At a Glance

Official Name: Republic of the Congo

Continent: Africa

Area: 131,853 square miles (341,500 sq km)

Population: 2,894,336

Capital City: Brazzaville

Largest City: Brazzaville (596,200)

Unit of Money: CFA franc

Major Language: French (official)

Literacy: 75%

Land Use: 2% arable, 29% meadow, 62% forest, 7% other

Natural Resources: Petroleum, timber, potash, lead

Government: Republic lead by a president

Defense: 50 million

The Place

The Republic of the Congo is in west central Africa. Its only coastline is in the southwestern part of the country and extends for about 44 miles (71 km) along the Atlantic Ocean.

The Republic of the Congo can be split into six geographical regions. In the southwest, the Coastal Plain extends from the Atlantic Ocean to about 40 miles (64 km) inland. The Mayombe Escarpment lies beyond the Coastal Plain. This group of plateaus ranges from 1,600 to 2,600 feet (490 to 790 m) above sea level. To the north of these plateaus is the Niari Valley. This farming region is covered by forests and grassland. To the east of this valley is the Stanley Pool Region, which is also used for agriculture.

The Bateke Plateau is located in the center of the Congo. This grassy area has deep, wooded valleys. The Congo River Basin lies in the northern part of the country and has many swamps. The majority of the country experiences hot and humid weather throughout the year. Southern coastal areas receive the most rainfall.

The People

There are four main ethnic groups in the Congo. The largest group is the Kongo, and they live mostly in the southwest region near Brazzaville. The Kongo are farmers. The M'Bochi inhabit the northern area where the savanna and the forest meet. Many M'Bochi work as clerks. The Sangha also share the northern forest region. The Teke live in the central region of the Congo. They hunt and fish for a living. Life expectancy is 47 years.

The Congolese population is almost evenly divided between urban and rural areas. The population density averages 21 people per square mile (7 people per sq km). The densest parts of the Congo are the southeastern border near Brazzaville and the southwestern coastal area.

Economic conditions for the middle class are fairly stable—Congolese earn higher wages than workers in most other African countries. Approximately 75% of Congolese work in agriculture, while the other 25% work in commerce.