{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992, and sparked a short period of ethnic and political unrest that was resolved by a peace agreement in late 1999. A new constitution adopted three years later provided for a multi-party system and a seven-year presidential term, and elections arranged shortly thereafter retained SASSOU-Nguesso. Following a year of renewed fighting, President SASSOU-Nguesso and southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. SASSOU-Nguesso was reelected in 2009 and, after passing a referendum allowing him to run for additional terms, was reelected again in 2016 and 2021. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term." } }, "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": "Ubangi (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth" }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "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": { "text": "5,677,493 (2023 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 (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "
Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala)

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": "

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.

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. 

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.

 

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "40.44% (male 1,159,264/female 1,136,501)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "56.15% (male 1,598,111/female 1,590,032)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "3.41% (2023 est.) (male 88,323/female 105,262)" } }, "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": "19.5 years" }, "male": { "text": "19.3 years" }, "female": { "text": "19.7 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "2.33% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "31.55 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 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": "0.84 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "19.6 years (2011/12 est.)", "note": "note: 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": "46.62 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "51 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "42.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "62.51 years" }, "male": { "text": "61.02 years" }, "female": { "text": "64.05 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "4.32 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "2.13 (2023 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)" }, "Physicians 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.)" } }, "Major infectious diseases": { "degree of risk": { "text": "very high (2023)" }, "food or waterborne diseases": { "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { "text": "malaria and dengue fever" }, "water contact diseases": { "text": "schistosomiasis" }, "animal contact diseases": { "text": "rabies" }, "note": "note: on 22 March 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; the Republic of the Congo is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine" }, "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)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "42.3%" }, "male": { "text": "42.2%" }, "female": { "text": "42.5% (2021 est.)" } } }, "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": "due to floods - 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": "38.67 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 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": "Ubangi (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth" }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "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": "Republique 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)" }, "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’s territory, republican form of government, and secularity of the state are not amendable" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law" }, "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 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": "

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% 

" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "bicameral Parliament or Parliament consists of:
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
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 31 August 2017 (next to be held in 2023)
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 46, independent 12, MAR 2, RDPS 2, UPADS 2, DRD 1, FP 1, MCDDI 1, PRL 1, Pulp 1, PUR 1, RC 1; composition - men 58, women 14, percent of women 19.4%

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 134, women 17, percent of women 11.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 13.9%


 

" } }, "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 and leaders": { "text": "Alliance of the Presidential Majority or AMP
Action Movement for Renewal or MAR [Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO]
Citizen's Rally or RC [Claude Alphonse NSILOU]
Congolese Labour Party or PCT [Denis SASSOU-Nguesso]
Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [VACANT]
Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST [Claudine MUNARI]
Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal Tsaty MABIALA]
Party for the Unity and the Republic or PUR [Wilfrid NGUESSO]
Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP [Auguste-Celestin GONGARD NKOUA]
Perspectives and Realities Club or CPR [Aimé Hydevert MOUAGNI]
Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystère TCHICAYA]
Republican and Liberal Party or PRL [Bonaventure MIZIDY]
Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Josué Rodrigue NGOUONIMBA]
Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [Guy Kinfoussia ROMAIN]
Union for the Republic or UR [Michel Bidimbou POUELA]" }, "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": "
info@ambacongo-us.org

http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx" }, "consulate(s)": { "text": "New Orleans" } }, "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": "
BrazzavilleACS@state.gov

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": "note: 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": "note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "1 (natural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Sangha Trinational Forest" } } }, "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) 2021": { "text": "$18.875 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": { "text": "$19.3 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$20.584 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "-2.2% (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2020": { "text": "-6.24% (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "-0.09% (2019 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$3,200 (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$3,400 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$3,700 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$8.718 billion (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "1.72% (2021 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": { "text": "1.8% (2020 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "2.21% (2019 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "CCC (2019)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "Caa2 (2018)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "CCC+ (2020)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "9.3% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "51% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "39.7% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "47.6% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "9.6% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "42.5% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0.1% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "62.9% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-62.7% (2017 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "cassava, sugar cane, oil palm fruit, cassava leaves, bananas, plantains, roots/tubers, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas" }, "Industries": { "text": "petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "-7.91% (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "2.268 million (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "35.4%" }, "industry": { "text": "20.6%" }, "services": { "text": "44% (2005 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "23.01% (2021 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2020": { "text": "22.84% (2020 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "20.62% (2019 est.)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "42.3%" }, "male": { "text": "42.2%" }, "female": { "text": "42.5% (2021 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "40.9% (2011 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2011": { "text": "48.9 (2011 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "2.1%" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "37.1% (2005)" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$3.399 billion (2018 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$2.628 billion (2018 est.)" } }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "130.8% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "128.7% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "8.95% (of GDP) (2020 est.)" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2020": { "text": "$1.441 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "$1.632 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2016": { "text": "-$3.596 billion (2016 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2020": { "text": "$4.67 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Exports 2019": { "text": "$7.855 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports." }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 49%, United Arab Emirates 15%, India 6%, Italy 5% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "copper, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, lumber, tin (2021)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2020": { "text": "$3.279 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Imports 2019": { "text": "$4.945 billion (2019 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 15%, France 12%, Belgium 6%, Angola 5% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "ships, chicken products, refined petroleum, processed fish, packaged medicines (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": { "text": "$988.316 million (31 December 2019 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2018": { "text": "$423.617 million (31 December 2018 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$379.984 million (31 December 2017 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 31 December 2017": { "text": "$4.605 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Debt - external 31 December 2016": { "text": "$4.721 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "554.531 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "575.586 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "585.911 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "555.446 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "580.657 (2017 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { "text": "(2020) 3 million" }, "electrification - total population": { "text": "49.6% (2021)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "66.9% (2021)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "12.3% (2021)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "629,000 kW (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "2,065,580,000 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "44 million kWh (2019 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "23 million kWh (2019 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "1.623 billion kWh (2019 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "70.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "29.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "tide and wave": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "270,900 bbl/day (2021 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "12,600 bbl/day (2019 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate exports": { "text": "331,700 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate imports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "15,760 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "5,766 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "7,162 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "1.4 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "1.4 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "283.989 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "4.523 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "1.777 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "2.747 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "16.156 million Btu/person (2019 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": "5,558,658 (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 microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; 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; operator has plans to upgrade national broadband through fiber link to West Africa Cable System (WACS) landing station at Pointe-Noire with connections to Angola and DRC; fiber network project with aims to connect north and south regions; DRC operator added fiber link between Brazzaville and Kinshasa (2020)" }, "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": "27 (2021)" }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "text": "8", "note": "note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)" }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "text": "19", "note": "note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control" }, "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 (2017)" }, "paved": { "text": "3,111 km (2017)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "20,213 km (2017)" }, "note": "note: 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" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 9 (2022)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Pointe-Noire" }, "oil terminal(s)": { "text": "Djeno" }, "river port(s)": { "text": "Brazzaville (Congo)" }, "note": "Impfondo (Oubangui) Ouesso (Sangha) Oyo (Alima)" } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, Gendarmerie (2023)", "note": "note: the Gendarmerie 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 Ministry of Interior also controls the National Police" }, "Military expenditures": { "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 Expenditures 2018": { "text": "2.1% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 12,000 active duty troops (8,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2022)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the FAC has mostly Soviet-era armaments, with a small mix of French and South African equipment (2023)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription ended in 1969 (2022)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the FAC is viewed as having limited capabilities due to obsolescent and poorly maintained equipment and low levels of training; its primary focus is internal 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 (2023)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

Republic of the Congo-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Republic of the Congo-Angola: (Kabinda Exclave) None identified

" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { "text": "30,204 (Central African Republic), 22,413 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers)(2023)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "159,830 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2022)" } } } }