Culture
Major languages include French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread).
CIA 2026
Data as of May 5, 2026
Congo
AfricaLand of Contrasts
Congo excels and struggles in equal measure. See what other surprises Congo holds.
Congo excels and struggles in equal measure. It leads on beer consumption (#9) while trailing on life expectancy. See what other surprises Congo holds.
-1.0, 15.0 - Africa
Area
342K km²
Pop.
6.10M
Stats
119
Reality brief
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.
Short factual summary generated from the same country data used in game rounds.
Core numbers
Stats worth knowing
Fast scan first, deep dive later.
Land Area
341.5K km²#65globally
Total land area in square kilometers, excluding lakes, rivers, and territorial waters.
CO2 Per Capita
1.4 t/person/yr#147globally
Annual carbon dioxide emissions in tonnes per person, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Human Development Index
0.65#138globally
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
GDP Per Capita
$6,181.47#151globally
GDP per person adjusted for purchasing power in constant 2017 international dollars, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
$7,026.36#152globally
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Country briefing
Grounded facts about Congo
A quick real-world briefing before you dive deeper into rankings, surprises, and matchups.
Identity
Formal name: Republic of the Congo.
CIA 2026
Geography
Size snapshot: slightly smaller than Montana.
CIA 2026
Cities
Cities in Congo
Browse this country's cities before City Detective asks you to guess.
Top stats
Where They Stand Out
The strongest source-backed stats before the deeper data table.
Youth Unemployment Rate
40.5% of youth labor force#7globallyTop stat
Share of the labor force ages 15-24 that is unemployed from the World Bank latest available country value.
Unemployment Rate
19.69%#7globallyTop stat
The percentage of the workforce that is unemployed but actively looking for work.
Beer Consumption
4.6 L/person/yr#9globallyTop stat
Liters of beer consumed per person per year, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Teen Birth Rate
109.88 per 1k#15globallyTop stat
The number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-19.
Forest Coverage (%)
64.13%#20globallyTop stat
The percentage of land covered by forests - natural or planted trees at least 5 meters tall (excludes orchards and urban parks).
Reality checks
Did You Know?
The stats that tend to surprise players in real rounds.
Only ranks #189 in health spending (% gdp)
#1892.2% of GDPHealth Spending (% GDP)
Current health expenditure as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Has one of the highest government debt (% gdp) figures
#9128.7% of GDPGovernment Debt (% GDP)
Central government debt as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Only ranks #202 in broadband access (%)
#2021.0 per 100 peopleBroadband Access (%)
Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, from World Bank Open Data.
Only ranks #193 in electricity access (%)
#19351.3%Electricity Access (%)
The percentage of the population with access to electricity.
Only ranks #137 in university enrollment rate
#13710.38%University Enrollment Rate
Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Compared with the region
How Congo Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
Congo
Africa avg
World avg
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
- Country
- $7,026.36
- Region avg
- $7,919.74
- World avg
- $31,844.55
Congo$7,026.36
Africa$7,919.74
World$31,844.55
-78% below worldWB 2023
Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
- Country
- 65.8 years
- Region avg
- 65.4 years
- World avg
- 73.7 years
Congo65.8 years
Africa65.4 years
World73.7 years
-11% below worldWB 2023
Human Development Index
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
- Country
- 0.65
- Region avg
- 0.58
- World avg
- 0.74
Congo0.65
Africa0.58
World0.74
-12% below worldOWID 2023
Internet Users
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
- Country
- 38%
- Region avg
- 43.08%
- World avg
- 70.29%
Congo38%
Africa43.08%
World70.29%
-46% below worldWB 2023
Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Play this countryFactbook notes
About Congo
Country briefing
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo.
Read the full Factbook note
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.
Geography & Climate6 facts
- 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
People & Culture4 facts
- 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 & History10 facts
- 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)
Economy & Trade7 facts
- 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)
Infrastructure & Defense4 facts
- 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
Source:World Factbook archive 2026
Data vault
Deep Dive
Every tracked stat, grouped for fast scanning.
Wealth & Economy10 statsBest: #7
Unemployment Rate
Youth Unemployment Rate
Government Debt (% GDP)
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
Inflation Rate
GDP Growth Rate
GDP (Nominal)
High-Tech Exports (%)
GDP Per Capita
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
Lifestyle4 statsBest: #9
Demographics12 statsBest: #15
Teen Birth Rate
Youth Population (%)
Dependency Ratio
Fertility Rate
Birth Rate
Land Area
Population
Urban Population (%)
Population Density
Death Rate
Median Age
Elderly Population (%)
Environment9 statsBest: #20
Forest Coverage (%)
Protected Land (%)
Renewable Energy (%)
Forest Area
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
Total CO2 Emissions
CO2 Per Capita
Irrigated Land
20 km²#162
Electricity Access (%)
Land & Sea4 statsBest: #31
Land Border Length
5.6K km#31
Lowest Elevation
0 m#64
Coastline Length
169 km#144
Highest Elevation
1.0K m#160
Health & Survival8 statsBest: #37
Child Mortality
Infant Mortality
Suicide Rate
Smoking Rate
Life Expectancy
Doctors (per 1,000)
Obesity Rate
Health Spending (% GDP)
Education & Future4 statsBest: #63
Infrastructure3 statsBest: #81
Military & Defense2 statsBest: #107
Energy1 statsBest: #136
Electric Generating Capacity
842.0K kW#136
Society & Equality1 statsBest: #152
Women in Parliament (%)
Keep exploring
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Congo
#65 in Land Area
Total land area in square kilometers, excluding lakes, rivers, and territorial waters.
Top third globally
341.5K km²
Frequently Asked Questions about Congo
What is the population of Congo?
Congo has a population of 6.10M, ranking #113 globally by population.
What continent is Congo in?
Congo is located in Africa. It has an area of 342,000 km².
What is the life expectancy in Congo?
Life expectancy in Congo is 65.8 years, ranking #185 globally.
What is the GDP per capita of Congo?
Congo's GDP per capita (PPP) is $7,026.36, ranking #152 globally.
What is Congo known for in global statistics?
Congo ranks particularly high in Land Area (#65), Population (#113), CO2 Per Capita (#147).
What is Congo's Human Development Index?
Congo has an HDI of 0.649, ranking #138 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
How densely populated is Congo?
Congo has a population density of 18.1 people per km², ranking #190 globally.