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Central Africa · Africa

Republic of the Congo

République du Congo
Capital
Brazzaville
Population
5.8M
Area
342,000 km²
Language
French

Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa, Africa. Its capital is Brazzaville, with a population of approximately 5.8M and a total area of 342,000 km². The official language is French and the currency is the Central African CFA Franc (XAF).

📊 Quick Facts about Republic of the Congo

👥
Population
5.8M
total residents
📐
Total Area
342,000 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
17/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$14.1B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$2,431
per person
💱
Currency
Central African CFA Franc (XAF)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
French
official
🌊
Coastline
169 km
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+1
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1960
established
🕐
Local Time in Brazzaville

Republic of the Congo covers an area of 342,000 km² with a population density of 17/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $14.1B ($2,431 per capita) and gained independence in 1960. It has a coastline of 169 km.

Did You Know?

Brazzaville and Kinshasa (DRC) are the world's closest capital cities, separated only by the Congo River. The Congo River is the world's deepest at 220 metres, and the Congo Basin rainforest is Earth's second-largest carbon sink.

See all 14+ facts about Republic of the Congo

✈️ Travel Information for Republic of the Congo

📅
Best Time to Visit
June–September
Tropical, dry season June–September
💸
Cost of Travel
Budget–Mid
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa required for most nationalities
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Republic of the Congo travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Republic of the Congo on the Map

Street-level photo from Brazzaville
📍 Brazzaville · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 Republic of the Congo World Rankings

1st
Carbon Sink
Congo Basin, Earth's second largest carbon sink after the Amazon
1st
Opposite Capitals
Brazzaville faces Kinshasa across the river, world's closest capitals
1st
Gorillas
Home to western lowland gorillas in Odzala-Kokoua
1st
River
The Congo River is the world's deepest river at 220m

🏛 Must-See Places in Republic of the Congo

🗺️ Countries Bordering Republic of the Congo

Gabon
Gabon
Libreville
Cameroon
Cameroon
Yaoundé
Central African Republic
Central African Republic
Bangui
DR Congo
DR Congo
Kinshasa
Angola
Angola
Luanda

⚖️ Compare Republic of the Congo with another country

See how Republic of the Congo stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

Republic of the CongovsGabon
Republic of the Congo vs Gabon
Republic of the CongovsCameroon
Republic of the Congo vs Cameroon
Republic of the CongovsCentral African Republic
Republic of the Congo vs Central African Republic
Republic of the CongovsDR Congo
Republic of the Congo vs DR Congo
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Republic of the Congo

What is the capital of Republic of the Congo?

The capital of Republic of the Congo is Brazzaville.

What continent is Republic of the Congo in?

Republic of the Congo is located in Africa, in the Central Africa region.

What currency does Republic of the Congo use?

Republic of the Congo uses the Central African CFA Franc (XAF). The international calling code is +242.

What is the GDP of Republic of the Congo?

Republic of the Congo has a GDP of $14.1B, with a GDP per capita of $2,431.

🌍 Explore More Countries in Central Africa

Cameroon
Cameroon
Yaoundé
Central African Republic
Central African Republic
Bangui
Chad
Chad
N'Djamena
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Malabo

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