Form of Government: Presidential republic
Area: 342 000 sq km
Population: 5 518 092 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 16.14 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 4° N - 5° S; long. 11° - 18° E
Capital: Brazzaville (capital) 1 932 610 inhab. (2018);
Currency: CFA franc (100 centimes)
Human development index: 0.574 (rank: 149)
President: Denis Sassou-Nguesso (PCT), since 25 October 1997, elected on 10 March 2002, last re-elected 21 March 2021
: Anatole Collinet Makosso (PCT), since 12 May 2021
National Assembly: seats based on the elections of 16 and 30 July 2017: PCT (Congolese Labour Party), 90; UDH-Yuki (Union of Humanist Democrats), 8; UPADS (Pan-African Union for Social Democracy), 8; RDPS (Rally for Democracy and Social Progress), 3; independents and others, 33; vacant, 9
Internet: //ins-congo.org (Institut National de la Statistique)
Member of AU, CEMAC, OPEC, UN, WTO
Congo, Rep.

International license plate code RCB
International dialling code 00242
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (required); malaria prophylaxis (recommended)
Electricity (Voltage) 230
Driving side rigth
Internet code .cg
GMT +1
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Brazzaville 24.9
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Brazzaville 25.5/22
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Brazzaville 4/4
Annual average precipitation (mm) Brazzaville 1343
Days of rainfall (annual average) Brazzaville 85
Geography.
Congo is bordered by Cameroon and the Central African Republic to the north, by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the east and south, by Angola to the south-west, and by Gabon to the west. The country faces out to the Atlantic Ocean in the south-west. The climate is hot and humid.
Government
Formerly a part of French Equatorial Africa (AEF), Congo became independent on 15 August 1960. Three years later a Marxist inspired government came to power with the PCT (Congolese Labour Party) at the helm. The PCT later came under the control of the armed forces until a multi-party constitution was introduced in 1992. In 1997, after a long civil war and with the support of Angolan troops, General Sassou-Nguesso (a former president between 1979 and 1992) came to power and dissolved parliament. On the basis of the Constitution approved in 2002 and amended in 2015, the President of the Republic, who appoints the Prime Minister, is elected by direct suffrage for a term of five years. The two-chamber parliament is made up of the National Assembly (151 members, elected for five-year terms) and the Senate (72 members, elected for six-year terms).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Air force | 12$ | % | 2015 |
Army | 80$ | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Homicides | 9.3 | per 100 000 pop. | 2015 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Brazzaville | 1 932 610 | inhab. | 2018 |
Pointe-Noire | 1 006 611 | inhab. | 2018 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 32.397 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 6.612 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
other | 35$ | % | 2000 |
Kongo | 21.2 | % | 2000 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Protestant | 55$ | % | 2012 |
Catholic | 32$ | % | 2012 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
French (official) |
Kikongo |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 41.6 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 24.4 | % | 2020 |
Economy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 137.8 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 107.32 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 2 246 000 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 49$ | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 10.3 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 52.3 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 1 461 000 | M LCU | 2018 |
Revenues | 1 888 000 | M LCU | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 34.1 | % | 2019 |
industry | 21.9 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 7.469 | % | 2019 |
industry | 45.061 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 567.135 | BN LCU | 2019 |
International reserves | 988.316 | M US$ | 2019 |
Agriculture
The country is heavily dependent on the price of oil, its main source of income. Congo also has very strong ties with China, especially in the raw materials sector.
After cassava, the main products are plantation crops such as peanuts, pineapple, sugar cane and bananas. The forests supply both valuable wood and timber for construction, as well as nuts, palm oil and rubber. Oil fields (the source of the country’s main export) lie offshore, on the ocean bed close to the coast. A plant for the production of LPG is also in operation on the N’Kossa platform. In addition to petroleum, natural gas is partially used to produce electricity.
The production is controlled by Western and Chinese companies. Diamond, gold and iron deposits (near Zanaga) are exploited. Other industries are limited but there are chemicals and petrochemicals (at Pointe-Noire), foodstuffs, textiles and shoemaking as well as tobacco production and cement works (at Dolisie, Hinda, Loutété, Madingou, Mindouli).
2010 saw a hydroelectricity plant coming online at Imboulou, financed by the Chinese. The CFA franc is pegged to the Euro at a fixed exchange rate.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 1.839 | % | 2018 |
forests | 64.351 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cereals, total | 32.258 | 1000 t | 2019 |
maize | 14$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 1 457.028 | 1000 t | 2019 |
potatoes | 6.013 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 1.646 | 1000 t | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 0.533 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 4.359 | 1000 t | 2019 |
beans, green | 4.246 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 24.116 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sesame seed | 0.263 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruits | 155.789 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 3$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cocoa | 4$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
coffee | 3.069 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 707.136 | 1000 t | 2019 |
tobacco | 0.503 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 254.226 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 15.88 | 1000 t | 2019 |
grapefruits | 5.786 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
avocados | 10.326 | 1000 t | 2019 |
bananas | 85.057 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
maize | 14$ | 1000 ha | 2019 |
millet | 16.237 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 134.433 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
potatoes | 0.694 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 0.11 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 0.084 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 5.343 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
beans, green | 1.017 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 45.132 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sesame seed | 0.608 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruit | 12.537 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 0.859 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cocoa | 14.362 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
coffee | 10.083 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 19.843 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
tobacco | 1.12 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 2.039 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
grapefruits | 0.344 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
avocados | 1.279 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
bananas | 12.823 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural rubber | 2 710 | t | 2019 |
timber | 3 948 279 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 373.321 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 373.321 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 112.025 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 116.253 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 328.656 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
equines, total | 0.081 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
horses | 0.081 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 3 048 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
eggs | 1.506 | 1000 t | 2019 |
hides and skins | 1.142 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 764 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 39 591 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural gas | 643 | M m³ | 2019 |
oil, crude | 14 122.9 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
diamonds | 47.6 | 1000 ct | 2018 |
gold | 150 | kg | 2017 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 2 132.86 | M kWh | 2018 |
- hydro | 1 226.61 | M kWh | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 390 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- hydro | 240 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 3 360.47 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 622.8 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
petrol | 155.9 | 1000 t | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
paints | 9.7 | 1000 t | 2018 |
soap | 24.4 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 300 | 1000 t | 2018 |
fish, salted or smoked | 8.1 | 1000 t | 2004 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cigarettes, packs | 82$ | M units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
other paper | 3$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
paper | 3$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 1 160 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
food, beverages and tobacco production | 319.8 | M US$ | 2009 |
machinery and transport equipment production | 33.7 | M US$ | 2009 |
Trade
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fuels | 83.939 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
manufactures | 8.404 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 457 | M US$ | 2016 |
Number of arrivals | 158 000 | units | 2018 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 10.6 | years | 2012 |
Graduates | 9 147 | units | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 734 493 | units | 2012 |
Students, secondary level | 339 250 | units | 2012 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 0.8 | % of total expenses | 2003 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 0.7 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
Physicians | 0.2 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 3.1 | % of adults | 2019 |
HIV, total | 3.5 | % | 2001 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 33.5 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 48.33 | % | 2019 |