factbook.json/africa/cf.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "1 00 S, 15 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Africa"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "342,000 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "341,500 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "500 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5,554 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Angola 231 km; Cameroon 494 km; Central African Republic 487 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Gabon 2,567 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "169 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Mont Nabeba 1,020 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "430 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "31.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 29.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "65.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "3.3% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "20 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Major rivers (by length in km)": {
      "text": "Oubangui (Ubangi) (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km<br><strong>note</strong> – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)"
    },
    "Major aquifers": {
      "text": "Congo Basin"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville as shown in this population distribution map"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "seasonal flooding"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "6,097,665"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "3,045,973"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "3,051,692 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Congolese (singular and plural)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Congolese or Congo"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "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": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2007 est.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with nearly 70% of Congolese living in urban areas.  The population is concentrated in the southwest of the country, mainly in the capital Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and along the railway line that connects the two.  The tropical jungles in the north of the country are sparsely populated.  Most Congolese are Bantu, and most belong to one of four main ethnic groups, the Kongo, Teke, Mbochi, and Sangha, which consist of over 70 subgroups.</p> <p>The Republic of Congo is in the early stages of a demographic transition, whereby a population shifts from high fertility and mortality rates to low fertility and mortality rates associated with industrialized societies.  Its total fertility rate (TFR), the average number of children born per woman, remains high at 4.4 as of 2022.  While its TFR has steadily decreased, the progress slowed beginning in about 1995.  The slowdown in fertility reduction has delayed the demographic transition and Congo’s potential to reap a demographic dividend, the economic boost that can occur when the share of the working-age population is larger than the dependent age groups. </p> <p>The TFR differs significantly between urban and rural areas – 3.7 in urban areas versus 6.5 in rural areas.  The TFR also varies among regions.  The urban regions of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have much lower TFRs than other regions, which are predominantly or completely rural.  The gap between desired fertility and actual fertility is also greatest in rural areas.  Rural families may have more children to contribute to agricultural production and/or due to a lack of information about and access to contraception.  Urban families may prefer to have fewer children because raising them is more expensive and balancing work and childcare may be more difficult.  The number of births among teenage girls, the frequency of giving birth before the age of fifteen, and a lack of education are the most likely reasons for higher TFRs in rural areas.  Although 90% of school-age children are enrolled in primary school, repetition and dropout rates are high and the quality of education is poor.  Congolese women with no or little education start having children earlier and have more children in total than those with at least some secondary education.</p> <p> </p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "37.8% (male 1,162,298/female 1,143,668)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "57.8% (male 1,770,337/female 1,756,925)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "4.3% (2024 est.) (male 113,338/female 151,099)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "78.8"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "74"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "4.8"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "20.9 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "20.7 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "20.5 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "20.9 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "2.38% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "28.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "69.2% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "2.638 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.336 million Pointe-Noire (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.01 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.75 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "19.6 years (2011/12 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "282 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "30.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "33.5 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "27.7 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "72.9 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "71.5 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "74.3 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "3.79 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.87 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "30.1% (2014/15)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 97.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 56.4% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 84.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 2.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 43.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 15.8% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "4.5% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2018)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 73.4% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 15.1% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 54.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 26.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 84.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 45.3% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "9.6% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "14.5% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "26.8% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "2.1% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "12.3% (2014/15)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "51.8% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "8.4%"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "29.1%"
      },
      "men married by age 18": {
        "text": "5.6% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "4.5% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "80.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "85.9%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "75.4% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "11 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "11 years (2012)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "31.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 29.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "65.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "3.3% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "69.2% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Food insecurity": {
      "severe localized food insecurity": {
        "text": "<em>due to floods -</em> above average rainfall amounts since November 2022 triggered flooding in December 2022 and January 2023 in central and northern parts of the country, displacing people; according to damage assessment reports, about 165,000 people have been affected in 23 districts in the departments of Cuvette, Likouala, Plateaux and Sangha (2023)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "3.17% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "29.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "3.28 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "2.24 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "451,200 tons (1993 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "118,214 tons (2005 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "26.2% (2005 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major rivers (by length in km)": {
      "text": "Oubangui (Ubangi) (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km<br><strong>note</strong> – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)"
    },
    "Major aquifers": {
      "text": "Congo Basin"
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "832 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of the Congo"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Congo (Brazzaville)"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "R&eacute;publique du Congo"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Congo"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom that occupied its mouth at the time of Portuguese discovery in the late 15th century and whose name stems from its people the Bakongo, meaning \"hunters\""
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Brazzaville"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "4 15 S, 15 17 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who promoted French colonial interests in central Africa and worked against slavery and the abuse of African laborers"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "15 August 1960 (from France)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 15 August (1960)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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&rsquo;s territory, republican form of government, and secularity of the state are not amendable"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "10 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 21 March 2021 (next to be held on 21 March 2026)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<br><em>2021: </em>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% <br><br><em>2016: </em>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%"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "bicameral Parliament consists of:<br>Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by local, district, and regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms) note- the Senate is renewed in its entirety following a constitutional reform implemented in 2015 ending the renewal by half<br>National Assembly (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "Senate - last held on 20 August 2023 (next to be held 31 August 2029)<br>National Assembly - last held on 10 and 31 July 2022 (next to be held in July 2027)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 52, Independents 7, RDPS 3, MAR 2, Club 2002 PUR 2, PRL 1, UDLC 1, MCDDI 1, LCEM 1, UPADS 1, RC 1; composition - men 49, women 23, percentage women 34.7%<br><br>National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 112, UPADS 7, UDH-YUKI 7, MAR 4, RLP 2, CLUB 2002 2, DRR 2, RDPS 2, PAC 1, MSD 1, MDP 1, CPR 1, PPRD 1, CR 1, MCDDI 1, independent 6; composition - men 129, women 22, percentage women 14.6%; total Parliament percentage women 20.2%"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); note - a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the President of the Republic"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "Alliance of the Presidential Majority or AMP<br>Action Movement for Renewal or MAR <br>Citizen's Rally or RC <br>Congolese Labour Party or PCT <br>Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI <br>Congo on the Move or LCEM <br>Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST <br>Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS <br>Club 2002-Party for the Unity and the Republic or Club 2002 <br>Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP <br>Perspectives and Realities Club or CPR <br>Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS <br>Republican and Liberal Party or PRL <br>Union of Democratic Forces or UDF <br>Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR<br>Union of Humanist Democrats or UDH-YUKI <br>Union for the Republic or UR "
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 726-5500"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 726-1860"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>info@ambacongo-us.org<br><br>http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Eugene S. YOUNG (since 30 March 2022)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9700"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>BrazzavilleACS@state.gov<br><br>https://cg.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "lion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"La Congolaise\" (The Congolese)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> originally adopted 1959, restored 1991"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "2 (natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Sangha Trinational Forest; Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "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)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": {
        "text": "$38.163 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$37.448 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$36.904 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "1.91% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "1.48% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "1.02% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$6,200 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$6,300 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$6,300 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$15.321 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "4.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "3.04% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "1.72% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "CCC (2019)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "Caa2 (2018)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "CCC+ (2020)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "45.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "40.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "44.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "13.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "24.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "56.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-39.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "0.75% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "2.461 million (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "20.05% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "20.26% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "22.08% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "41.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "42.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "40.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "0.02% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "0.02% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$2.393 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$2.409 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "130.8% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "6.51% (of GDP) (2021 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "$1.716 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2020": {
        "text": "$1.441 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2019": {
        "text": "$1.632 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$7.752 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$4.67 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$7.855 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "China 39%, India 20%, UAE 15%, Italy 5%, Vietnam 4% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "crude petroleum, refined copper, wood, tin ores, rare earth ores (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$4.487 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$3.279 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$4.945 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "China 26%, France 9%, UAE 6%, Belgium 6%, India 5% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "poultry, garments, vaccines, ships, fish (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$715.391 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$835.649 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$828.56 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2022": {
        "text": "$6.482 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "606.57 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "623.76 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "554.531 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "575.586 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "585.911 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "50.6% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "67.5%"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "12.4%"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "842,000 kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "2.174 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "25.21 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "22 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "1.823 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "77.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "22.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "imports": {
        "text": "1 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "267,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "12,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "423 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "423 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "283.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "2.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "1.712 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "830,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "7.238 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "17,000 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "(2020 est.) less than 1"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "5.648 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "97 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "suffering from economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty; primary network consists of broadband through fiber link to the West Africa Cable System; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Dolisie; intercity lines frequently out of order; youth are seeking the Internet more than their parents and often gain access through cyber cafes; only the most affluent have Internet access in their homes; fiber network project with aims to connect north and south regions; DRC operator added fiber link between Brazzaville and Kinshasa (2024)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular 97 per 100 persons (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 242; WACS submarine cables to Europe and Western and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": ".cg"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,794,390 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "32.1% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,000 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "0.02 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "3 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "12"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "333,899 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "4.6 million (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "TN"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "56 (2024)"
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "232 km gas, 4 km liquid petroleum gas, 982 km oil (2013)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "510 km (2014)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "510 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "23,324 km"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "3,111 km"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "20,213 km (2017)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> road network in Congo is composed of 23,324 km of which 17,000 km are classified as national, departmental, and routes of local interest: 6,324 km are non-classified routes"
    },
    "Waterways": {
      "text": "1,120 km (2011) (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubangui Rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, necessitating a rail connection to Pointe-Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only)"
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "oil tanker 1, other 10"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "5 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "4"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "4"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Djeno Terminal, Dussafu Terminal, N'kossa Terminal, Pointe Noire, Yombo Terminal"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Police (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 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": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "2% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "2.3% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 14,000 active-duty troops (including about 4,000 Gendarmerie) (2023)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the FAC has mostly Soviet-era armaments, with a small mix of Chinese, French, and South African equipment (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription ended in 1969 (2022)"
    },
    "Military deployments": {
      "text": "has about 190 mostly police personnel deployed to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the FAC's primary focus is internal security; it is organized into approximately nine military zones; the Army's primary combat forces are an infantry brigade and a Republican Guard force<br><br>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 (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "refugees (country of origin)": {
        "text": "33,593 (Central African Republic), 29,785 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2024)"
      },
      "IDPs": {
        "text": "27,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2022)"
      }
    },
    "Trafficking in persons": {
      "tier rating": {
        "text": "Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore the Republic of the Congo remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/republic-of-the-congo/"
      }
    }
  }
}