Congo (Brazzaville) Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Brazzaville

Population

6,097,665 (2024 est.)

Area

342,000 sq km

Location

Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Geographic coordinates

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

342,000 sq km

Area — land

341,500 sq km

Area — water

500 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida

Land boundaries — total

5,554 km

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

Coastline

169 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Climate

Tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Terrain

Coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Elevation — highest point

Mont Nabeba 1,020 m

Elevation — lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

430 m

Natural resources

Petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Land use — agricultural land

31.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

63.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

4.9% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2012)

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

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Atlantic Ocean drainage

Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Major aquifers

Congo Basin

Population distribution

The population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

Seasonal flooding

Geography - note

About 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

6,097,665 (2024 est.)

Population — male

3,045,973

Population — female

3,051,692

Nationality — noun

Congolese (singular and plural)

Nationality — adjective

Congolese or Congo

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.)

Languages — Languages

French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

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.

Religions

Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguist 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2007 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

37.8% (male 1,162,298/female 1,143,668)

Age structure — 15-64 years

57.8% (male 1,770,337/female 1,756,925)

Age structure — 65 years and over

4.3% (2024 est.) (male 113,338/female 151,099)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

72.9 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

65.4 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

7.5 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

13.3 (2024 est.)

Median age — total

20.9 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

20.5 years

Median age — female

20.9 years

Population growth rate

2.36% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

28.34 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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

69.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

2.638 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.336 million Pointe-Noire (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.6 years (2011/12 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

241 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

29.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

33.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

27.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

72.9 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

71.5 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

74.3 years

Total fertility rate

3.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.83 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

3.9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

3.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

15.8% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

30% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

1.7% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.8% (2023 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

6.9% (2015)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

27.3% (2015)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

5.6% (2018 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

14.7% national budget (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

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

31.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

63.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

4.9% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

69.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

2.66 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

1.826 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

834,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

36.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

308.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

19.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

25.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

11.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

451,200 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

17.2% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

63.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

24 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

832 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of the Congo

Country name — conventional short form

Congo (Brazzaville)

Country name — local long form

République du Congo

Country name — local short form

Congo

Country name — former

French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville

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 type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Brazzaville

Capital — geographic coordinates

4 15 S, 15 17 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

Named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who founded the town in 1883

Administrative divisions

15 departments; Bouenza, Brazzaville, Congo-Oubangui, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Djoue-Lefini, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Nkeni-Alima, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha

Legal system

Mixed system of French civil law and customary law

Constitution — history

Several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015

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

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021)

Executive branch — cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

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)

Executive branch — most recent election date

21 March 2021

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%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

21 March 2026

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament (Parlement)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

151 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

8/20/2023

Legislative branch - lower chamber — parties elected and seats per party

Congolese Workers Party (PCT) (112); Other (39)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

14.6%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

July 2026

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate (Sénat)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

72 (all indirectly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

6 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

7/10/2022 to 7/31/2022

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

31.9%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

August 2029

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)

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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Firmine BOUITY (since 6 September 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 726-5500

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 726-1860

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@ambacongo-us.org http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Amanda S. JACOBSEN (since 18 July 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9700

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

BrazzavilleACS@state.gov https://cg.usembassy.gov/

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

Independence

15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

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

National symbol(s)

Lion, elephant

National color(s)

Green, yellow, red

National anthem(s) — title

"La Congolaise" (The Congolese)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE

National anthem(s) — history

Originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

2 (natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Sangha Trinational Forest; Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

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) 2024

$39.147 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$38.163 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$37.448 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.6% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.9% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

1.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$6,200 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$6,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$6,200 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.72 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

3% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

9.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

40.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

45% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

47.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

13.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

26.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

52.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-40.4% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)

Industries

Petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Industrial production growth rate

0.3% (2024 est.)

Labor force

2.563 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

19.7% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

19.9% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

20.2% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

40% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

41% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

39% (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$2.393 billion (2020 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$3.231 billion (2020 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

128.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

6.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

$1.716 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2020

$1.441 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2019

$1.632 billion (2019 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$7.752 billion (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2020

$4.67 billion (2020 est.)

Exports — Exports 2019

$7.855 billion (2019 est.)

Exports - partners

China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023)

Imports — Imports 2021

$4.487 billion (2021 est.)

Imports — Imports 2020

$3.279 billion (2020 est.)

Imports — Imports 2019

$4.945 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$715.391 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$835.649 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$828.56 million (2021 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$6.36 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

606.345 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

606.57 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

623.76 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

554.531 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

575.586 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

50.6% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

67.5%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

12.4%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

842,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

2.832 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

31 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

30.588 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

2.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

79.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

20.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

65 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

267,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

425 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

425 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

283.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

7.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

17,000 (2020 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

5,875,800 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

96 (2024 est.)

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

Internet country code

.cg

Internet users — percent of population

38% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

78,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TN

Airports

56 (2025)

Railways — total

510 km (2014)

Railways — narrow gauge

510 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

11 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

Oil tanker 1, other 10

Ports — total ports

5 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

0

Ports — small

1

Ports — very small

4

Ports — ports with oil terminals

4

Ports — key ports

Djeno Terminal, Dussafu Terminal, N'kossa Terminal, Pointe Noire, Yombo Terminal

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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 expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 12-14,000 active FAC, including Gendarmerie (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The FAC has a mixed inventory of Chinese, French, Italian, Russian/Soviet, and South African armaments (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025)

Military deployments

Has about 175 mostly police personnel deployed to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

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)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

69,766 (2024 est.)

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/