Map of Congo | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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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.


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

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 15 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 342,000 km²
Land: 341,500 km²
Water: 500 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida
Country comparison total: 5,554 km
Country comparison border countries: (5) Angola 231 km; Cameroon 494 km; Central African Republic 487 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Gabon 2,567 km

Land boundaries
Total: 5,554 km
Border countries: (5) 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
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
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
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 430 m

Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 31.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 29.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 65.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 3.3% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 km² (2012)

Major rivers
By length in km: Oubangui (Ubangi) (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km
By length in km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 832 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: seasonal flooding

Geography
Note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them


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Population
Distribution: the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville as shown in this population distribution map
Total: 6,097,665
Male: 3,045,973
Female: 3,051,692 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.38% (2024 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
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: French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Major-language samples: Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala); Gheos World Guide, 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%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2007 est.)

Demographic profile

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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 78.8
Youth dependency ratio: 74
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.8
Potential support ratio: 20.9 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 20.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 20.5 years
Female: 20.9 years

Population growth rate: 2.38% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 28.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 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)
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)

Environment
Current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection
International 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 agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 29.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.28 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 2.24 megatons (2020 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
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.6 years (2011/12 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 282 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 30.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 71.5 years
Female: 74.3 years

Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 30.1% (2014/15)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 97.5% of population
Unimproved rural: 43.6% of population
Unimproved total: 15.8% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 2.5% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 73.4% of population
Improved rural: 15.1% of population
Improved total: 54.7% of population
Unimproved urban: 26.6% of population
Unimproved rural: 84.9% of population
Unimproved total: 45.3% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 9.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 14.5% (2020 est.)
Male: 26.8% (2020 est.)
Female: 2.1% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.3% (2014/15)

Education expenditures: 4.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 80.6%
Male: 85.9%
Female: 75.4% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 11 years
Male: 11 years
Female: 11 years (2012)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 41.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 40.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
Conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
Local long form: République du Congo
Local short form: Congo
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 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: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Brazzaville
Geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: 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: 12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha

Dependent areas

Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution
History: several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015
Amendments: 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: mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997)
Head of government: Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections/appointments: 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: 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: bicameral 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: Senate - last held on 20 August 2023 (next to be held 31 August 2,029), National Assembly - last held on 10 and 31 July 2022 (next to be held in July 2,027)
Elections results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 52, Independents 7, RDPS 3, MAR 2, Club 2002 PUR 2, PRL 1, UDLC 1, MCDDI 1, LCEM 1, UPADS 1, RC 1; composition - men 49, women 23, percentage women 34.7%, National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 112, UPADS 7, UDH-YUKI 7, MAR 4, RLP 2, CLUB 2002 2, DRR 2, RDPS 2, PAC 1, MSD 1, MDP 1, CPR 1, PPRD 1, CR 1, MCDDI 1, independent 6; composition - men 129, women 22, percentage women 14.6%; total Parliament percentage women 20.2%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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: 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: Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts

Political parties and leaders: 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

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001)
In the us chancery: 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 726-5,500
In the us fax: [1] (202) 726-1860
In the us email address and website: info@ambacongo-us.org; [link]
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Eugene S. YOUNG (since 30 March 2022)
From the us embassy: 70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville
From the us mailing address: 2,090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20,521-2,090
From the us telephone: [242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9,700
From the us email address and website: BrazzavilleACS@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: 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: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

National symbols: lion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red

National anthem
Name: 'La Congolaise' (The Congolese)
Lyrics/music: Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE
Note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 2 (natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy 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: $38.163 billion (2023 est.); $37.448 billion (2022 est.); $36.904 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 1.91% (2023 est.); 1.48% (2022 est.); 1.02% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $6,200 (2023 est.); $6,300 (2022 est.); $6,300 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 44.1% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24.9% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 56.9% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -39.3% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9% (2023 est.)
Industry: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Services: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 0.75% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 2.461 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 20.05% (2023 est.); 20.26% (2022 est.); 22.08% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 41.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 40.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $2.393 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $2.409 billion (2020 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 6.51% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 130.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 3.17% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.3% (2023 est.); 3.04% (2022 est.); 1.72% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $1.716 billion (2021 est.); $1.441 billion (2020 est.); $1.632 billion (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $7.752 billion (2021 est.); $4.67 billion (2020 est.); $7.855 billion (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 39%, India 20%, UAE 15%, Italy 5%, Vietnam 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: crude petroleum, refined copper, wood, tin ores, rare earth ores (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $4.487 billion (2021 est.); $3.279 billion (2020 est.); $4.945 billion (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 26%, France 9%, UAE 6%, Belgium 6%, India 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: poultry, garments, vaccines, ships, fish (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $715.391 million (2023 est.); $835.649 million (2022 est.); $828.56 million (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $6.482 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 50.6% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 67.5%
Access electrification rural areas: 12.4%
Installed generating capacity: 842,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 2.174 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 25.21 million kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 22 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.823 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 77.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 22.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Imports: 1 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 267,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 12,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 423 million m³ (2022 est.)
Consumption: 423 million m³ (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 283.99 billion m³ (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.712 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 830,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 7.238 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 17,000 (2020 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 5.648 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 3.2% of GDP (2020 est.); 2.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie; Ministry of Interior: National Police (2024)
Note: the National Gendarmerie (GN) is a paramilitary force with domestic law enforcement and security responsibilities; it is under the Ministry of Defense, but also reports to the Ministry of Interior; the GN nominally includes the Republican Guard (GR), which is responsible for presidential security and has a separate command structure

Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription ended in 1969 (2024)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 333,899 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.6 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TN

Airports: 56 (2024)

Heliports

Pipelines: 232 km gas, 4 km liquid petroleum gas, 982 km oil (2013)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 23,324 km
Paved: 3,111 km
Unpaved: 20,213 km (2017)
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: 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

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 33,593 (Central African Republic), 29,785 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2024)
Idps: 27,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2022)

Illicit drugs