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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.cg

Internet users [time series]

total: 362,000 | percent of population: 7.6% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order | domestic: fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed-line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged to 110 per 100 persons | international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 17,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 5.216 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cassava (manioc, tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.776 billion | expenditures: $4.687 billion (2015 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-10.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4.25% (31 December 2009) | 4.75% (31 December 2008) | country comparison to the world: 87

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

14.8% (31 December 2015 est.) | 14.8% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Current account balance [time series]

-$1.264 billion (2015 est.) | -$1.281 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Debt - external [time series]

$4.324 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $3.901 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy is a mixture of subsistence farming and hunting, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, which entered production in late 2013, may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. | Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF, including the recently concluded Article IV consultations. The current administration faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. The recent drop in oil prices has constrained government spending; lower oil prices forced the government to cut more than $1 billion in planned spending. However, the government increased infrastructure spending for the September 2015 All-Africa Games and also ahead of the March 2016 presidential election, putting further pressure on the budget. | Officially the country became a net external creditor as of 2011, with external debt representing only about 16% of GDP and debt servicing less than 3% of government revenue.

Exchange rates [time series]

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - | 591.45 (2015 est.) | 494.42 (2014 est.) | 494.42 (2013 est.) | 510.53 (2012 est.) | 471.87 (2011 est.)

Exports [time series]

$5.231 billion (2015 est.) | $9.12 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Exports - partners [time series]

China 42.1%, Italy 16.9%, US 4.9%, India 4.7%, Portugal 4.2% (2015)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$8.878 billion (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$29.36 billion (2015 est.) | $28.64 billion (2014 est.) | $26.81 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 131

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 4.9% | industry: 69.3% | services: 25.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$6,700 (2015 est.) | $6,700 (2014 est.) | $6,400 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 156

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.5% (2015 est.) | 6.8% (2014 est.) | 3.3% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Gross national saving [time series]

36.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 35.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | 26.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.1% | highest 10%: 37.1% (2005)

Imports [time series]

$3.934 billion (2015 est.) | $4.939 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Imports - commodities [time series]

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

China 20.3%, France 14.2%, South Korea 9.8%, US 4.9%, UK 4.4%, Italy 4.1%, India 4.1% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Industries [time series]

petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.6% (2015 est.) | 0.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Labor force [time series]

1.807 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

46.5% (2011 est.)

Public debt [time series]

48% of GDP (2015 est.) | 36.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.244 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $4.939 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Stock of broad money [time series]

$4.875 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $4.858 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.807 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $105.7 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$3.131 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $4.036 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

42.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Unemployment rate [time series]

53% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

6.5 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Crude oil - exports [time series]

252,300 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Crude oil - production [time series]

269,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 37

Electricity - consumption [time series]

900 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - exports [time series]

22 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

12.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

87.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - imports [time series]

18 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

500,000 kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - production [time series]

1.7 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 2,600,000 | electrification - total population: 42% | electrification - urban areas: 62% | electrification - rural areas: 5% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

1.5 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - exports [time series]

39 million cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - production [time series]

1.5 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 57

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

16,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

5,426 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

2,615 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

18,550 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 342,000 sq km | land: 341,500 sq km | water: 500 sq km | country comparison to the world: 64

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Montana

Climate [time series]

tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Coastline [time series]

169 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 430 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 5,008 km | border countries (5): Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,229 km, Gabon 2,567 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 31.1% | arable land 1.6%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 29.3% | forest: 65.6% | other: 3.3% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

seasonal flooding

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha

Capital [time series]

name: Brazzaville | geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E | time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Constitution [time series]

previous 1992; latest approved by referendum 20 January 2002; amended 2015; note - the constitutional referendum approved in October 2015 changed the head of government from the president to the prime minister, reduced the presidential term from 7 to 5 years and limited total presidential terms to 3

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of the Congo | conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville) | local long form: Republique du Congo | local short form: Congo | former: French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville | etymology: named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom that occupied its mouth at the time of Portuguese discovery in the late 15th century and whose name stems from its people the Bakongo, meaning "hunters"

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephanie S. SULLIVAN (since 12 August 2013) | embassy: 70-83 Section D, Maya-Maya Boulevard, Brazzaville | mailing address: B.P. 1015, Brazzaville | telephone: [242] 06 612-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001) | chancery: 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500 | FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997) | head of government: Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 23 April 2016); note - a constitutional referendum held in 2015 approved the change of the head of government from the president to the prime minister | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021) | election results: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 60.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 15.1%, Jean-Marie MOKOKO (independent) 13.9%, Pascal Tsaty MABIALA (UPADS) 4.4%, other 6.2%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence | note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type [time series]

presidential republic

Independence [time series]

15 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); note - a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the president of the republic | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges elected by Parliament and serve until age 65; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president of the republic - 3 directly by the president and 6 nominated by Parliament; members appointed for renewable 9-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years | subordinate courts: Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts;

Legal system [time series]

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every three years) and the National Assembly (139 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: Senate - last held on 12 October 2014 for 36 of the expiry seats (next to be held in 2020); National Assembly - last held on 15 July and 5 August 2012 (next to be held in July 2017) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RMP 33, FDU 23, UPADS 2, other 7, independent 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 89, MCDDI 7, UPADS 7, RDPS 5, MAR 4, RC 3, MUST 2, UPDP 2, CPR 1, PRL 1, PUR 1, UFD 1, UR 1, independent 12, vacant 3

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "La Congolaise" (The Congolese) | lyrics/music: Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE | note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

National symbol(s) [time series]

lion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Action Movement for Renewal or MAR [Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO] | Citizen's Rally or RC | Congolese Labour Party or PCT [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO] | Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS] | Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST [Claudine MUNARI] | Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal Tsaty MABIALA] | Party for the Unity of the Republic or PUR | Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP [Auguste-Celestin GONGARD NKOUA | Prospects and Realities Club or CPR | Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Bernard BATCHI] | Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP | Republican and Liberal Party or PRL | Union for the Republic or UR | Union of Democratic Forces | Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR | United Democratic Forces or FDU [Sebastian EBAO]; many smaller parties

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC | General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC | Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC | Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

Military and Security

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise); Gendarmerie; Special Presidential Security Guard (GSSP) (2013)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in the Armed Forces (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 41.53% (male 1,016,677/female 998,331) | 15-24 years: 17.26% (male 419,248/female 418,397) | 25-54 years: 34% (male 831,091/female 818,853) | 55-64 years: 4.18% (male 101,118/female 101,879) | 65 years and over: 3.03% (male 64,519/female 82,299) (2016 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

35.1 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 252,171 | percentage: 25% (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

12.3% (2015) | country comparison to the world: 61

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

44.7% (2011/12)

Death rate [time series]

9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 86.2% | youth dependency ratio: 79.4% | elderly dependency ratio: 6.8% | potential support ratio: 14.7% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.2% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 39

Ethnic groups [time series]

Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

2.75% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

4,400 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

80,700 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

5.2% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 179

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 56.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 61.4 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 51.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Languages [time series]

French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 59.3 years | male: 58.1 years | female: 60.6 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 79.3% | male: 86.4% | female: 72.9% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne disease: malaria and dengue fever | animal contact disease: rabies | water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2016)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

BRAZZAVILLE (capital) 1.888 million; Pointe-Noire 969,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

442 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Median age [time series]

total: 19.7 years | male: 19.6 years | female: 19.9 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

19.8 | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011/12 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Congolese (singular and plural) | adjective: Congolese or Congo

Net migration rate [time series]

-4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

9.7% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 163

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population [time series]

4,852,412 | note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Population growth rate [time series]

2.06% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 11 years | male: 11 years | female: 11 years (2012)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.63 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 65.4% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is undefined except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 8,549 (Rwanda) (2015); 29,304 (Central African Republic); 12,223 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2016) | IDPs: 7,800 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2015)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: the Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children, men, and women, subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most trafficking victims are from Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and, to a lesser extent, other neighboring countries and are subjected to domestic servitude and market vending by West African and Congolese nationals; adults and children, the majority from the DRC, are also sex trafficked in Congo, mainly Brazzaville; internal trafficking victims, often from rural areas, are exploited as domestic servants or forced to work in quarries, bakeries, fishing, and agriculture | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Republic of the Congo does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the country drafted an action plan based on anti-trafficking legislation, which remains pending in the Supreme Court; the government made minimal anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts in 2014, failing to prosecute or convict suspected traffickers from cases dating back to 2010; serious allegations of official complicity continue to be reported; the government lacks a systematic means of identifying victims and relies on NGOs and international organizations to identify victims and NGOs and foster families to provide care to victims; the quality of care varied widely because the foster care system was allegedly undermined by inadequate security and official complicity (2015)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

27 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 125

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 19 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 | 914 to 1,523 m: 9 | under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

TN (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

registered in other countries: 1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 148

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 3 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 657,926 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,987,493 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 232 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 982 km (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Pointe-Noire | river port(s): Brazzaville (Congo); Impfondo (Oubangi); Ouesso (Sangha); Oyo (Alima) | oil terminal(s): Djeno

Railways [time series]

total: 510 km | narrow gauge: 510 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 113

Roadways [time series]

total: 17,000 km | paved: 1,212 km | unpaved: 15,788 km (2006) | country comparison to the world: 118

Waterways [time series]

1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui Rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, necessitating a rail connection to Pointe Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 61

Congo, Republic of the