Congo (Brazzaville)
Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →
Congo (Brazzaville)⌘K
Overview
- 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
Area
- Land
- 341,500 sq km
- Water
- 500 sq km
- Total
- 342,000 sq km
- 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
Land Use
- Other
- 4.9% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 63.9% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 31.2% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.)
- Location
- Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
- Coastline
- 169 km
Elevation
- Lowest point
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Highest point
- Mont Nabeba 1,020 m
- Mean elevation
- 430 m
- Irrigated land
- 20 sq km (2012)
- Major aquifers
- Congo Basin
- Map references
- Africa
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 5,554 km
- 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
Maritime Claims
- Contiguous zone
- 24 nm
- Territorial sea
- 12 nm
- Exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- Natural hazards
- seasonal flooding
- Geography note
- about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
- Natural resources
- petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
- Area comparative
- slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida
- Geographic coordinates
- 1 00 S, 15 00 E
- Population distribution
- the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map
Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)
- Atlantic ocean drainage
- Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
- 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
People & Society
Languages
- Languages
- French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
- 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.)
Sex Ratio
- At birth
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0 14 years
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15 64 years
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- Total population
- 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- 65 years and over
- 0.75 male(s)/female
- Birth rate
- 28.34 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median Age
- Male
- 20.5 years
- Total
- 20.9 years (2025 est.)
- Female
- 20.9 years
Population
- Male
- 3,045,973
- Total
- 6,097,665 (2024 est.)
- Female
- 3,051,692
Nationality
- Noun
- Congolese (singular and plural)
- Adjective
- Congolese or Congo
Tobacco Use
- Male
- 30% (2025 est.)
- Total
- 15.8% (2025 est.)
- Female
- 1.7% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 69.2% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age Structure
- 0 14 years
- 37.8% (male 1,162,298/female 1,143,668)
- 15 64 years
- 57.8% (male 1,770,337/female 1,756,925)
- 65 years and over
- 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 113,338/female 151,099)
- 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.)
Child Marriage
- Men married BY age 18
- 5.6% (2018 est.)
- Women married BY age 15
- 6.9% (2015)
- Women married BY age 18
- 27.3% (2015)
Dependency Ratios
- Total dependency ratio
- 72.9 (2024 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 65.4 (2024 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 13.3 (2024 est.)
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 7.5 (2024 est.)
- Physician density
- 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health Expenditure
- Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
- 3.9% of GDP (2021)
- Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
- 3.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
- Net migration rate
- -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Total fertility rate
- 3.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Education Expenditure
- Education expenditure (% GDP)
- 3.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Education expenditure (% national budget)
- 14.7% national budget (2023 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Male
- 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 29.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Female
- 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births
- Population growth rate
- 2.36% (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 1.83 (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
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Male
- 71.5 years
- Female
- 74.3 years
- Total population
- 72.9 years (2024 est.)
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 241 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita
- Beer
- 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Wine
- 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Total
- 5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Spirits
- 0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Other alcohols
- 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Major urban areas population
- 2.638 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.336 million Pointe-Noire (2023)
- Obesity adult prevalence rate
- 9.6% (2016)
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 19.6 years (2011/12 est.)
- Currently married women (ages 15 49)
- 51.8% (2023 est.)
Government
Civica · structure
How power is organised
ExecutiveLegislative
- 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
Capital
- Name
- Brazzaville
- Etymology
- named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who founded the town in 1883
- Time difference
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Geographic coordinates
- 4 15 S, 15 17 E
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
- Citizenship BY birth
- no
- Citizenship BY descent only
- at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo
- Dual citizenship recognized
- no
- Residency requirement for naturalization
- 10 years
Constitution
- History
- several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015
- 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
Country Name
- Former
- French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville
- 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
- Local long form
- République du Congo
- Local short form
- Congo
- Conventional long form
- Republic of the Congo
- Conventional short form
- Congo (Brazzaville)
- Independence
- 15 August 1960 (from France)
- Legal system
- mixed system of French civil law and customary law
- Government type
- presidential republic
Judicial Branch
- Note
- note: a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the President of the Republic
- Highest court(s)
- Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
- Subordinate courts
- Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts
- 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
Executive Branch
- Cabinet
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president
- Chief of state
- President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997)
- 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%- Head of government
- Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021)
- Most recent election date
- 21 March 2021
- 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)
- Expected date of next election
- 21 March 2026
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
- National color(s)
- green, yellow, red
National Heritage
- Total world heritage sites
- 2 (natural)
- Selected world heritage site locales
- Sangha Trinational Forest; Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua
- 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
Legislative Branch
- Legislature name
- Parliament (Parlement)
- Legislative structure
- bicameral
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "La Congolaise" (The Congolese)
- History
- originally adopted 1959, restored 1991
- Lyrics/music
- Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE
- National symbol(s)
- lion, elephant
- Administrative divisions
- 15 departments; Bouenza, Brazzaville, Congo-Oubangui, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Djoue-Lefini, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Nkeni-Alima, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha
Legislative Branch Lower Chamber
- Chamber name
- National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
- Term in office
- 5 years
- Number of seats
- 151 (all directly elected)
- Electoral system
- plurality/majority
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Most recent election date
- 8/20/2023
- Expected date of next election
- July 2026
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 14.6%
- Parties elected and seats per party
- Congolese Workers Party (PCT) (112); Other (39)
Legislative Branch Upper Chamber
- Chamber name
- Senate (Sénat)
- Term in office
- 6 years
- Number of seats
- 72 (all indirectly elected)
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Most recent election date
- 7/10/2022 to 7/31/2022
- Expected date of next election
- August 2029
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 31.9%
Diplomatic Representation in the US
- Fax
- [1] (202) 726-1860
- Chancery
- 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
- Telephone
- [1] (202) 726-5500
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Firmine BOUITY (since 6 September 2025)
- Email address and website
info@ambacongo-us.org
http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Embassy
- 70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville
- Telephone
- [242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9700
- Mailing address
- 2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Amanda S. JACOBSEN (since 18 July 2025)
- Email address and website
BrazzavilleACS@state.gov
https://cg.usembassy.gov/
- International organisations
- 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
- International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Legislature
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE) · LOWER HOUSE
National Assembly
151 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
151
Majority line
77
Largest party
Congolese Party of Labour
Parties
20
All political parties
Upper house
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE) · UPPER HOUSE
Senate
72 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
72
Majority line
37
Largest party
Congolese Party of Labour
Parties
16
All political parties
Leaders
Current
Denis Sassou-Nguesso
- Head of State
Anatole Collinet Makosso
- Head of Government
Economy
Budget
- Note
- note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- Revenues
- $2.393 billion (2020 est.)
- Expenditures
- $3.231 billion (2020 est.)
Exports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $8.3B
- Note
- note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- Exports 2019
- $7.855 billion (2019 est.)
- Exports 2020
- $4.67 billion (2020 est.)
- Exports 2021
- $7.752 billion (2021 est.)
Imports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $6.4B
- Note
- note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- Imports 2019
- $4.945 billion (2019 est.)
- Imports 2020
- $3.279 billion (2020 est.)
- Imports 2021
- $4.487 billion (2021 est.)
- Industries
- petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
- Labor force
- 2.563 million (2024 est.)
Public Debt
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 128.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
- Public debt 2016
- 128.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
- Note
- note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- Remittances 2021
- 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Remittances 2022
- 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Remittances 2023
- 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange Rates
- Currency
- Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
- Exchange rates 2020
- 575.586 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 554.531 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 623.76 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 606.57 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 606.345 (2024 est.)
Debt External
- Note
- note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- Debt external 2023
- $6.36 billion (2023 est.)
- 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
Unemployment Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 19.9%
- Note
- note: % of labor force seeking employment
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 20.2% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 19.9% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 19.7% (2024 est.)
- Exports partners
- China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023)
- Imports partners
- China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023)
Real GDP Per Capita
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $7,026
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $6,200 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $6,200 (2023 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2024
- $6,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP Growth Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 2.6%
- Note
- note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 1.5% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 1.9% (2023 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2024
- 2.6% (2024 est.)
- Agricultural products
- cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)
- Exports commodities
- crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023)
- Imports commodities
- ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023)
Current Account Balance
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $1.7B
- Note
- note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- Current account balance 2019
- $1.632 billion (2019 est.)
- Current account balance 2020
- $1.441 billion (2020 est.)
- Current account balance 2021
- $1.716 billion (2021 est.)
- Taxes and other revenues
- 6.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $15.72 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Composition, BY End Use
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- Household consumption
- 47.4% (2024 est.)
- Government consumption
- 13.4% (2024 est.)
- Investment in inventories
- 0.3% (2024 est.)
- Investment in fixed capital
- 26.5% (2024 est.)
- Exports of goods and services
- 52.8% (2024 est.)
- Imports of goods and services
- -40.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 3.1%
- Note
- note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 3% (2022 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
- 4.3% (2023 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
- 3.1% (2024 est.)
- Industrial production growth rate
- 0.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $39.147 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $37.448 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $38.163 billion (2023 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
- $39.147 billion (2024 est.)
Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)
- Male
- 41% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 40% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 39% (2024 est.)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
- Note
- note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
- $828.56 million (2021 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
- $835.649 million (2022 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
- $715.391 million (2023 est.)
GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Industry
- 40.1% (2024 est.)
- Services
- 45% (2024 est.)
- Agriculture
- 9.4% (2024 est.)
Energy
Coal
- Imports
- 65 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- Total petroleum production
- 267,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- Crude oil estimated reserves
- 2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.)
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
- Exports
- 31 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Imports
- 30.588 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 2.832 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- Installed generating capacity
- 842,000 kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 2.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural Gas
- Production
- 425 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 425 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Proven reserves
- 283.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity Access
- Electrification rural areas
- 12.4%
- Electrification urban areas
- 67.5%
- Electrification total population
- 50.6% (2022 est.)
Energy Consumption Per Capita
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023
- 7.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity Generation Sources
- Solar
- 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Fossil fuels
- 79.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Hydroelectricity
- 20.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Biomass and waste
- 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 38% (2023 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
Telephones Fixed Lines
- Total subscriptions
- 17,000 (2020 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones Mobile Cellular
- Total subscriptions
- 5,875,800 (2023 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 96 (2024 est.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Total
- 78,000 (2023 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 1 (2023 est.)
Transport
Ports
- Large
- 0
- Small
- 1
- Medium
- 0
- Key ports
- Djeno Terminal, Dussafu Terminal, N'kossa Terminal, Pointe Noire, Yombo Terminal
- Very small
- 4
- Total ports
- 5 (2024)
- Ports with oil terminals
- 4
- Airports
- 56 (2025)
Railways
- Total
- 510 km (2014)
- Narrow gauge
- 510 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant Marine
- Total
- 11 (2023)
- BY type
- oil tanker 1, other 10
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- TN
Environment
- 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
- Other
- 4.9% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 63.9% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 31.2% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 69.2% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane Emissions
- Other
- 11.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- Waste
- 25.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- Energy
- 308.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
- Agriculture
- 19.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and Recycling
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 451,200 tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 17.2% (2022 est.)
- Environmental issues
- air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection
Total Water Withdrawal
- Municipal
- 63.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Industrial
- 24 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Agricultural
- 4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- Total emissions
- 2.66 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From consumed natural gas
- 834,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From petroleum and other liquids
- 1.826 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Particulate matter emissions
- 36.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- Total renewable water resources
- 832 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
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
- Signed, but not ratified
- none of the selected agreements
Military & Security
- Military note
- the FAC's primary focuses are internal and maritime security; since its creation in 1961, the FAC has had a turbulent history; it has been sidelined by some national leaders in favor of personal militias, endured an internal rebellion (1996), and clashed with various rebel groups and political or ethnic militias (1993-1996, 2002-2005, 2017); during the 1997-1999 civil war, the military generally split along ethnic lines, with most northern officers supporting eventual winner SASSOU-Nguesso, and most southerners backing the rebels; others joined ethnic-based factions loyal to regional warlords; forces backing SASSOU-Nguesso were supported by Angolan troops and received some French assistance; the FAC also has undergone at least three reorganizations that included the incorporation of former rebel combatants and various ethnic and political militias; in recent years, France has provided some advice and training, and a military cooperation agreement was signed with Russia in 2019 (2025)
- Military deployments
- has about 175 mostly police personnel deployed to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military Expenditures
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 1.2%
- Military expenditures 2020
- 2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
- Military expenditures 2021
- 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Military expenditures 2022
- 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Military expenditures 2023
- 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Military expenditures 2024
- 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
- 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 service age and obligation
- 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025)
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the FAC has a mixed inventory of Chinese, French, Italian, Russian/Soviet, and South African armaments (2025)
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 12-14,000 active FAC, including Gendarmerie (2025)
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in Persons
- Tier rating
- Tier 2 Watch List — the Republic of the Congo does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, the Republic of the Congo was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/republic-of-the-congo/
Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
- Refugees
- 69,766 (2024 est.)
Scores & Rankings
ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index17.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4168 / 1902024-Q4
V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.12as of 2024-Q4132 / 1702024-Q4
Freedom House StatusNot Free (8/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Congo (Brazzaville) — vintage 2026-Q1: Congo (Brazzaville) factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/congo-brazzaville
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata