, industry, and agriculture sectors driving growth; increased government spending on human capital, energy, and healthcare; major infrastructure projects including the Bugesera Airport intended to support long-term growth; challenges include lack of economic diversification, high inflation, and wide current account deficit **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $46.543 billion (2024 est.) $42.743 billion (2023 est.) $39.485 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 8.9% (2024 est.) 8.2% (2023 est.) 8.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $3,300 (2024 est.) $3,100 (2023 est.) $2,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $14.252 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.8% (2024 est.) 19.8% (2023 est.) 17.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 24.6% (2024 est.) industry: 21% (2024 est.) services: 47.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 64.9% (2024 est.) government consumption: 17.1% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 29.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -3.2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 30.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -39.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** bananas, cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, potatoes, maize, beans, pumpkins/squash, taro, sorghum (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes **Industrial production growth rate:** 10% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 5.671 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 12% (2024 est.) 12.4% (2023 est.) 15.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 17.5% (2024 est.) male: 15.8% (2024 est.) female: 19.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 38.2% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 43.7 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.4% (2016 est.) highest 10%: 35.6% (2016 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 3.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 3.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 3.5% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $3.41 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $3.996 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 13.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$1.654 billion (2023 est.) -$1.246 billion (2022 est.) -$1.209 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $3.509 billion (2023 est.) $2.993 billion (2022 est.) $2.11 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 66%, China 10%, USA 3%, Kenya 3%, Thailand 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, rare earth ores, coffee, tea, tin ores (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $5.783 billion (2023 est.) $4.978 billion (2022 est.) $3.856 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 19%, Kenya 14%, Uganda 13%, Tanzania 9%, UAE 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** broadcasting equipment, fish, corn, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $2.406 billion (2024 est.) $1.834 billion (2023 est.) $1.726 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $5.531 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1,318.128 (2024 est.) 1,160.099 (2023 est.) 1,030.308 (2022 est.) 988.625 (2021 est.) 943.278 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 50.6% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 98% electrification - rural areas: 38.2% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 294,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 876.401 million kWh (2023 est.) exports: 8.674 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 32 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 197.606 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 43.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 52.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 123,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 89,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 63.666 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 63.696 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 56.634 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 1.808 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 9,260 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 13.3 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 13 TV stations; 35 radio stations, including international broadcasters; government owns most popular TV and radio stations; regional satellite-based TV available **Internet country code:** .rw **Internet users:** percent of population: 34% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 62,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 9XR **Airports:** 8 (2025) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Rwanda Defense Force (RDF; Ingabo z’u Rwanda): Rwanda Army (Rwanda Land Force), Rwanda Air Force (Force Aerienne Rwandaise, FAR), Rwanda Reserve Force, Special Units Ministry of Internal Security: Rwanda National Police (2025) **Military expenditures:** 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 30-35,000 active Rwanda Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the RDF's inventory is a mix of older and some modern equipment from suppliers such as China, France, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, and Türkiye (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** typically 18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (including officer candidates and those with university degrees and specialized qualifications); enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career professional; no conscription (2025) **Military deployments:** approximately 3,200 Central African Republic (about 2,200 under MINUSCA, plus some 700 police; approximately 1,000 under a bi-lateral agreement); estimated 3-4,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo; estimated 3,000 Mozambique (bilateral agreement to assist with combating an insurgency; includes both military and police forces); 2,600 (plus about 450 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025) **Military - note:** the principle responsibilities of the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) are ensuring territorial integrity and national sovereignty and preventing infiltrations of illegal armed groups from neighboring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); since 2021, Rwanda has deployed RDF troops to the border region with the DRC to combat the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which it has accused the DRC of backing; Rwanda has been accused by the DRC, the UN, and the US of deploying RDF troops in the DRC and providing material support to the March 23 Movement (M23, aka Congolese Revolutionary Army) rebel group; the RDF also participates in UN and regional military operations, as well as multinational exercises; it has deployed several thousand RDF troops and police personnel to Mozambique to assist in combating an insurgency since 2021; Rwanda has mutual defense treaties with Kenya and Uganda the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) were established following independence in 1962; after the 1990-1994 civil war and genocide, the victorious Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front's military wing, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), became the country's military force; the RPA participated in the First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congolese Wars; the RPA was renamed the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in 2003, by which time it had assumed a more national character with the inclusion of many former Hutu officers as well as newly recruited soldiers (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Rwanda Space Agency (L’Agence Spatiale Rwandaise; RSA; established 2020 and approved by legislature in 2021) (2025) **Space program overview:** has a small program focused on developing space technologies, such as satellite communications and imagery for connectivity, disaster management, security, and socioeconomic development; operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; has established ties with the space agencies or industries of several countries, including France, Israel, Japan, Poland, the UAE, and the US, as well as members of the African Space Agency; seeks to establish itself as an African hub for satellite production and has encouraged development of a domestic commercial space sector (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2018 - signed cooperation agreement with Japan for training in designing and producing mini-satellites 2019 - first remote sensing (RS) nanosatellite (RWASAT-1) built with assistance from and launched by Japan; first commercial communications satellite (Icyerekezo) built and launched by France 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2025 - joined newly formed African Space Agency ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 128,561 (2024 est.) IDPs: 21,948 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 14,500 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Rwanda remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/rwanda --- ## Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha **Slug:** saint-helena-ascension-and-tristan-da-cunha **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇸🇭 **Codes:** cek: sh, iso2: SH, iso3: SHN, iso_num: 654, genc: SHN, stanag: SHN, internet: .sh, comment: includes Saint Helena Island, Ascension Island, and the Tristan da Cunha archipelago ### Introduction **Background:** Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory off the coast of Africa in the South Atlantic Ocean, and it consists of Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha. Saint Helena: The island was uninhabited when the Portuguese first discovered it in 1502, and the British garrisoned troops on Saint Helena during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903. Saint Helena is one of the most remote populated places in the world. The British Government committed to building an airport on Saint Helena in 2005. After more than a decade of delays and construction, a commercial air service to South Africa via Namibia was inaugurated in 2017. The weekly service to Saint Helena from Johannesburg via Windhoek in Namibia takes just over six hours (including the refueling stop in Windhoek) and replaces the mail ship that had made a five-day journey to the island every three weeks. Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of NAPOLEON from Saint Helena. It served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena. During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an airfield on Ascension in support of transatlantic flights to Africa and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s, the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In 1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces during the Falklands War. It remains a critical refueling point in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic. The island hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system -- the others are on Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US). NASA and the US Air Force also operate a Meter-Class Autonomous Telescope (MCAT) on Ascension as part of the deep space surveillance system for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough Islands. Tristan da Cunha, named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506), was garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue NAPOLEON from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a meteorological station on Gough Island. ### Geography **Location:** islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 1,300 km (800 mi) northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 4,300 km (2,700 mi) southwest of Saint Helena **Geographic coordinates:** Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 394 sq km land: 122 sq km Saint Helena Island water: 0 sq km 88 sq km Ascension Island, 184 sq km Tristan da Cunha island group (includes Tristan (98 sq km), Inaccessible, Nightingale, and Gough islands) **Area - comparative:** slightly more than twice the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** Saint Helena: 60 km Ascension Island: NA Tristan da Cunha (island only): 34 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm **Climate:** Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena) **Terrain:** the islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs **Elevation:** highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Diana's Peak on Saint Helena Island 818 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m **Natural resources:** fish, lobster **Land use:** agricultural land: 30.8% (2022 est.) arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 20.5% (2022 est.) forest: 5.1% (2022 est.) other: 64.1% (2022 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0 sq km (2022) **Population distribution:** Saint Helena: population is concentrated in and around the capital of Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood area Ascension: most of the population lives in and around Georgetown Tristan da Cunha: most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas **Natural hazards:** active volcanism volcanism: the volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) are active **Geography - note:** Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown elsewhere in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is the highest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a prominent landmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa ### People and Society **Population:** total: 7,950 (2025 est.) male: 3,976 female: 3,974 **Nationality:** noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian note: referred to locally as "Saints" **Ethnic groups:** St. Helena 82.1%, UK 7.6%, South Africa 3.6%, Ascension 2.8%, other 3.9% (2021 est.) note: data represent population of Saint Helena by country of birth **Languages:** English **Religions:** Anglican 63.2%, unspecified 11.4%, no religion 9%, Jehovah's Witness 3.8%, Baptist 2.3%, Salvation Army 2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.9%, New Apostolic 1.6%, other Christian 1.4%, other 1.1% (2021 est.) note: data represent Saint Helena only **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.3% (male 579/female 556) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 2,626/female 2,655) 65 years and over: 19.2% (2024 est.) (male 773/female 754) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 51.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 29.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 45.5 years (2025 est.) male: 44.8 years female: 45.4 years **Population growth rate:** 0.08% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.55 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** Saint Helena: population is concentrated in and around the capital of Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood area Ascension: most of the population lives in and around Georgetown Tristan da Cunha: most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas **Urbanization:** urban population: 40.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1,000 JAMESTOWN (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.) male: 78.1 years female: 83.9 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.61 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.79 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0% of population (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** development threatens wildlife on Saint Helena **Climate:** Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena) **Land use:** agricultural land: 30.8% (2022 est.) arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 20.5% (2022 est.) forest: 5.1% (2022 est.) other: 64.1% (2022 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 40.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha conventional short form: none etymology: on the feast day of Saint Helena in 1502, Spanish navigator Joao da NOVA (sailing for Portugal) sighted and named the island that now bears the saint's name; da NOVA originally named Ascension "Conception Island" in honor of the Virgin Mary, but Portuguese navigator Afonso de ALBUQUERQUE later found the island on the feast day of the Ascension in 1508 and renamed it; Portuguese explorer Tristao da CUNHA sighted the third island in 1506 and named it after himself (the name was later anglicized) **Government type:** parliamentary democracy **Dependency status:** overseas territory of the UK **Capital:** name: Jamestown geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 43 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded in 1659 and named after James, Duke of York, who would become King JAMES II of England **Administrative divisions:** 3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha **Legal system:** English common law and local statutes **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009) **Citizenship:** see United Kingdom **Suffrage:** 18 years of age **Executive branch:** chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022) head of government: Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 13 August 2022) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council election/appointment process: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch note: the constitution order provides for an administrator for Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, appointed by the governor **Legislative branch:** note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and judges) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor acting upon the instructions from a secretary of state acting on behalf of the British monarch; justices of both courts serve until retirement at age 70, but terms can be extended subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court; Small Claims Court; Juvenile Court note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) **Political parties:** none **Diplomatic representation in the US:** none (overseas territory of the UK) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK) **International organization participation:** UPU **Independence:** none (overseas territory of the UK) **National holiday:** Official birthday of King Charles III, celebrated in April or June as designated by the governor (1948) **Flag:** description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the right half of the flag; the upper third of the shield depicts a white plover on a yellow field; under the bird is a rocky coastline and a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled and flying an English flag history: the flag has been in use since 1984, when it was commissioned to mark the 150th anniversary of Saint Helena becoming a Crown Colony note: the French flag flies at Longwood House (Napoleon's former residence) and Napoleon's (now-empty) tomb on the island, because the French Government has owned the properties since 1858 **National symbol(s):** Saint Helena plover (wire bird) **National coat of arms:** the coat of arms of Saint Helena was officially granted on January 30, 1984; the national bird, the Saint Helena plover (Charadrius sanctaehelenae), is at the top of the shield; the lower part of the shield shows a three-masted sailing ship with the mountainous island to the left; below the shield is a scroll with the motto “Loyal and unshakable;” the crest shows an image of Saint Helena, holding a cross and a flower **National anthem(s):** title: “My St. Helena Island” lyrics/music: Dave MITCHELL history: in use since 1975 title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper middle-income, British Atlantic Ocean territorial economy; native (but pegged to British pound) currency user on 2 of 3 islands; significant UK financial support; unique land/farming commune structure; military-related economic activity; sport fishing locale **Agricultural products:** coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; fish, lobster; livestock; timber **Industries:** construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, collectible postage stamps **Exports - partners:** Singapore 33%, USA 16%, Japan 10%, Turkey 10%, Senegal 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** fish, shellfish, natural gas, trucks, construction vehicles (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports - partners:** UK 34%, Greece 26%, Spain 16%, South Africa 15%, Namibia 2% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, baked goods, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories, air pumps (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Exchange rates:** Saint Helena pounds (SHP) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.805 (2023 est.) 0.811 (2022 est.) 0.727 (2021 est.) 0.78 (2020 est.) 0.783 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2021) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 5,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 6.962 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.5 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 70 metric tons (2022 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 85 bbl/day (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 4,110 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2021 est.) **Broadcast media:** Saint Helena: no local TV station; 2 local radio stations, one of which is relayed to Ascension Island; satellite TV stations rebroadcast terrestrially Ascension Island: no local TV station; 1 local radio station and receives relays of broadcasts from radio station on Saint Helena; broadcasts from the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) available, as well as US military TV Tristan da Cunha: 1 local radio station and receives BFBS TV and radio broadcasts **Internet country code:** .sh note: Ascension Island assigned .ac **Internet users:** percent of population: 37.6% (2021 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1,000 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** VQ-H **Airports:** 2 (2025) **Heliports:** 2 (2025) **Ports:** total ports: 4 (2024) large: 1 medium: 1 small: 1 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, Georgetown, Jamestown, North Point **Transportation - note:** the new airport on Saint Helena opened for limited operations in 2016, and the first commercial flight took place in 2017; the military airport on Ascension Island is closed to civilian traffic; there is no air connection to Tristan da Cunha and very limited sea connections ### Military and Security **Military - note:** defense is the responsibility of the UK --- ## Sao Tome and Principe **Slug:** sao-tome-and-principe **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇸🇹 **Codes:** cek: tp, iso2: ST, iso3: STP, iso_num: 678, genc: STP, stanag: STP, internet: .st ### Introduction **Background:** Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited Sao Tome and Principe islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century -- all grown with African slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling among the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no-confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA, but legislative elections returned him to the office two years later. President Evaristo CARVALHO, of the same political party as TROVOADA, was elected in 2016, marking a rare instance in which the same party held the positions of president and prime minister. TROVOADA resigned in 2018 and was replaced by Jorge BOM JESUS. Carlos Vila NOVA was elected president in 2021. TROVOADA began his fourth stint as prime minister in 2022, after his party's victory in legislative elections. ### Geography **Location:** Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon **Geographic coordinates:** 1 00 N, 7 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 964 sq km land: 964 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** more than five times the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 209 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm note: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May) **Terrain:** volcanic, mountainous **Elevation:** highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m **Natural resources:** fish, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 39.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.) forest: 57.5% (2023 est.) other: 0% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 100 sq km (2012) **Population distribution:** Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** flooding **Geography - note:** the second-smallest African country (after the Seychelles); the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes, and both are mountainous ### People and Society **Population:** total: 226,722 (2025 est.) male: 113,129 female: 113,593 **Nationality:** noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean **Ethnic groups:** Mestico, Angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), Forros (descendants of freed slaves), Servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde), Tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese), Asians (mostly Chinese) **Languages:** Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.) note: shares of language sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census **Religions:** Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1% (2012 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 36.4% (male 41,337/female 40,106) 15-64 years: 60.3% (male 67,101/female 67,775) 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 3,115/female 4,127) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 63.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 58.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 18.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 21.2 years (2025 est.) male: 20.4 years female: 21.2 years **Population growth rate:** 1.39% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 25.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.4 years (2008/09 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 41.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 46.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 39 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.) male: 66 years female: 69.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.18 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.57 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 79.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 71.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 77.3% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 20.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 28.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 22.7% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.8% of GDP (2021) 14.9% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 56.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 43.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 43.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 56.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 12.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 4.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 7.3% (2025 est.) male: 13.1% (2025 est.) female: 1.7% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 5.4% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 53.1% (2019 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 5.4% (2019) women married by age 18: 28% (2019) men married by age 18: 3.1% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 5% of GDP (2023 est.) 18.1% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 87.4% (2019 est.) male: 92.5% (2019 est.) female: 82.8% (2019 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 13 years (2021 est.) male: 13 years (2021 est.) female: 13 years (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May) **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 39.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.) forest: 57.5% (2023 est.) other: 0% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 29 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 25,600 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 14.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 600,000 cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 25.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 2.18 billion cubic meters (2022) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe local short form: Sao Tome e Principe etymology: Sao Tome was named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day; Principe is a shortening of the original Portuguese name of "Ilha do Principe" (Isle of the Prince), referring to Prince ALPHONSO of Portugal **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Sao Tome geographic coordinates: 0 20 N, 6 44 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese, who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day **Administrative divisions:** 6 districts (distritos, singular - distrito), 1 autonomous region* (regiao autonoma); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe* **Legal system:** mixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law **Constitution:** history: approved 5 November 1975 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; the Assembly can propose to the president of the republic that an amendment be submitted to a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sao Tome and Principe dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Américo d'Oliveira DOS RAMOS (since 12 January 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president most recent election date: 18 July 2021, with a runoff on 5 September 2021 election results: 2021: Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 39.5%; Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 20.8%; Delfim NEVES (PCD-GR) 16.9%; Abel BOM JESUS (independent) 3.6%; Maria DAS NEVES (independent) 3.3%; other 15.9%; percent of the vote in second round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA 57.5%, Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA 42.5% 2016: Evaristo CARVALHO elected president; percent of vote - Evaristo CARVALHO (ADI) 49.8%, Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (independent) 24.8%, Maria DAS NEVES (MLSTP-PSD) 24.1% expected date of next election: 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 55 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 9/25/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Independent Democratic Alliance (ADI) (30); Sao Tome and Principe Liberation Movement/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP - PSD) (18); Movement of Independent Citizens - Socialist Party (MCI - PS) - National Unity Party (PUN) (5); Other (2) percentage of women in chamber: 14.5% expected date of next election: September 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal Justica (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 5 judges, 3 of whom are from the Supreme Court) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for 5-year terms subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Audit Court **Political parties:** BASTA Movement Independent Democratic Action or ADI Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD Movement of Independent Citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe - Socialist Party or MCI-PS National Unity Party or PUN **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604 New York, NY 101168 telephone: [1] (212) 317-0533 FAX: [1] (212) 317-0580 email address and website: stp1@attglobal.net Sao Tome and Principe Permanent Mission to the United Nations **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the US Ambassador to Angola is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe mailing address: 2290 Sao Tome Place, Washington DC 20521-2290 **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CEMAC, CPLP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) **Independence:** 12 July 1975 (from Portugal) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 12 July (1975) **Flag:** description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double-width), and green with two five-pointed black stars in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the left side meaning: green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red for the struggle for independence, and yellow for cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the main islands history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement **National symbol(s):** palm tree **National color(s):** green, yellow, red, black **National anthem(s):** title: "Independencia total" (Total Independence) lyrics/music: Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA history: adopted 1975 ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower middle-income Central African island economy; falling cocoa production due to drought and mismanagement; joint oil venture with Nigeria; government owns 90% of land; high debt, partly from fuel subsidies; tourism gutted by COVID-19 **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $1.291 billion (2024 est.) $1.279 billion (2023 est.) $1.275 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 0.9% (2024 est.) 0.4% (2023 est.) 0.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $5,500 (2024 est.) $5,500 (2023 est.) $5,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $764.274 million (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 14.4% (2024 est.) 21.3% (2023 est.) 18% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 12.8% (2024 est.) industry: 2.9% (2024 est.) services: 76.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 81.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 33.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 7.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2017 est.) **Agricultural products:** plantains, oil palm fruit, taro, bananas, fruits, cocoa beans, yams, coconuts, cassava, vegetables (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber **Industrial production growth rate:** 3.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 34,500 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 9.2% (2024 est.) 9.1% (2023 est.) 9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 8.6% (2024 est.) male: 8% (2024 est.) female: 9.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 55.5% (2017 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 40.7 (2017 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.6% (2017 est.) highest 10%: 32.8% (2017 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $128.767 million (2022 est.) expenditures: $165.95 million (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Current account balance:** -$79.437 million (2022 est.) -$95.248 million (2021 est.) -$59.595 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $96.977 million (2022 est.) $75.256 million (2021 est.) $49.337 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Pakistan 54%, Germany 11%, Netherlands 7%, France 5%, UAE 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle parts/accessories, palm oil, aircraft parts (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $219.322 million (2022 est.) $201.145 million (2021 est.) $160.097 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Portugal 35%, Angola 13%, Gabon 11%, Japan 8%, China 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** ships, refined petroleum, rice, electric generating sets, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $46.247 million (2023 est.) $64.476 million (2022 est.) $75.017 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $327.248 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** dobras (STD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 22.658 (2023 est.) 23.29 (2022 est.) 20.71 (2021 est.) 21.507 (2020 est.) 21.885 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 78% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 80% electrification - rural areas: 73.7% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 29,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 47.05 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 40.95 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 8.875 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1,780 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 147,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-owned TV station; 2 state-owned radio stations; 7 independent local radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available **Internet country code:** .st **Internet users:** percent of population: 62% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 6,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** S9 **Airports:** 2 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 25 (2023) by type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 4, other 6 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e Principe, FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP), Presidential Guard, National Guard (2025) note: the Army and Coast Guard are responsible for external security while the public security police and judicial police maintain internal security; both the public security police and the military report to the Ministry of Defense and Internal Affairs; the judicial police report to the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 500 active Armed Forces (2023) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FASTP is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older weapons and equipment (2023) **Military service age and obligation:** limited information; 18 is the minimum age for compulsory military service (reportedly not enforced) and 17 years of age (with parental permission) for voluntary service (2024) **Military - note:** the FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and some small patrol boats (2024) --- ## Senegal **Slug:** senegal **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇸🇳 **Codes:** cek: sg, iso2: SN, iso3: SEN, iso_num: 686, genc: SEN, stanag: SEN, internet: .sn ### Introduction **Background:** Senegal is one of the few countries in the world with evidence of continuous human life from the Paleolithic period to present. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Jolof Empire ruled most of Senegal. Starting in the 15th century, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and Great Britain traded along the Senegalese coast. Senegal’s location on the western tip of Africa made it a favorable base for the European slave trade. European powers used the Senegalese island of Goree as a base to purchase slaves from the warring chiefdoms on the mainland, and at the height of the slave trade in Senegal, over one-third of the Senegalese population was enslaved. In 1815, France abolished slavery and began expanding inland. During the second half of the 19th century, France took possession of Senegal as a French colony. In 1959, the French colonies of Senegal and French Sudan were merged and granted independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. The union broke up after only a few months. In 1982, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never implemented, and the union dissolved in 1989. Since the 1980s, the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance -- a separatist movement based in southern Senegal -- has led a low-level insurgency. Several attempts at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement have failed. Since 2012, despite sporadic incidents of violence, an unofficial cease-fire has remained largely in effect. Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation. The Socialist Party of Senegal ruled for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000 and re-elected in 2007. WADE amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and weaken the opposition. In 2012, WADE’s decision to run for a third presidential term sparked public backlash that led to his loss to current President Macky SALL. A 2016 constitutional referendum limited future presidents to two consecutive five-year terms. President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE took office in April 2024. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania **Geographic coordinates:** 14 00 N, 14 00 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 196,722 sq km land: 192,530 sq km water: 4,192 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana **Land boundaries:** total: 2,684 km border countries (5): The Gambia 749 km; Guinea 363 km; Guinea-Bissau 341 km; Mali 489 km; Mauritania 742 km **Coastline:** 531 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind **Terrain:** generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast **Elevation:** highest point: unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 69 m **Natural resources:** fish, phosphates, iron ore **Land use:** agricultural land: 49.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.) forest: 45.1% (2023 est.) other: 5.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,200 sq km (2012) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, and Mauritania [m] ) - 1,641 km; Gambie (Gambia) (shared with Guinea [s] and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Senegal (456,397 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin **Population distribution:** the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts **Geography - note:** westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal ### People and Society **Population:** total: 19,311,233 (2025 est.) male: 9,516,356 female: 9,794,877 **Nationality:** noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese **Ethnic groups:** Wolof 39.7%, Pulaar 27.5%, Sereer 16%, Mandinka 4.9%, Jola 4.2%, Soninke 2.4%, other 5.4% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2019 est.) **Languages:** French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke **Religions:** Muslim 97.2% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 2.7% (mostly Roman Catholic) (2019 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 40.7% (male 3,907,986/female 3,760,594) 15-64 years: 55.9% (male 5,098,038/female 5,437,195) 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 277,290/female 366,416) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 77.4 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 71.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 16.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 19.4 years (2025 est.) male: 18.4 years female: 20 years **Population growth rate:** 2.4% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 29.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 49.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.340 million DAKAR (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 21.9 years (2019 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 237 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 30.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 34.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.6 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 70.6 years (2024 est.) male: 68.8 years female: 72.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.96 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.93 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 95.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 77% of population (2022 est.) total: 86.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 23% of population (2022 est.) total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 4.4% of GDP (2021) 3.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 95.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 60.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 77.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 39.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 22.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 5.4% (2025 est.) male: 10.5% (2025 est.) female: 0.5% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 16.2% (2023 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 65.5% (2023 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 8.8% (2019) women married by age 18: 30.5% (2019) men married by age 18: 0.7% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 6.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 20.9% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 50.4% (2023 est.) male: 61.5% (2023 est.) female: 41.5% (2023 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 9 years (2023 est.) male: 8 years (2023 est.) female: 10 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; droughts; seasonal flooding; overfishing; weak environmental laws; poaching **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind **Land use:** agricultural land: 49.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.) forest: 45.1% (2023 est.) other: 5.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 49.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 10.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 456,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 9.859 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 58,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 42.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 37 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 258.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 89.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.454 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 261 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.416 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 2.759 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 38.97 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form: République du Sénégal local short form: Sénégal former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation etymology: named for the Senegal River that forms the northern border of the country; the river's name may derive from "Azenegue," the Portuguese name for the Berber Zenaga people who lived north of the river, or it could come from a local word meaning "navigable" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Dakar geographic coordinates: 14 44 N, 17 38 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time) etymology: the name comes from the Wolof word n'dakar, meaning "tamarind tree" **Administrative divisions:** 14 regions (régions, singular - région); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kéedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor **Legal system:** civil law system based on French law; Constitutional Council reviews legislative acts **Constitution:** history: previous 1959 (pre-independence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires Assembly approval and approval in a referendum; the president can bypass a referendum and submit an amendment directly to the Assembly, which requires at least three-fifths majority vote; the republican form of government is not amendable **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal dual citizenship recognized: no, but Senegalese citizens do not automatically lose their citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another state residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (since 2 April 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO (since 2 April 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single, renewable 5-year term most recent election date: 24 March 2024 election results: 2024: Bassirou Diomaye FAYE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (PASTEF) 54%, Amadou BA (APR) 36%, other 10% 2019: Macky SALL reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 58.3%, Idrissa SECK (Rewmi) 20.5%, Ousmane SONKO (PASTEF) 15.7%, other 5.5% expected date of next election: March 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 165 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/17/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Pastef Party (130); Coalition Takku Wallu Sénégal (16); Other (19) percentage of women in chamber: 41.2% expected date of next election: November 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (consists of the court president and 12 judges and organized into civil and commercial, criminal, administrative, and social chambers); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of 7 members, including the court president, vice president, and 5 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon recommendation of the Superior Council of the Magistrates, a body chaired by the president and minister of justice; judge tenure varies, with mandatory retirement either at 65 or 68 years; Constitutional Council members are appointed, 5 by the president and 2 by the National Assembly speaker; judges serve 6-year terms, with renewal of 2 members every 2 years subordinate courts: High Court of Justice (for crimes of high treason by the president); Courts of Appeal; Court of Auditors; assize courts; regional and district courts; Labor Court **Political parties:** Alliance for Citizenship and Work or ACT Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar or APR Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP AND (National Alliance for Democracy) And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS ARC (Alternative for the next generation of citizens) Awalé Benno Bokk Yakaar or BBY (United in Hope); coalition includes AFP, APR, BGC, LD-MPT, PIT, PS, and UNP Bokk Gis Gis coalition Citizen Movement for National Reform or MCRN-Bes Du Nakk Coalition Mimi 2024 Dare the Future movement Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT Democratic Renaissance Congress Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ Gainde Centrist Bloc or BCG General Alliance for the Interests of the Republic or AGIR Grand Party or GP Gueum sa Bopp (Believe in yourself) Independence and Labor Party or PIT Jotna Coalition Liberate the People (Yewwi Askan Wi) or YAW Madicke 2019 coalition National Union for the People or UNP Only Senegal Movement Party for Truth and Development or PVD Party of Unity and Rally or PUR Patriotic Convergence Kaddu Askan Wi or CP-Kaddu Askan Wi PRP (Republican party for Progress) Rewmi Party Save Senegal (Wallu Senegal Grand Coalition) or WS; coalition includes PDS, Jotna Coalition, Democratic Renaissance Congress Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS Socialist Party or PS Tekki Movement Réewum Ngor (Republic of Values) Servants (Les Serviteurs) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoul Wahab HAIDARA (since 24 July 2025) chancery: 2215 M ST NW, Washington, D.C. 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 629-2961 email address and website: contact@ambasenegal-us.org http://www.ambasenegal-us.org/index.php consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 10 March 2022); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau embassy: Route des Almadies, Dakar mailing address: 2130 Dakar Place, Washington D.C. 20521-2130 telephone: [221] 33-879-4000 email address and website: DakarACS@state.gov https://sn.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 4 April 1960 (from France); 20 August 1960 (full independence after federation with Mali is dissolved) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 4 April (1960) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), yellow, and red, with a small five-pointed green star centered on the yellow band; green stands for Islam, progress, and hope, yellow for natural wealth and progress, and red for sacrifice and determination; the star represents unity and hope history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement note: the colors from left to right are the same as Mali's flag and the reverse of Guinea's flag **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** green, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons) lyrics/music: Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER history: adopted 1960; lyrics written by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, Senegal's first president; the anthem sometimes played incorporating the koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and balafons (types of xylophones) mentioned in the title **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 7 (5 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Gorée (c); Niokolo-Koba National Park (n); Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (n); Island of Saint-Louis (c); Stone Circles of Senegambia (c); Saloum Delta (c); Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula, and Bedik Cultural Landscapes (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower middle-income, services-driven West African economy; key mining, construction, agriculture, and fishing industries; tourism and exports hit hard by COVID-19; large informal economy; developing offshore oil and gas fields; systemic corruption **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $83.183 billion (2024 est.) $77.82 billion (2023 est.) $74.642 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 6.9% (2024 est.) 4.3% (2023 est.) 3.9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $4,500 (2024 est.) $4,300 (2023 est.) $4,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $32.267 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 0.8% (2024 est.) 5.9% (2023 est.) 9.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 15.5% (2024 est.) industry: 25.4% (2024 est.) services: 49.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 65.8% (2024 est.) government consumption: 16.4% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 32.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 28.1% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -43.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** rice, groundnuts, watermelons, millet, cassava, sugarcane, maize, sorghum, onions, milk (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair **Industrial production growth rate:** 20% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 5.763 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3% (2024 est.) 2.8% (2023 est.) 2.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 4.1% (2024 est.) male: 3.2% (2024 est.) female: 6.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 36.2 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 28.8% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 10.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 11.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $7.749 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $9.267 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 19.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$6.072 billion (2023 est.) -$5.542 billion (2022 est.) -$3.327 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $7.001 billion (2023 est.) $7.418 billion (2022 est.) $6.78 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Mali 21%, India 12%, Switzerland 11%, China 5%, UAE 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, refined petroleum, phosphoric acid, fish, cement (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $14.916 billion (2023 est.) $14.698 billion (2022 est.) $12.278 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 19%, France 9%, Nigeria 7%, India 7%, Russia 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rice, garments, wheat (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $14.985 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 67.9% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 96.6% electrification - rural areas: 43.4% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 1.772 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 7.547 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 486 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 983 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 7.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 138,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 181,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 65,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 34.646 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 34.604 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 8.303 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 297,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 22.4 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** over 25 private TV stations; state-run Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) broadcasts from five cities; wide range of independent TV available via satellite; hundreds of radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar **Internet country code:** .sn **Internet users:** percent of population: 61% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 357,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 6V **Airports:** 20 (2025) **Railways:** total: 906 km (2017) (713 km operational in 2017) narrow gauge: 906 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 36 (2023) by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 30 **Ports:** total ports: 6 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 1 very small: 4 ports with oil terminals: 4 key ports: Dakar, Karabane, Lyndiane, M'bao Oil Terminal, Rufisque, St. Louis ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Senegalese Armed Forces (les Forces Armées Sénégalaises, FAS): Army (l’Armée de Terre, AT), Senegalese National Navy (Marine Séenéegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (l'Arméee de l'Air du Séenéegal, AAS), National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025) note: the National Police operates in major cities, while the Gendarmerie under the FAS primarily operates outside urban areas; both services have specialized anti-terrorism units, and the Gendarmerie has both Territorial and Mobile components **Military expenditures:** 1.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 25,000 active Armed Forces personnel, including the Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military has a mix of older, secondhand, and some more modern equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Türkiye, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-28 (up to 35 for specialized roles); 24-month service commitment (2025) **Military deployments:** 190 Central African Republic (MINUSCA; plus about 575 police); approximately 380 police Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025) **Military - note:** the Senegalese military is responsible for both territorial defense and internal security; it also assists the civilian government in such areas as preventive healthcare, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and disaster response; key areas of focus for the military include a low-level insurgency in the country's south, maritime security, and securing the border against smuggling and Sahel-based Islamist insurgent groups affiliated with al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State; the military participates in foreign peacekeeping deployments and multinational exercises; its closest security partner is France, which has long maintained a military presence in Senegal Senegalese security forces have been engaged in a low-level counterinsurgency campaign in the southern Casamance region against factions of the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance (MDFC) since 1982; the conflict is one of longest running low-level insurgencies in the World, having claimed more than 5,000 lives while leaving another 60,000 displaced; in recent years, nearly all of the MDFC factions have agreed to cease hostilities (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Senegalese Space Study Agency (Agence Sénégalaise d'Etudes Spatiales or ASES; launched in 2023 under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation) (2025) **Space program overview:** small, nascent program focused on earth observation/remote sensing capabilities, largely for climate resilience, environmental management, research, and socio-economic development; conducts research in fields such as astronomy and planetary sciences; has cooperated with space agencies in China, France, Turkey, and the US, as well as the ESA (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2023 - signed cooperation agreement with ESA to leverage space technology for socio-economic growth; established a space control center to provide infrastructure for satellite manufacturing and satellite services 2024 - first Earth observation/remote sensing nanosatellite (GaindeSat-1A) built with French assistance and launched by US; signed agreement with Turkey on space infrastructure advancement; agreed to participate in China's lunar exploration/research station project 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration; signed agreement with France for capacity development in space infrastructure and Earth observation initiatives ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 13,064 (2024 est.) IDPs: 5,922 (2024 est.) --- ## Seychelles **Slug:** seychelles **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇸🇨 **Codes:** cek: se, iso2: SC, iso3: SYC, iso_num: 690, genc: SYC, stanag: SYC, internet: .sc ### Introduction **Background:** Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century. After a lengthy struggle, France eventually ceded control of the islands to Great Britain in 1814. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Seychelles gained independence in 1976 through negotiations with Great Britain. In 1977, Prime Minister France-Albert RENE launched a coup against the country’s first president, and Seychelles became a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding elections in 1993. RENE continued to lead Seychelles through two election cycles until he stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency. ### Geography **Location:** archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar **Geographic coordinates:** 4 35 S, 55 40 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 455 sq km land: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 491 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin **Climate:** tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) **Terrain:** Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are relatively flat coral atolls, or elevated reefs; sits atop the submarine Mascarene Plateau **Elevation:** highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m **Natural resources:** fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees **Land use:** agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 58.6% (2023 est.) other: 38% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 3 sq km (2012) **Population distribution:** more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts **Geography - note:** the smallest African country in terms of both area and population; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands, including 42 granitic and 113 coralline; the largest island by far is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and is the site of the capital city of Victoria ### People and Society **Population:** total: 98,724 (2025 est.) male: 51,290 female: 47,434 **Nationality:** noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois **Ethnic groups:** predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations **Languages:** Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.) **Religions:** Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 17.7% (male 8,912/female 8,439) 15-64 years: 72.4% (male 37,841/female 33,210) 65 years and over: 10% (2024 est.) (male 4,220/female 5,565) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 38.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 14.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 6.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 39.2 years (2025 est.) male: 38.2 years female: 39.4 years **Population growth rate:** 0.53% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 11.59 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.) male: 72.2 years female: 81.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.89 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: total: 96.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 3.6% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.3% of GDP (2021) 10.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019) **Hospital bed density:** 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 14% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 20.5% (2025 est.) male: 34.2% (2025 est.) female: 5.2% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 44.6% (2022 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.7% national budget (2025 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 13 years (2023 est.) male: 13 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** limited freshwater resources; water pollution; biodiversity **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) **Land use:** agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 58.6% (2023 est.) other: 38% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 92 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 9 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles local long form: Republic of Seychelles local short form: Seychelles etymology: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SÉCHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756; the British changed the spelling of the name in 1815 when they acquired the islands **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Victoria geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the British named the town Port Victoria in 1841 after Queen VICTORIA; the name was later shortened **Administrative divisions:** 27 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Royale, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse Mahe, Grand Anse Praslin, Ile Persévérance I, Ile Persévérance II, La Digue, La Rivière Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country’s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025) head of government: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 9 October 2025 election results: 2025: Patrick HERMINIE elected president; Patrick HERMINIE (US) 52.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 47.3% expected date of next election: 2030 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 34 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/27/2025 parties elected and seats per party: United Seychelles (US) (19); Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) (15) percentage of women in chamber: 26.5% expected date of next election: September 2030 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Seychelles Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court of Seychelles (consists of the chief justice and 9 puisne judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 Supreme Court judges) judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, a 3-member body, with 1 member appointed by the president of the republic, 1 by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, and 1 by the other 2 appointees; judges serve until retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes **Political parties:** Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD Seychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union Démocratique Seychelloise) Seychelles National Party or SNP United Seychelles or US **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Vivianne FOCK TAVE (since 16 December 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786 email address and website: seychellesmission@sycun.org Foreign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles » United States of America (mfa.gov.sc) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023) and Chargé d’Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023); note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Chargé d’Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles embassy: 2nd Floor, Oliaji Trade Center, Victoria Mahe, Seychelles; note - US Embassy in Seychelles reopened on 1 June 2023 after having been closed in 1996 telephone: [248] 422 5256 email address and website: USEmbassySeychelles@state.gov https://sc.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 29 June 1976 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976) **Flag:** description: five expanding bands of blue, yellow, red, white, and green, radiating from the bottom left corner meaning: the bands symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue stands for the sky and sea, yellow for the sun giving light and life, red for the people's determination to work for the future in unity and love, white for social justice and harmony, and green for the land and natural environment **National symbol(s):** coco de mer (sea coconut) **National color(s):** blue, yellow, red, white, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite) lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET history: adopted 1996 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter; offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anticorruption efforts **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $3.549 billion (2024 est.) $3.43 billion (2023 est.) $3.354 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.5% (2024 est.) 2.3% (2023 est.) 12.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $29,200 (2024 est.) $28,600 (2023 est.) $28,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.167 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 0.3% (2024 est.) -1% (2023 est.) 2.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.) industry: 12.3% (2024 est.) services: 65.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 74.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 26.3% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 85.2% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -103.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** fishing, tourism, beverages **Industrial production growth rate:** -6.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Population below poverty line:** 25.3% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 32.1 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.6% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 23.9% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $695.973 million (2023 est.) expenditures: $728.171 million (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenditures (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 63.6% of GDP (2017 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$155.194 million (2023 est.) -$141.648 million (2022 est.) -$160.168 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $2.375 billion (2023 est.) $2.247 billion (2022 est.) $1.751 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** France 20%, Mauritius 12%, UK 9%, Japan 8%, Italy 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** fish, scrap iron, animal meal, broadcasting equipment, ships (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $2.437 billion (2023 est.) $2.298 billion (2022 est.) $1.821 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** UAE 32%, Spain 10%, France 6%, South Africa 6%, India 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, fish, ships, cars, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $773.678 million (2024 est.) $682.794 million (2023 est.) $638.961 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 14.53 (2024 est.) 14.018 (2023 est.) 14.273 (2022 est.) 16.921 (2021 est.) 17.617 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 156,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 581.227 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 44.034 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 98.847 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 18,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 164,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-run national broadcaster Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) has the only terrestrial TV station, which also airs broadcasts from international services; privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available through 2 providers; SBC operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters available in Victoria (2019) **Internet country code:** .sc **Internet users:** percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 39,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** S7 **Airports:** 16 (2025) **Heliports:** 6 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 30 (2023) by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18 **Ports:** total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Victoria ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF; aka Seychelles Defense Forces, SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025) **Military expenditures:** 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 500 active Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the SDF is lightly armed; its inventory consists of obsolescent armaments delivered in the 1970s and 1980s and some more recently donated equipment from Bahrain, China, India, and UAE (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026) **Military - note:** formed in 1977, the SDF is one of the World's smallest militaries; its primary responsibility is maritime security, including countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling; it was given police powers in 2022; the Seychelles maintains close security ties with India, which has provided support to the SDF's maritime security operations (2025) --- ## Sierra Leone **Slug:** sierra-leone **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇸🇱 **Codes:** cek: sl, iso2: SL, iso3: SLE, iso_num: 694, genc: SLE, stanag: SLE, internet: .sl ### Introduction **Background:** Continuously populated for at least 2,500 years, the area now known as Sierra Leone is covered with dense jungle that allowed the region to remain relatively protected from invading West African empires. Traders introduced Sierra Leone to Islam, which occupies a central role in Sierra Leonean culture and history. In the 17th century, the British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown. The trade originally involved timber and ivory but later expanded to enslaved people. In 1787, after the American Revolution, Sierra Leone became a destination for Black British loyalists from the new United States. When Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807, British ships delivered thousands of liberated Africans to Sierra Leone. During the 19th century, the colony gradually expanded inland. In 1961, Sierra Leone became independent of the UK. Sierra Leone held free and fair elections in 1962 and 1967, but Siaka STEVENS -- Sierra Leone’s second prime minister -- quickly reverted to authoritarian tendencies, outlawing most political parties and ruling from 1967 to 1985. In 1991, Sierra Leonean soldiers launched a civil war against STEVENS’ ruling party. The war caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 2 million people (about one third of the population). In 1998, a Nigerian-led West African coalition military force intervened, installing Tejan KABBAH -- who was originally elected in 1996 -- as prime minister. In 2002, KABBAH officially announced the end of the war. Since 1998, Sierra Leone has conducted democratic elections dominated by the two main political parties, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) party. In 2018, Julius Maada BIO of the Sierra Leone People’s Party won the presidential election that saw a high voter turnout despite some allegations of voter intimidation. BIO won again in June 2023, although irregularities were noted that called into question the integrity of the results. In October 2023, the Government of Sierra Leone and the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress, signed the Agreement for National Unity to boost cooperation between political parties and begin the process of reforming the country’s electoral system. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia **Geographic coordinates:** 8 30 N, 11 30 W **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than South Carolina **Land boundaries:** total: 1,093 km border countries (2): Guinea 794 km; Liberia 299 km **Coastline:** 402 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) **Terrain:** coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east **Elevation:** highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 279 m **Natural resources:** diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite **Land use:** agricultural land: 54.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.) forest: 34.3% (2023 est.) other: 11% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 300 sq km (2012) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) **Population distribution:** population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated, as shown on this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms **Geography - note:** rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 in) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal western Africa ### People and Society **Population:** total: 9,331,203 (2025 est.) male: 4,620,638 female: 4,710,565 **Nationality:** noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean **Ethnic groups:** Temne 35.4%, Mende 30.8%, Limba 8.8%, Kono 4.3%, Korankoh 4%, Fullah 3.8%, Mandingo 2.8%, Loko 2%, Sherbro 1.9%, Creole 1.2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), other 5% (2019 est.) **Languages:** English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves; a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%) **Religions:** Muslim 77.1%, Christian 22.9% (2019 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 40.1% (male 1,843,606/female 1,812,304) 15-64 years: 57.4% (male 2,557,715/female 2,675,418) 65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 114,405/female 117,601) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 72.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 68.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 4.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 22.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 19.7 years (2025 est.) male: 19 years female: 19.9 years **Population growth rate:** 2.24% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 30.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated, as shown on this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.309 million FREETOWN (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.6 years (2019 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 70.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 66.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 59.4 years (2024 est.) male: 57.8 years female: 61 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.52 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.73 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 54.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 65.3% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 45.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 34.7% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.6% of GDP (2021) 5.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 37.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 57.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 62.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 42.8% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8.7% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 2.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 9.8% (2025 est.) male: 14.8% (2025 est.) female: 4.9% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 12% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 61.5% (2019 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 8.6% (2019) women married by age 18: 29.6% (2019) men married by age 18: 4.1% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 2.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 20.5% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 43.6% (2019 est.) male: 54.6% (2019 est.) female: 33.9% (2019 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture resulting in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding; loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; overfishing **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) **Land use:** agricultural land: 54.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.) forest: 34.3% (2023 est.) other: 11% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 610,200 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.7% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 111 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 55.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 45.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 160 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone local short form: Sierra Leone etymology: Portuguese explorer Pedro de SINTRA is usually credited with naming the country "Serra da Leao" (Lion Mountains) in 1462, but Venetian explorer Alvise CA' DA MOSTO recorded the name as "Serre-Lionne" in 1457, referring to the rumbling of thunder over the mountains **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Freetown geographic coordinates: 8 29 N, 13 14 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name described the original settlement in 1781, which served as a haven for free-born and freed African Americans **Administrative divisions:** 4 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, North Western, Southern, Western* **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest effective 1 October 1991 amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in two successive readings and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms and many other constitutional sections also requires approval in a referendum with participation of at least one half of qualified voters and at least two thirds of votes cast **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Sierra Leone dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023) head of government: President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023) cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president, approved by Parliament; the cabinet is responsible to the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by 55% in the first round or absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 24 June 2023 election results: 2023: Julius Maada BIO reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 56.2%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 41.2%, other 2.6% 2018: Julius Maada BIO elected president in second round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 51.8%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 48.2% expected date of next election: June 2028 note: the president is chief of state, head of government, and minister of defense **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 149 (135 directly elected; 14 indirectly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 6/24/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) (81); All People's Congress (APC) (54) percentage of women in chamber: 29.5% expected date of next election: June 2028 note: 14 seats are reserved for "paramount chiefs," who are indirectly elected to represent the 14 provincial districts **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Superior Court of Judicature (consists of the Supreme Court at the top, with the chief justice and 4 other judges, the Court of Appeal with the chief justice and 7 other judges, and the High Court of Justice with the chief justice and 9 other judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice and other judges of the Judicature appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 7-member independent body of judges, presidential appointees, and the Commission chairman, and are subject to approval by Parliament; all Judicature judges serve until retirement at age 65 subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; District Appeals Court; local courts **Political parties:** All People's Congress or APC Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammed SOWA (since 24 July 2025) chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-1605 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793 email address and website: info@embassyofsierraleone.net https://embassyofsierraleone.net/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jared M. YANCEY (since 18 September 2025) embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown mailing address: 2160 Freetown Place, Washington DC 20521-2160 telephone: [232] 99 105 000 email address and website: consularfreetown@state.gov https://sl.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 27 April 1961 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 27 April (1961) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue meaning: green stands for agriculture, mountains, and natural resources; white for unity and justice; and blue for the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** green, white, blue **National anthem(s):** title: "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free" lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA history: adopted 1961 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Gola-Tiwai Complex (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income West African economy; primarily subsistent agriculture; key iron and diamond mining activities suspended; slow recovery from 1990s civil war; systemic corruption; high-risk debt; high youth unemployment; natural resource rich **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $26.728 billion (2024 est.) $25.7 billion (2023 est.) $24.312 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4% (2024 est.) 5.7% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $3,100 (2024 est.) $3,000 (2023 est.) $2,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $7.548 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 28.6% (2024 est.) 47.6% (2023 est.) 27.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 25.4% (2024 est.) industry: 27.3% (2024 est.) services: 44.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 87.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 5.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 29.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 20.9% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -43.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, rice, oil palm fruit, vegetables, sweet potatoes, milk, citrus fruits, fruits, groundnuts, sugarcane (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** diamond mining; iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, footwear) **Industrial production growth rate:** 4.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 2.863 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.2% (2024 est.) 3.2% (2023 est.) 3.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 3.6% (2024 est.) male: 4.8% (2024 est.) female: 2.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 56.8% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 35.7 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.4% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 29.4% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 4.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $740 million (2019 est.) expenditures: $867 million (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** -$606.358 million (2023 est.) -$452.094 million (2022 est.) -$522.815 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.382 billion (2023 est.) $1.202 billion (2022 est.) $928.689 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 67%, India 6%, Belgium 5%, Netherlands 4%, Ireland 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** iron ore, titanium ore, diamonds, aluminum ore, cocoa beans (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $2.264 billion (2023 est.) $2.074 billion (2022 est.) $1.91 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 32%, India 15%, UAE 5%, USA 5%, Turkey 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** rice, plastic products, packaged medicine, cement, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $495.699 million (2023 est.) $624.496 million (2022 est.) $945.908 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $1.451 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** leones (SLL) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 21.305 (2023 est.) 14.048 (2022 est.) 10.439 (2021 est.) 9.83 (2020 est.) 9.01 (2019 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 29.4% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 55.3% electrification - rural areas: 5% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 149,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 131.321 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 81.921 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 9.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 84.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 2.301 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 0 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 8.93 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-owned TV station; 3 private TV stations; 1 pay-TV service; 1 state-owned national radio station; about 24 private radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters available (2019) **Internet country code:** .sl **Internet users:** percent of population: 21% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 0 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 9L **Airports:** 8 (2025) **Heliports:** 3 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 584 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 33, container ship 8, general cargo 320, oil tanker 97, other 126 **Ports:** total ports: 3 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): organized as a Joint Force Command with land, air, and maritime components Ministry of Internal Affairs: Sierra Leone Police (2025) **Military expenditures:** 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 10,000 active Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the RSLAF has a small inventory comprised of obsolescent or secondhand imported armaments (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025) **Military - note:** the RSLAF’s primary responsibilities are securing the country's borders and territorial waters, supporting civil authorities during internal emergencies, and participating in peacekeeping missions; since the end of the civil war in 2002, it has received assistance from several foreign militaries, including those of Canada, China, France, the UK, and the US the RSLAF’s origins lie in the Sierra Leone Battalion of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and The Gambia; the RWAFF fought in both World Wars (2025) --- ## Somalia **Slug:** somalia **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇸🇴 **Codes:** cek: so, iso2: SO, iso3: SOM, iso_num: 706, genc: SOM, stanag: SOM, internet: .so ### Introduction **Background:** Between A.D. 800 and 1100, immigrant Muslim Arabs and Persians set up coastal trading posts along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, solidifying present-day Somalia’s close trading relationship with the Arab Peninsula. In the late 19th century, Britain, France, and Italy established colonies in the Somali Peninsula that lasted until 1960, when British Somaliland gained independence and joined with Italian Somaliland to form the Republic of Somalia. The country functioned as a parliamentary democracy until 1969, when General Mohamed SIAD Barre took control in a coup, beginning a 22-year socialist dictatorship. In an effort to centralize power, SIAD called for the eradication of the clan, the key cultural and social organizing principle in Somali society. Resistance to SIAD’s socialist leadership, which was causing a rapid deterioration of the country, prompted allied clan militias to overthrow SIAD in 1991, resulting in state collapse. Subsequent fighting between rival clans for resources and territory overwhelmed the country, causing a manmade famine and prompting international intervention. Beginning in 1993, the UN spearheaded an international humanitarian mission, but the international community largely withdrew by 1995 after an incident that became known as Black Hawk Down, in which two US military helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu. The fighting and subsequent siege and rescue resulted in 21 deaths and 82 wounded among the international forces. International peace conferences in the 2000s resulted in a number of transitional governments that operated outside Somalia. Left largely to themselves, Somalis in the country established alternative governance structures; some areas formed their own administrations, such as Somaliland and Puntland, while others developed localized institutions. Many local populations turned to sharia courts, an Islamic judicial system that implements religious law. Several of these courts came together in 2006 to form the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU established order in many areas of central and southern Somalia, including Mogadishu, but was forced out when Ethiopia intervened militarily in 2006 on behalf of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG). As the TFG settled in the capital, the ICU fled to rural areas or left Somalia altogether, but the organization reemerged less than a year later as the Islamic insurgent and terrorist movement al-Shabaab, which is still active today. In 2007, the African Union (AU) established a peacekeeping force, took over security responsibility for the country, and gave the TFG space to develop Somalia’s new government. By 2012, Somali powerbrokers agreed on a provisional constitution with a loose federal structure and established a central government in Mogadishu called the Somali Federal Government (SFG). Since then, the country has seen several interim regional administrations and three presidential elections, but significant governance and security problems remain because al-Shabaab still controls large portions of the country. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia **Geographic coordinates:** 10 00 N, 49 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 637,657 sq km land: 627,337 sq km water: 10,320 sq km **Area - comparative:** almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 2,385 km border countries (3): Djibouti 61 km; Ethiopia 1,640 km; Kenya 684 km **Coastline:** 3,025 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons **Terrain:** mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north **Elevation:** highest point: Mount Shimbiris 2,460 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 410 m **Natural resources:** uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.) forest: 7.9% (2023 est.) other: 21.7% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 2,000 sq km (2012) **Major aquifers:** Ogaden-Juba Basin **Population distribution:** distribution varies greatly throughout the country; least densely populated areas are in the northeast and central regions, as well as areas along the Kenyan border; most populated areas are in and around the cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Boorama, Hargeysa, and Baidoa, as shown on this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season **Geography - note:** strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal ### People and Society **Population:** total: 20,324,160 (2025 est.) male: 10,170,863 female: 10,153,297 **Nationality:** noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali **Ethnic groups:** predominantly Somali with lesser numbers of Arabs, Bantus, and others **Languages:** Somali (official), Arabic (official), Italian, English major-language sample(s): Buugga Xaqiiqda Aduunka, waa laga maarmaanka macluumaadka assasiga. (Somali) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim 99.9% (Sunni Muslim 98.1%, Shia Muslim 1.2%, Islamic schismatic 0.6%), ethnic religionist 0.1% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 41.4% (male 2,689,086/female 2,694,372) 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 3,699,721/female 3,568,163) 65 years and over: 2.8% (2024 est.) (male 157,505/female 208,426) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 100.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 97.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 29.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 15.7 years (2025 est.) male: 19.3 years female: 18.9 years **Population growth rate:** 3.32% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 46.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.22 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** distribution varies greatly throughout the country; least densely populated areas are in the northeast and central regions, as well as areas along the Kenyan border; most populated areas are in and around the cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Boorama, Hargeysa, and Baidoa, as shown on this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 47.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 2.610 million MOGADISHU (capital), 1.127 million Hargeysa (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 563 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 81.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 93.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 73.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 56.5 years (2024 est.) male: 54.1 years female: 59 years **Total fertility rate:** 6.38 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 3.14 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 80.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 38.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 58.3% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 19.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 61.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 41.7% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 2.5% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2014) **Hospital bed density:** 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 82.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 17.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 62.4% (2019 est.) **Education expenditure:** 0% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.1% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 54.1% (2022 est.) male: 64.5% (2022 est.) female: 43.9% (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water scarcity; contaminated water; improper waste disposal; deforestation; land degradation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.) forest: 7.9% (2023 est.) other: 21.7% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 47.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 10 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 14.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.326 million tons (2024 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 15 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 3.281 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Federal Republic of Somalia conventional short form: Somalia local long form: Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic) local short form: Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic) former: British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic etymology: the name means "Land of the Somali," a local ethnic group; the origin of the group's name is unclear but may come from 1) a Cushitic word meaning "dark," 2) the local phrase soo mal, meaning "go and milk" (referring to offering guests milk), 3) the name of a local chief, or 4) the Arabic zamla, meaning "cattle" **Government type:** federal parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Mogadishu geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 20 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is probably derived from the Arabic word mukaddas, meaning "holy" **Administrative divisions:** 18 regions (gobollo, singular - gobol); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle Jubba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabeelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower Shabeelle), Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed **Legal system:** mixed system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer) **Constitution:** history: previous 1961, 1979; latest drafted 12 June 2012, adopted 1 August 2012 amendment process: proposed by the federal government, by members of the state governments, the Federal Parliament, or by public petition; proposals require review by a joint committee of Parliament with inclusion of public comments and state legislatures’ comments; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament and approval by a majority of votes cast in a referendum; constitutional clauses on Islamic principles, the federal system, human rights and freedoms, powers and authorities of the government branches, and inclusion of women in national institutions cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Somalia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal suffrage starting with 24 June 2024 local elections **Executive branch:** chief of state: President HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (since 23 May 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Hamza Abdi BARRE (since 25 June 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by the House of the People election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the Federal Parliament by two-thirds majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term; prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of the People most recent election date: 15 May 2022 election results: 2022: HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud elected president in third round - Federal Parliament percent of vote in first round - Said ABDULLAHI DENI (Kaah) 20.2%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" (TPP) 18.3%, HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (PDP) 16.2%, Hassan Ali KHAYRE (independent) 14.6%, other 30.7%; Federal Parliament percent of vote in second round - HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud 34.1%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" 25.7%, Said ABDULLAHI DENI 21%, Hassan Ali KHAYRE 19.2%; Federal Parliament percent of vote in third round - HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud 66%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" 34% expected date of next election: 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Federal Parliament legislative structure: bicameral note: despite the formation of political parties in 2020, the 2021 parliamentary elections maintained a primarily clan-based system of appointments; seats in the legislature were apportioned to Somali member states and not by party representation **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of the People (Golaha Shacabka) number of seats: 275 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/1/2021 to 5/5/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 19% expected date of next election: October 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Upper House (Aqalka Sare) number of seats: 54 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 7/27/2021 to 11/13/2021 percentage of women in chamber: 25.9% expected date of next election: July 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): the provisional constitution stipulates the establishment of the Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges, including the chief judge and deputy chief judge) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president on proposal of the Judicial Service Commission, a 9-member judicial and administrative body; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: federal courts; federal member state-level courts; military courts; sharia courts note: under the terms of the 2004 Transitional National Charter, a Supreme Court based in Mogadishu and the Appeal Court were established, but most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, whether secular, Somali customary law, or Islamic law **Political parties:** Cosmopolitan Democratic Party Green Party Himilo Qaran Party Ilays Party Justice and Reconciliation Party National Progressive Party Peace and Unity Party Qaransoor Party Qiimo Qaran Party Security and Justice Party Social Justice Party Somali Labour Party Somali Republic Party Somali Social Unity Party or SSUP Union for Peace and Development Party or PDP Wadajir Party note: in 2017 an independent electoral commission (the NIEC) was inaugurated with a mandate to oversee the process of registration of political parties in the country; as of 2021, the NIEC had registered a total of 110 parties **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador DAHIR Hassan Abdi (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 853-9164 email address and website: washingtonembassy@mfa.gov.so https://usa.mfa.gov.so/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. RILEY (since 20 June 2024) embassy: Mogadishu, (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport) mailing address: P.O. Box 606 Village Market 00621 Nairobi, Kenya telephone: [254] 20 363-6451 email address and website: SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov https://so.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU (candidate), EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO **Independence:** 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic) **National holiday:** Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland **Flag:** description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center meaning: the blue field was originally influenced by the UN flag but today is said to represent the sky and the Indian Ocean; the five points of the star represent the regions in the horn of Africa where Somali people live: the former British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland (which together make up Somalia), Djibouti, Ogaden (Ethiopia), and the Northeast Province (Kenya) **National symbol(s):** leopard **National color(s):** blue, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Qolobaa Calankeed" (Every Nation Has Its Own Flag) lyrics/music: Abdullahi QARSHE history: adopted 2012 **Government - note:** regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various areas of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income African Horn economy; 30 years of war and instability crippled economic potential; high remittances for basic survival; new fiscal federalism approach; cleared some unsustainable debt; environmentally fragile; digitally driven urbanization efforts **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $26.77 billion (2024 est.) $25.747 billion (2023 est.) $24.706 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4% (2024 est.) 4.2% (2023 est.) 2.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $1,400 (2024 est.) $1,400 (2023 est.) $1,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $12.109 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 6.8% (2022 est.) 4.6% (2021 est.) 4.3% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 124% (2024 est.) government consumption: 7.6% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 20% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -74.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** camel milk, milk, goat milk, sheep milk, sugarcane, fruits, sorghum, cassava, vegetables, maize (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication **Labor force:** 3.439 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 18.9% (2024 est.) 19% (2023 est.) 19.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 33.9% (2024 est.) male: 32.1% (2024 est.) female: 37% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 54.4% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Remittances:** 15.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 17% of GDP (2022 est.) 18.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Taxes and other revenues:** 0% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Exports:** $2.424 billion (2024 est.) $2.164 billion (2023 est.) $1.804 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 35%, Saudi Arabia 27%, Oman 18%, Djibouti 8%, India 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** sheep and goats, gold, postage stamps/documents, other animals, cattle (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $9.002 billion (2024 est.) $8.002 billion (2023 est.) $7.456 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** UAE 29%, China 19%, India 15%, Turkey 8%, Oman 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** raw sugar, tobacco, broadcasting equipment, rice, milk (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $2.563 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 23,097.987 (2017 est.) 23,061.784 (2016 est.) 22,254.236 (2015 est.) 20,230.929 (2014 est.) 19,283.8 (2013 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 48.9% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 76.7% electrification - rural areas: 30.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 156,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 396.792 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 15.408 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 82.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 16% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 649,000 Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 91,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 9.91 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** 2 private TV stations rebroadcast Al-Jazeera and CNN; 1 state-operated TV station and 1 private TV station; state-operated Radio Mogadishu; 1 SW and roughly 10 private FM radio stations in Mogadishu; several radio stations in central and southern regions; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters available (2019) **Internet country code:** .so **Internet users:** percent of population: 28% (2022 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 119,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 6O **Airports:** 40 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 4 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, other 3 **Ports:** total ports: 6 (2024) large: 1 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Baraawe, Berbera, Boosaaso, Kismaayo, Marka, Muqdisho ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Somali Armed Forces (SAF; aka Somali Defense Force): Somali National Army (SNA; aka Land Forces), Somali Navy, Somali Air Force Ministry of Internal Security: Somali National Police (SNP, includes Coast Guard, commando unit) (2025) note 1: Somalia has numerous militias and regional/state forces operating throughout the country; the militias include clan- and warlord-based forces, as well as some that are externally sponsored; regional forces include semi-official paramilitary and special police forces ("darwish") note 2: Somaliland and Puntland have separate military, security, and paramilitary forces **Military expenditures:** 6% of GDP (2021 est.) 6% of GDP (2020 est.) 5.6% of GDP (2019 est.) 6% of GDP (2018 est.) 5.9% of GDP (2017 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 20,000 active Somali Armed Forces (2025) note: tens of thousands of militia forces are also active in Somalia **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the SNA's inventory is a mix of older and donated (typically secondhand) equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Italy, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, the UK, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-22 for voluntary military service for men and women in the Somali Armed Forces; compulsory service is reportedly authorized, but not currently utilized (2025) **Military - note:** the primary responsibility of the Somali National Army (SNA) is combating the al-Shabaab terrorist group, which controls large portions of central and southern Somalia and continues to conduct attacks targeting both military and civilian sites, including military bases, government institutions, and civilian gatherings; the SNA is supported by the National Police, regional/state security forces, and allied militias, as well as international forces; some African Union (AU) countries have provided military assistance to the SNA since 2007 under the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM, 2007-2022), the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS, 2022-2024), and the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM, January 2025-present); Turkey and the US have also provided military support to SNA operations Turkey and the US have formed and trained SNA units, including the US-backed Danab ("Lightning") Brigade and the Turkish-trained Gorgor ("Eagle") brigades; SNA soldiers have also received training from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the EU, Uganda, UAE, and the UK (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Somalia note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 41,763 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,869,345 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/somalia/ --- ## South Africa **Slug:** south-africa **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇿🇦 **Codes:** cek: sf, iso2: ZA, iso3: ZAF, iso_num: 710, genc: ZAF, stanag: ZAF, internet: .za ### Introduction **Background:** Some of the earliest human remains in the fossil record were found in South Africa. By about A.D. 500, Bantu-speaking groups began settling into what is now northeastern South Africa, displacing Khoisan-speaking groups to the southwest. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many settlers of Dutch descent -- known then as "Boers," or farmers, but later called Afrikaners -- trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. In the 1820s, several decades of wars began as the Zulus expanded their territory, moving out of what is today southeastern South Africa and clashing with other indigenous peoples and the growing European settlements. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred mass immigration, predominantly from Europe. The Zulu kingdom's territory was incorporated into the British Empire after the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, and the Afrikaner republics were incorporated after their defeat in the Second South African War (1899-1902). Beginning in 1910, the British and the Afrikaners ruled together under the Union of South Africa, which left the British Commonwealth to become a fully self-governing republic in 1961 after a Whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid -– billed as "separate development" of the races -- which favored the White minority and suppressed the Black majority and other non-White groups. The African National Congress (ANC) led the resistance to apartheid, and many top ANC leaders such as Nelson MANDELA spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts from some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to unban the ANC and negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in wealth, housing, education, and health care under successive administrations. President Cyril RAMAPHOSA, who was reelected as the ANC leader in 2022, has made some progress in reigning in corruption. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa **Geographic coordinates:** 29 00 S, 24 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1,219,090 sq km land: 1,214,470 sq km water: 4,620 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 5,244 km border countries (6): Botswana 1,969 km; Lesotho 1,106 km; Mozambique 496 km; Namibia 1,005 km; Eswatini 438 km; Zimbabwe 230 km **Coastline:** 2,798 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin **Climate:** mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights **Terrain:** vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain **Elevation:** highest point: Ntheledi (Mafadi) 3,450 m lowest point: Atlantic/Indian Oceans 0 m mean elevation: 1,034 m **Natural resources:** gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas note: South Africa was the World's leading chromite ore producer in 2022 with an output of 18,000 mt **Land use:** agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 9.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 69.2% (2023 est.) forest: 18.7% (2023 est.) other: 1.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 16,700 sq km (2012) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Orange (shared with Lesotho [s], and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km; Limpoporivier (Limpopo) river source (shared with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Vaal [s] - 1,210 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Karoo Basin, Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin **Population distribution:** the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** prolonged droughts volcanism: the volcano that formed Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands is South Africa's only active volcano **Geography - note:** note 1: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Eswatini note 2: sometimes mistaken for the southernmost point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope is more accurately described as the southwestern-most point of the African continent; Cape Agulhas, the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, is the southernmost point of the African continent ### People and Society **Population:** total: 61,089,926 (2025 est.) male: 29,989,969 female: 31,099,957 **Nationality:** noun: South African(s) adjective: South African **Ethnic groups:** Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.) note: Colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry who developed a distinct cultural identity over several hundred years **Languages:** isiZulu or Zulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa or Xhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi or Pedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana or Tswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho or Sotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga or Tsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati or Swati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda or Venda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele or Ndebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes South African sign language (official) and Khoi or Khoisan or Khoe languages) 2% (2018 est.) major-language sample(s): Die Wereld Feite Boek, n’ onontbeerlike bron vir basiese informasie. (Afrikaans) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) note: data represent language spoken most often at home **Religions:** Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist, or other traditional African religions 5.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other 1.5%, nothing in particular 5.2% (2015 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 27.2% (male 8,227,690/female 8,194,392) 15-64 years: 65.3% (male 19,524,873/female 19,947,839) 65 years and over: 7.5% (2024 est.) (male 1,911,825/female 2,636,028) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 53 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 41.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 11.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 8.4 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 30.7 years (2025 est.) male: 30.1 years female: 30.6 years **Population growth rate:** 1.06% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 17.21 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 10.316 million Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni), 4.890 million Cape Town (legislative capital), 3.228 million Durban, 2.818 million PRETORIA (administrative capital), 1.296 million Port Elizabeth, 934,000 West Rand (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 19.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 71.9 years (2024 est.) male: 70.3 years female: 73.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.23 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.1 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 84.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 94.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 15.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 5.5% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.3% of GDP (2021) 16.9% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.79 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 95.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 81.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 91.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 18.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 8.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 28.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 20.1% (2025 est.) male: 35.3% (2025 est.) female: 6% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 4.9% (2017 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 33.6% (2020 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.9% (2016) women married by age 18: 3.6% (2016) men married by age 18: 0.6% (2016) **Education expenditure:** 6% of GDP (2024 est.) 19.1% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 91.2% (2024 est.) male: 91.5% (2024 est.) female: 90.8% (2024 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 14 years (2022 est.) male: 14 years (2022 est.) female: 14 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** limited freshwater resources due to lack of major rivers or lakes; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban waste; air pollution resulting in acid rain; deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; desertification; solid waste pollution; significant floral extinctions **International environmental agreements:** party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights **Land use:** agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 9.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 69.2% (2023 est.) forest: 18.7% (2023 est.) other: 1.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 446.704 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 365.269 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 73.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 7.522 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 17 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 1,489.2 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 754.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 770.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 32.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 18.457 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.2% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 3.476 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 4.616 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 11.839 billion cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 51.35 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa former: Union of South Africa abbreviation: RSA etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital) geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Pretoria was named in honor of Boer statesman Andries PRETORIUS in 1855; Cape Town's name refers to its location on the Cape of Good Hope; Bloemfontein was named after the farm on which it was built in 1846, whose name combined the Dutch words bloem (flower) and fontein (fountain) **Administrative divisions:** 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape **Legal system:** mixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved by the Constitutional Court 4 December 1996, effective 4 February 1997 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly of Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional sections on human rights and freedoms, non-racism and non-sexism, supremacy of the constitution, suffrage, the multi-party system of democratic government, and amendment procedures requires at least 75% majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council of Provinces, and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting the Bill of Rights, and those related to provincial boundaries, powers, and authorities requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council, and assent of the president **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Africa dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission of the government residency requirement for naturalization: 5 year **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024) head of government: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 29 May 2024 election results: 2024: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed 2019: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed expected date of next election: May 2029 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 400 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 6/15/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 44.7% expected date of next election: May 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: National Council of Provinces number of seats: 90 (all appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 5/29/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 44.4% expected date of next election: June 2029 note: the Council has special powers to protect regional interests, including safeguarding cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeals (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 21 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Appeals president and vice president appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), a 23-member body chaired by the chief justice; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service by an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the president of South Africa after consultation with the JSC and with heads of the National Assembly; other Constitutional Court judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the chief justice and leaders of the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges serve 12-year nonrenewable terms or until age 70 subordinate courts: High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts **Political parties:** African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP African Independent Congress or AIC African National Congress or ANC African People's Convention or APC Agang SA Congress of the People or COPE Democratic Alliance or DA Economic Freedom Fighters or EFF Freedom Front Plus or FF+ GOOD Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP National Freedom Party or NFP Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania or PAC United Christian Democratic Party or UCDP United Democratic Movement or UDM **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ismail ESAU (since 17 March 2025) chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (240) 937-5760 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607 email address and website: Info.saembassyDC@dirco.gov.za https://www.saembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Leo Brent BOZELL III; Chargé d’Affaires Marc DILLARD (since October 2025) embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria mailing address: 9300 Pretoria Place, Washington DC 20521-9300 telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299 email address and website: ACSJohannesburg@state.gov https://za.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AIIB, AU, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, NSG, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule) **National holiday:** Freedom Day, 27 April (1994) **Flag:** description: two equal-width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y; a black isosceles triangle is in the Y, with narrow yellow bands around it; the red and blue bands are bordered by narrow white stripes meaning: the colors have no official meaning, but the Y stands for "the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity" note: South Africa has one of two national flags that display six colors as part of the primary design -- the other is South Sudan's **National symbol(s):** springbok (antelope), king protea flower **National color(s):** red, green, blue, yellow, black, white **National anthem(s):** title: "National Anthem of South Africa" lyrics/music: Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers history: adopted 1997; a combination of "N'kosi Sikelel' iAfrica" (God Bless Africa) and "Die Stem van Suid Afrika" (The Call of South Africa), which were respectively the anthems of the non-white and white communities under apartheid; official lyrics contain a mixture of Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English (the five most widely spoken of South Africa's 11 official languages) **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 12 (7 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (c); iSimangaliso Wetland Park (n); Robben Island (c); Maloti-Drakensberg Park (m); Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (c); Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (n); Vredefort Dome (n); Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (c); Khomani Cultural Landscape (c); Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (n); Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites (c); The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper-middle-income, largest southern African economy; Government of National Unity facing slow growth, fiscal gaps, and structural challenges; high income inequality, unemployment, and poverty; reforms to address electricity generation, transport, and logistics; leading producer and exporter of critical minerals **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $870.42 billion (2024 est.) $865.402 billion (2023 est.) $859.399 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 0.6% (2024 est.) 0.7% (2023 est.) 1.9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $13,600 (2024 est.) $13,700 (2023 est.) $13,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $400.261 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4.4% (2024 est.) 6.1% (2023 est.) 7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.9% (2024 est.) industry: 24.4% (2024 est.) services: 62.7% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 64.8% (2024 est.) government consumption: 19.2% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 14.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -0.6% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 31.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -29.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugarcane, maize, milk, soybeans, potatoes, wheat, grapes, chicken, oranges, apples (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair **Industrial production growth rate:** -0.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 27.766 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 33.2% (2024 est.) 32.1% (2023 est.) 33.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 60.9% (2024 est.) male: 57.1% (2024 est.) female: 65.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Average household expenditures:** on food: 16.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Remittances:** 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $123.263 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $137.593 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 76.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 26% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$2.384 billion (2024 est.) -$6.143 billion (2023 est.) -$1.878 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $127.629 billion (2024 est.) $124.671 billion (2023 est.) $136.01 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 19%, USA 8%, Germany 7%, India 7%, UK 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, platinum, coal, cars, iron ore (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $119.59 billion (2024 est.) $123.454 billion (2023 est.) $127.669 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 21%, India 7%, USA 7%, Germany 6%, UAE 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, cars, broadcasting equipment (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $65.435 billion (2024 est.) $62.492 billion (2023 est.) $60.553 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $93.879 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** rand (ZAR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 18.329 (2024 est.) 18.45 (2023 est.) 16.356 (2022 est.) 14.779 (2021 est.) 16.459 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 86.5% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 87.1% electrification - rural areas: 93.4% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 65.989 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 194.978 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 12.629 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 10.837 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 22.838 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 87.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 5.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.85GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 4.4% (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 239.712 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 176.095 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 66.918 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 3.301 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 9.893 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 88,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 609,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 66.094 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 3.834 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 3.768 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 86.197 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1.353 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 115 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 167 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 6 free-to-air TV stations; 1 private TV station; multiple subscription TV services with mix of local and international channels; mix of public and private radio stations at the national, regional, and local levels; state-owned SABC radio network has 18 stations, including one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; over 100 community stations with rural coverage **Internet country code:** .za **Internet users:** percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 2.15 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** ZS **Airports:** 573 (2025) **Heliports:** 49 (2025) **Railways:** total: 30,400 km (2021) standard gauge: 80 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (80 km electrified) narrow gauge: 19,756 km (2014) 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified) **Merchant marine:** total: 110 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 7, other 99 **Ports:** total ports: 8 (2024) large: 2 medium: 4 small: 1 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 7 key ports: Cape Town, Durban, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army (includes Reserve Force), South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services Ministry of Police: South African Police Service (SAPS) (2025) **Military expenditures:** 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 65-70,000 active-duty National Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the SANDF's inventory is a mix of domestically produced and foreign-supplied equipment; South Africa's domestic defense industry produced most of the Army's major weapons systems (some were jointly produced with foreign companies), while the Air Force and Navy inventories include a mix of European, Israeli, and US origin armaments, alongside some domestic systems, such as combat helicopters and some naval vessels; South Africa has one of Africa's leading defense industries (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-22 (18-26 for college graduates) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation (2025) note: in 2023, women comprised nearly 30% of the military **Military deployments:** approximately 2,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO and Southern African Development Community) (2025) **Military - note:** the South African National Defense Force's (SANDF) primary responsibilities include territorial and maritime defense, supporting the Police Service, protecting key infrastructure, responding to disasters, and participating in international peacekeeping missions; border security and maintaining a rapid reaction capability for regional security missions and disaster response have been priorities; in recent years, it has been deployed internally to assist the Police with quelling unrest and assisting with border security; the SANDF also regularly participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions and is a member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force the SANDF was created in 1994 to replace the South African Defense Force (SADF); the SANDF was opened to all South Africans who met military requirements, while the SADF was a mostly white force (only whites were subject to conscription) with non-whites only allowed to join in a voluntary capacity; the SANDF also absorbed members of the various anti-apartheid opposition groups, including the African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, as well as the security forces of the formerly independent Bantustan homelands (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** South African National Space Agency (SANSA; established 2010) (2025) **Space launch site(s):** Arniston launch facility (Western Cape) used to support space launch vehicle and ballistic missile program (1980s-1990s); it is now a weapons testing facility called the Denel Overberg Test Range (2024) **Space program overview:** key areas of emphasis for its national space program include Earth observation/remote sensing (RS) capabilities, weather monitoring, research, engineering, and operations (tracking, telemetry, etc.); produces and operates satellites; has a sounding rocket program for carrying experimental payloads for research; cooperates with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, India, Russia, and the US; member of the African Space Agency; participates in international programs such as the Square Kilometer Array Project; has a number of state- and privately-owned aerospace companies, as well as academic and research institutions involved in space-related activities (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1976 - established a satellite remote sensing (RS)/radio astronomy center (originally built by the US in 1961 to receive data from US space missions) 1980s - conducted program to launch reconnaissance satellites on a domestically produced satellite launch vehicle (abandoned in 1994 along with nuclear program) 1999 - first domestically built RS/technology demonstrator microsatellite (Sunsat-1) launched by US 2009 - first government-owned and -operated RS/scientific/technology demonstrator satellite (SumbandilaSat) launched by Russia 2018 - inaugurated a radio space telescope array (Karoo Array Telescope or MeerKAT) 2021 - began construction of the international Square Kilometer Array radio telescope observatory; launched a sounding rocket for research purposes to an altitude of nearly 18,000 km (11,185 mi) 2022 - opened Africa's first regional space weather center 2023 - agreed to participate in China's international lunar research station project ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 171,484 (2024 est.) IDPs: 7,385 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore South Africa was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/south-africa/ **Illicit drugs:** USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025) --- ## South Sudan **Slug:** south-sudan **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇸🇸 **Codes:** cek: od, iso2: SS, iso3: SSD, iso_num: 728, genc: SSD, stanag: -, internet: .ss ### Introduction **Background:** South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is the world’s newest country. Home to a diverse array of mainly Nilotic ethnolinguistic groups that settled in the territory in the 15th through 19th centuries, South Sudanese society is heavily dependent on seasonal migration and seasonal fluctuations in precipitation. Modern-day South Sudan was conquered first by Egypt and later ruled jointly by Egyptian-British colonial administrators in the late 19th century. Christian missionaries helped spread the English language and Christianity in the area, leading to significant cultural differences with the northern part of Sudan, where Arabic and Islam are dominant. When Sudan gained its independence in 1956, the southern region received assurances that it would participate fully in the political system. However, the Arab government in Khartoum reneged on its promises, prompting two periods of civil war (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) in which as many as 2.5 million people died -- mostly civilians -- due largely to starvation and drought. The second Sudanese civil war was one of the deadliest since WWII and left southern Sudanese society devastated. Peace talks resulted in a US-backed Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which granted the South six years of autonomy followed by a referendum on final status. The result of this referendum, held in 2011, was a vote of 98% in favor of secession. Since independence, South Sudan has struggled to form a viable governing system and has been plagued by widespread corruption, political conflict, and communal violence. In 2013, conflict erupted between forces loyal to President Salva KIIR, a Dinka, and forces loyal to Vice President Riek MACHAR, a Nuer. The conflict quickly spread through the country along ethnic lines, killing tens of thousands and creating a humanitarian crisis with millions of South Sudanese displaced. KIIR and MACHAR signed a peace agreement in 2015 that created a Transitional Government of National Unity the next year. However, renewed fighting broke out in Juba between KIIR and MACHAR’s forces, plunging the country back into conflict and drawing in additional armed opposition groups. A "revitalized" peace agreement was signed in 2018, mostly ending the fighting and laying the groundwork for a unified national army, a transitional government, and elections. The transitional government was formed in 2020, when MACHAR returned to Juba as first vice president. Since 2020, implementation of the peace agreement has been stalled amid wrangling over power-sharing, which has contributed to an uptick in communal violence and the country’s worst food crisis since independence, with 7 of 11 million South Sudanese citizens in need of humanitarian assistance. The transitional period was extended an additional two years in 2022, pushing elections to late 2024. ### Geography **Location:** East-Central Africa; south of Sudan, north of Uganda and Kenya, west of Ethiopia **Geographic coordinates:** 8 00 N, 30 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 644,329 sq km land: NA water: NA **Area - comparative:** more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 6,018 km border countries (6): Central African Republic 1,055 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 714 km; Ethiopia 1,299 km; Kenya 317 km; Sudan 2,158 km; Uganda 475 km note: South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall heaviest in upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north **Terrain:** plains in the north and center rise to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile, flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa, is the major geographic feature of the country; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 sq km fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country **Elevation:** highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m lowest point: White Nile 381 m **Natural resources:** hydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 40.8% (2023 est.) forest: 11.3% (2023 est.) other: 43.8% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,000 sq km (2012) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) **Population distribution:** clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile, as shown in this population distribution map **Geography - note:** landlocked; The Sudd is a vast swamp in the north central region of South Sudan, formed by the White Nile; its size is variable but can reach some 15% of the country's total area during the rainy season; it is one of the world's largest wetlands ### People and Society **Population:** total: 13,300,066 (2025 est.) male: 6,765,722 female: 6,534,344 **Nationality:** noun: South Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: South Sudanese **Ethnic groups:** Dinka (Jieng) approximately 35-40%, Nuer (Naath) approximately 15%, Shilluk (Chollo), Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Baka, Fertit (2011 est.) note: Figures are estimations due to population changes during South Sudan's civil war and the lack of updated demographic studies **Languages:** English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants), ethnic languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) **Religions:** Christian 60.5%, folk religion 32.9%, Muslim 6.2%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 42.1% (male 2,725,520/female 2,619,035) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 3,568,064/female 3,458,804) 65 years and over: 2.6% (2024 est.) (male 182,757/female 149,534) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 81.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 76.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 18.7 years (2025 est.) male: 18.7 years female: 18.7 years **Population growth rate:** 4.52% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 35.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 18.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 21.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 459,000 JUBA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.22 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 58.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 65.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 54.1 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 60.3 years (2024 est.) male: 58.4 years female: 62.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.98 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.43 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 70% of population (2022 est.) rural: 33.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 41.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 30% of population (2022 est.) rural: 66.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 58.8% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.9% of GDP (2021) 2.1% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 60.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 15.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 24.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 39.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 84.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 75.1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 6.6% (2014) **Education expenditure:** 1.6% of GDP (2016 est.) 3.3% national budget (2015 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife conservation and loss of biodiversity; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; drought **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall heaviest in upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 40.8% (2023 est.) forest: 11.3% (2023 est.) other: 43.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 21.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 1.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 20.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 59.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 696 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 120.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 12.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.681 million tons (2024 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 193 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 225 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 240 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 49.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of South Sudan conventional short form: South Sudan etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's geographic position within Sudan prior to independence; the name Sudan derives from the Arabic balad-as-sudan, meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Juba geographic coordinates: 04 51 N, 31 37 E time difference: UTC+2 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name comes from the name of a small Bari village that was located near the present-day city **Administrative divisions:** 10 states; Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria note: in 2015, 28 new states were created, and 4 additional states in 2017; after the 2020 peace agreement, the country was again reorganized into the 10 original states, plus 2 administrative areas, Pibor and Ruweng, and 1 special administrative status area, Abyei (which is disputed between South Sudan and Sudan) **Constitution:** history: previous 2005 (pre-independence); latest signed 7 July 2011, effective 9 July 2011 (Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011) amendment process: proposed by the National Legislature or by the president of the republic; passage requires submission of the proposal to the Legislature at least one month prior to consideration, approval by at least two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the Legislature, and assent of the president **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Sudan dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011) head of government: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011) cabinet: National Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 11-15 April 2010 election results: 2010: Salva KIIR Mayardit elected leader of then-Southern Sudan; percent of vote - Salva KIIR Mayardit (SPLM) 93%, Lam AKOL (SPLM-DC) 7% expected date of next election: scheduled for 2015 but has been postponed multiple times, currently to be held in December 2026 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Législature nationale (National Legislature) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Transitional National Legislative Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Tachirii) number of seats: 550 (all appointed) scope of elections: full renewal most recent election date: 5/10/2021 percentage of women in chamber: 32.4% expected date of next election: December 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Council of States (Al-Watani) number of seats: 100 (all appointed) scope of elections: full renewal most recent election date: 8/2/2021 percentage of women in chamber: 32.1% expected date of next election: December 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of South Sudan (consists of a chief justice, deputy chief justice, and 5 additional justices); the 2011 Transitional Constitution of South Sudan calls for 9, rather than 5 additional justices judge selection and term of office: the 2011 Transitional Constitution of South Sudan calls for the establishment of a Judicial Service Council to recommend prospective justices to the president, and for the justices' tenures to be set by the National Legislature subordinate courts: national level - Courts of Appeal; High Courts; County Courts; state level - High Courts; County Courts; customary courts; other specialized courts and tribunals note: in mid-2022, the Government of South Sudan inaugurated an ad-hoc judiciary committee, a 12-member body led by two eminent jurists, that is charged with reviewing relevant laws, advising on judicial reform, and restructuring the judiciary **Political parties:** Democratic Change or DC Democratic Forum or DF Labour Party or LPSS South Sudan Opposition Alliance or SSOA Sudan African National Union or SANU Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition or SPLM-IO United Democratic Salvation Front or UDSF United South Sudan African Party or USSAP United South Sudan Party or USSP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Santino Fardol Watod DICKEN (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 1015 31st Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 600-2238 FAX: [1] (202) 644-9910 email address and website: info.ssdembassy@gmail.com https://www.ssembassydc.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. ADLER (since 24 August 2022) embassy: Kololo Road adjacent to the EU's compound, Juba mailing address: 4420 Juba Place, Washington DC 20521-4420 telephone: [211] 912-105-188 email address and website: ACSJuba@state.gov https://ss.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** AU, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO **Independence:** 9 July 2011 (from Sudan) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 9 July (2011) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a five-pointed gold star is in the middle of a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side meaning: black stands for the people, red for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green for the land, and blue for the Nile; the gold star represents the unity of the country's states note 1: similar to the flag of Kenya note 2: South Sudan has one of two national flags that display six colors as part of the primary design -- the other is South Africa's **National symbol(s):** African fish eagle **National color(s):** red, green, blue, yellow, black, white **National anthem(s):** title: "South Sudan Oyee!" (South Sudan, Hooray!) lyrics/music: collective/Mido SAMUEL and Juba University students history: adopted 2011; anthem selected in a national contest ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income, oil-based Sahelian economy; extreme poverty and food insecurity; COVID-19 and ongoing violence threaten socioeconomic potential; environmentally fragile; ongoing land and property rights issues; natural resource rich but lacks infrastructure **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $6.752 billion (2023 est.) $6.585 billion (2022 est.) $6.945 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** -5.2% (2017 est.) -13.9% (2016 est.) -10.8% (2015 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $400 (2023 est.) $400 (2022 est.) $400 (2021 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $4.629 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 91.4% (2024 est.) 2.4% (2023 est.) -6.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 10.4% (2015 est.) industry: 33.1% (2015 est.) services: 56.6% (2015 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** milk, cassava, sorghum, goat milk, vegetables, fruits, groundnuts, sesame seeds, beef, maize (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industrial production growth rate:** -36.8% (2015 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 5.091 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 12.5% (2023 est.) 12.6% (2022 est.) 14.1% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 18.5% (2023 est.) male: 19.4% (2023 est.) female: 17.6% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 82.3% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 44 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.8% (2016 est.) highest 10%: 33% (2016 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 9.5% of GDP (2015 est.) 0% of GDP (2014 est.) 0% of GDP (2013 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $2.513 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $1.984 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Current account balance:** $577.9 million (2023 est.) -$596.748 million (2022 est.) -$6.55 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $4.499 billion (2023 est.) $5.811 billion (2022 est.) $4.652 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 51%, Singapore 29%, UAE 10%, Germany 4%, Uganda 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, refined petroleum, forage crops, gold, scrap iron (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $4.443 billion (2023 est.) $6.402 billion (2022 est.) $4.037 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Uganda 33%, UAE 26%, Kenya 14%, China 10%, USA 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** garments, cement, other foods, iron bars, cereal flours (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $72.881 million (2023 est.) $94.914 million (2022 est.) $341.932 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 2,163.104 (2024 est.) 930.331 (2023 est.) 534.511 (2022 est.) 306.355 (2021 est.) 165.907 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 8.4% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 15% electrification - rural areas: 1.7% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 136,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 566.034 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 23.966 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 100 metric tons (2022 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 146,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 3.75 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 2.092 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 0 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 5.35 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-controlled TV channel and radio station; several community and commercial FM stations, mostly sponsored by outside aid donors; some foreign radio broadcasts available (2019) **Internet country code:** .ss **Internet users:** percent of population: 9% (2022 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 0 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** Z8 **Airports:** 89 (2025) **Heliports:** 2 (2025) **Railways:** total: 248 km (2018) note: a narrow gauge, single-track railroad between Babonosa (Sudan) and Wau, the only existing rail system, was repaired in 2010 with $250 million in UN funds, but is not currently operational ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF): Land Forces (includes Presidential Guard), Air Forces, Marine (Riverine) Forces, Reserve Forces; National (or Necessary) Unified Forces (NUF) Ministry of Interior: South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) (2025) note 1: the NUF are being formed by retraining rebel and pro-government militia fighters into military, police, and other government security forces; the first operational NUF deployed in November 2023 note 2: numerous irregular forces operate in the country with official knowledge, including militias operated by the National Security Service (an internal security force under the Ministry of National Security) and proxy forces **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** information varies; estimated 150-200,000 active Defense Forces (2025) note: some active SSPDF personnel may be militia; the National/Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) were expected to have up to 80,000 personnel when training and integration is completed; the first batch of approximately 20,000 NUF personnel completed training in late 2022 **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the SSPDF inventory is a mix of primarily of Soviet-era armaments alongside limited quantities of more modern equipment such as armored personnel carriers from UAE (2025) note: South Sudan has been under a UN arms embargo since 2018 (extended for 1 year in May 2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 (legal minimum age)-35 for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-24 months service (2025) note: the UN reports that there are thousands of child soldiers in South Sudan serving in the SSPDF and militia forces although the South Sudanese Government has pledged to end the practice **Military - note:** the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) are largely focused on border and internal security; areas of concern include disputed national borders, conflict spillover from neighboring Sudan, banditry, and armed rebel groups and militias that continue to operate in the country since the civil war ended in 2020 the SSPDF, formerly the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), was founded as a guerrilla movement against the Sudanese Government in 1983 and participated in the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005); the Juba Declaration that followed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 unified the SPLA and the South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF), the second-largest rebel militia remaining from the civil war, under the SPLA name; in 2017, the SPLA was renamed the South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF) and in September 2018 was renamed again as the SSPDF the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has operated in the country since 2011 with the objectives of consolidating peace and security and helping establish conditions for the successful economic and political development of South Sudan; UNMISS has about 18,000 personnel assigned; the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; its mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; UNISFA has approximately 3,800 personnel assigned (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 517,471 (2024 est.) IDPs: 1,359,795 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 18,000 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 3 — South Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, South Sudan remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/south-sudan/ --- ## Sudan **Slug:** sudan **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇸🇩 **Codes:** cek: su, iso2: SD, iso3: SDN, iso_num: 729, genc: SDN, stanag: SDN, internet: .sd ### Introduction **Background:** Long referred to as Nubia, modern-day Sudan was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until it was absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., the Kingdom of Kush gained independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the 4th century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia, with the latter two enduring until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, Arab nomads settled much of Sudan, leading to extensive Islamization between the 16th and 19th centuries. Following Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century, an agreement in 1899 set up a joint British-Egyptian government in Sudan, but it was effectively a British colony. Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956. During most of the second half of the 20th century, Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars rooted in northern domination of the largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern portion of the country. The first civil war ended in 1972, but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04, and the final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years, followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. South Sudan became independent in 2011, but Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements to normalize relations between the two countries. Sudan has also faced conflict in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile starting in 2003. In 2019, after months of nationwide protests, the 30-year reign of President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR ended when the military forced him out. Economist and former international civil servant Abdalla HAMDOUK al-Kinani was selected to serve as the prime minister of a transitional government as the country prepared for elections in 2022. In late 2021, however, the Sudanese military ousted HAMDOUK and his government and replaced civilian members of the Sovereign Council (Sudan’s collective Head of State) with individuals selected by the military. HAMDOUK was briefly reinstated but resigned in January 2022. General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman, the Chair of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, currently serves as de facto head of state and government. He presides over a Sovereign Council consisting of military leaders, former armed opposition group representatives, and military-appointed civilians. A cabinet of acting ministers handles day-to-day administration. ### Geography **Location:** north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea **Geographic coordinates:** 15 00 N, 30 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 1,861,484 sq km land: 1,731,671 sq km water: 129,813 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US **Land boundaries:** total: 6,819 km border countries (7): Central African Republic 174 km; Chad 1,403 km; Egypt 1,276 km; Eritrea 682 km; Ethiopia 744 km; Libya 382 km; South Sudan 2,158 km note: Sudan-South Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei region pending negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan **Coastline:** 853 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November) **Terrain:** generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north **Elevation:** highest point: Jabal Marrah 3,042 m lowest point: Red Sea 0 m mean elevation: 568 m **Natural resources:** petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 60.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 11.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 49% (2023 est.) forest: 12% (2023 est.) other: 27.7% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 15,504 sq km (2019) **Major rivers (by length in km):** An Nīl (Nile) (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Nubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer) **Population distribution:** with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan is sparsely populated; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and throughout South Darfur, as shown on this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** dust storms and periodic persistent droughts **Geography - note:** the Nile is Sudan's primary water source; its major tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, meet at Khartoum to form the River Nile, which flows northward through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea ### People and Society **Population:** total: 51,767,437 (2025 est.) male: 25,981,767 female: 25,785,670 **Nationality:** noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese **Ethnic groups:** Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Ingessana, Uduk, Fallata, Masalit, Dajo, Gimir, Tunjur, Berti; there are over 500 ethnic groups **Languages:** Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) **Religions:** Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 40.1% (male 10,278,453/female 9,949,343) 15-64 years: 56.7% (male 14,211,514/female 14,390,486) 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 845,125/female 792,357) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 75.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 69.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 19.5 years (2025 est.) male: 19 years female: 19.6 years **Population growth rate:** 2.54% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 32.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan is sparsely populated; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and throughout South Darfur, as shown on this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 36.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 6.344 million KHARTOUM (capital), 1.057 million Nyala (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 256 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 39.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.8 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 67.8 years (2024 est.) male: 65.5 years female: 70.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.41 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.15 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 74.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 59.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 64.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 25.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 40.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 35.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 2.8% of GDP (2021) 6.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.25 physicians/1,000 population (2017) **Hospital bed density:** 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 6.6% (2014) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 1.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 33% (2014) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 7 years (2015 est.) male: 7 years (2015 est.) female: 7 years (2015 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and drought; overhunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November) **Land use:** agricultural land: 60.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 11.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 49% (2023 est.) forest: 12% (2023 est.) other: 27.7% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 36.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 18.242 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 300 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 18.242 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 24.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 218.5 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,509.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 198.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 38.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.831 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 950 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 75 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 25.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 37.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Sudan etymology: the name derives from the Arabic balad-as-sudan, meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]" **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Khartoum geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the Arabic words ras (head or end) and al-khurtum (elephant's trunk), referring to the narrow strip of land between the Blue and White Niles where the city is located **Administrative divisions:** 18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Blue Nile, Central Darfur, East Darfur, Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Northern, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan, White Nile note: the peace agreement signed in 2020 included a provision to establish a system of governance to restructure the country's current 18 states into regions **Legal system:** mixed system of Islamic law and English common law **Constitution:** history: previous 1973, 1998, 2005 (interim constitution, which was suspended in April 2019); latest initial draft completed by Transitional Military Council in May 2019; revised draft known as the "Draft Constitutional Charter for the 2019 Transitional Period," or “2019 Constitutional Declaration” was signed by the Council and opposition coalition on 4 August 2019 note: amended 2020 to incorporate the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan; the military suspended several provisions of the Constitutional Declaration in October 2021 **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2008 **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sudan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 17 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fattah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (since 11 November 2021) head of government: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fattah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (since 11 November 2021) cabinet: the military forced most members of the Council of Ministers out of office in 2021; a handful of ministers appointed by former armed opposition groups were allowed to retain their posts; at present, most of the members of the Council are appointed senior civil servants serving in an acting-minister capacity election/appointment process: military members of the Sovereign Council are selected by the leadership of the security forces; representatives of former armed groups to the Sovereign Council are selected by the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement election results: NA expected date of next election: supposed to be held in 2022 or 2023, but the methodology for elections has still not been defined note 1: the 2019 Constitutional Declaration established a collective chief of state of the "Sovereign Council," which was chaired by al-BURHAN; on 25 October 2021, al-BURHAN dissolved the Sovereign Council but reinstated it on 11 November 2021, replacing its civilian members (previously selected by the umbrella civilian coalition the Forces for Freedom and Change) with civilians of the military’s choosing, but then relieved the newly appointed civilian members of their duties on 6 July 2022 note 2: Sovereign Council currently consists of 5 generals **Legislative branch:** note: the Parliament of Sudan was dissolved after a coup in April 2019; the August 2019 Constitutional Declaration established Sudan's transitional government; a Transitional Legislative Council (TLC) was to have served as the national legislature during the transitional period until elections could be held, but the TLC has not been created **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): National Supreme Court (consists of 70 judges organized into panels of 3 judges and includes 4 circuits that operate outside the capital); a Constitutional Court was required in the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, but it has yet to be implemented judge selection and term of office: National Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; other national courts; public courts; district, town, and rural courts **Political parties:** Democratic Unionist Party Democratic Unionist Party or DUP Federal Umma Party Muslim Brotherhood or MB National Congress Party or NCP National Umma Party or NUP Popular Congress Party or PCP Reform Movement Now Sudan National Front Sudanese Communist Party or SCP Sudanese Congress Party or SCoP Umma Party for Reform and Development Unionist Movement Party or UMP note: in November 2019, the transitional government banned the National Congress Party **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Abdalla IDRIS (since 16 September 2022) chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406 email address and website: consular@sudanembassy.org https://www.sudanembassy.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Colleen Crenwelge (since May 2024) embassy: P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum mailing address: 2200 Khartoum Place, Washington DC 20521-2200 telephone: [249] 187-0-22000 email address and website: ACSKhartoum@state.gov https://sd.usembassy.gov/ note: the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum suspended operations (to include visa, passport, and other routine consular services) on 22 April 2023 **International organization participation:** ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU (suspended), CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) **Independence:** 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 1 January (1956) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with a green isosceles triangle based on the left side meaning: red stands for the struggle for freedom; white for peace, light, and love, black for the people; green for Islam, agriculture, and prosperity history: colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I **National symbol(s):** secretary bird **National color(s):** red, white, black, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land) lyrics/music: Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN history: adopted 1956; originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (c); Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe (c); Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income Sahel economy devastated by ongoing civil war; major impacts on rural income, basic commodity prices, industrial production, agricultural supply chain, communications and commerce; hyperinflation and currency depreciation worsening food access and humanitarian conditions **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $94.42 billion (2024 est.) $109.147 billion (2023 est.) $154.672 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** -13.5% (2024 est.) -29.4% (2023 est.) -1% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $1,900 (2024 est.) $2,200 (2023 est.) $3,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $49.91 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 138.8% (2022 est.) 359.1% (2021 est.) 163.3% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 22.1% (2024 est.) industry: 23% (2024 est.) services: 54.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 80.7% (2024 est.) government consumption: 16.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 2.9% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 1.2% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -1.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugarcane, sorghum, milk, onions, groundnuts, sesame seeds, goat milk, bananas, mangoes/guavas, millet (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling **Industrial production growth rate:** -13.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 10.949 million (2022 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 11.45% (2023 est.) 7.6% (2022 est.) 11.1% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 12% (2022 est.) male: 11.8% (2022 est.) female: 13.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Remittances:** 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 3.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $9.045 billion (2015 est.) expenditures: $9.103 billion (2015 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 7.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$4.443 billion (2022 est.) -$2.62 billion (2021 est.) -$5.841 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $5.908 billion (2022 est.) $6.664 billion (2021 est.) $5.065 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 21%, China 17%, Saudi Arabia 16%, Malaysia 9%, Egypt 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, gold, oil seeds, sheep and goats, ground nuts (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $11.575 billion (2022 est.) $10.271 billion (2021 est.) $10.52 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 21%, India 19%, Egypt 16%, UAE 14%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** raw sugar, wheat flours, refined petroleum, garments, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $177.934 million (2017 est.) $168.284 million (2016 est.) $173.516 million (2015 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $21.65 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 546.759 (2022 est.) 370.791 (2021 est.) 53.996 (2020 est.) 45.767 (2019 est.) 24.329 (2018 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 63.2% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 84% electrification - rural areas: 49.4% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 3.815 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 13.983 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 882 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.646 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 68.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** exports: 15 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 200 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 68,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 129,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 1.25 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** proven reserves: 84.951 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 6.145 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 156,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 34.7 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned broadcasters that self-censor but are somewhat independent (2022) **Internet country code:** .sd **Internet users:** percent of population: 26% (2020 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 30,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** ST **Airports:** 45 (2025) **Heliports:** 8 (2025) **Railways:** total: 7,251 km (2014) narrow gauge: 5,851 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations **Merchant marine:** total: 14 (2023) by type: other 14 **Ports:** total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 2 small: 2 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Al Khair Oil Terminal, Beshayer Oil Terminal, Port Sudan, Sawakin Harbor ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Ground Force (Sudanese Army), Sudanese Navy, Sudanese Air Force; Rapid Support Forces (RSF); Border Guards Ministry of Interior: Sudan Police Forces (SPF), Central Reserve Police (CRP) (2025) note 1: the RSF is a semi-autonomous paramilitary force formed in 2013 to fight armed rebel groups in Sudan, with Mohammed Hamdan DAGALO (aka Hemeti) as its commander; it was initially placed under the National Intelligence and Security Service, then came under the direct command of former president Omar al-BASHIR, who boosted the RSF as his own personal security force; as a result, the RSF was better funded and equipped than the regular armed forces; the RSF has since recruited from all parts of Sudan beyond its original Darfuri Arab groups but remains under the personal patronage and control of DAGALO note 2: the Central Reserve Police (aka Abu Tira) is a combat-trained paramilitary force note 3: the October 2020 peace agreement provided for the establishment of a Joint Security Keeping Forces (JSKF) tasked with securing the Darfur region in the place of the UN African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force that operated in the war-torn region from 2007-December 2020; the force was intended to include the SAF, RSF, police, intelligence, and representatives from armed groups involved in peace negotiations; while the first 2,000 members of the JSKF completed training in September 2022, the status of the force since the start of the civil war is not available note 4: there are also numerous armed militias operating in Sudan **Military expenditures:** 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2019 est.) 2% of GDP (2018 est.) 3.6% of GDP (2017 est.) note: many defense expenditures are probably off-budget **Military and security service personnel strengths:** prior to the outbreak of fighting between the SAF and the RSF in 2023, size estimates for Sudan's armed forces varied widely: up to 200,000 SAF; up to 100,000 RSF; up to 80,000 Central Reserve Police (2023) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the SAF's inventory includes a mix of mostly Chinese, Russian/Soviet, and some domestically produced weapons systems; Sudan has a state-run defense industry, which mostly manufactures copies of foreign-supplied armaments, such as armored vehicles, under license (2025) note 1: Sudan has been under a UN Security Council approved arms embargo since 2005 as a result of violence in Darfur; in September 2025, the embargo was extended for another year note 2: the RSF traditionally has been a lightly armed paramilitary force but over the years is reported to have acquired some heavier armaments such as armored vehicles, artillery, and anti-aircraft guns; it has captured some SAF arms and equipment during the ongoing conflict; since the start of the conflict, both the RSF and the SAF are reported to have received additional weaponry from various foreign suppliers **Military service age and obligation:** 18-33 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation 12-24 months (2025) note: official implementation of compulsory service is reportedly uneven; both the SAF and the RSF have been accused of engaging in forced recruitment of men and boys during the ongoing conflict **Military - note:** the primary responsibilities of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are border control, external defense, and internal security; SAF operations have traditionally been supported by militia and paramilitary forces, particularly the Rapid Support Forces (RSF); in the Spring of 2023, fighting broke out between the SAF and the RSF, particularly around the capital Khartoum and in the western region of Darfur, amid disputes over an internationally-backed plan for a transition towards civilian rule; fighting subsequently spread and continued into 2025 with reports of atrocities, ethnic cleansing, food insecurity, heavy civilian casualties, and millions of internally displaced persons; each side is supported by allied militias and both reportedly have received foreign support the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the military has a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; as of 2025, UNISFA had approximately 3,800 personnel assigned (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida; Harakat Sawa’d Misr note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 837,988 (2024 est.) IDPs: 11,559,970 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 3 — Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Sudan remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/sudan --- ## Tanzania **Slug:** tanzania **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇹🇿 **Codes:** cek: tz, iso2: TZ, iso3: TZA, iso_num: 834, genc: TZA, stanag: TZA, internet: .tz ### Introduction **Background:** Tanzania contains some of Africa’s most iconic national parks and famous paleoanthropological sites, and its diverse cultural heritage reflects the multiple ethnolinguistic groups that live in the country. Its long history of integration into trade networks spanning the Indian Ocean and the African interior led to the development of Swahili as a common language in much of east Africa and the introduction of Islam into the region. A number of independent coastal and island trading posts in what is now Tanzania came under Portuguese control after 1498 when they began to take control of much of the coast and Indian Ocean trade. By 1700, the Sultanate of Oman had become the dominant power in the region after ousting the Portuguese, who were also facing a series of local uprisings. During the next hundred years, Zanzibar -- an archipelago off the coast that is now part of Tanzania -- became a hub of Indian Ocean trade, with Arab and Indian traders establishing and consolidating trade routes with communities in mainland Tanzania that contributed to the expansion of the slave trade. Zanzibar briefly became the capital of the Sultanate of Oman before it split into separate Omani and Zanzibar Sultanates in 1856. Beginning in the mid-1800s, European explorers, traders, and Christian missionaries became more active in the region. The Germans eventually established control over mainland Tanzania -- which they called Tanganyika -- and the British established control over Zanzibar. Tanganyika came under British administration after the German defeat in World War I. Tanganyika gained independence from Great Britain in 1961, and Zanzibar followed in 1963 as a constitutional monarchy. In Tanganyika, Julius NYERERE, a charismatic and idealistic socialist, established a one-party political system that centralized power and encouraged national self-reliance and rural development. In 1964, a popular uprising overthrew the Sultan in Zanzibar and either killed or expelled many of the Arabs and Indians who had dominated the isles for more than 200 years. Later that year, Tanganyika and Zanzibar combined to form the United Republic of Tanzania, but Zanzibar retained considerable autonomy. Their two ruling parties combined to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party in 1977, which has since won every presidential election. Tanzania held its first multi-party elections in 1995, but CCM candidates have continued to dominate politics. The ruling party has claimed victory in four contentious elections since 1995, despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities. In 2001, 35 people died in Zanzibar when soldiers fired on protestors. John MAGUFULI won the 2015 and 2020 presidential elections, and the CCM won over two-thirds of the seats in Parliament in both elections. MAGUFULI died in 2021 while in office and was succeeded by his vice president, Samia Suluhu HASSAN. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique **Geographic coordinates:** 6 00 S, 35 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 947,300 sq km land: 885,800 sq km water: 61,500 sq km note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar **Area - comparative:** more than six times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than twice the size of California **Land boundaries:** total: 4,161 km border countries (8): Burundi 589 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 479 km; Kenya 775 km; Malawi 512 km; Mozambique 840 km; Rwanda 222 km; Uganda 391 km; Zambia 353 km **Coastline:** 1,424 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands **Terrain:** plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south **Elevation:** highest point: Kilimanjaro (highest point in Africa) 5,895 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 1,018 m **Natural resources:** hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones (including tanzanite, found only in Tanzania), gold, natural gas, nickel **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 15.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.) forest: 50.1% (2023 est.) other: 5.3% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,840 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Uganda and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Malawi) - 22,490 salt water lake(s): Lake Rukwa - 5,760 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) **Population distribution:** the largest and most populous East African country; population distribution is extremely uneven, but greater population clusters occur in the northern half of country and along the east coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought volcanism: limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962 m) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru **Geography - note:** Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only three mountain ranges on the continent that has glaciers (the others are Mount Kenya in Kenya and the Ruwenzori Mountains on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of the Congo border); Tanzania is bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world's second-deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) in the southwest ### People and Society **Population:** total: 69,145,464 (2025 est.) male: 34,597,449 female: 34,548,015 **Nationality:** noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian **Ethnic groups:** mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African **Languages:** Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic, many local languages major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Christian 63.1%, Muslim 34.1%, folk religion 1.1%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified 1.6% (2020 est.) note: Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 41.2% (male 14,039,292/female 13,740,439) 15-64 years: 55.4% (male 18,677,388/female 18,708,390) 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 975,224/female 1,321,388) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 81.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 76 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 18.8 years (2025 est.) male: 18.8 years female: 19.4 years **Population growth rate:** 2.85% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 33.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the largest and most populous East African country; population distribution is extremely uneven, but greater population clusters occur in the northern half of country and along the east coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 37.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 262,000 Dodoma (legislative capital) (2018), 7.776 million DAR ES SALAAM (administrative capital), 1.311 million Mwanza, 800,000 Zanzibar (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.9 years (2022 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 15-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 276 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 70.8 years (2024 est.) male: 69 years female: 72.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.45 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.19 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 81.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 49% of population (2022 est.) total: 60.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 18.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 51% of population (2022 est.) total: 39.2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.4% of GDP (2021) 5.1% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 0.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 89.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 27.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 50.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 10.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 72.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 49.9% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 6.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 6.5% (2025 est.) male: 11.3% (2025 est.) female: 2% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 11.4% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 59.2% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 5.2% (2022) women married by age 18: 29.1% (2022) men married by age 18: 3.5% (2022) **Education expenditure:** 3.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 13.4% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 78.2% (2022 est.) male: 84.2% (2022 est.) female: 73.1% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 9 years (2021 est.) male: 9 years (2021 est.) female: 9 years (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution; improper management of liquid waste; indoor air pollution from burning wood or charcoal for cooking and heating; soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; coral reef destruction; illegal hunting and animal trade, especially ivory; loss of biodiversity; solid waste disposal **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 15.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.) forest: 50.1% (2023 est.) other: 5.3% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 37.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 17.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.687 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 12.066 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 3.954 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 568.3 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,176.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 168.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 1,226.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 9.277 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 527 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 25 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 4.632 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 96.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Ngorongoro Lengai (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form: Tanzania local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania local short form: Tanzania former: German East Africa, Trust Territory of Tanganyika, Republic of Tanganyika, People's Republic of Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar etymology: the country's name is a combination of the first letters of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the two states that merged to form Tanzania in 1964 **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Dodoma geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name comes from the name of a nearby mountain; the origin of the mountain's name is unclear **Administrative divisions:** 31 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Kaskazini Pemba (Pemba North), Kaskazini Unguja (Zanzibar North), Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Kusini Pemba (Pemba South), Kusini Unguja (Zanzibar Central/South), Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Mjini Magharibi (Zanzibar Urban/West), Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Pwani (Coast), Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Singida, Songwe, Tabora, Tanga **Legal system:** English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 25 April 1977 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles including those on sovereignty of the United Republic, the authorities and powers of the government, the president, the Assembly, and the High Court requires two-thirds majority vote of the mainland Assembly membership and of the Zanzibar House of Representatives membership; House of Representatives approval of other amendments is not required **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tanzania; if a child is born abroad, the father must be a citizen of Tanzania dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021) head of government: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 29 October 2025 election results: 2025: Samia Suluhu HASSAN reelected; percent of vote - Samia Suluhu HASSAN (CCM) 97.7%, others 2.3% expected date of next election: October 2030 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Bunge) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 403 (272 directly elected; 120 indirectly elected; 10 appointed; 1 other) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/29/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM) (383); ACT-Wazalendo (2) percentage of women in chamber: 39.5% expected date of next election: October 2030 note: the Attorney General fills the "other" seat as an ex-officio member **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Appeal of the United Republic of Tanzania (consists of the chief justice and 14 justices); High Court of the United Republic for Mainland Tanzania (consists of the principal judge and 30 judges organized into commercial, land, and labor courts); High Court of Zanzibar (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission for Tanzania, a judicial body of high-level judges and 2 members appointed by the national president; Court of Appeal and High Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 60, but terms can be extended; High Court of Zanzibar judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Commission of Zanzibar; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65 subordinate courts: Resident Magistrates Courts; Kadhi courts (for Islamic family matters); district and primary courts **Political parties:** Alliance for Change and Transparency (Wazalendo) or ACT-Wazalendo Civic United Front (Chama Cha Wananchi) or CUF Party of Democracy and Development (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) or CHADEMA Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) or CCM **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Elsie Sia KANZA (since 1 December 2021) chancery: 1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 884-1080 FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408 email address and website: ubalozi@tanzaniaembassy-us.org https://us.tzembassy.go.tz/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Andrew LENTZ (since January 2025) embassy: 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, P.O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam mailing address: 2140 Dar es Salaam Place, Washington, DC 20521-2140 telephone: [255] (22) 229-4000 FAX: [255] (22) 229-4721 email address and website: DRSACS@state.gov https://tz.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, EAC, EADB, EITI, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 26 April 1964 (Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar); 29 October 1964 (renamed United Republic of Tanzania); notable earlier dates: 9 December 1961 (Tanganyika became independent from UK-administered UN trusteeship); 10 December 1963 (Zanzibar became independent from UK) **National holiday:** Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964) **Flag:** description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band, from the lower left corner to the upper right corner; the upper triangle (left side) is green, and the lower is blue meaning: colors come from the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green stands for natural vegetation, gold for rich mineral deposits, black for the Swahili people, and blue for lakes and rivers, as well as the Indian Ocean **National symbol(s):** Uhuru (freedom) torch, giraffe **National color(s):** green, yellow, blue, black **National anthem(s):** title: "Mungu ibariki Afrika" (God Bless Africa) lyrics/music: collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA history: adopted 1961; the anthem, which is also a popular African popular song in Africa, shares the melody of Zambia's anthem and is part of South Africa's anthem **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 7 (3 cultural, 3 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ngorongoro Conservation Area (m); Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara (c); Serengeti National Park (n); Selous Game Reserve (n); Kilimanjaro National Park (n); Stone Town of Zanzibar (c); Kondoa Rock-Art Sites (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** emerging lower middle-income East African economy; resource-rich and growing tourism; strong post-pandemic recovery from hospitality, electricity, mining, and transit sectors; declining poverty; stable inflation; gender-based violence economic and labor force disruptions **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $246.706 billion (2024 est.) $233.786 billion (2023 est.) $222.506 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5.5% (2024 est.) 5.1% (2023 est.) 4.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $3,700 (2024 est.) $3,600 (2023 est.) $3,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $78.78 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.1% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 4.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 23.4% (2024 est.) industry: 28.7% (2024 est.) services: 28.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 52.9% (2024 est.) government consumption: 9.2% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 41.4% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -1.6% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 19.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -21.7% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, milk, sugarcane, rice, vegetables, beans, sunflower seeds (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); mining (diamonds, gold, and iron), salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer **Industrial production growth rate:** 5.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 32.983 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 2.6% (2024 est.) 2.6% (2023 est.) 2.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 3.3% (2024 est.) male: 2.6% (2024 est.) female: 4.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 26.4% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 40.5 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 26.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 33.1% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $11.716 billion (2024 est.) expenditures: $13.583 billion (2024 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 11.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$2.958 billion (2023 est.) -$5.482 billion (2022 est.) -$2.374 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $13.98 billion (2023 est.) $11.986 billion (2022 est.) $9.874 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** India 15%, UAE 14%, Uganda 12%, South Africa 10%, China 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, refined petroleum, dried legumes, refined copper, coal (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $16.059 billion (2023 est.) $16.674 billion (2022 est.) $11.61 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 32%, India 13%, UAE 9%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Japan 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, plastics, garments, fertilizers, wheat (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $5.05 billion (2018 est.) $5.888 billion (2017 est.) $4.351 billion (2016 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $17.513 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 2,597.9 (2024 est.) 2,383.043 (2023 est.) 2,303.034 (2022 est.) 2,297.764 (2021 est.) 2,294.146 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 45.8% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 74.7% electrification - rural areas: 36% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 1.818 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 9.109 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 157.688 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.039 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 74.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 2.341 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 740,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1.602 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.41 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 85,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 2.016 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 2.016 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 6.513 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 4.091 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 76,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 86.8 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** about 45 TV stations, with 13 national that broadcast free-to-air TV; 196 radio stations, most operating at the district level, but also including 5 independent national stations and 1 state-owned national radio station; international broadcasts widely available through satellite TV; 3 major satellite TV providers (2020) **Internet country code:** .tz **Internet users:** percent of population: 29% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1.66 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5H **Airports:** 206 (2025) **Railways:** total: 4,097 km (2022) standard gauge: 421 km (2022) narrow gauge: 969 km (2022) 1.067 m gauge broad gauge: 2,707 km (2022) 1.000 m guage **Merchant marine:** total: 381 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 17, general cargo 170, oil tanker 58, other 132 **Ports:** total ports: 8 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 3 very small: 4 ports with oil terminals: 4 key ports: Chake Chake, Dar Es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF or Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania, JWTZ): Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force, Nation Building Army (Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa, JKT), Reserve Forces Ministry of Home Affairs: Tanzania Police Force (Jeshi la Polisi Tanzania) (2025) note 1: the Nation Building Army (aka National Services) is a paramilitary organization under the Defense Forces that provides six months of military and vocational training to individuals as part of their two years of public service; after completion of training, some graduates join the regular Defense Forces while the remainder become part of the Reserves note 2: the Tanzania Police Force includes the Police Field Force (aka Field Force Unit), a special police division with the responsibility for controlling unlawful demonstrations and riots **Military expenditures:** 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 25,000 active Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the TPDF's inventory includes mostly British, Chinese, and Russian/Soviet-era armaments (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** generally 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women, but may go up to 35 years of age depending on education levels and for medical specialists; no conscription (2026) **Military deployments:** 520 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); more than 1,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO and Southern African Development Community regional force); 125 Lebanon (UNIFIL); approximately 300 Mozambique (under bi-lateral agreement to assist with combatting an insurgency) (2025) **Military - note:** the chief concerns of the Tanzania Defense Forces (TDPF) are maritime piracy and smuggling, border security, terrorism, animal poaching, and spillover from instability in neighboring countries, particularly Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); it participates in multinational training exercises, regional peacekeeping deployments, and has ties with a variety of foreign militaries, including those of China, India, and the US; it has contributed troops to the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade in the DRC; the TPDF also participated in the former Southern African Development Community intervention force in Mozambique, which assisted the Mozambique military in combating fighters affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); the regional force withdrew in 2024, but the TPDF continues to maintain troops in Mozambique as part of a separate bilateral security agreement; since 2020, the TPDF has reinforced the border with Mozambique following several cross-border attacks by ISIS fighters (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 218,123 (2024 est.) IDPs: 75,117 (2024 est.) --- ## Togo **Slug:** togo **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇹🇬 **Codes:** cek: to, iso2: TG, iso3: TGO, iso_num: 768, genc: TGO, stanag: TGO, internet: .tg ### Introduction **Background:** From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major trading center for enslaved people, and the surrounding region took on the name of "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany declared the area a protectorate called Togoland, which included present-day Togo. After World War I, colonial rule over Togo was transferred to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multi-party elections instituted in the early 1990s, EYADEMA largely dominated the government. His Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967, with its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintaining a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in 2005, the military installed his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, as president and then engineered his formal election two months later. Togo held its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in 2007. Since then, GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has held multiple presidential and legislative elections, and in 2019, the country held its first local elections in 32 years. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of protests from frustrated citizens, leading to violence between security forces and protesters. Constitutional changes in 2019 to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and to establish term limits have done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after more than 50 years of one-family rule. GNASSINGBE became eligible for his current fourth term and one additional fifth term under the new rules. The next presidential election is set for 2025. ### Geography **Location:** Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana **Geographic coordinates:** 8 00 N, 1 10 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 56,785 sq km land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than West Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 1,880 km border countries (3): Benin 651 km; Burkina Faso 131 km; Ghana 1,098 km **Coastline:** 56 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 30 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm note: the US does not recognize the territorial sea claim **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north **Terrain:** gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes **Elevation:** highest point: Mont Agou 986 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 236 m **Natural resources:** phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 48.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.4% (2023 est.) forest: 22.4% (2023 est.) other: 7.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 70 sq km (2012) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km) **Population distribution:** one of the more densely populated African nations, with most of the population residing in rural communities; density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts **Geography - note:** stretches through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna ### People and Society **Population:** total: 9,143,439 (2025 est.) male: 4,488,825 female: 4,654,614 **Nationality:** noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese **Ethnic groups:** Adja-Ewe/Mina 42.4%, Kabye/Tem 25.9%, Para-Gourma/Akan 17.1%, Akposso/Akebu 4.1%, Ana-Ife 3.2%, other Togolese 1.7%, foreigners 5.2%, no response 0.4% (2013-14 est.) note: Togo has an estimated 37 ethnic groups **Languages:** French (official, language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (in the north) **Religions:** Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 38.7% (male 1,749,533/female 1,699,084) 15-64 years: 57% (male 2,486,142/female 2,597,914) 65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 159,596/female 225,725) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 74.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 66.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 12.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 20.9 years (2025 est.) male: 19.9 years female: 21.4 years **Population growth rate:** 2.37% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 30.17 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** one of the more densely populated African nations, with most of the population residing in rural communities; density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 44.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.982 million LOME (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 25 years (2017 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 349 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 34.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 33.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 72.1 years (2024 est.) male: 69.5 years female: 74.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 4.03 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.99 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 87% of population (2022 est.) rural: 58.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 71% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 13% of population (2022 est.) rural: 41.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 29% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.6% of GDP (2021) 2.6% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 0.6 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 82% of population (2022 est.) rural: 19.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 46.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 18% of population (2022 est.) rural: 80.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 53.3% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 1.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 5% (2025 est.) male: 9.3% (2025 est.) female: 0.7% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 15.2% (2017 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 63.7% (2017 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 6.4% (2017) women married by age 18: 24.8% (2017) men married by age 18: 2.6% (2017) **Education expenditure:** 4.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 11.6% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 72.6% (2022 est.) male: 82.8% (2022 est.) female: 63.7% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 12 years (2017 est.) male: 13 years (2017 est.) female: 11 years (2017 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation from slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; very little rainforest still present and what remains is highly degraded; desertification; water pollution; air pollution in urban areas **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 48.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.4% (2023 est.) forest: 22.4% (2023 est.) other: 7.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 44.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 2.656 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 372,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.941 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 343,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 33.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 43.3 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 51.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 31.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 10.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.109 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3.5% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 140.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 6.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: République Togolaise local short form: none former: French Togoland etymology: the name derives from the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo; the town's name probably comes from the lake's name, which is composed of the Ewe words to ("water") and go ("shore") **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Lome geographic coordinates: 6 07 N, 1 13 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name comes from a local word meaning "little market" **Administrative divisions:** 5 regions (régions, singular - région); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes **Legal system:** customary law system **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; revised 6 May 2024 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one fifth of the National Assembly membership; passage requires four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; a referendum is required if approved by only two-thirds majority of the Assembly or if requested by the president; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Togo dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Jean-Lucien Kwassi Savi de TOVE (since 3 May 2025) head of government: President of Council of Ministers Faure GNASSINGBE (since 3 May 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the president of the council of ministers election/appointment process: president is appointed by the national assembly for one six-year term; the president of the council of ministers is the leader of the majority party in the national assembly and is confirmed by the Constitutional Court with no term limits election results: 2020: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 70.8%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 19.5%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.7%, other 5% 2015: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 58.8%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 35.2%, Tchaboure GOGUE (ADDI) 4%, other 2% note: in May 2024, the President signed into law changes to the constitution that converted the presidential system to a parliamentary republic and created the President of Council of Ministers position **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: bicameral note: party lists are required to contain equal numbers of men and women **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) number of seats: 113 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 4/29/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Republic (UNIR) (108); Other (5) percentage of women in chamber: 15% expected date of next election: April 2030 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Sénat) number of seats: 61 (41 directly elected; 20 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 2/15/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Republic (UNIR) (34); Independents (3); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 24.6% expected date of next election: February 2031 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (organized into criminal and administrative chambers, each with a chamber president and advisors); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the court president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, a 9-member judicial, advisory, and disciplinary body; other judicial appointments and judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: Court of Assizes (sessions court); Appeal Court; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil, commercial, and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal **Political parties:** Action Committee for Renewal or CAR Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development or ADDI Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA Democratic Forces for the Republic or FDR National Alliance for Change or ANC New Togolese Commitment Pan-African National Party or PNP Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development or MPDD Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR The Togolese Party Union of Forces for Change or UFC Union for the Republic or UNIR **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Frédéric Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190 email address and website: embassyoftogo@hotmail.com https://embassyoftogousa.com/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Richard C. MICHAELS (since June 2025) embassy: Boulevard Eyadema B.P. 852, Lomé mailing address: 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300 telephone: [228] 2261-5470 FAX: [228] 2261-5501 email address and website: consularLome@state.gov https://tg.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AIIB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 27 April (1960) **Flag:** description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a five-pointed white star on a red square is in the upper-left corner meaning: the five horizontal stripes stand for the country's regions; red stands for the people's loyalty and patriotism; green for hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow for mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and national independence history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** green, yellow, red, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Salut à toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers) lyrics/music: Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH history: adopted 1960, restored 1992; anthem was replaced during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Koutammakou; the Land of the Batammariba ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income West African economy; primarily agrarian economy; has a deep-water port; growing international shipping locale; improving privatization and public budgeting transparency; key phosphate mining industry; extremely high rural poverty **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $27.115 billion (2024 est.) $25.75 billion (2023 est.) $24.199 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5.3% (2024 est.) 6.4% (2023 est.) 5.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $2,800 (2024 est.) $2,800 (2023 est.) $2,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $9.926 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.9% (2024 est.) 5.3% (2023 est.) 7.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 18% (2024 est.) industry: 20% (2024 est.) services: 52% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 78.3% (2024 est.) government consumption: 13.1% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.3% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 24.4% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -38.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** cassava, maize, yams, sorghum, soybeans, beans, rice, vegetables, oil palm fruit, cotton (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages **Industrial production growth rate:** 4.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 3.345 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 2% (2024 est.) 2% (2023 est.) 2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 3.4% (2024 est.) male: 3.3% (2024 est.) female: 3.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 45.5% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 37.9 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.8% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 29.6% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 7.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 8% of GDP (2022 est.) 7.8% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.801 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $2.407 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 14.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$20.738 million (2020 est.) -$55.444 million (2019 est.) -$184.852 million (2018 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.722 billion (2020 est.) $1.665 billion (2019 est.) $1.703 billion (2018 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 40%, India 13%, Angola 13%, Burkina Faso 4%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, refined petroleum, soybeans, phosphates, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $2.389 billion (2020 est.) $2.261 billion (2019 est.) $2.329 billion (2018 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 26%, India 26%, Belgium 6%, Netherlands 6%, USA 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, garments, rice, palm oil, motorcycles and cycles (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Debt - external:** $1.923 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 57.2% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 96.5% electrification - rural areas: 25% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 326,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.815 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 1.1 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 206.938 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 79.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 163,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 10 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 163,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 4.538 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 67,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 7.69 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 81 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 state-owned TV station with multiple transmission sites; five private local TV stations; cable TV available; state-owned radio network with two stations; several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019) **Internet country code:** .tg **Internet users:** percent of population: 37% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 114,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5V **Airports:** 7 (2025) **Railways:** total: 568 km (2014) narrow gauge: 568 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 397 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 10, general cargo 250, oil tanker 56, other 80 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Kpeme, Lome ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Togolese Army, Togolese Navy, Togolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale Togolaise or GNT) Ministry of Security and Civil Protection: Togolese Police (2025) note: the Police and GNT are responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order within the country; the GNT is also responsible for migration and border enforcement; the GNT falls under the Ministry of the Armed Forces but also reports to the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection on many matters involving law enforcement and internal security; in 2022, the Ministry of the Armed Forces was made part of the Office of the Presidency **Military expenditures:** 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 4% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 20,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the FAT has a small inventory of mostly obsolescent or older armaments originating from several countries, including Brazil, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, Türkiye, the UK, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-24 years of age for military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation; no conscription (2025) **Military - note:** the Togolese Armed Forces (FAT) are responsible for both external defense and internal security; the FAT’s primary concerns are border security, terrorism, and maritime security; in recent years, it has boosted operations in the northern border region of the country to secure the frontier and prevent banditry, illicit smuggling, and infiltrations from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida-affiliated militant groups based in Mali that also operates in neighboring Burkina Faso; in 2022, the Togolese Government declared a state of emergency in the north following an attack by JNIM fighters on a Togolese military post that killed several soldiers; the Navy and Air Force have increased focus on combating piracy and smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea since its creation in 1963, the Togolese military has had a history of involvement in the country’s politics, including assassinations, coups, and a crackdown in 2005 that killed hundreds of civilians; over the past decade, it has made efforts to reform and professionalize, which have included increasing its role in UN peacekeeping activities, participating in multinational exercises, and receiving training from foreign partners, particularly France and the US; in addition, Togo has established a regional peacekeeping training center for military and police in Lome (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 48,756 (2024 est.) IDPs: 18,429 (2024 est.) --- ## Tunisia **Slug:** tunisia **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇹🇳 **Codes:** cek: ts, iso2: TN, iso3: TUN, iso_num: 788, genc: TUN, stanag: TUN, internet: .tn ### Introduction **Background:** Many empires have controlled Tunisia, including the Phoenicians (as early as the 12 century B.C.), Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, various Arab and Berber kingdoms, and Ottomans (16th to late-19th centuries). Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades after World War I finally convinced the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women. In 1987, Zine el Abidine BEN ALI replaced BOURGUIBA in a bloodless coup. Street protests that began in Tunis in 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths and later became known as the start of the regional Arab Spring uprising. BEN ALI dismissed the government and fled the country, and a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held later that year, and human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI was elected as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in 2012 and, after several iterations and a months-long political crisis that stalled the transition, ratified the document in 2014. Parliamentary and presidential elections for a permanent government were held at the end of 2014. Beji CAID ESSEBSI was elected as the first president under the country's new constitution. After ESSEBSI’s death in office in 2019, Kais SAIED was elected. SAIED's term, as well as that of Tunisia's 217-member parliament, was set to expire in 2024. However, in 2021, SAIED used the exceptional powers allowed under Tunisia's constitution to dismiss the prime minister and suspend the legislature. Tunisians approved a new constitution through public referendum in 2022, expanding presidential powers and creating a new bicameral legislature. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya **Geographic coordinates:** 34 00 N, 9 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than Georgia **Land boundaries:** total: 1,495 km border countries (2): Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km **Coastline:** 1,148 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm **Climate:** temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south **Terrain:** mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara **Elevation:** highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m mean elevation: 246 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt **Land use:** agricultural land: 62.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.) forest: 4.5% (2023 est.) other: 33.1% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 3,920 sq km (2013) **Major aquifers:** North Western Sahara Aquifer System **Population distribution:** the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** flooding; earthquakes; droughts **Geography - note:** strategic location in central Mediterranean ### People and Society **Population:** total: 11,962,995 (2025 est.) male: 5,926,741 female: 6,036,254 **Nationality:** noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian **Ethnic groups:** Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1% **Languages:** Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Tamazight major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن كتاب تتعلم به المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two thirds of the population **Religions:** Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) <1% **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 24.4% (male 1,516,871/female 1,426,522) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 3,861,731/female 3,990,802) 65 years and over: 10.4% (2024 est.) (male 593,640/female 659,281) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 50.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 35.6 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 15.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 6.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 34.1 years (2025 est.) male: 33.6 years female: 35.1 years **Population growth rate:** 0.38% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 11.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.) male: 75.7 years female: 79.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.77 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 93.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 6.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7% of GDP (2021) 11.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2021) **Hospital bed density:** 2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 99% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 26.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 1.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 19% (2025 est.) male: 37.6% (2025 est.) female: 1.4% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 1.6% (2018 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 52.5% (2023 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0% (2018) women married by age 18: 1.5% (2018) men married by age 18: 0% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 6.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 17.3% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 86.2% (2023 est.) male: 92.7% (2023 est.) female: 80.1% (2023 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 14 years (2016 est.) male: 14 years (2016 est.) female: 15 years (2016 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation **Climate:** temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south **Land use:** agricultural land: 62.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.) forest: 4.5% (2023 est.) other: 33.1% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 24.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 14.249 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 10.392 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 88 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 94.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 97.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 3 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.7 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 815.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 61.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 2.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Tunis geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the ancient name is unclear; it is sometimes associated with the name of the Phoenician goddess Tanith **Administrative divisions:** 24 governorates (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), L'Ariana (Aryanah), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bouzid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan) **Legal system:** mixed system of civil law, based on the French civil code and Islamic (sharia) law; Supreme Court reviews some legislative acts in joint session **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest draft published by the president 30 June 2022, approved by referendum 25 July 2022, and adopted 27 July 2022 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or one third of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People membership; following Constitutional Court review, approval to proceed requires an absolute majority vote in the Assembly, and final passage requires a two-thirds Assembly majority vote; the president can opt to submit an amendment to a referendum, which requires an absolute majority of votes cast for passage **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tunisia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Kais SAIED (since 23 October 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Sarra ZAAFRANI Zenzri (since 21 March 2025) cabinet: prime minister appointed by the president; cabinet members appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 6 October 2024 election results: 2024: Kais SAIED reelected president in first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 90.7%, Ayachi ZAMMEL (Long Live Tunisia) 7.3%, Zouhair MAGHZAOUI (People's Movement) 2% 2019: Kais SAIED elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 18.4%, Nabil KAROUI (Heart of Tunisia) 15.6%, Abdelfattah MOUROU (Nahda Movement) 12.9%, Abdelkrim ZBIDI (independent) 10.7%, Youssef CHAHED (Long Live Tunisia) 7.4%, Safi SAID (independent) 7.1%, Lotfi MRAIHI (Republican People's Union) 6.6%, other 21.3%; percent of vote in second round - Kais SAIED 72.7%, Nabil KAROUI 27.3% expected date of next election: 2029 note: the president can dismiss any member of government on his own initiative or in consultation with the prime minister **Legislative branch:** legislative structure: bicameral note: in 2022, President SAIED issued a new electoral law that requires all legislative candidates to run as independents **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Assembly of People's Representatives (Majlis Nawwab ash-Sha'ab) number of seats: 161 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 12/17/2022 to 1/29/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 15.8% expected date of next election: December 2027 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: National Council of Regions and Districts number of seats: 77 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/19/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 13% expected date of next election: April 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the first president, chamber presidents, and magistrates; organized into 27 civil and 11 criminal chambers) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, an independent 4-part body consisting mainly of elected judges and the remainder legal specialists; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; Constitutional Court (established in the 2014 and 2022 constitutions, but never implemented) subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; administrative courts; Court of Audit; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts note: the Tunisian constitution of January 2014 called for the establishment of a constitutional court by the end of 2015, but the court was never formed; the new constitution of July 2022 calls for the establishment of a constitutional court consisting of 9 members appointed by presidential decree; members to include former senior judges of other courts **Political parties:** Afek Tounes Al Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative) Al-Amal Party Call for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes) Current of Love (formerly the Popular Petition party) Democratic Current Democratic Patriots' Unified Party Dignity Coalition or Al Karama Coalition Ennahda Movement (The Renaissance) Ettakatol Party Free Destourian Party or PDL Green Tunisia Party Harakat Hak Heart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes) July 25 Movement Labor and Achievement Party Long Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes) Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS National Coalition Party National Salvation Front New Carthage Party Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard People's Movement Republican Party (Al Joumhouri) The Movement Party (Hizb Harak) Third Republic Party Tunisian Ba'ath Movement Voice of the Republic Workers' Party note: President SAIED in 2022 issued a decree that forbids political parties' participation in legislative elections; although parties remain a facet of Tunisian political life, they have lost significant influence **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anis HAJRI (since 1 August 2025) chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858 email address and website: AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org https://www.tunisianembassy.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Bill BAZZI (since 21 November 2025) embassy: Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis mailing address: 6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC 20521-6360 telephone: [216] 71-107-000 FAX: [216] 71-107-090 email address and website: tuniswebsitecontact@state.gov https://tn.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 20 March 1956 (from France) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011) **Flag:** description: red with a white disk in the center that displays a red crescent around a five-pointed red star meaning: red stands for martyrs' blood shed the fight against oppression, and white for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam history: resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star), a reference to Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire **National symbol(s):** red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle **National color(s):** red, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland) lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB history: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 9 (8 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Amphitheatre of El Jem (c); Archaeological Site of Carthage (c); Medina of Tunis (c); Ichkeul National Park (n); Punic Town of Kerkuane (c); Kairouan (c); Medina of Sousse (c); Dougga / Thugga (c); Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower middle-income North African economy; drafting reforms for foreign lenders; high unemployment, especially for youth and women; hit hard by COVID-19; high public sector wages; high public debt; protectionist austerity measures; key EU trade partner **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $156.086 billion (2024 est.) $154.006 billion (2023 est.) $153.945 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.4% (2024 est.) 0% (2023 est.) 2.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $12,700 (2024 est.) $12,600 (2023 est.) $12,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $53.41 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 7.2% (2024 est.) 9.3% (2023 est.) 8.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 9.3% (2023 est.) industry: 23.6% (2023 est.) services: 62.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 76.2% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.6% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 13.4% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 48.4% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -56.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages **Industrial production growth rate:** -2.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 4.247 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 16.3% (2024 est.) 15.2% (2023 est.) 15.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 40.1% (2024 est.) male: 41.1% (2024 est.) female: 37.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 16.6% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 33.7 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 22.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 27% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 6% of GDP (2023 est.) 6.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 6.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $10.866 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $12.375 billion (2019 est.) **Current account balance:** -$1.111 billion (2023 est.) -$3.969 billion (2022 est.) -$2.77 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $19.732 billion (2023 est.) $17.254 billion (2022 est.) $14.054 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $21.953 billion (2023 est.) $22.453 billion (2022 est.) $18.178 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $9.344 billion (2024 est.) $9.24 billion (2023 est.) $8.094 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $21.212 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 3.107 (2024 est.) 3.106 (2023 est.) 3.104 (2022 est.) 2.794 (2021 est.) 2.812 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 99.7% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 6.639 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 19.153 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 80 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 2.576 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.629 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 96.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.) exports: 28 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 104,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 425 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 1.313 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 5.131 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 3.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 65.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1.863 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 14.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 2 state-owned TV stations; 10 private local TV stations; satellite TV service available; state-owned radio network with 2 stations; several dozen private radio stations and community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019) **Internet country code:** .tn **Internet users:** percent of population: 72% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1.73 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TS **Airports:** 14 (2025) **Heliports:** 11 (2025) **Railways:** total: 2,173 km (2014) (1,991 in use) standard gauge: 471 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,694 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) dual gauge: 8 km (2014) 1.435-1.000-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 72 (2023) by type: container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 62 **Ports:** total ports: 16 (2024) large: 0 medium: 3 small: 7 very small: 6 ports with oil terminals: 10 key ports: Ashtart Oil Terminal, Banzart, Didon Terminal, Gabes, La Goulette, Menzel Bourguiba, Mersa Sfax, Sousse, Tazerka Oil Terminal, Tunis ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025) note: the National Police has primary responsibility for law enforcement in the major cities, while the National Guard (gendarmerie) oversees border security and patrols smaller towns and rural areas **Military expenditures:** 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 3% of GDP (2021 est.) 3% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Tunisian military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Austria, France, Italy, Türkiye, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; men 20-35 years of age subject to 12 months of compulsory national service (2025) note: compulsory national service may be in the Armed Forces or other government ministries as needed **Military deployments:** 840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025) **Military - note:** the Tunisian Armed Forces (FAT) are responsible for territorial defense and internal security; operational areas of focus include counterterrorism and assisting with securing the border regions, particularly along the frontiers with Algerian and Libya the FAT conducts bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of countries, including Algeria and other North African and Middle Eastern countries, France, and the US, as well as NATO; it also participates in UN peacekeeping operations; Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Tunisia (known locally as Ajnad al-Khilafah or the Army of the Caliphate); al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 12,575 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Tunisia was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/tunisia --- ## Uganda **Slug:** uganda **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇺🇬 **Codes:** cek: ug, iso2: UG, iso3: UGA, iso_num: 800, genc: UGA, stanag: UGA, internet: .ug ### Introduction **Background:** An ancient crossroads for various migrations, Uganda has as many as 65 ethnic groups that speak languages from three of Africa’s four major linguistic families. As early as 1200, fertile soils and regular rainfall in the south fostered the formation of several large, centralized kingdoms, including Buganda, from which the country derives its name. Muslim traders from Egypt reached northern Uganda in the 1820s, and Swahili merchants from the Indian Ocean coast arrived in the south by the 1840s. The area attracted the attention of British explorers seeking the source of the Nile River in the 1860s, and this influence expanded in subsequent decades with the arrival of Christian missionaries and trade agreements; Uganda was declared a British protectorate in 1894. Buganda and other southern kingdoms negotiated agreements with Britain to secure privileges and a level of autonomy that were rare during the colonial period in Africa. Uganda's colonial boundaries grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures, and the disparities between how Britain governed southern and northern areas compounded these differences, complicating efforts to establish a cohesive independent country. Uganda gained independence in 1962 with one of the more developed economies and one of the strongest education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it descended within a few years into political turmoil and internal conflict that lasted more than two decades. In 1966, Prime Minister Milton OBOTE suspended the constitution and violently deposed President Edward MUTESA, who was also the king of Buganda. Idi AMIN seized power in 1971 through a military coup and led the country into economic ruin and rampant mass atrocities that killed as many as 500,000 civilians. AMIN’s annexation of Tanzanian territory in 1979 provoked Tanzania to invade Uganda, depose AMIN, and install a coalition government. In the aftermath, Uganda continued to experience atrocities, looting, and political instability and had four different heads of state between 1979 and 1980. OBOTE regained the presidency in 1980 through a controversial election that sparked renewed guerrilla warfare, killing as an estimated 300,000 civilians. Gen. Tito OKELLO seized power in a coup in 1985, but his rule was short-lived, with Yoweri MUSEVENI becoming president in 1986 after his insurgency captured the capital. MUSEVENI is widely credited with restoring relative stability and economic growth to Uganda but has resisted calls to leave office. In 2017, parliament removed presidential age limits, making it possible for MUSEVENI to remain in office for life. ### Geography **Location:** East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo **Geographic coordinates:** 1 00 N, 32 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 241,038 sq km land: 197,100 sq km water: 43,938 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon **Land boundaries:** total: 2,729 km border countries (5): Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km; Kenya 814 km; Rwanda 172 km; South Sudan 475 km; Tanzania 391 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast **Terrain:** mostly plateau with rim of mountains **Elevation:** highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m lowest point: Albert Nile 614 m **Natural resources:** copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold **Land use:** agricultural land: 71.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.) forest: 12.1% (2023 est.) other: 16% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 105 sq km (2013) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga - 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,150 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) **Population distribution:** population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms **Geography - note:** landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and second-largest freshwater lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda ### People and Society **Population:** total: 50,863,850 (2025 est.) male: 24,835,513 female: 26,028,337 **Nationality:** noun: Ugandan(s) adjective: Ugandan **Ethnic groups:** Baganda 16.5%, Banyankole 9.6%, Basoga 8.8%, Bakiga 7.1%, Iteso 7%, Langi 6.3%, Bagisu 4.9%, Acholi 4.4%, Lugbara 3.3%, other 32.1% (2014 est.) **Languages:** English (official), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages and the language used most often in the capital), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili (official), Arabic **Religions:** Protestant 45.1% (Anglican 32.0%, Pentecostal/Born Again/Evangelical 11.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, Baptist .3%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, Muslim 13.7%, other 1.6%, none 0.2% (2014 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 47% (male 11,747,745/female 11,427,932) 15-64 years: 50.6% (male 11,788,483/female 13,131,051) 65 years and over: 2.4% (2024 est.) (male 504,332/female 683,498) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 96.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 92.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 16.4 years (2025 est.) male: 15.5 years female: 17.1 years **Population growth rate:** 3.13% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 38.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -2.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 26.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.846 million KAMPALA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.4 years (2016 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 31.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 69.7 years (2024 est.) male: 67.5 years female: 72 years **Total fertility rate:** 5.08 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 2.5 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 80.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 51.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 59.3% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 19.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 40.7% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 4.7% of GDP (2021) 4.9% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 67.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 27.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 32.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 72.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 5.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 6.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 4.5% (2025 est.) male: 7.8% (2025 est.) female: 1.5% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 9.7% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 57.8% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 7.3% (2016) women married by age 18: 34% (2016) men married by age 18: 5.5% (2016) **Education expenditure:** 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 8.5% national budget (2022 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 69.1% (2016 est.) male: 78.5% (2016 est.) female: 61% (2016 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 9 years (2016 est.) male: 10 years (2016 est.) female: 9 years (2016 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification **Climate:** tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast **Land use:** agricultural land: 71.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.) forest: 12.1% (2023 est.) other: 16% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 26.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: -398 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 31.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 7.045 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.1% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 328 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 259 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 60.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Uganda conventional short form: Uganda etymology: the name is derived from the Swahili word u, meaning "land" or "country," and the Ganda people; the origin of the Ganda name is unclear **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Kampala geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 33 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is said to come from an African antelope, the impala **Administrative divisions:** 134 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bugweri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Butebo, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kalaki, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kapelebyong, Karenga, Kasese, Kasanda, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kazo, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kikuube, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitagwenda, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kwania, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Madi-Okollo, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Obongi, Omoro, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pakwach, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Rwampara, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in the second and third readings; proposals affecting "entrenched clauses," including the sovereignty of the people, supremacy of the constitution, human rights and freedoms, the democratic and multiparty form of government, presidential term of office, independence of the judiciary, and the institutions of traditional or cultural leaders, also requires passage by referendum, ratification by at least two-thirds majority vote of district council members in at least two thirds of Uganda's districts, and assent of the president of the republic **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a native-born citizen of Uganda dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: an aggregate of 20 years and continuously for the last 2 years prior to applying for citizenship **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 14 June 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of Parliament or persons who qualify to be elected as members of Parliament election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits) most recent election date: 15 January 2026 election results: 2026: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 71.7%, Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU (aka Bobi WINE) (NUP) 24.7%, Other 3.6% expected date of next election: 2031 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 529 (499 directly elected; 30 indirectly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 1/14/2021 to 1/18/2021 parties elected and seats per party: National Resistance Movement (NRM) (336); National Unity Platform (NUP) (57); Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) (32); Independents (74); Other (30) percentage of women in chamber: 34.1% expected date of next election: 1/15/2026 to 2/6/2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and at least 6 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president of the republic in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, an 8-member independent advisory body, and approved by the National Assembly; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (also acts as the Constitutional Court); High Court (includes 12 High Court Circuits and 8 High Court Divisions); Industrial Court; Chief Magistrate Grade One and Grade Two Courts throughout the country; qadhis courts; local council courts; family and children courts **Political parties:** Democratic Party or DP Forum for Democratic Change or FDC Justice Forum or JEEMA National Resistance Movement or NRM National Unity Platform People's Progressive Party or PPP Uganda People's Congress or UPC **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Robie KAKONGE (since 12 December 2022) chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727 email address and website: washington@mofa.go.ug https://washington.mofa.go.ug/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador William W. POPP (since 20 September 2023) embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala mailing address: 2190 Kampala Place, Washington DC 20521-2190 telephone: [256] (0) 312-306-001 FAX: [256] (0) 414-259-794 email address and website: KampalaWebContact@state.gov https://ug.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCDF, UNCTAD, UNECA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNOPS, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 9 October 1962 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 9 October (1962) **Flag:** description: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is at the center and shows a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) meaning: black stands for the African people, yellow for sunshine and vitality, and red for African brotherhood **National symbol(s):** grey crowned crane **National color(s):** black, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "O Uganda, Land of Beauty!" lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA history: adopted 1962; one of the shortest national anthems in the world **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (n); Rwenzori Mountains National Park (n); Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low-income, primarily agrarian East African economy; COVID-19 hurt economic growth and poverty reduction; lower oil prices threaten prior sector investments; endemic corruption; natural resource rich; high female labor force participation but undervalued **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $144.137 billion (2024 est.) $135.803 billion (2023 est.) $128.923 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 6.1% (2024 est.) 5.3% (2023 est.) 4.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $2,900 (2024 est.) $2,800 (2023 est.) $2,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $53.652 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.3% (2024 est.) 5.4% (2023 est.) 7.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 24.7% (2024 est.) industry: 24.9% (2024 est.) services: 43.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 66.3% (2024 est.) government consumption: 10% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 16.9% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -24.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** plantains, sugarcane, milk, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, beans, potatoes, tea (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production **Industrial production growth rate:** 4.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 22.829 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3% (2024 est.) 2.8% (2023 est.) 2.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 4.5% (2024 est.) male: 3.5% (2024 est.) female: 5.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 20.3% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 42.7 (2019 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 38.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.4% (2019 est.) highest 10%: 34.5% (2019 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $7.616 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $10.043 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 53.1% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 13% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$3.766 billion (2023 est.) -$4.064 billion (2022 est.) -$3.605 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $9.084 billion (2023 est.) $6.116 billion (2022 est.) $6.231 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** India 21%, UAE 16%, Hong Kong 10%, South Sudan 8%, Kenya 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, coffee, fish, refined petroleum, tobacco (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $13.853 billion (2023 est.) $11.079 billion (2022 est.) $10.62 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 19%, UAE 12%, Tanzania 11%, India 10%, Kenya 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, gold, plastics, packaged medicine, palm oil (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $3.359 billion (2018 est.) $3.721 billion (2017 est.) $3.098 billion (2016 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $10.469 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 3,757.263 (2024 est.) 3,726.14 (2023 est.) 3,689.817 (2022 est.) 3,587.052 (2021 est.) 3,718.249 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 47.1% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 72% electrification - rural areas: 35.9% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 1.452 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 4.254 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 400.349 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 23.289 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.116 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 86.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 19 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 100 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 19 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 44,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** proven reserves: 14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 2.252 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 116,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 41.6 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV networks; 31 Free-To-Air (FTA) TV stations, 2 digital terrestrial TV stations, 3 cable TV stations, and 5 digital satellite TV stations; 258 FM stations **Internet country code:** .ug **Internet users:** percent of population: 15% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 44,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5X **Airports:** 39 (2025) **Railways:** total: 1,244 km (2014) narrow gauge: 1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Force (includes marines), Air Force, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Uganda Police Force (2025) note 1: the Special Forces Command is a separate branch within the UPDF; it evolved from the former Presidential Guard Brigade and has continued to retain presidential protection duties in addition to its traditional missions, such as counterinsurgency note 2: the Uganda Police Force includes air, field, territorial, and marine units, as well as a presidential guard force note 3: in 2018, President MUSEVENI created a volunteer force of Local Defense Units under the military to beef up local security in designated parts of the country **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2019 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 45,000 active Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** most of the UPDF's arms are of Russian/Soviet origin with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Bulgaria, China, Czechia, Israel, and South Africa, as well as some domestically produced items; Uganda has a small defense industry that assembles or manufactures light armored vehicles and performs maintenance on some military equipment, including its Russian-made helicopters (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-22 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 9-year service obligation (2025) **Military deployments:** estimated 3,000 Democratic Republic of Congo; up to 4,500 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025) **Military - note:** the responsibilities of the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) include defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, assisting the civilian authorities in emergencies and natural disasters, contributing to regional security, participating in socio-economic development projects, conducting military diplomacy, and ensuring internal security, including against civil unrest, internal insurgency, and terrorism; in recent years it has beefed up its presence along the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan; the UPDF participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions and is a key contributor to the East Africa Standby Force; the UPDF is constitutionally granted seats in parliament and is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895 under the British colonial government; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (KAR) in 1902, which participated in both world wars, as well as the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya (1952-1960); in 1962, the Ugandan battalion of the KAR was transformed into the country's first military force, the Uganda Rifles, which was subsequently renamed the Uganda Army; the UPDF was established in 1995 from the former rebel National Resistance Army following the enactment of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 1,796,597 (2024 est.) IDPs: 22,209 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 10,284 (2024 est.) --- ## Zambia **Slug:** zambia **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇿🇲 **Codes:** cek: za, iso2: ZM, iso3: ZMB, iso_num: 894, genc: ZMB, stanag: ZMB, internet: .zm ### Introduction **Background:** Bantu-speaking groups mainly from the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms in the Congo River Basin and from the Great Lakes region in East Africa settled in what is now Zambia beginning around A.D. 300, displacing and mixing with previous population groups in the region. The Mutapa Empire developed after the fall of Great Zimbabwe to the south in the 14th century and ruled the region, including large parts of Zambia, from the 14th to 17th century. The empire collapsed as a result of the growing slave trade and Portuguese incursions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The region was further influenced by migrants from the Zulu Kingdom to the south and the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms to the north, after invading colonial and African powers displaced local residents into the area around the Zambezi River, in what is now Zambia. In the 1880s, British companies began securing mineral and other economic concessions from local leaders. The companies eventually claimed control of the region and incorporated it as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. The UK took over administrative control from the British South Africa Company in 1924. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred British economic ventures and colonial settlement. Northern Rhodesia’s name was changed to Zambia upon independence from the UK in 1964, under independence leader and first President Kenneth KAUNDA. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement, and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) into power. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. Administrative problems marked the election in 2001, with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his death in 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. BANDA and the MMD lost to Michael SATA and the Patriotic Front (PF) in the 2011 general elections. SATA, however, presided over a period of haphazard economic management and attempted to silence opposition to PF policies. SATA died in 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in the 2016 presidential elections. Hakainde HICHILEMA was elected president in 2021. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo **Geographic coordinates:** 15 00 S, 30 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 752,618 sq km land: 743,398 sq km water: 9,220 sq km **Area - comparative:** almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 6,043.15 km border countries (8): Angola 1,065 km; Botswana 0.15 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,332 km; Malawi 847 km; Mozambique 439 km; Namibia 244 km; Tanzania 353 km; Zimbabwe 763 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) **Terrain:** mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains **Elevation:** highest point: Mafinga Central 2,330 m lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m mean elevation: 1,138 m **Natural resources:** copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 32.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 26.9% (2023 est.) forest: 60.6% (2023 est.) other: 7.3% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,560 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation **Major rivers (by length in km):** Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin **Population distribution:** one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April) **Geography - note:** landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural river boundary with Zimbabwe; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi) ### People and Society **Population:** total: 22,021,971 (2025 est.) male: 11,066,079 female: 10,955,892 **Nationality:** noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian **Ethnic groups:** Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.) **Languages:** Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.) note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family; Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects **Religions:** Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 42.1% (male 4,418,980/female 4,337,187) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 5,726,265/female 5,736,732) 65 years and over: 2.8% (2024 est.) (male 262,008/female 317,944) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 75.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 71.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 4.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 22.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 19 years (2025 est.) male: 18.2 years female: 18.6 years **Population growth rate:** 2.51% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 29.6 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 4.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 46.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.181 million LUSAKA (capital), 763,000 Kitwe (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 19.2 years (2018 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 85 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 30.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 38.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 32.1 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 66.9 years (2024 est.) male: 65.2 years female: 68.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.67 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.81 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 88.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 68.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 11.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 31.8% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.6% of GDP (2021) 8.9% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 78.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 40.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 57.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 21.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 59.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 42.1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 8.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 3.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 2.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 11.7% (2025 est.) male: 21.4% (2025 est.) female: 2.4% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 11.8% (2018 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 55.7% (2018 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 5.2% (2018) women married by age 18: 29% (2018) men married by age 18: 2.8% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 4.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 14.5% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 71.1% (2018 est.) male: 81.7% (2018 est.) female: 62.2% (2018 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution and acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; poaching; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) **Land use:** agricultural land: 32.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 26.9% (2023 est.) forest: 60.6% (2023 est.) other: 7.3% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 46.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 9.877 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.042 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.608 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.6% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 290 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 130 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.152 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 104.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Zambia conventional short form: Zambia former: Northern Rhodesia etymology: name is derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms the southern border with Zimbabwe **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Lusaka geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after a village with a headman (chief) called LUSAAKAS **Administrative divisions:** 10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law and customary law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia citizenship by descent only: yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021) head of government: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 12 August 2021 election results: 2021: Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8% 2016: Edgar LUNGU reelected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government expected date of next election: 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 167 (156 directly elected; 8 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 44420 parties elected and seats per party: United Party for National Development (UPND) (82); Patriotic Front (PF) (60); Independents (13); Other (1) percentage of women in chamber: 15% expected date of next election: August 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and at least 11 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 11 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission, which is headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Industrial Relations Court; subordinate courts (3 levels, based on upper limit of money involved); Small Claims Court; local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved) **Political parties:** Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD Party of National Unity and Progress or PNUP Patriotic Front or PF United Party for National Development or UPND **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Chibamba KANYAMA (since 30 June 2023) chancery: 2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826 email address and website: info@zambiaembassy.org https://www.zambiaembassy.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022) embassy: Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka mailing address: 2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310 telephone: [260] (0) 211-357-000 FAX: [260] (0) 211-357-224 email address and website: ACSLusaka@state.gov https://zm.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 24 October 1964 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 24 October (1964) **Flag:** description: green field with a soaring orange eagle in the upper-right corner; a panel of three vertical bands is under the eagle, in red (left side), black, and orange meaning: green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red for the struggle for freedom, black for the people, and orange for the country's mineral wealth; the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems **National symbol(s):** African fish eagle **National color(s):** green, red, black, orange **National anthem(s):** title: "Lumbanyeni Zambia" (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free) lyrics/music: multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA history: adopted 1964; the melody, which comes from the popular song "God Bless Africa," a popular song and anthem in southern Africa **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower-middle-income sub-Saharan economy; regional hydroelectricity producer; trade ties and infrastructure investments from China; IMF assistance to restructure debt burden; one of youngest and fastest-growing labor forces; systemic corruption; extreme rural poverty **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $79.207 billion (2024 est.) $76.129 billion (2023 est.) $72.251 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4% (2024 est.) 5.4% (2023 est.) 5.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $3,700 (2024 est.) $3,700 (2023 est.) $3,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $26.326 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 15% (2024 est.) 10.9% (2023 est.) 11% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.8% (2024 est.) industry: 37.5% (2024 est.) services: 55.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 47.1% (2023 est.) government consumption: 13.3% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 26.4% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 5% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 40.8% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -37.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugarcane, cassava, maize, soybeans, milk, vegetables, wheat, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, beef (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture **Industrial production growth rate:** 3.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 7.407 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 6% (2024 est.) 6% (2023 est.) 6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 9.9% (2024 est.) male: 10.1% (2024 est.) female: 9.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 60% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 51.5 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.5% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 39.1% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $5.388 billion (2021 est.) expenditures: $6.19 billion (2021 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 71.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 16.8% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$582.715 million (2023 est.) $1.093 billion (2022 est.) $2.63 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $11.454 billion (2023 est.) $12.444 billion (2022 est.) $11.728 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Switzerland 27%, China 15%, India 13%, UAE 12%, DRC 10% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** raw copper, refined copper, gold, precious stones, electricity (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $10.854 billion (2023 est.) $10.022 billion (2022 est.) $7.691 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** South Africa 25%, China 15%, UAE 10%, India 5%, Japan 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, fertilizers, trucks, sulphur, tractors (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $3.173 billion (2023 est.) $2.968 billion (2022 est.) $2.754 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $16.597 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 26.166 (2024 est.) 20.212 (2023 est.) 16.938 (2022 est.) 20.018 (2021 est.) 18.344 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 47.8% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 87% electrification - rural areas: 14.5% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 3.986 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 14.399 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 3 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 180 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.229 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 87.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 2.091 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 2.081 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 15,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 103,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 945 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 8.265 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 81,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 23.2 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 47 state-controlled and private TV stations; state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has 2 TV channels, controls 1, and owns shares in 2 more; 137 radio stations, with 133 private and 4 state-owned (2019) **Internet country code:** .zm **Internet users:** percent of population: 33% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 99,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1 ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 9J **Airports:** 120 (2025) **Heliports:** 4 (2025) **Railways:** total: 3,126 km (2014) narrow gauge: 3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) **Merchant marine:** total: 2 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1 ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Zambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security: Zambia Police (2025) note 1: the Zambia National Service is a support organization that also does public work projects; its main objectives revolve around land development, agriculture, industries, youth skills training as well as arts, sports and culture; the ZDF also includes a Defense Force Medical Service note 2: the Zambia Army comprises the Regular Force, the Home Guard, and the Territorial Reserve **Military expenditures:** 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 16,000 active Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with smaller quantities of items from other suppliers such as Israel, South Africa, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-25 years of age (17 with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; initial service of 7 years followed by 5 in the Reserves (2025) **Military deployments:** 930 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025) **Military - note:** the Zambia Defense Forces (ZDF) are responsible for territorial defense, border security, and providing support to African and UN peacekeeping operations; it also has some domestic security responsibilities in cases of national emergency and is involved in socio-economic support; in recent years, ZDF has been directed to assist in agricultural production; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and participates in multinational training exercises; it has received training assistance from China and the US the ZDF traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 88,918 (2024 est.) IDPs: 131,349 (2024 est.) --- ## Zimbabwe **Slug:** zimbabwe **Region:** Africa **Flag:** 🇿🇼 **Codes:** cek: zi, iso2: ZW, iso3: ZWE, iso_num: 716, genc: ZWE, stanag: ZWE, internet: .zw ### Introduction **Background:** The hunter-gatherer San people first inhabited the area that eventually became Zimbabwe. Farming communities migrated to the area around A.D. 500 during the Bantu expansion, and Shona-speaking societies began to develop in the Limpopo valley and Zimbabwean highlands around the 9th century. These societies traded with Arab merchants on the Indian Ocean coast and organized under the Kingdom of Mapungubwe in the 11th century. A series of powerful trade-oriented Shona states succeeded Mapungubwe, including the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (ca. 1220-1450), Kingdom of Mutapa (ca. 1450-1760), and the Rozwi Empire. The Rozwi Empire expelled Portuguese colonists from the Zimbabwean plateau, but the Ndebele clan of Zulu King MZILIKAZI eventually conquered the area in 1838 during the era of conflict and population displacement known as the Mfecane. In the 1880s, colonists arrived with the British South Africa Company (BSAC) and obtained a written concession for mining rights from Ndebele King LOBENGULA. The king later disavowed the concession and accused the BSAC agents of deceit. The BSAC annexed Mashonaland and then conquered Matabeleland during the First Matabele War of 1893-1894, establishing company rule over the territory. In 1923, the UK annexed BSAC holdings south of the Zambezi River, which became the British colony of Southern Rhodesia. The 1930 Land Apportionment Act restricted Black land ownership and established rules that would favor the White minority for decades. A new constitution in 1961 further cemented White minority rule. In 1965, the government under White Prime Minister Ian SMITH unilaterally declared its independence from the UK. London did not recognize Rhodesia’s independence and demanded more voting rights for the Black majority in the country. International diplomacy and an uprising by Black Zimbabweans led to biracial elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, who led the uprising and became the nation's first prime minister, was the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) from independence until 2017. In the mid-1980s, the government tortured and killed thousands of civilians in a crackdown on dissent known as the Gukurahundi campaign. Economic mismanagement and chaotic implementation of land redistribution policies periodically crippled the economy. General elections in 2002, 2008, and 2013 were severely flawed and widely condemned but allowed MUGABE to remain president. In 2017, Vice President Emmerson MNANGAGWA became president after a military intervention that forced MUGABE to resign, and MNANGAGWA cemented power by sidelining rival Grace MUGABE (Robert MUGABE’s wife). In 2018, MNANGAGWA won the presidential election, and he has maintained the government's longstanding practice of violently disrupting protests and politicizing institutions. Economic conditions remain dire under MNANGAGWA. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia **Geographic coordinates:** 20 00 S, 30 00 E **Map references:** Africa **Area:** total : 390,757 sq km land: 386,847 sq km water: 3,910 sq km **Area - comparative:** about four times the size of Indiana; slightly larger than Montana **Land boundaries:** total: 3,229 km border countries (4): Botswana 834 km; Mozambique 1,402 km; South Africa 230 km; Zambia 763 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March) **Terrain:** mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east **Elevation:** highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m mean elevation: 961 m **Natural resources:** coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals **Land use:** agricultural land: 41.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 31.3% (2023 est.) forest: 35.9% (2023 est.) other: 22.3% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,740 sq km (2012) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin **Population distribution:** aside from major urban agglomerations in Harare and Bulawayo, population distribution is fairly even, with slightly greater overall numbers in the eastern half, as shown in this population distribution map **Natural hazards:** recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare **Geography - note:** landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural river boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April), the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi) ### People and Society **Population:** total: 17,472,752 (2025 est.) male: 8,503,108 female: 8,969,644 **Nationality:** noun: Zimbabwean(s) adjective: Zimbabwean **Ethnic groups:** African 99.6% (predominantly Shona; Ndebele is the second largest ethnic group), other (includes Caucasian, Asiatic, mixed race) 0.4% (2022 est.) **Languages:** Shona (official, most widely spoken) 80.9%, Ndebele (official, second most widely spoken) 11.5%, English (official, traditionally used for official business) 0.3%, 13 minority languages (official; includes Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa) 7%, other 0.3% (2022 est.) note: data represent population by mother tongue **Religions:** Apostolic Sect 40.3%, Pentecostal 17%, Protestant 13.8%, other Christian 7.8%, Roman Catholic 6.4%, African traditionalist 5%, other 1.5% (includes Muslim, Jewish, Hindu), none 8.3% (2022 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 38.3% (male 3,315,075/female 3,254,643) 15-64 years: 57.8% (male 4,758,120/female 5,152,773) 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 270,595/female 399,146) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 72.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 65.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 14.7 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 21.3 years (2025 est.) male: 20.3 years female: 22 years **Population growth rate:** 1.82% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 28.18 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** aside from major urban agglomerations in Harare and Bulawayo, population distribution is fairly even, with slightly greater overall numbers in the eastern half, as shown in this population distribution map **Urbanization:** urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.578 million HARARE (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 20.3 years (2015 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49 **Maternal mortality ratio:** 358 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 29.6 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 67.2 years (2024 est.) male: 65.6 years female: 68.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 3.42 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.68 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 92.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 47.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 62.3% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 7.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 52.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 37.7% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 2.8% of GDP (2021) 5.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 50.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 65.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 49.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 34.4% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 15.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 3.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 8.4% (2025 est.) male: 17.6% (2025 est.) female: 0.7% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 9.6% (2024 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 62.2% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 5.4% (2019) women married by age 18: 33.7% (2019) men married by age 18: 1.9% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 17.9% national budget (2025 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 93.2% (2019 est.) male: 93.1% (2019 est.) female: 93.4% (2019 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; poaching; toxic waste and heavy metal pollution from mining **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March) **Land use:** agricultural land: 41.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 31.3% (2023 est.) forest: 35.9% (2023 est.) other: 22.3% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 12.578 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 7.629 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.949 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.45 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21.8% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 547.078 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 81.352 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 4.281 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 20 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe conventional short form: Zimbabwe former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia etymology: takes its name from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (13th-15th century) and its capital of Great Zimbabwe, which was built of stone; the name Zimbabwe comes from the Bantu phrase zimba we bahwe, meaning "houses of stones;" the former name, Rhodesia, was derived from the name of British colonial administrator Cecil RHODES **Government type:** presidential republic **Capital:** name: Harare geographic coordinates: 17 49 S, 31 02 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after a village of Harare at the site of the present capital; the village name derived from a Shona chieftain, NE-HARAWA, whose name meant "he who does not sleep" **Administrative divisions:** 8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law, and customary law **Constitution:** history: previous 1965 (at Rhodesian independence), 1979 (Lancaster House Agreement), 1980 (at Zimbabwean independence); latest final draft completed January 2013, approved by referendum 16 March 2013, approved by Parliament 9 May 2013, effective 22 May 2013 amendment process: proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; amendments to constitutional chapters on fundamental human rights and freedoms and on agricultural lands also require approval by a majority of votes cast in a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Zimbabwe; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023) head of government: Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 11 September 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to National Assembly election/appointment process: each presidential candidate nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least 1 candidate from each province) and directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits); co-vice presidents drawn from party leadership most recent election date: 23 August 2023 election results: 2023: Emmerson MNANGAGWA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 52.6%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44%, Wilbert MUBAIWA (NPC) 1.2%, other 2.2% 2018: Emmerson MNANGAGWA elected president in first round; percent of vote - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 50.7%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44.4%, Thokozani KHUPE (MDC-N) 0.9%, other 4% expected date of next election: 2028 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 280 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 45161 parties elected and seats per party: ZANU-PF (175); Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) (104) percentage of women in chamber: 30.1% expected date of next election: August 2028 note: 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 additional seats are reserved for candidates aged 21 - 35 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate number of seats: 80 (60 directly elected; 20 indirectly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 45161 parties elected and seats per party: ZANU-PF (33); Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) (27) percentage of women in chamber: 44.3% expected date of next election: August 2028 note: 18 seats are reserved for the National Council Chiefs, and 2 reserved for members with disabilities **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president on recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body consisting of the chief justice, Public Service Commission chairman, attorney general, and 2-3 members appointed by the president; judges normally serve until age 65 but can elect to serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judge appointment NA; judges serve nonrenewable 15-year terms subordinate courts: High Court; Labor Court; Administrative Court; regional magistrate courts; customary law courts; special courts **Political parties:** Citizens Coalition for Change Movement for Democratic Change or MDC-T National People's Congress or NPC Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Sarah BHOROMA (since 12 November 2024) chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100 FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326 email address and website: general@zimembassydc.org https://zimembassydc.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela M. TREMONT (since August 2024) embassy: 2 Lorraine Drive, Bluffhill, Harare mailing address: 2180 Harare Place, Washington DC 20521-2180 telephone: [263] 867-701-1000 FAX: [263] 24-233-4320 email address and website: consularharare@state.gov https://zw.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 18 April 1980 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 18 April (1980) **Flag:** description: seven equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green, with a white isosceles triangle edged in black based on the left side; in the middle of the triangle, a yellow bird is on top of a five-pointed red star meaning: the bird represents the long history of the country; white stands for peace, green for agriculture, yellow for mineral wealth, red for the blood shed to achieve independence, and black for the people **National symbol(s):** Zimbabwe bird symbol, African fish eagle, flame lily **National color(s):** green, yellow, red, black, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Ndebele] "Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe) lyrics/music: Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA history: adopted 1994; lyrics in the country's three main languages were written by Zimbabwean poet and academic MUTSWAIRO **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mana Pools National Park, Sapi, and Chewore Safari Areas (n); Great Zimbabwe National Monument (c); Khami Ruins National Monument (c); Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls (n); Matobo Hills (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** low income Sub-Saharan economy; political instability and endemic corruption have prevented reforms and stalled debt restructuring; new Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency latest effort to combat ongoing hyperinflation; reliant on natural resource extraction, agriculture and remittances **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $57.391 billion (2024 est.) $56.249 billion (2023 est.) $53.399 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2% (2024 est.) 5.3% (2023 est.) 6.1% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $3,500 (2024 est.) $3,400 (2023 est.) $3,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $44.188 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 104.7% (2022 est.) 98.5% (2021 est.) 557.2% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 5.4% (2024 est.) industry: 31.8% (2024 est.) services: 55.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 91.5% (2024 est.) government consumption: 12.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 3.6% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.9% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 22.1% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -30.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugarcane, beef, maize, cabbages, potatoes, tomatoes, milk, onions, bananas, wheat (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, diamonds, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel, wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 6.386 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 8.6% (2024 est.) 8.8% (2023 est.) 10.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 14% (2024 est.) male: 12.9% (2024 est.) female: 15.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 38.3% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 50.3 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.5% (2017 est.) highest 10%: 34.8% (2017 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 9.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 9.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 9.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $17 million (2018 est.) expenditures: $23 million (2018 est.) **Taxes and other revenues:** 7.2% (of GDP) (2018 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $133.877 million (2023 est.) $304.966 million (2022 est.) $348.215 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $7.603 billion (2023 est.) $7.453 billion (2022 est.) $6.575 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** UAE 45%, China 18%, South Africa 15%, Mozambique 4%, Hong Kong 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, tobacco, nickel, minerals, diamonds (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $10.293 billion (2023 est.) $9.569 billion (2022 est.) $8.104 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** South Africa 37%, China 15%, Bahamas, The 5%, Singapore 5%, UAE 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, fertilizers, trucks, soybean oil, stone processing machines (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $484.973 million (2024 est.) $115.53 million (2023 est.) $598.622 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $6.671 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 3,266.332 (2024 est.) 3,509.172 (2023 est.) 374.954 (2022 est.) 88.552 (2021 est.) 51.329 (2020 est.) note: ongoing hyperinflation rendered Zimbabwean dollar essentially worthless; introduction of Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) as new currency effective April 2024 ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 50.1% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 89% electrification - rural areas: 33.7% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 2.491 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 8.346 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 395 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 2.297 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.864 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 32.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 65.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 7.968 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 6.705 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 984,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 71,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 502 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 800 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 10.855 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 310,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 15.7 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** government owns all local radio and TV stations; foreign shortwave broadcasts and satellite TV available; in rural areas, access to TV broadcasts is extremely limited; analog TV only, no digital service (2017) **Internet country code:** .zw **Internet users:** percent of population: 38% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 269,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** Z **Airports:** 144 (2025) **Heliports:** 5 (2025) **Railways:** total: 3,427 km (2014) narrow gauge: 3,427 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Ministry of Home Affairs: Zimbabwe Republic Police (2025) **Military expenditures:** 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 30,000 active Zimbabwe Defense Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the ZDF inventory is comprised mostly of Russian/Soviet-era and Chinese armaments with smaller quantities of older or obsolescent material from countries such as Brazil, France, Italy, South Africa, the UK, and the US (2025) note: since the early 2010s, Zimbabwe has been under an arms embargo from the EU, as well as targeted sanctions from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US **Military service age and obligation:** 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (enlisted personnel); 18-24 for officer cadets; 18-30 for technical/specialist personnel; no conscription (2025) **Military - note:** the primary responsibilities of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) are protecting the country’s sovereignty and territory and securing its borders; it also has a role in domestic security and socio-economic development projects and has continued to be active in the country’s politics since the 2017 military-assisted political transition; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and provided troops for the SADC military deployment to Mozambique from 2021-2024; Zimbabwe has defense ties with China and Russia the ZDF was formed after independence from the former Rhodesian Army and the two guerrilla forces that opposed it during the Rhodesian Civil War (aka "Bush War") of the 1970s, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA); the ZDF intervened in the Mozambique Civil War (1983-1992), the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Second Congo War (1998-2003), and the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) during the late 1990s (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA; established in 2019 and officially launched in 2021) (2025) note: ZINGSA is under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, and Technology Development **Space program overview:** has a nascent program with the goal of using space technologies in economic development, including remote sensing capabilities to assist with monitoring or managing agriculture, food security, climate change, disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and disasters, and natural resources, as well as weather forecasting; has cooperated with Japan and Russia (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 2020 - began a program (BIRDS-5) sponsored by Japan to promote the development of a domestic space program by designing, building, testing, launching, and operating the first satellites for participating countries 2021 - established satellite ground communications station and completed national wetlands mapping project 2022 - first nano-sized remote sensing/educational satellite (ZIMSAT-1) built with Japan’s assistance and launched by Japan under the BIRDs-5 program 2024 - second RS satellite (ZIMSAT-2) built with Russian assistance and launched by Russia ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 22,432 (2024 est.) IDPs: 32,675 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Zimbabwe remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/zimbabwe/ ---