Congo

Government
Name	Republic of the Congo
French	République du Congo
Kongo	Repubilika ya Kôngo
Lingala	Republíki ya Kongó
Government type	Presidential republic
Capital	Brazzaville (1,373,382 (2007))
Currency	Central African CFA franc (XAF)
People
Population (2020)	5,518,092 (117th)
Density of population	12.8 P/km2 (204th)
Nationality	Congolese
Official languages
French
Ethnic groups
Kongo	40.5%
Teke	16.9%
Sangha	5.6%
M’Bochi	13.1%
Other (African / Europeans)	23,9%
Religions (2010)
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%
Life expectancy (2020)
Male	59.9 years
Female	62.7 years
Total population	61.3 years (214th)
Homicides
n.a.
Geography
Land area	341,500 km2
water area	500 km2
total area	342,000 km2 (65th)
Mean elevation	430 m
Lowest point
Atlantic Ocean	0 m
Highest point
Mount Berongou	903 m
Land use (2011)
Agricultural land	31.1%
Arable land	1.6%
Permanent crops	0.2%
Permanent pasture	29.3%
Forest	65.6%
Other	3.3%
Urbanization
Urban population (2020)	67.8%
Rate of urbanization	3.28% annual rate of change (2015 – 2020)
Economy
Labor force (2016)	2.055 million  (124th)
Labor force by occupation (2005)
Agriculture	35.4%
Industry	20.6%
Services	44%
Unemployment rate (2014)	36% (211th)
GDP (PPP) (estimate 2019)
Total	$32.516 billion
Per capita	$7,119
GDP (nominal) (estimate 2019)
Total	$11.162 billion
Per capita	$2,444
GDP by sector (estimate 2017)
Agriculture	9.3%
Industry	51%
Services	39.7%
Exports (2017)	$4.193 billion (114th)
Exports partners (2017)
China	53.8%
Angola	6.2%
Gabon	5.7%
Italy	5.4%
Spain	5.4%
Australia	4.8%
Imports (2017)	$2.501 billion (157th)
Imports partners (2017)
France	15%
China	14%
Belgium	12.2%
Norway	8.1%

Congo on the world map

Congo top 10 largest cities (2007)

1. Brazzaville (1,373,382)
2. Pointe-Noire (715,334)
3. Dolisie (83,798)
4. Nkayi (71,620)
5. Kindamba (59,880)
6. Impfondo (33,911)
7. Ouésso (28,179)
8. Madingou (25,713)
9. Owando (24,736)
10. Sibiti (22,951)

Demography

Population pyramid

Age structure data

Estimate for 2020:

• 0-14 years: 41.57% (male 1,110,484/female 1,089,732)
• 15-24 years: 17.14% (male 454,981/female 452,204)
• 25-54 years: 33.5% (male 886,743/female 886,312)
• 55-64 years: 4.59% (male 125,207/female 117,810)
• 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 75,921/female 93,676)

Remark: the age structure of a population affects a nation’s key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Population from 1950 to 2020

CC BY

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.

Evolution of the life expectancy from 1960 to 2018

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Source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank

Economy

Agriculture:

cassava (manioc, tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa, forest products

Industries:

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

Exports – commodities:

petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Imports – commodities:

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Time zone and current time in Congo

Go to our interactive map to get the current time in Congo