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Country profile · compared with Africa

Republic of the Congo

Congo is home to 6.5m people (2025) and has an economy of $16.3bn (2025), the 10th largest in Africa. Output per person of $2,515 is close to the regional median of $2,515. The economy grew 3.1% in 2025, and the IMF expects 3.5% in 2026. Inflation was 2.4% in 2025, below the regional median of 3.5%. 53.0% of people have electricity (2024).

Where Congo stands out

  • Current account balancePersistent large deficits must be financed by capital inflows.Highest of 17 in Africa. Select for the data card.
    Highest of 17 in Africa
  • Container port trafficA direct read on trade volumes and port capacity for importers and exporters.2nd highest of 11 in Africa. Select for the data card.
    2nd highest of 11 in Africa
  • Gross capital formationShows how much the economy is building for the future.4th highest of 17 in Africa. Select for the data card.
    4th highest of 17 in Africa

What to watch

  • Clean elections indexContested or flawed elections raise the risk of unrest, legal challenges and sanctions around polling periods.Lowest of 17 in Africa. Select for the data card.
    Lowest of 17 in Africa
  • General government gross debtHigh public debt raises the risk of tax rises, spending cuts, arrears to suppliers and, in the worst case, default and capital controls.2nd highest of 17 in Africa. Select for the data card.
    2nd highest of 17 in Africa
  • Foreign reservesThe buffer against currency crises.2nd lowest of 17 in Africa. Select for the data card.
    2nd lowest of 17 in Africa

Congo scores best on growth and weakest on governance

Scores from 0 to 100 by rank within Africa, against the Africa median. 100 means best in the region on that pillar.

CongoAfrica median
Market sizeGrowthStabilityInfrastructureDigital,financeGovernanceUnmetdemand46595054501347
Source: Investor Lens method·dotzedw Insights Centre

The IMF expects Congo to grow 3.5% in 2026

Real GDP growth, per cent a year. Open bars are IMF forecasts.

ActualIMF forecast
0.0%1.0%2.0%3.0%4.0%3.1%20253.5%20263.6%20273.7%2028

Ten years of history are free with a Reader account.

Source: IMF·dotzedw Insights Centre

Farming employs 36% of workers but produces 10% of output

Share of jobs in each broad sector against its share of GDP, latest year. A sector with far more jobs than output has low productivity and room to grow.

Share of jobsShare of GDP
0%20%40%60%Agriculture36%10%26 pts apartIndustry19%36%16 pts apartServices44%54%10 pts apart
Source: World Bank, ILO·dotzedw Insights Centre

Key figures

The bar under each figure places it among the 54 countries of Africa, lowest on the left. Hover for context; select for the data card.

Infrastructure in Congo

Power stations sized by capacity, power lines by voltage, ports, airports and mines. Zoom in for streets and buildings; click any symbol for details. The Atlas has every layer.

Loading the map…
Large dams
Dam (area shows reservoir size)
Global Dam Watch v1.0
Ports
Port
Natural Earth
Airports
Airport
Natural Earth
Source: OpenStreetMap and the other sources named in the key·dotzedw Insights Centre

How Congo generates electricity

Share of electricity generation by source, latest year.

CoalGasOilWindNuclearBioenergy and otherHydroSolar

No electricity data for Republic of the Congo.

The history of the power mix is part of the Individual plan

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Source: Ember, Energy Institute· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Election calendar

All elections

Hover a vote for its result and what it means.

No elections recorded yet.

Deals and projects

Every deal in Congo

No deals in Congo among the latest headlines.

Individual Every deal record with its parties, value, stage and sources.

dotzedw analysis on Congo

All analysis

Sources and method