About Congo, Republic of the
French - the sole official language, used in education, business, and government.
Lingala and Monokutuba - recognized national trade languages, serving as lingua francas.
Kikongo is the most widespread of many local languages and dialects spoken across the country.
French is the sole official language of the Republic of the Congo, with Lingala and Monokutuba recognized as national languages.
| Geography |
Location: Western Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 342,000 sq km
Land boundaries:
border countries: Angola (exclave of Cabinda), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon
Terrain: mostly dense tropical rainforest, part of the Congo Basin (second-largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon)
| People |
Population: 6,097,665-6,592,000 (2024-2025 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.8%
15-64 years: 57.8%
65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Nationality:
noun/adjective: Congolese
Ethnic groups: Bakongo/Kongo 40.5-41%, Bateke 16.9%, Mbochi 13.1%, Sangha 5.6%, Mbenga Pygmies 2%
Religions: Christianity 87.1% (Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%), no religion 8-11.3%, Islam 1.2-1.6%
Languages: French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages (Kikongo most widespread)
Population distribution: one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with nearly 70% of the population in urban areas; concentrated in the southwest, mainly Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, and along the railway connecting them; the northern tropical jungles are sparsely populated
| Government |
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: Congo; often called Congo (Brazzaville) to distinguish from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo (Kinshasa)
Data code: CF
Government type: unitary semi-presidential republic under a dictatorship
National capital: Brazzaville
Administrative divisions: 15 departments (as of October 2024)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Denis Sassou Nguesso
head of government: Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso
| Economy |
Economy - overview: among the world's least developed nations despite significant oil reserves; agriculture, forestry, and oil production are the primary economic sectors; substantial natural resources also include potash, iron ore, gold, diamonds, copper, and uranium
GDP (purchasing power parity): $15.72 billion (nominal, similar order of magnitude for PPP; 2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: 19.7% (2024 est.)
Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
| Military |
Military branches: Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): mixed inventory of Chinese, French, Italian, Russian/Soviet, and South African armaments (2025)
| Transnational Issues |
Trafficking in persons - tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List (2025)