Congo
Congo excels and struggles in equal measure. It leads on beer consumption (#9) while trailing on life expectancy. See what other surprises Congo holds.
Congo is a country in Africa with a population of 6.10M and an area of 342,000 km². Life expectancy is 65.8 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Land Area
341.5KTotal land area in square kilometers, excluding lakes, rivers, and territorial waters.
CO2 Per Capita
1.40How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Human Development Index
0.65The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
GDP Per Capita
$6.2KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
7.0KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
💰Unemployment Rate
19.7%The percentage of the workforce that is unemployed but actively looking for work.
🍻Beer Consumption
4.65How many liters of beer the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
💰Government Debt (% GDP)
128.7%How much money the central government owes as a percentage of GDP.
👥Teen Birth Rate
109.88The number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-19.
🌱Forest Coverage (%)
64.1%The percentage of land covered by forests - natural or planted trees at least 5 meters tall (excludes orchards and urban parks).
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Only ranks #189 in health spending (% gdp)
Health Spending (% GDP): 2.2%
Total health spending as a percentage of GDP.
World Bank 2023Ranks #7 in unemployment rate (lower is better)
Unemployment Rate: 19.7%
The percentage of the workforce that is unemployed but actively looking for work.
World Bank 2023Ranks #9 globally in beer consumption
Beer Consumption: 4.65
How many liters of beer the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
Our World in Data 2023Ranks #9 in government debt (% gdp) (lower is better)
Government Debt (% GDP): 128.7%
How much money the central government owes as a percentage of GDP.
World Bank 2023Ranks #9 in youth unemployment rate (lower is better)
Youth Unemployment Rate: 40.0%
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) from CIA World Factbook.
Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Congo Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout 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.
- Location
- Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
- 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
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
- Natural Hazards
- seasonal flooding
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida
- Languages
- French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
- 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.)
- Ethnic Groups
- 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.)
- Major Cities
- 2.638 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.336 million Pointe-Noire (2023)
- Government Type
- presidential republic
- Capital
- Brazzaville
- Capital Coordinates
- 4 15 S, 15 17 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Republic of the Congo
- Name Origin
- named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom in the area
- Independence
- 15 August 1960 (from France)
- National Symbols
- lion, elephant
- National Anthem
- "La Congolaise" (The Congolese)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 2 (natural)
- Overview
- 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
- 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)
- Export Partners
- China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023)
- Import Partners
- China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023)
- Military Forces
- Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
- Military Service
- 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 79.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 20.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 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
Deep Dive
63 of 80 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
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Gabon
Equatorial Guinea
Cameroon
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Kenya
Honduras
Côte d'Ivoire
PakistanCompare Congo with...
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Burkina FasoShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Congo!
Total land area in square kilometers, excluding lakes, rivers, and territorial waters.
Frequently Asked Questions about Congo
Congo has a population of 6.10M, ranking #113 globally by population.
Congo is located in Africa. It has an area of 342,000 km².
Life expectancy in Congo is 65.8 years, ranking #185 globally.
Congo's GDP per capita (PPP) is 7.0K, ranking #152 globally.
Congo ranks particularly high in Land Area (#65), Population (#113), CO2 Per Capita (#147).
Congo has an HDI of 0.649, ranking #138 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Congo has a population density of 18.1 people per km², ranking #190 globally.
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