Congo Republic

Location

• Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
• about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Brazzaville	1,982,000	Capital
Pointe-Noire	1,032,000
Dolisie	121,000
Nkayi	103,000
Kayes	58,737
Impfondo	48,939
Ouesso	40,667
Owando	35,698
Sibiti	33,122
Loutété	27,726

Size

• 132,046 square miles
• 342,000 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida

History

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.

Climate

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

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Languages

French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)major-language sample(s): Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguist 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2007 est.)

Government

presidential republic

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015amendment process: 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: mixed system of French civil law and customary law
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelection/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms)most recent election date: 21 March 2021election 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%expected date of next election: 21 March 2026
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)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 yearssubordinate courts: Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courtsnote: a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the President of the Republic
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliament (Parlement)legislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $2.393 billion (2020 est.)expenditures: $3.231 billion (2020 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
• Industries: petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
• Agricultural Products: cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 31.3% (2022 est.)arable land: 1.6% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0.4% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 29.3% (2022 est.)forest: 64.2% (2022 est.)other: 4.5% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports