Republic of the Congo — Country Profile
Population, GDP, natural resources, leaders and history of Republic of the Congo: the Magna Factbook country file, with its Magna Power score (--/100, ranked #-- of 195).
Last updated: October 2026
Congo (Brazzaville) is in Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon. It covers 342,000 sq km. Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin. Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator.
| Capital | Brazzaville |
|---|---|
| Population | 6,097,665 (2024 est.) |
| GDP (PPP) | $39.147 billion (2024 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $6,200 (2024 est.) |
| Real GDP growth | 2.6% (2024 est.) |
| Inflation | 3.1% (2024 est.) |
| Unemployment | 19.7% (2024 est.) |
| Public debt | 128.7% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Exports | $7.752 billion (2021 est.) |
| Imports | $4.487 billion (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 72.9 years (2024 est.) |
| Median age | 20.9 years (2025 est.) |
| Urbanization | 69.2% of total population (2023) |
| Government | presidential republic |
| Independence | 15 August 1960 (from France) |
| Languages | French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread) |
Republic of the Congo’s GDP is $39.147 billion (2024 est.) in purchasing-power-parity terms. At official exchange rates it stands at $15.72 billion (2024 est.). Real GDP grew 2.6% (2024 est.). See where Republic of the Congo ranks among all 195 countries by GDP.
POWER --/100 — The Magna Power score is our 0–100 composite of structural national power — nine components, 135 indicators. It is the Bureau's own assessment, not a mirror of World Bank or CIA figures.
Momentum 0 — Quarterly momentum: the Bureau's read on the country's trajectory over the last quarter, from −10 (deteriorating fast) to +10 (accelerating).
A neutral quarter in the truest sense: nothing happened that altered the country's course or standing.
The score records absence of momentum honestly — the deeper currents continue, unmoved by the calendar.
- What our model rewards: inflation tamed at 3.1%; a current-account surplus of $2 billion — the world pays it more than it pays out
- What drags it down: public debt above 129% of GDP — the budget's ball and chain; unemployment at 19.7%
Oil, Timber, Potash, Lead, Zinc, Uranium, Copper, Phosphates, Gold, Magnesium, Natural gas, Hydropower.
Energy is the physical base of economic power — what a country can generate, move and burn decides what it can build, sell and defend.
| Electricity access | 50.6% (2022 est.) |
|---|---|
| Installed capacity mix (CIA) | fossil fuels: 79.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 20.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) |
| Energy consumption per capita (CIA) | 7.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.) |
Sources: CIA World Factbook, Energy section; Our World in Data (IEA/Ember), 2024.
Trade shows what the world buys from a country and what the country must buy from the world — the balance between the two is a direct measure of economic leverage.
| Exports | $7.752 billion (2021 est.) |
|---|---|
| Imports | $4.487 billion (2021 est.) |
| Trade balance (calculated) | Surplus of $3.3 billion (2021), calculated from the CIA export and import figures above. |
| Key industries | petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes |
Source: CIA World Factbook, Economy section.
Denis Sassou Nguesso — President. President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997)
Republic of the Congo maintains 36 embassies and 4 consulates abroad, hosts 32 foreign diplomatic missions, holds permanent missions to UN New York, AU Addis Ababa. The breadth of a diplomatic network is a direct measure of diplomatic power — it shows how far a country’s influence, alliances and interests reach.
| Embassies abroad | 36 |
|---|---|
| Consulates abroad | 4 |
| Foreign missions hosted | 32 |
| Multilateral missions | UN New York, AU Addis Ababa |
Source: Consular Affairs Center, Diplomatic and Consular Networks Database and Rankings, January 2026 (Zenodo, CC BY 4.0). https://zenodo.org/records/18109976
Transport networks are economic power made physical — ports, runways, railways and pipelines decide what a country can move, sell and defend.
| Sea access | Coastal — 169 km of coastline. |
|---|---|
| Airports (total) | 56 (registration prefix TN) |
| Major seaports | Djeno Terminal, Dussafu Terminal, N'kossa Terminal, Pointe Noire, Yombo Terminal |
| Railways | 510 km |
Major airports
Antonio Agostinho-Neto International Airport (PNR) — Pointe Noire; Maya-Maya International Airport (BZV) — Brazzaville.
Sources: OurAirports public-domain extract (2026-10-02); per-entry Wikipedia links included; CIA World Factbook via cia_factbook snapshot (2026-09-28)
| Political system | presidential republic |
|---|---|
| Next election | No election currently scheduled. |
POWER --/100 Ranked #-- of 195 countries in the Magna Country Rankings. Full ranking breakdown for Republic of the Congo.
Historical timeline of Republic of the Congo
This profile covers the population, economy, natural resources, leaders, and history of Republic of the Congo — with the Bureau’s live national-power score of --/100, ranking #-- of 195 countries.
What is Republic of the Congo's power score?
Republic of the Congo has a Magna Power score of --/100. The score measures structural power — the proven capacity to shape events — across nine components.