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.

Area
Total: 342,000 km²
Land: 341,500 km²
Water: 500 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida

Land boundaries
Total: 5,554 km
Border countries (5): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 31.2% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.)
Forest: 63.9% (2023 est.)
Other: 4.9% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 km² (2012)

Major rivers: 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

Natural hazards: seasonal flooding

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

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

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.)

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: 72.9 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 65.4 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 7.5 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 13.3 (2024 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.)

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)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 241 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 19.7% (2024 est.); 19.9% (2023 est.); 20.2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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 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

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

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
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)
Most recent election date: 21 March 2021
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%
Expected date of next election: 21 March 2026

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Parlement)
Legislative structure: bicameral

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

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

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 2.6% (2024 est.); 1.9% (2023 est.); 1.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 2.6% (2024 est.); 1.9% (2023 est.); 1.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 47.4% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 52.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Industry: 40.1% (2024 est.)
Services: 45% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 2.563 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 19.7% (2024 est.); 19.9% (2023 est.); 20.2% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 19.7% (2024 est.); 19.9% (2023 est.); 20.2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $2.393 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $3.231 billion (2020 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 6.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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
Commodities: crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023)
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
Commodities: ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 842,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 2.832 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 31 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 30.588 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 50.6% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 67.5%
Access electrification - rural areas: 12.4%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 79.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 20.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
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.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 2.882 billion barrels (2021 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.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.66 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.826 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 834,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 7.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 17,000 (2020 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 5.87 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 38% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 78,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.); 2% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.); 2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

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