Congo (Brazzaville)

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.

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

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Africa

slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida

169 km

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

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

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

20 sq km (2012)

Oubangui (Ubangi) (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Congo Basin

the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map

seasonal flooding

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

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.)

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.)

2.36% (2025 est.)

28.34 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map

2.638 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.336 million Pointe-Noire (2023)

19.6 years (2011/12 est.)

241 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

3.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)

1.83 (2025 est.)

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

9.6% (2016)

51.8% (2023 est.)

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

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

36.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

832 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

presidential republic

15 departments; Bouenza, Brazzaville, Congo-Oubangui, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Djoue-Lefini, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Nkeni-Alima, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha

mixed system of French civil law and customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

Alliance of the Presidential Majority or AMP<br>Action Movement for Renewal or MAR <br>Citizen's Rally or RC <br>Congolese Labour Party or PCT <br>Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI <br>Congo on the Move or LCEM <br>Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST <br>Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS <br>Club 2002-Party for the Unity and the Republic or Club 2002 <br>Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP <br>Perspectives and Realities Club or CPR <br>Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS <br>Republican and Liberal Party or PRL <br>Union of Democratic Forces or UDF <br>Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR<br>Union of Humanist Democrats or UDH-YUKI <br>Union for the Republic or UR 

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

15 August 1960 (from France)

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

<strong>description:</strong> divided diagonally from the lower-left side by a wide yellow band; the upper triangle (left side) is green, and the lower triangle is red<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> green stands for agriculture and forests, and yellow for the people's friendship and nobility; the meaning of the red color is not noted but has been associated with the struggle for independence

lion, elephant

green, yellow, red

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

$15.72 billion (2024 est.)

cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)

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

0.3% (2024 est.)

2.563 million (2024 est.)

6.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023)

crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023)

China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023)

ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023)

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

.cg

TN

56 (2025)

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)

approximately 12-14,000 active FAC, including Gendarmerie (2025)

the FAC has a mixed inventory of Chinese, French, Italian, Russian/Soviet, and South African armaments (2025)

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025)

has about 175 mostly police personnel deployed to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

the FAC's primary focuses are internal and maritime security; since its creation in 1961, the FAC has had a turbulent history; it has been sidelined by some national leaders in favor of personal militias, endured an internal rebellion (1996), and clashed with various rebel groups and political or ethnic militias (1993-1996, 2002-2005, 2017); during the 1997-1999 civil war, the military generally split along ethnic lines, with most northern officers supporting eventual winner SASSOU-Nguesso, and most southerners backing the rebels; others joined ethnic-based factions loyal to regional warlords; forces backing SASSOU-Nguesso were supported by Angolan troops and received some French assistance; the FAC also has undergone at least three reorganizations that included the incorporation of former rebel combatants and various ethnic and political militias; in recent years, France has provided some advice and training, and a military cooperation agreement was signed with Russia in 2019 (2025)