Congo

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.

land

341,500 sq km

total

342,000 sq km

water

500 sq km

slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida

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

169 km

highest point

Mont Nabeba 1,020 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

430 m

1 00 S, 15 00 E

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

20 sq km (2012)

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

total

5,554 km

agricultural land

31.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 29.3% (2018 est.)

forest

65.6% (2018 est.)

other

3.3% (2018 est.)

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

Congo Basin

Oubangui (Ubangi) (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Africa

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

seasonal flooding

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

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

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

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)

beer

5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

men married by age 18

5.6% (2018 est.)

women married by age 15

8.4%

women married by age 18

29.1%

12.3% (2014/15)

30.1% (2014/15)

4.5% of GDP (2020)

51.8% (2023 est.)

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

The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with nearly 70% of Congolese living in urban areas.  The population is concentrated in the southwest of the country, mainly in the capital Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and along the railway line that connects the two.  The tropical jungles in the north of the country are sparsely populated.  Most Congolese are Bantu, and most belong to one of four main ethnic groups, the Kongo, Teke, Mbochi, and Sangha, which consist of over 70 subgroups. The Republic of Congo is in the early stages of a demographic transition, whereby a population shifts from high fertility and mortality rates to low fertility and mortality rates associated with industrialized societies.  Its total fertility rate (TFR), the average number of children born per woman, remains high at 4.4 as of 2022.  While its TFR has steadily decreased, the progress slowed beginning in about 1995.  The slowdown in fertility reduction has delayed the demographic transition and Congo’s potential to reap a demographic dividend, the economic boost that can occur when the share of the working-age population is larger than the dependent age groups.  The TFR differs significantly between urban and rural areas – 3.7 in urban areas versus 6.5 in rural areas.  The TFR also varies among regions.  The urban regions of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have much lower TFRs than other regions, which are predominantly or completely rural.  The gap between desired fertility and actual fertility is also greatest in rural areas.  Rural families may have more children to contribute to agricultural production and/or due to a lack of information about and access to contraception.  Urban families may prefer to have fewer children because raising them is more expensive and balancing work and childcare may be more difficult.  The number of births among teenage girls, the frequency of giving birth before the age of fifteen, and a lack of education are the most likely reasons for higher TFRs in rural areas.  Although 90% of school-age children are enrolled in primary school, repetition and dropout rates are high and the quality of education is poor.  Congolese women with no or little education start having children earlier and have more children in total than those with at least some secondary education.  

elderly dependency ratio

4.8

potential support ratio

20.9 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

78.8

youth dependency ratio

74

improved: rural

rural: 56.4% of population

improved: total

total: 84.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.5% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 43.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 15.8% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.5% of population

4.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

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.)

1.87 (2024 est.)

female

27.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

33.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

30.6 deaths/1,000 live births (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.

female

74.3 years

male

71.5 years

total population

72.9 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

75.4% (2021)

male

85.9%

total population

80.6%

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

282 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

20.9 years

male

20.5 years

total

20.7 years (2024 est.)

19.6 years (2011/12 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

adjective

Congolese or Congo

noun

Congolese (singular and plural)

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

9.6% (2016)

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

female

3,051,692 (2024 est.)

male

3,045,973

total

6,097,665

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

2.38% (2024 est.)

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.)

improved: rural

rural: 15.1% of population

improved: total

total: 54.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 73.4% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 84.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 45.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 26.6% of population

female

11 years (2012)

male

11 years

total

11 years

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

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

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

female

2.1% (2020 est.)

male

26.8% (2020 est.)

total

14.5% (2020 est.)

3.79 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

69.2% of total population (2023)

12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha

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

geographic coordinates

4 15 S, 15 17 E

name

Brazzaville

time difference

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

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

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

history

several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015

conventional long form

Republic of the Congo

conventional short form

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"

former

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

local long form

République du Congo

local short form

Congo

chief of mission

Ambassador Eugene S. YOUNG (since 30 March 2022)

email address and website

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

embassy

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

mailing address

2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090

telephone

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

chancery

1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001)

email address and website

info@ambacongo-us.orghttp://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx

FAX

[1] (202) 726-1860

telephone

[1] (202) 726-5500

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%

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)

head of government

Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021)

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

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

presidential republic

15 August 1960 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

highest court(s)

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

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

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 halfNational 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)

election 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%

elections

Senate - last held on 20 August 2023 (next to be held 31 August 2029)National Assembly - last held on 10 and 31 July 2022 (next to be held in July 2027)

lyrics/music

Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE

name

"La Congolaise" (The Congolese)

note

note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

selected World Heritage Site locales

Sangha Trinational Forest; Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua

total World Heritage Sites

2 (natural)

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

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

Alliance of the Presidential Majority or AMPAction 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 UDRUnion of Humanist Democrats or UDH-YUKI Union for the Republic or UR 

18 years of age; universal

cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

expenditures

$2.409 billion (2020 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$2.393 billion (2020 est.)

Fitch rating

CCC (2019)

Moody's rating

Caa2 (2018)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

CCC+ (2020)

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.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external 2022

$6.482 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

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

Exchange rates 2019

585.911 (2019 est.)

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.)

Exports 2019

$7.855 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$4.67 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$7.752 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, refined copper, wood, tin ores, rare earth ores (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 39%, India 20%, UAE 15%, Italy 5%, Vietnam 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

56.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption

13.1% (2023 est.)

household consumption

44.1% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-39.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

24.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

9% (2023 est.)

industry

45.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

40.4% (2023 est.)

$15.321 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports 2019

$4.945 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$3.279 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$4.487 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

poultry, garments, vaccines, ships, fish (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 26%, France 9%, UAE 6%, Belgium 6%, India 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

0.75% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.72% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

3.04% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

2.461 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt 2017

130.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$36.904 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$37.448 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$38.163 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

1.02% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

1.48% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.91% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$6,300 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$6,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$6,200 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.02% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.02% of GDP (2023 est.)

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.)

6.51% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

22.08% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

20.26% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

20.05% (2023 est.)

female

40.1% (2023 est.)

male

42.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

41.2% (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

830,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

1.712 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

2.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

imports

1 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

2.174 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

25.21 million kWh (2022 est.)

imports

22 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

842,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.823 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - rural areas

12.4%

electrification - total population

50.6% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

67.5%

fossil fuels

77.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

22.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

7.238 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

423 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

423 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

283.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

12,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

267,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.02 (2020 est.)

total

1,000 (2020 est.)

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

.cg

percent of population

32.1% (2021 est.)

total

1,794,390 (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular 97 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

suffering from economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty; primary network consists of broadband through fiber link to the West Africa Cable System; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Dolisie; intercity lines frequently out of order; youth are seeking the Internet more than their parents and often gain access through cyber cafes; only the most affluent have Internet access in their homes; fiber network project with aims to connect north and south regions; DRC operator added fiber link between Brazzaville and Kinshasa (2024)

international

country code - 242; WACS submarine cables to Europe and Western and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2020 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

17,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

97 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

5.648 million (2021 est.)

56 (2024)

TN

by type

oil tanker 1, other 10

total

11 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

4.6 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

333,899 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

12

number of registered air carriers

3 (2020)

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

key ports

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

ports with oil terminals

4

small

1

total ports

5 (2024)

very small

4

narrow gauge

510 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

total

510 km (2014)

note

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

paved

3,111 km

total

23,324 km

unpaved

20,213 km (2017)

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)

the FAC's primary focus is internal security; it is organized into approximately nine military zones; the Army's primary combat forces are an infantry brigade and a Republican Guard forcesince 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 (2024)

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, National GendarmerieMinistry of Interior: National Police (2024)

note

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

approximately 12-14,000 active-duty troops (including about 4,000 Gendarmerie) (2024)

has about 190 mostly police personnel deployed to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)

the FAC has mostly Soviet-era armaments, with a small mix of Chinese, French, and South African equipment (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

2.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2% of GDP (2023 est.)

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

IDPs

27,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2022)

refugees (country of origin)

33,593 (Central African Republic), 29,785 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2024)

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore the Republic of the Congo remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/republic-of-the-congo/

carbon dioxide emissions

3.28 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

2.24 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

29.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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

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

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

severe localized food insecurity

due to floods - above average rainfall amounts since November 2022 triggered flooding in December 2022 and January 2023 in central and northern parts of the country, displacing people; according to damage assessment reports, about 165,000 people have been affected in 23 districts in the departments of Cuvette, Likouala, Plateaux and Sangha (2023)

agricultural land

31.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 29.3% (2018 est.)

forest

65.6% (2018 est.)

other

3.3% (2018 est.)

Congo Basin

Oubangui (Ubangi) (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

3.17% of GDP (2018 est.)

832 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

69.2% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

451,200 tons (1993 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

118,214 tons (2005 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

26.2% (2005 est.)