2017 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

Population - distribution

the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Age structure

41.67% (male 1,041,761/female 1,022,763) 17.1% (male 424,521/female 422,755) 33.89% (male 843,856/female 835,041) 4.29% (male 106,776/female 105,573) 3.06% (male 66,962/female 84,666) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

41.67% (male 1,041,761/female 1,022,763)

15-24 years

17.1% (male 424,521/female 422,755)

25-54 years

33.89% (male 843,856/female 835,041)

55-64 years

4.29% (male 106,776/female 105,573)

65 years and over

3.06% (male 66,962/female 84,666) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

34.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

12.3% (2015)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

30.1% (2014/15)

Death rate

9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

84.5 78.3 6.2 16.1 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

6.2

potential support ratio

16.1 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

84.5

youth dependency ratio

78.3

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

3.1% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,800 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

91,000 (2016 est.)

Infant mortality rate

54.9 deaths/1,000 live births 59.8 deaths/1,000 live births 49.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

49.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

59.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

54.9 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

59.8 years 58.6 years 61.1 years (2017 est.)

female

61.1 years (2017 est.)

male

58.6 years

total population

59.8 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 19.5 years 19.8 years (2017 est.)

female

19.8 years (2017 est.)

male

19.5 years

total

19.7 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.8 years 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

-3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.6% (2016)

Physicians density

0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

4,954,674 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 2017 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 2017 est.)

Population distribution

the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville

Population growth rate

2.11% (2017 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

4.59 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Urbanization

66.2% of total population (2017) 3.02% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.02% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

66.2% of total population (2017)

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

several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015 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 (2017)

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 (2017)

history

several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mary DASCHBACH (since January 2015) 70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville B.P. 1015, Brazzaville [242] 06 612-2000

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mary DASCHBACH (since January 2015)

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 (vacant); Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 23 April 2016) resigned on 18 August 2017; 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 (vacant); Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 23 April 2016) resigned on 18 August 2017; 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 3 years) and the 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) Senate - last held on 12 October 2014 for expiry of half the seats (next to be held in 2020); National Assembly - last held on 16 and 30 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022) 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 3 years) and the 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)

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 expiry of half the seats (next to be held in 2020); National Assembly - last held on 16 and 30 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022)

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 [Claude Alphonse NSILOU] 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 [Bonaventure MIZIDY] Union for the Republic or UR Union of Democratic Forces or UDF Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR many smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$2.085 billion $3.507 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$3.507 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$2.085 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-17.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14% (31 December 2016 est.) 14.8% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-5.514 billion (2016 est.) $-1.262 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$4.721 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $4.204 billion (31 December 2015 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 the March 2016 presidential election, which put further pressure on the budget. The fiscal deficit exceeded 18% of GDP in 2015. Substantial macroeconomic imbalances continued in 2016 following sustained low oil prices.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.)

Exports

$4.116 billion (2016 est.) $5.313 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 39.8%, Italy 10.2%, Australia 7%, Gabon 6.6%, Angola 6%, Singapore 4.2% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

56.5% 15.5% 50.4% 0% 57.1% -79.4% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

57.1%

government consumption

15.5%

household consumption

56.5%

imports of goods and services

-79.4% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

50.4%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

8.7% 50.2% 41.1% (2016 est.)

agriculture

8.7%

industry

50.2%

services

41.1% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,000 (2016 est.) $7,400 (2015 est.) $7,400 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-2.8% (2016 est.) 2.6% (2015 est.) 6.8% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.867 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.74 billion (2016 est.) $30.22 billion (2015 est.) $29.13 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

-26.3% of GDP (2016 est.) -2.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 28.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.1% 37.1% (2005)

highest 10%

37.1% (2005)

lowest 10%

2.1%

Imports

$3.498 billion (2016 est.) $3.779 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

South Korea 18.2%, France 12.8%, China 12.2%, Norway 11.2%, Belgium 6.9% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-4.7% (2016 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2016 est.) 4.5% (2015 est.)

Labor force

2.055 million (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

35.4% 20.6% 44% (2005 est.)

agriculture

35.4%

industry

20.6%

services

44% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

46.5% (2011 est.)

Public debt

83.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 72.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$727.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) $2.233 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.037 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $3.704 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.901 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.807 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.456 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $3.131 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

36% (2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.5 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

254,400 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

308,400 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

900.5 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

22 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

61.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

38.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

18 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

545,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

1.676 billion kWh (2015 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

2.6 billion cu m (2015 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 (2015 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

6,058 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,821 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

16,530 bbl/day (2014 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 2016 est.)

percent of population

7.6% (July 2016 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 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

17,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.216 million 110 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

110 (July 2016 est.)

total

5.216 million

Airports

27 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5 (2017)

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 expenditures

7.17% of GDP (2016) 4.97% of GDP (2014) 2.61% of GDP (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

9,202 (Rwanda) (2016); 49,974 (Central African Republic); 12,280 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2017) 33,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2016)

IDPs

33,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2016)

refugees (country of origin)

9,202 (Rwanda) (2016); 49,974 (Central African Republic); 12,280 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2017)

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)