Republic of the Congo

republic in Central Africa

The Republic of the Congo is a country in Africa. Its capital city is Brazzaville. The country was a former colony of France; it became independent on 15 August 1960. The north of the country has very large areas of rainforest, but in the south are many farms which grow cashcrops like bananas, peanuts.

Republic of the Congo

République du Congo (French)
Coat of arms
Motto: Unité, Travail, Progrès  (French)
"Unity, Work, Progress"
Anthem: La Congolaise  (French)
"The Congolese"
Location of  Republic of the Congo  (dark blue)

– in Africa  (light blue & dark grey)
– in the African Union  (light blue)

and largest city
Official languagesFrench
Recognised regional languagesKongo, Lingala
GovernmentSingle-party State
• President
Denis Sassou Nguesso
• from France
August 15, 1960
• Total
342,000 km2 (132,000 sq mi) (64th)
• Water (%)
• 2009 estimate
3,686,000[1] (128th)
• Density
10.8/km2 (28.0/sq mi) (204th)
GDP (PPP)2011 estimate
• Total
$17.108 billion[2]
• Per capita
GDP (nominal)2011 estimate
• Total
$11.530 billion[2]
• Per capita
HDI (2011)Steady 0.533
low · 126th
CurrencyCentral African CFA franc (XAF)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
Driving sideright
Calling code+242
ISO 3166 codeCG
Map showing the Republic of the Congo


Congo is in the central-western part of sub-Saharan Africa. It is along the Equator. To the south and east of it is the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is also bordered by Gabon to the west, Cameroon and the Central African Republic to the north, and Cabinda (Angola) to the southwest. It has a short Atlantic coast.

The capital, Brazzaville, is on the Congo River, directly across from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.


The Republic of the Congo is divided into 12 Departments. Departments are divided into communes and/or districts.

The districts are:

Related pagesEdit

Books about the Republic of the CongoEdit

  • Maria Petringa, Brazza, A Life for Africa (2006) ISBN 978-1-4259-1198-0


  1. Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009) (PDF). World Population Prospects, Table A.1. 2008 revision. United Nations. Retrieved 2009-03-12. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Republic of the Congo". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 2011-04-21.