Congo, Republic of the :: Africa
Introduction
Background:
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992, and sparked a short period of ethnic and political unrest that was resolved by a peace agreement in late 1999. A new constitution adopted three years later provided for a multi-party system and a seven-year presidential term, and elections arranged shortly thereafter installed SASSOU-Nguesso. Following a year of renewed fighting, President SASSOU-Nguesso and southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. SASSOU-Nguesso was reeelected in 2009 and, after passing a referendum allowing him to run for a third term, was reelected again in 2016. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.
Geography
Location:
Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total:
342,000 sq km
land:
341,500 sq km
water:
500 sq km
country comparison to the world: 65
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida
Land boundaries:
total:
5,008 km
border countries (5):
Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1229 km, Gabon 2567 km
Coastline:
169 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
contiguous zone:
24
nm
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
Elevation:
mean elevation:
430 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Land use:
agricultural land:
31.1%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
1.6%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0.2%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
29.3%
(2011 est.)
forest:
65.6%
(2011 est.)
other:
3.3%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km
(2012)
Population distribution:
the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards:
seasonal flooding
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
People and Society
Population:
5,293,070
(July 2020 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
country comparison to the world: 121
Nationality:
noun:
Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups:
Kongo 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.)
Languages:
French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca 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%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3%
(2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
41.57%
(male 1,110,484/female 1,089,732)
15-24 years:
17.14%
(male 454,981/female 452,204)
25-54 years:
33.5%
(male 886,743/female 886,312)
55-64 years:
4.59%
(male 125,207/female 117,810)
65 years and over:
3.2%
(male 75,921/female 93,676)
(2020 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
78.7
youth dependency ratio:
73.7
elderly dependency ratio:
4.9
potential support ratio:
20.3
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
19.5 years
male:
19.3 years
female:
19.7 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Population growth rate:
2.26%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Birth rate:
32.6 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Death rate:
8.7 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Net migration rate:
-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Population distribution:
the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization:
urban population:
67.8% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
3.28% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
2.388 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.214 million Pointe-Noire
(2020)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
1 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.81 male(s)/female
total population:
1.01 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.8 years
(2011/12 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality rate:
378 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Infant mortality rate:
total:
50.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
55.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
45.9 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
61.3 years
male:
59.9 years
female:
62.7 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Total fertility rate:
4.45 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
30.1%
(2014/15)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
97.5% of population
rural:
56.4% of population
total:
83.7% of population
unimproved:
urban:
2.5% of population
rural:
43.6% of population
total:
16.3% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
2.9%
(2017)
Physicians density:
0.16 physicians/1,000 population
(2011)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
73.4% of population
rural:
15.1% of population
total:
53.9% of population
unimproved:
urban:
26.6% of population
rural:
84.9% of population
total:
46.1% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.1%
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100,000
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,500
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk:
very high
(2020)
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases:
schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases:
rabies
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
9.6%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 143
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
12.3%
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 52
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP
(2018)
country comparison to the world: 115
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
80.3%
male:
86.1%
female:
74.6%
(2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
11 years
male:
11 years
female:
11 years
(2012)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of the Congo
conventional short form:
Congo (Brazzaville)
local long form:
Republique du Congo
local short form:
Congo
former:
French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville
etymology:
named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom that occupied its mouth at the time of Portuguese discovery in the late 15th century and whose name stems from its people the Bakongo, meaning "hunters"
Government type:
presidential republic
Capital:
name:
Brazzaville
geographic coordinates:
4 15 S, 15 17 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who promoted French colonial interests in central Africa and worked against slavery and the abuse of African laborers
Administrative divisions:
12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha
Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution:
history:
several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015
amendments:
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
Legal system:
mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:
no
citizenship by descent only:
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo
dual citizenship recognized:
no
residency requirement for naturalization:
10 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997)
head of government:
Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 24 April 2016); note - a constitutional referendum held in 2015 approved the change of the head of government from the president to the prime minister
(2019)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments:
president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021)
election results:
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%
Legislative branch:
description:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every 3 years) ++ National Assembly (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms)
elections:
++ Senate - last held on 31 August 2017 for expiry of half the seats (next to be held in 2020) ++ National Assembly - last held on 16 and 30 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022)
election results:
++ Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, independent 12, MAR 2, RDPS 2, UPADS 2, DRD 1, FP 1, MCDDI 1, PRL 1, Pulp 1, PUR 1, RC 1; composition - men 58, women 14, percent of women 19.4% ++ National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 96, UPADS 8, MCDDI 4, other 23 (less than 4 seats) independent 20; composition - men 134, women 17, percent of women 11.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 13.9% ++
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); note - a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the president of the republic
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 years
subordinate courts:
Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts
Political parties and leaders:
Action Movement for Renewal or MAR [Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO] ++ Citizen's Rally or RC [Claude Alphonse NSILOU] ++ Congolese Labour Party or PCT [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO] ++ Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS] ++ Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST [Claudine MUNARI] ++ Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal Tsaty MABIALA] ++ Party for the Unity of the Republic or PUR ++ Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP [Auguste-Celestin GONGARD NKOUA] ++ Prospects and Realities Club or CPR ++ Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Bernard BATCHI] ++ Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP ++ Republican and Liberal Party or PRL [Bonaventure MIZIDY] ++ Union for the Republic or UR ++ Union of Democratic Forces or UDF ++ Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR ++ many smaller parties
International organization participation:
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), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001)
chancery:
1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
[1] (202) 726-5500
FAX:
[1] (202) 726-1860
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Todd P. HASKELL (since July 2017)
telephone:
[242] 06 612-2000
embassy:
70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville
mailing address:
B.P. 1015, Brazzaville
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National symbol(s):
lion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red
National anthem:
name:
"La Congolaise" (The Congolese)
lyrics/music:
Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE
note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991
Economy
Economic overview:
The Republic of the Congo's economy is a mixture of subsistence farming, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, which entered production in late 2013, may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. The Republic of the Congo is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and shares a common currency – the Central African Franc – with five other member states in the region.
++ The current administration faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. The drop in oil prices that began in 2014 has constrained government spending; lower oil prices forced the government to cut more than $1 billion in planned spending. The fiscal deficit amounted to 11% of GDP in 2017. The government's inability to pay civil servant salaries has resulted in multiple rounds of strikes by many groups, including doctors, nurses, and teachers. In the wake of a multi-year recession, the country reached out to the IMF in 2017 for a new program; the IMF noted that the country's continued dependence on oil, unsustainable debt, and significant governance weakness are key impediments to the country's economy. In 2018, the country's external debt level will approach 120% of GDP. The IMF urged the government to renegotiate debts levels to sustainable levels before it agreed to a new macroeconomic adjustment package.
GDP real growth rate:
-3.1%
(2017 est.)
-2.8%
(2016 est.)
2.6%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2%
(2019 est.)
1.1%
(2018 est.)
0.4%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Credit ratings:
Fitch rating:
CCC
(2019)
Moody's rating:
Caa2
(2018)
Standard & Poors rating:
CCC+
(2020)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$29.39 billion
(2017 est.)
$30.33 billion
(2016 est.)
$31.22 billion
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.718 billion
(2017 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,800
(2017 est.)
$7,200
(2016 est.)
$7,500
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 140
Gross national saving:
19.5% of GDP
(2017 est.)
-12.8% of GDP
(2016 est.)
6.6% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
9.3%
(2017 est.)
industry:
51%
(2017 est.)
services:
39.7%
(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
47.6%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
9.6%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
42.5%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
0.1%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
62.9%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-62.7%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
39.5
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
cassava (manioc, tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products
Industries:
petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:
-3%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Labor force:
2.055 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
35.4%
industry:
20.6%
services:
44%
(2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
36%
(2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Population below poverty line:
46.5%
(2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
2.1%
highest 10%:
37.1%
(2005)
Budget:
revenues:
1.965 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
2.578 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
22.5% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-7% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Public debt:
130.8% of GDP
(2017 est.)
128.7% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Current account balance:
-$1.128 billion
(2017 est.)
-$5.735 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Exports:
$4.193 billion
(2017 est.)
$4.116 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Exports - partners:
China 53.8%, Angola 6.2%, Gabon 5.7%, Italy 5.4%, Spain 5.4%, Australia 4.8%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Imports:
$2.501 billion
(2017 est.)
$5.639 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 15%, China 14%, Belgium 12.2%, Norway 8.1%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$505.7 million
(31 December 2017 est.)
$727.1 million
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Debt - external:
$4.605 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$4.721 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
579.8
(2017 est.)
593.01
(2016 est.)
593.01
(2015 est.)
591.45
(2014 est.)
494.42
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
population without electricity:
2 million
(2019)
electrification - total population:
72%
(2019)
electrification - urban areas:
89%
(2019)
electrification - rural areas:
36%
(2019)
Electricity - production:
1.696 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - consumption:
912 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Electricity - exports:
22 million kWh
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - imports:
18 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
591,500 kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
64% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
36% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Crude oil - production:
340,000 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Crude oil - exports:
254,100 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Crude oil - proved reserves:
1.6 billion bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Refined petroleum products - production:
15,760 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
17,000 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Refined petroleum products - exports:
5,766 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Refined petroleum products - imports:
7,162 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - production:
1.387 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - consumption:
1.387 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - proved reserves:
90.61 billion cu m
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
5.239 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
17,076
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
less than 1
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
4,933,529
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
95.34
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order; youth are seeking the Internet more than their parents and often gaining access in cyber cafes, only the most affluent have Internet access in their homes
(2020)
domestic:
fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed-line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged to 95 per 100 persons
(2019)
international:
country code - 242; WACS submarine cables to Europe and Western and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
(2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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
Internet country code:
.cg
Internet users:
total:
437,865
percent of population:
8.65%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
3
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
12
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
333,899
(2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
4.6 million
mt-km
(2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
TN
(2016)
Airports:
27
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 123
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
8
(2017)
over 3,047 m:
2
(2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
(2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
5
(2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
19
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
8
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
9
(2013)
under 914 m:
2
(2013)
Pipelines:
232 km gas, 4 km liquid petroleum gas, 982 km oil
(2013)
Railways:
total:
510 km
(2014)
narrow gauge:
510 km
1.067-m gauge
(2014)
country comparison to the world: 112
Roadways:
total:
23,324 km
(2017)
paved:
3,111 km
(2017)
unpaved:
20,213 km
(2017)
note: road network in Congo is composed of 23,324 km of which 17,000 km are classified as national, departmental, and routes of local interest: 6,324 km are non-classified routes
country comparison to the world: 108
Waterways:
1,120 km
(commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui Rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, necessitating a rail connection to Pointe Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only)
(2011)
country comparison to the world: 61
Merchant marine:
total:
11
by type:
general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 9
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 152
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Pointe-Noire
oil terminal(s):
Djeno
river port(s):
Brazzaville (Congo)
Impfondo (Oubangi)
Ouesso (Sangha)
Oyo (Alima)
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise); Gendarmerie; Presidential Guard
(2019)
Military expenditures:
2.7% of GDP
(2019)
2.5% of GDP
(2018)
4.3% of GDP
(2017)
6.4% of GDP
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 32
Military and security service personnel strengths:
the Congolese Armed Forces (FAC) have an estimated 12,000 active duty troops (8,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1-1,200 Air Force; 2,000 Gendarmerie)
(2019 est.)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the FAC is armed with mostly ageing Russian/former Soviet Union weapons, with some French and South African equipment; the leading suppliers of arms to the FAC since 2010 are Russia and South Africa
(2019 est.)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in the Armed Forces
(2013)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is undefined except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin):
20,700 (Central African Republic), 19,780 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)
IDPs:
304,430 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2020)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation:
the Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children, men, and women, subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most trafficking victims are from Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and, to a lesser extent, other neighboring countries and are subjected to domestic servitude and market vending by West African and Congolese nationals; adults and children, the majority from the DRC, are also sex trafficked in Congo, mainly Brazzaville; internal trafficking victims, often from rural areas, are exploited as domestic servants or forced to work in quarries, bakeries, fishing, and agriculture
tier rating:
Tier 2 Watch List - the Republic of the Congo does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the country drafted an action plan based on anti-trafficking legislation, which remains pending in the Supreme Court; the government made minimal anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts in 2014, failing to prosecute or convict suspected traffickers from cases dating back to 2010; serious allegations of official complicity continue to be reported; the government lacks a systematic means of identifying victims and relies on NGOs and international organizations to identify victims and NGOs and foster families to provide care to victims; the quality of care varied widely because the foster care system was allegedly undermined by inadequate security and official complicity (2015)
