2016 Edition

Background

Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

Area

342,000 sq km 341,500 sq km 500 sq km

land

341,500 sq km

total

342,000 sq km

water

500 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

Climate

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

Coastline

169 km

Elevation

430 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point

Mount Berongou 903 m

mean elevation

430 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands none of the selected agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

5,008 km Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,229 km, Gabon 2,567 km

border countries (5)

Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,229 km, Gabon 2,567 km

total

5,008 km

Land use

31.1% arable land 1.6%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 29.3% 65.6% 3.3% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

31.1%

forest

65.6%

other

3.3% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

seasonal flooding

Natural resources

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

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Age structure

41.53% (male 1,016,677/female 998,331) 17.26% (male 419,248/female 418,397) 34% (male 831,091/female 818,853) 4.18% (male 101,118/female 101,879) 3.03% (male 64,519/female 82,299) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

41.53% (male 1,016,677/female 998,331)

15-24 years

17.26% (male 419,248/female 418,397)

25-54 years

34% (male 831,091/female 818,853)

55-64 years

4.18% (male 101,118/female 101,879)

65 years and over

3.03% (male 64,519/female 82,299) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

35.1 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

252,171 25% (2005 est.)

percentage

25% (2005 est.)

total number

252,171

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

12.3% (2015)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

44.7% (2011/12)

Death rate

9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios

86.2% 79.4% 6.8% 14.7% (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

6.8%

potential support ratio

14.7% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

86.2%

youth dependency ratio

79.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 95.8% of population rural: 40% of population total: 76.5% of population urban: 4.2% of population rural: 60% of population total: 23.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural

60% of population

total

23.5% of population (2015 est.)

urban

4.2% of population

Education expenditures

6.2% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic groups

Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%

Health expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.75% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,400 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

80,700 (2014 est.)

Infant mortality rate

56.4 deaths/1,000 live births 61.4 deaths/1,000 live births 51.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

51.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

61.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

56.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

Life expectancy at birth

59.3 years 58.1 years 60.6 years (2016 est.)

female

60.6 years (2016 est.)

male

58.1 years

total population

59.3 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 79.3% 86.4% 72.9% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

72.9% (2015 est.)

male

86.4%

total population

79.3%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and dengue fever rabies schistosomiasis (2016)

animal contact disease

rabies

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria and dengue fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2016)

Major urban areas - population

BRAZZAVILLE (capital) 1.888 million; Pointe-Noire 969,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

442 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

19.7 years 19.6 years 19.9 years (2016 est.)

female

19.9 years (2016 est.)

male

19.6 years

total

19.7 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.8 median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011/12 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011/12 est.)

Nationality

Congolese (singular and plural) Congolese or Congo

adjective

Congolese or Congo

noun

Congolese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.7% (2014)

Physicians density

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

4,852,412 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.)

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.)

Population growth rate

2.06% (2016 est.)

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% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 20% of population rural: 5.6% of population total: 15% of population urban: 80% of population rural: 94.4% of population total: 85% of population (2015 est.)

rural

94.4% of population

total

85% of population (2015 est.)

urban

80% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

11 years 11 years 11 years (2012)

female

11 years (2012)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.78 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.78 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.63 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Urbanization

65.4% of total population (2015) 3.22% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.22% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

65.4% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Brazzaville 4 15 S, 15 17 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

4 15 S, 15 17 E

name

Brazzaville

time difference

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

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo no 10 years

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

previous 1992; latest approved by referendum 20 January 2002; amended 2015; note - the constitutional referendum approved in October 2015 changed the head of government from the president to the prime minister, reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years and limited total presidential terms to 3

Country name

Republic of the Congo Congo (Brazzaville) Republique du Congo Congo French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville 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"

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

Republique du Congo

local short form

Congo

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Stephanie S. SULLIVAN (since 12 August 2013) 70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville B.P. 1015, Brazzaville [242] 06 612-2000

chief of mission

Ambassador Stephanie S. SULLIVAN (since 12 August 2013)

embassy

70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville

mailing address

B.P. 1015, Brazzaville

telephone

[242] 06 612-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001) 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 726-5500 [1] (202) 726-1860

chancery

1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001)

FAX

[1] (202) 726-1860

telephone

[1] (202) 726-5500

Executive branch

President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997) Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 23 April 2016); note - a constitutional referendum held in 2015 approved the change of the head of government from the president to the prime minister Council of Ministers appointed by the president 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 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021) Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president; 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%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997)

election results

Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president; 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 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021)

head of government

Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 23 April 2016); note - a constitutional referendum held in 2015 approved the change of the head of government from the president to the prime minister

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 uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

note

uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

15 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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 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 Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts;

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;

Legal system

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every three years) and the National Assembly (139 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms) Senate - last held on 12 October 2014 for 36 of the expiry seats (next to be held in 2020); National Assembly - last held on 15 July and 5 August 2012 (next to be held in July 2017) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RMP 33, FDU 23, UPADS 2, other 7, independent 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 89, MCDDI 7, UPADS 7, RDPS 5, MAR 4, RC 3, MUST 2, UPDP 2, CPR 1, PRL 1, PUR 1, UFD 1, UR 1, independent 12, vacant 3

description

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every three years) and the National Assembly (139 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RMP 33, FDU 23, UPADS 2, other 7, independent 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 89, MCDDI 7, UPADS 7, RDPS 5, MAR 4, RC 3, MUST 2, UPDP 2, CPR 1, PRL 1, PUR 1, UFD 1, UR 1, independent 12, vacant 3

elections

Senate - last held on 12 October 2014 for 36 of the expiry seats (next to be held in 2020); National Assembly - last held on 15 July and 5 August 2012 (next to be held in July 2017)

National anthem

"La Congolaise" (The Congolese) Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

lyrics/music

Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE

name

"La Congolaise" (The Congolese)

note

originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

National symbol(s)

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

lion, elephant; national colors

green, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Action Movement for Renewal or MAR [Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO] Citizen's Rally or RC Congolese Labour Party or PCT [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO] Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS] Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST [Claudine MUNARI] Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal Tsaty MABIALA] Party for the Unity of the Republic or PUR Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP [Auguste-Celestin GONGARD NKOUA Prospects and Realities Club or CPR Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Bernard BATCHI] Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP Republican and Liberal Party or PRL Union for the Republic or UR Union of Democratic Forces Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR United Democratic Forces or FDU [Sebastian EBAO]; many smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$3.776 billion $4.687 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$4.687 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$3.776 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-10.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.8% (31 December 2015 est.) 14.8% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.264 billion (2015 est.) -$1.281 billion (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$4.324 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $3.901 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Economy - overview

The economy is a mixture of subsistence farming and hunting, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, which entered production in late 2013, may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF, including the recently concluded Article IV consultations. The current administration faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. The recent drop in oil prices has constrained government spending; lower oil prices forced the government to cut more than $1 billion in planned spending. However, the government increased infrastructure spending for the September 2015 All-Africa Games and also ahead of the March 2016 presidential election, putting further pressure on the budget. Officially the country became a net external creditor as of 2011, with external debt representing only about 16% of GDP and debt servicing less than 3% of government revenue.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 591.45 (2015 est.) 494.42 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.)

Exports

$5.231 billion (2015 est.) $9.12 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 42.1%, Italy 16.9%, US 4.9%, India 4.7%, Portugal 4.2% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

48.7% 12% 50.5% 0.1% 51.9% -63.2% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

51.9%

government consumption

12%

household consumption

48.7%

imports of goods and services

-63.2% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

50.5%

investment in inventories

0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

4.9% 69.3% 25.8% (2015 est.)

agriculture

4.9%

industry

69.3%

services

25.8% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,700 (2015 est.) $6,700 (2014 est.) $6,400 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2015 est.) 6.8% (2014 est.) 3.3% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.878 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.36 billion (2015 est.) $28.64 billion (2014 est.) $26.81 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

36.3% of GDP (2015 est.) 35.8% of GDP (2014 est.) 26.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.1% 37.1% (2005)

highest 10%

37.1% (2005)

lowest 10%

2.1%

Imports

$3.934 billion (2015 est.) $4.939 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 20.3%, France 14.2%, South Korea 9.8%, US 4.9%, UK 4.4%, Italy 4.1%, India 4.1% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

1.4% (2015 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2015 est.) 0.1% (2014 est.)

Labor force

1.807 million (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

46.5% (2011 est.)

Public debt

48% of GDP (2015 est.) 36.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.244 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $4.939 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.875 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $4.858 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.807 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $105.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.131 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $4.036 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

42.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

53% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.5 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

252,300 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

269,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

900 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

22 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

12.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

87.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

18 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

500,000 kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

1.7 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

2,600,000 42% 62% 5% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

5% (2013)

electrification - total population

42%

electrification - urban areas

62%

population without electricity

2,600,000

Natural gas - consumption

1.5 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

39 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.5 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

16,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

5,426 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,615 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

18,550 bbl/day (2013 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.cg

Internet users

362,000 7.6% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

7.6% (July 2015 est.)

total

362,000

Telephone system

primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed-line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged to 110 per 100 persons country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

domestic

fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed-line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged to 110 per 100 persons

general assessment

primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order

international

country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

17,000 less than 1 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

17,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.216 million 110 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

110 (July 2015 est.)

total

5.216 million

Airports

27 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

over 3,047 m

2

total

8

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

8

914 to 1,523 m

9

total

19

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TN (2016)

Merchant marine

1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo 1) (2010)

registered in other countries

1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo 1) (2010)

National air transport system

657,926 2,987,493 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

2,987,493 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

657,926

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

12

number of registered air carriers

3

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

Pointe-Noire Brazzaville (Congo); Impfondo (Oubangi); Ouesso (Sangha); Oyo (Alima) Djeno

major seaport(s)

Pointe-Noire

oil terminal(s)

Djeno

river port(s)

Brazzaville (Congo); Impfondo (Oubangi); Ouesso (Sangha); Oyo (Alima)

Railways

510 km 510 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

narrow gauge

510 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

total

510 km

Roadways

17,000 km 1,212 km 15,788 km (2006)

paved

1,212 km

total

17,000 km

unpaved

15,788 km (2006)

Waterways

1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui 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) (2011)

Military branches

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise); Gendarmerie; Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2013)

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC)

Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise); Gendarmerie; Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in the Armed Forces (2012)

Disputes - international

the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is undefined except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Refugees and internally displaced persons

8,549 (Rwanda) (2015); 29,304 (Central African Republic); 12,223 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2016) 7,800 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2015)

IDPs

7,800 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

8,549 (Rwanda) (2015); 29,304 (Central African Republic); 12,223 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2016)

Trafficking in persons

the Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children, men, and women, subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most trafficking victims are from Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and, to a lesser extent, other neighboring countries and are subjected to domestic servitude and market vending by West African and Congolese nationals; adults and children, the majority from the DRC, are also sex trafficked in Congo, mainly Brazzaville; internal trafficking victims, often from rural areas, are exploited as domestic servants or forced to work in quarries, bakeries, fishing, and agriculture Tier 2 Watch List - the Republic of the Congo does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the country drafted an action plan based on anti-trafficking legislation, which remains pending in the Supreme Court; the government made minimal anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts in 2014, failing to prosecute or convict suspected traffickers from cases dating back to 2010; serious allegations of official complicity continue to be reported; the government lacks a systematic means of identifying victims and relies on NGOs and international organizations to identify victims and NGOs and foster families to provide care to victims; the quality of care varied widely because the foster care system was allegedly undermined by inadequate security and official complicity (2015)

current situation

the Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children, men, and women, subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most trafficking victims are from Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and, to a lesser extent, other neighboring countries and are subjected to domestic servitude and market vending by West African and Congolese nationals; adults and children, the majority from the DRC, are also sex trafficked in Congo, mainly Brazzaville; internal trafficking victims, often from rural areas, are exploited as domestic servants or forced to work in quarries, bakeries, fishing, and agriculture

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - the Republic of the Congo does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the country drafted an action plan based on anti-trafficking legislation, which remains pending in the Supreme Court; the government made minimal anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts in 2014, failing to prosecute or convict suspected traffickers from cases dating back to 2010; serious allegations of official complicity continue to be reported; the government lacks a systematic means of identifying victims and relies on NGOs and international organizations to identify victims and NGOs and foster families to provide care to victims; the quality of care varied widely because the foster care system was allegedly undermined by inadequate security and official complicity (2015)