Overview: In 1990, in spite of large mineral resources and one of the most developed and diversified economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, Zaire had a GDP per capita of only about $200, one of the lowest on the continent. The country's chronic economic problems worsened in 1990, with copper production down 20% to a 20-year low, inflation near 250% compared with 100% in 1987-89, and IMF and most World Bank support suspended until the institution of agreed-on changes. Agriculture, a key sector of the economy, employs 75% of the population but generates under 25% of GDP. The main potential for economic development has been the extractive industries. Mining and mineral processing account for about one-third of GDP and two-thirds of total export earnings. Zaire is the world's largest producer of diamonds.

GDP: $6.6 billion, per capita $180; real growth rate - 2% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 242% (1990)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $685 million; expenditures $1.1 billion, does not include capital expenditures mostly financed by donors (1990)

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--copper 37%, coffee 24%, diamonds 12%, cobalt, crude oil; partners--US, Belgium, France, FRG, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa

Imports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels; partners--South Africa, US, Belgium, France, FRG, Italy, Japan, UK

External debt: $7.9 billion (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate - 3.1%; accounts for 30% of GDP (1988)

Electricity: 2,575,000 kW capacity; 5,550 million kWh produced, 150 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, and cigarettes), processed foods and beverages, cement, diamonds

Agriculture: cash crops--coffee, palm oil, rubber, quinine; food crops--cassava, bananas, root crops, corn

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.1 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $6.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $263 million

Currency: zaire (plural--zaire); 1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta

Exchange rates: zaire (Z) per US$1--2,113.55 (January 1991), 718.58 (1990), 381.445 (1989), 187.070 (1988), 112.403 (1987), 59.625 (1986), 49.873 (1985)

Fiscal year: calendar year

NOTE: The information regarding Zaire on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Zaire Economy 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Zaire Economy 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.