Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
78,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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
Communications: Internet country code
.cg
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
47.25% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
17,000 (2020 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
96 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
5,875,800 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$3.231 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$2.393 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$1.937 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$679.8 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$4.631 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$3.596 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$1.632 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$1.441 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$1.716 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$7.330 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$6.36 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
493.900 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
493.757 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
591.212 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
592.606 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
580.657 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
555.446 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
585.911 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
575.586 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
554.531 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
623.760 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
606.570 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$11.524 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$9.521 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$5.080 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$4.599 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$5.676 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$9.191 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$7.855 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$4.67 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$7.752 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$10.093 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$8.717 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$8.297 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
52.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
13.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
47.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-40.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
26.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
9.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
40.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
45% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$7,026 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$15.72 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$44.498 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$7.302 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$9.508 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$8.766 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$5.521 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$5.669 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$4.945 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$3.279 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$4.487 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$5.433 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$6.023 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$6.352 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
0.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
3.17% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
3.19% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
0.45% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.15% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.21% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
1.80% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.72% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
3.04% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.30% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.09% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.563 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
40.90% (2011 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
128.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$28.528 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$24.036 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$20.974 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$23.783 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$32.125 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$27.446 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$36.904 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$37.448 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$38.163 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$39.147 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.42% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
-8.69% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
-5.59% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
-2.30% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.12% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-6.27% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
1.02% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
1.48% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.91% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.58% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$5,733 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$4,715 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$4,016 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$4,445 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$5,720 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$4,771 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$6,263 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$6,647 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$6,850 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$72.1 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$41.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$29.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$12.6 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$2.221 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$714.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$380.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$423.6 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$988.3 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.141 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$828.56 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$835.649 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$715.391 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$758.6 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
6.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
20.49% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
22.29% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
22.00% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
20.13% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
19.92% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
19.89% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
39% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
41% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
40% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
65 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
12.4%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
50.6% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
67.5%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
79.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
20.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
2.832 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
31 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
30.588 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
842,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
2.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
7.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
425 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
425 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
283.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
267,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
834,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
1.826 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
2.66 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Environment: Environmental issues
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
31.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
63.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
4.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
19.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
308.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
11.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
25.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
36.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
832 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
24 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
63.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
63.89% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
451,200 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
17.2% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida
Geography: Area: land
341,500 sq km
Geography: Area: water
500 sq km
Geography: Coastline
169 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mont Nabeba 1,020 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
430 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
1 00 S, 15 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
Geography: Irrigated land
20 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Angola 231 km; Cameroon 494 km; Central African Republic 487 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Gabon 2,567 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
5,554 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
31.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
63.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
4.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Congo Basin
Geography: 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
seasonal flooding
Geography: Population distribution
the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Government: Administrative divisions
15 departments; Bouenza, Brazzaville, Congo-Oubangui, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Djoue-Lefini, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Nkeni-Alima, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha
Government: Capital: etymology
named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who founded the town in 1883
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
4 15 S, 15 17 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Congo (Brazzaville)
Government: Country name: 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: Country name: former
French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville
Government: Country name: local long form
République du Congo
Government: Country name: local short form
Congo
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Amanda S. JACOBSEN (since 18 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
BrazzavilleACS@state.gov https://cg.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9700
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Firmine BOUITY (since 6 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@ambacongo-us.org http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 726-1860
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 726-5500
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
21 March 2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
21 March 2021
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of French civil law and customary law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
July 2026
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
8/20/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
151 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Congolese Workers Party (PCT) (112); Other (39)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
14.6%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Sénat)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
August 2029
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
7/10/2022 to 7/31/2022
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
72 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
31.9%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
6 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Parlement)
Government: National anthem(s): history
originally adopted 1959, restored 1991
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE
Government: National color(s)
green, yellow, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Sangha Trinational Forest; Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion, elephant
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the FAC's primary focuses are internal and maritime 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)
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)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 12-14,000 active FAC, including Gendarmerie (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
has about 175 mostly police personnel deployed to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FAC has a mixed inventory of Chinese, French, Italian, Russian/Soviet, and South African armaments (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
4.59% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
3.18% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.98% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
2.15% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.60% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.34% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.91% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.98% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.19% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
37.8% (male 1,162,298/female 1,143,668)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
57.8% (male 1,770,337/female 1,756,925)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
4.3% (2024 est.) (male 113,338/female 151,099)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
28.34 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
5.6% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
6.9% (2015)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
27.3% (2015)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.30% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.8% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
7.5 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
13.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
72.9 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
65.4 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.7% national budget (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.34% (2023 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.83 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.9% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
3.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
3.20% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
27.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
33.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
27.0 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
67.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
64.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
2.638 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.336 million Pointe-Noire (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
241 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
20.9 years
People and Society: Median age: male
20.5 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.6 years (2011/12 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Congolese or Congo
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
9.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
6,332,961 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.40% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
3,051,692
People and Society: Population: male
3,045,973
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.75 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
30% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
15.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
4.11 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
63.89% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
69,766 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: 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/
Transportation: Airports
56 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TN
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
oil tanker 1, other 10
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
11 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Djeno Terminal, Dussafu Terminal, N'kossa Terminal, Pointe Noire, Yombo Terminal
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
4
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
5 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
4
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
510 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
510 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.