Republic of the Congo
country in Central Africa, capital Brazzaville
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World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
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
People & Society
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.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Independence
15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Legal system
mixed system of French civil law and customary law
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$39.147 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$6,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
2.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
19.7% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Summary
Republic of the Congo is a sovereign state[1]. It draws 54,061 Wikipedia views per month (sovereign state category, ranking #135 of 197).[2]
Key Facts
- Member of: United Nations[3], African Union[4], World Trade Organization[5], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[6], International Development Association[7], International Finance Corporation[8], Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency[9], International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes[10], African Development Bank[11], Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States[12], Bank of Central African States[13], OHADA[14], Interpol[15], Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons[16]
- Country: Republic of the Congo[17]
- Located in or next to body of water: Atlantic Ocean[18]
- Head of government: Anatole Collinet Makosso[19]
- Continent: Africa[20]
- Instance of: country[21]
- Head of state: Denis Sassou-Nguesso[22]
- Capital: Brazzaville[23]
- Official language: French[24]
- Currency: Central African CFA franc[25]
- Shares border with: Angola[26], Cameroon[27], Central African Republic[28], Democratic Republic of the Congo[29], Gabon[30]
- Top-level Internet domain: .cg[31]
- Anthem: La Congolaise[32]
- Basic form of government: parliamentary republic[33]
- Named after: Congo[34]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Bouenza Department[35], Brazzaville[36], Cuvette Department[37], Cuvette-Ouest Department[38], Kouilou Department[39], Lékoumou Department[40], Likouala Department[41], Niari Department[42], Plateaux Department[43], Pointe-Noire[44], Pool Department[45], Sangha Department[46], Congo-Oubangui Department[47], Nkéni-Alima Department[48]
- Follows: People's Republic of the Congo[49]
- Flag: flag of the Republic of the Congo[50]
- Twinned administrative body: Seto[51]
- Legislative body: Parliament of the Republic of the Congo[52]
- Executive body: Makosso government[53]
- Coat of arms: coat of arms of the Republic of the Congo[54]
- Commons category: Republic of the Congo[55]
- Licence plate code: RCB[56]
- Located in time zone: UTC+01:00[57]
Body
Cultural Significance
Things named for Republic of the Congo include Congo red[58], a type of chemical entity[59].
Why It Matters
Republic of the Congo has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[60] It is known by 76 alternative names across languages and contexts.[61]
Entities named for it include Congo red[58], a type of chemical entity[59].