Country Guide • Congo ( Republic of the)
The Congo is situated in west-central Africa along side the equator. It borders Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Angola exclave of Cabinda, with a short stretch of coast on the South Atlantic. Most of the inland is tropical rain forest.
Official Name | Republic of Congo |
---|---|
Area | 342,000km² (132,046mile²) |
Population | 2,954,000 |
Continent | Africa |
Population per mile² | 22 |
Capital City | Brazzaville |
Religions | 54% Roman Catholic, 25% Protestant, 14% African Christian, 5% follow local native tribal beliefs and the remainder are Muslims |
Language | French - official language, used for trade and official purposes. Each ethnic group has its own tribal language of which Kikongo has the most users |
Government | Republic |
Currency | Cfa Franc (Communaute Financiere Africaine-Cfaf) |
GDP | $2.5 billion |
GDP per Head | $900 |
Natural Resources | Copper, natural gas, petroleum, lead, timber, potash, zinc, uranium and phosphates |
Land Use | Arable Land 1% |
Agriculture | Cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa and timber |
Industry | Petroleum extraction, lumber and other wood products, brewing, sugar, palm oil and soap |
Tourism | The British Foreign and Commonwealth office state the following:- 'We advise against all holiday and other non-essential travel to the Republic of the Congo outside the main cities of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. For essential travel in the Republic of Congo, all visitors should take sensible precautions and maintain a high level of vigilance in public places' |
Natural Hazards | |
Health Risks | Ebola, water-borne diseases, malaria, HIV/AIDS |
Climate | The Congo has a tropical climate characterised by high temperatures with humidity around 80% and little variation throughout the year. The wet season is between April and late October while the dry season is from November to March. Violent winds are common in the wet season. Average annual rainfall varies from 49 to 69 inches while it is heaviest in the north and decreases towards the Atlantic Coast in the south. Average temperature ranges in Brazzavile are from 17 to 28°C in July to 23 to 33°C in April |
Time | GMT/UTC+1 hour |
National Days | August 15 |
Visas | Visas are required to visit the Republic of Congo. Advice on visas, can be obtained from the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Congo.You will be asked to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival in the country |
British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.