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COG · Middle Africa · Africa
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Congo

Republic of the Congo
Quick facts
Capital
Brazzaville
Population
5.0 m
Area
342,000 km²
Region
Middle Africa
Languages
French, Kikongo, Lingala
Currency
Central African CFA franc (Fr)
Demonym
Congolese
UN member
Yes
How Congo compares
Economy size$16 B
137th of 178 worldwide · 6th of 10 in Middle Africa
Income per person$2,482
132nd of 178 worldwide · 5th of 10 in Middle Africa
Life expectancy66.0 yrs
151st of 179 worldwide · 3rd of 10 in Middle Africa
Internet access47.3%
135th of 179 worldwide · 4th of 10 in Middle Africa
Military spending$182 M
127th of 163 worldwide · 7th of 9 in Middle Africa
Highlights
GDP
$16 B

Gross Domestic Product — the total market value of all goods and services produced in a year, at current prices.

GDP per capita
$2,482

GDP divided by population — a rough measure of average economic output per person.

Population
6.3 m

Total resident population, mid-year estimate.

Life expectancy
66.0 yrs

Years a newborn would live if current mortality patterns held throughout its life.

R&D spending
0.4%

Gross expenditure on research & development as a share of GDP.

Researchers (per million)
127

Full-time-equivalent researchers per million people.

Land area
341,500 km²

Total land area, excluding inland water bodies.

Forest area
64.1%

Share of land area under forest cover.

Resource rents
37.7%

Total natural-resource rents (oil, gas, mineral, forest) as a share of GDP.

Oil rents
34.4%

Value of crude oil production minus extraction cost, as a share of GDP.

Military burden
1.2%

Military expenditure as a share of GDP.

Defense spending
$182 M

Total military expenditure at current prices.

The history journey

From the Bantu peoples and the coastal Kingdom of Loango, through the Atlantic slave trade, Brazza's founding of Brazzaville and the colony of Middle Congo within French Equatorial Africa, to independence in 1960, the Marxist People's Republic, and the long rule of Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Pilot a cinematic, sourced journey through its eras — moment by moment.