Demographics of the Republic of the Congo

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Demographics of Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo single age population pyramid 2020.png
Population pyramid of the Republic of the Congo in 2020
Population5,835,806 (2021 est.)
Growth rate2.34% (2022 est.)
Birth rate31.82 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate8.38 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy62.1 years
  male60.65 years
  female63.61 years
Fertility rate4.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate47.93 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years41.57%
65 and over3.2%
Sex ratio
Total1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth1.03 male(s)/female
Under 151.02 male(s)/female
65 and over0.66 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalityCongolese
Language
OfficialFrench

Demographic features of the population of the Republic of the Congo include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Contents

The Republic of the Congo's sparse population is concentrated in the southwestern portion of the country, leaving the vast areas of tropical jungle in the north virtually uninhabited. Thus, Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with 85% of its total population living in a few urban areas, namely in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or one of the small cities or villages lining the 534-kilometre (332 mi) railway which connects the two cities. In rural areas, industrial and commercial activity has declined rapidly in recent years, leaving rural economies dependent on the government for support and subsistence. Before the 1997 civil war, about 15,000 Europeans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were French. Presently, only about 9,500 remain. Pygmies make up 2% of Congo's population. [1]

Population

Population of the Republic of the Congo, Data of FAO, 2005 Congo-Rep-demography.png
Population of the Republic of the Congo, Data of FAO, 2005

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects [2] [3] the total population was 5,835,806 in 2021, compared to only 808 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 40.6%, 55.7% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3.7% was 65 years or older. [4]

Total populationPopulation aged 0–14 (%)Population aged 15–64 (%)Population aged 65+ (%)
1950808 00040.156.43.5
1955899 00040.555.93.6
19601 014 00041.455.03.7
19651 158 00042.553.73.8
19701 335 00043.552.73.8
19751 555 00044.252.03.8
19801 798 00044.851.43.8
19852 081 00044.651.73.7
19902 389 00043.752.53.7
19952 733 00042.553.73.7
20003 136 00041.554.73.7
20053 533 00041.355.03.7
20104 043 00040.655.73.7
Republic of Congo Population and Housing Census
YearPop.±% p.a.
1974 1,319,790    
1984 1,909,248+3.76%
2007 3,697,490+2.92%
2023 6,142,180+3.22%
[5]

Population estimates by sex and age group (01.VII.2009): [6]

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total1 891 5581 946 6803 838 238100
0–4294 305292 273586 57815.28
5–9238 682237 182475 86412.40
10–14208 162208 912417 07410.87
15–19186 405196 268382 6739.97
20–24167 519191 226358 7459.35
25–29160 897178 236339 1338.84
30–34152 642151 367304 0097.92
35–39131 794123 203254 9976.64
40–44103 24895 346198 5945.17
45–4976 92171 877148 7983.88
50–5454 92556 887111 8122.91
55–5938 05142 79180 8422.11
60–6427 59232 00959 6011.55
65-6920 87925 82746 7061.22
70-7414 95420 00734 9610.91
75-798 82013 04821 8680.57
80+5 76210 22115 9830.42
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–14741 149738 3671 479 51638.55
15–641 099 9941 139 2102 239 20458.34
65+50 41569 103119 5183.11

Population estimates by sex and age group (01.VII.2020): [7]

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total2 693 8042 774 8185 468 622100
0–4411 671412 877824 54815.08
5–9340 319337 291677 61012.39
10–14303 346306 542609 88911.15
15–19271 095289 989561 08410.26
20–24243 060282 727525 7889.61
25–29241 223253 353494 5769.04
30–34218 257209 888428 1457.83
35–39183 437169 496352 9336.45
40–44138 775128 121266 8964.88
45–49104 06598 609202 6733.71
50–5472 72479 083151 8072.78
55–5952 21957 918110 1372.01
60–6439 42346 32385 7461.57
65-6930 88538 32369 2071.27
70-7421 74729 53751 2850.94
75-7912 42518 69931 1240.57
80-845 1689 11514 2830.26
85+3 9646 92810 8910.20
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–141 055 3361 056 7102 112 04638.62
15–641 564 2791 615 5063 179 78558.15
65+74 189102 602176 7913.23

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events in the Republic of the Congo is incomplete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.

PeriodPopulation
(thousands)
Live births
(thousands)
Deaths
(thousands)
Natural change
(thousands)
CBR [i] CDR [i] NC [i] TFR [i] IMR [i] Life expectancy
(years)
1950  835  38  20  1844.923.621.36.07154.540.06
1951  853  38  20  1844.823.221.66.07151.240.65
1952  872  39  20  1944.622.622.06.06147.641.36
1953  892  40  20  2044.522.022.56.06143.742.16
1954  912  40  20  2144.321.522.86.05139.642.85
1955  933  41  19  2244.220.823.36.07135.343.65
1956  956  42  19  2344.020.123.96.07130.944.56
1957  979  43  19  2443.819.524.46.07126.445.43
1958  1 003  44  19  2543.818.924.96.09122.046.29
1959  1 029  45  19  2643.618.225.46.09117.747.12
1960  1 056  46  19  2743.417.625.76.09113.647.98
1961  1 083  47  19  2843.217.126.16.09109.948.70
1962  1 112  48  18  3043.116.526.56.10106.449.50
1963  1 143  49  18  3143.216.127.16.15103.250.12
1964  1 174  51  18  3243.315.727.66.18100.250.70
1965  1 207  52  19  3443.515.428.16.2397.451.20
1966  1 242  54  19  3543.615.028.66.2794.651.77
1967  1 278  56  19  3743.614.828.96.2992.352.10
1968  1 316  58  19  3943.814.429.46.3389.752.72
1969  1 356  59  19  4043.914.129.86.3587.453.20
1970  1 397  61  19  4244.013.830.26.3885.353.63
1971  1 440  64  19  4444.213.530.76.4283.354.04
1972  1 485  66  20  4644.313.331.06.4481.454.36
1973  1 532  68  20  4844.113.031.06.4279.654.70
1974  1 580  69  20  4943.912.831.16.3978.055.06
1975  1 625  71  20  5143.712.631.16.3676.455.32
1976  1 665  72  21  5243.312.330.96.3274.955.60
1977  1 706  73  21  5342.912.230.76.2773.555.81
1978  1 747  74  21  5342.411.930.56.2172.156.07
1979  1 788  75  21  5441.911.730.26.1470.656.31
1980  1 829  76  21  5541.511.530.06.0769.356.59
1981  1 871  77  21  5641.211.229.95.9867.956.83
1982  1 912  79  21  5740.911.129.95.9066.557.02
1983  1 952  80  21  5940.810.929.95.8165.157.23
1984  2 002  81  21  6040.610.630.05.7363.757.45
1985  2 063  83  22  6140.310.629.75.6562.357.52
1986  2 125  85  22  6340.010.529.55.5761.257.55
1987  2 189  87  23  6439.810.529.25.4960.457.43
1988  2 253  89  24  6539.510.728.85.4060.057.01
1989  2 319  91  25  6639.210.928.35.3160.056.51
1990  2 385  93  27  6638.811.127.75.2160.555.93
1991  2 453  95  28  6738.711.527.25.1661.455.24
1992  2 521  97  30  6838.611.726.95.1162.754.66
1993  2 594  100  31  6838.412.026.45.0664.454.15
1994  2 669  102  33  7038.312.226.15.0066.153.74
1995  2 742  105  34  7138.212.325.94.9768.153.64
1996  2 817  108  35  7338.212.425.84.9770.053.49
1997  2 875  110  47  6438.316.222.14.9675.147.19
1998  2 937  111  41  7138.013.824.14.9375.150.89
1999  3 017  114  38  7537.712.725.04.8574.052.76
2000  3 134  115  38  7737.212.225.04.7673.153.68
2001  3 254  122  39  8437.611.825.84.7171.454.40
2002  3 331  125  38  8737.511.526.14.7268.855.09
2003  3 425  127  37  9037.311.026.34.7065.655.95
2004  3 543  132  37  9537.410.427.04.6961.756.99
2005  3 673  137  36  10137.49.827.54.6657.858.13
2006  3 813  142  36  10737.59.428.14.6654.058.88
2007  3 956  148  36  11337.79.128.64.6750.759.64
2008  4 090  156  36  12138.28.729.54.7347.760.43
2009  4 257  162  35  12738.48.430.04.7945.361.09
2010  4 438  172  36  13638.98.130.74.8243.661.68
2011  4 584  175  36  13938.27.930.34.7942.161.99
2012  4 713  177  37  14137.57.829.84.7541.062.32
2013  4 828  177  36  14036.57.529.04.6940.062.70
2014  4 945  176  36  14035.57.428.24.6338.762.95
2015  5 064  176  37  13934.67.227.54.5637.663.23
2016  5 187  175  36  13933.77.026.74.4936.563.58
2017  5 312  176  37  13933.06.926.14.4335.463.76
2018  5 441  176  37  13932.36.825.54.3734.564.05
2019  5 571  177  41  13531.77.424.34.3035.462.75
2020  5 702  178  39  13831.26.924.24.2332.663.79
2021  5 892  185  41  14031.46.923.74.2830.764.2
2022  6 035  187  40  14630.96.624.24.2229.765.0
2023  6 183  189  39  14930.66.324.24.1628.865.8
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022 [8]

millionyear01234567195019601970198019902000201020202030population (million)Republic of the Congo Total Population
See or edit source data.
years20222426283032195019601970198019902000201020202030Natural change (per 1000)Republic of the Congo Population Change
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years0306090120150180195019601970198019902000201020202030Infant Mortality (per 1000 live births)Republic of the Congo Infant Mortality
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TFRyears44.555.566.5195019601970198019902000201020202030Total Fertility RateTotal Fertility Rate
See or edit source data.

Demographic and Health Surveys

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR): [9]

YearCBR (total)TFR (total)CBR (urban)TFR (urban)CBR (rural)TFR (rural)
200540,04,8 (4,4)34,63,8 (3,5)46,16,1 (5,7)
2011-201241,45,1 (4,5)40,64,5 (4,1)42,86,5 (5,5)

Fertility data as of 2011-2012 (DHS Program): [10]

DepartmentTotal fertility ratePercentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnantMean number of children ever born to women age 40-49
Kouilou 6.811.46.2
Niari 5.911.95.4
Lékoumou 6.59.95.7
Bouenza 5.78.55.6
Pool 6.410.25.5
Plateaux 6.311.45.6
Cuvette 6.412.55.6
Cuvette-Ouest 6.010.16.1
Sangha 5.811.95.4
Likouala 7.011.76.4
Brazzaville 4.38.74.3
Pointe-Noire 4.69.24.5

Ethnic groups

Kongo 40.5%, Teke 16.9%, Mbochi 13.1%, Sangha 5.6%, Europeans and other 23.9% [11]

Languages

Kikongo/Kituba language area LanguageMap-Kikongo-Kituba.png
Kikongo/Kituba language area
Lingala language area LanguageMap-Lingala-Location.png
Lingala language area

Languages spoken here include French (official), Kituba or Monokutuba (lingua franca), Kongo or Kikongo, Lingala, and many local languages and dialects.

The majority of the population is concentrated along the railroad between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville in the south where Kituba (a creole language based on Kikongo) is the primary language. Lingala is influential in the sparsely inhabited northern half of the country.

Religion

Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Islam 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2010 est.) [11]

Health

Life expectancy for the population was estimated at 54.91 years in 2011: 53.62 for males and 56.25 for females. The adult prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS was 3.4% as of 2009, representing 77,000 people living with the disease and 5,100 deaths. The Republic of the Congo is considered to have a high degree of risk of infectious diseases, particularly bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and typhoid fever (all food- or waterborne), and malaria (vectorborne).

PeriodLife expectancy in
years [12]
1950–195543.15
1955–1960Increase2.svg 46.83
1960–1965Increase2.svg 50.16
1965–1970Increase2.svg 52.49
1970–1975Increase2.svg 54.11
1975–1980Increase2.svg 55.44
1980–1985Increase2.svg 56.63
1985–1990Increase2.svg 56.66
1990–1995Decrease2.svg 54.83
1995–2000Decrease2.svg 51.99
2000–2005Increase2.svg 52.12
2005–2010Increase2.svg 57.95
2010–2015Increase2.svg 62.55

References

  1. "Les pygmées du Congo en "danger d'extinction"". Le Monde.fr. 5 August 2011 via Le Monde.
  2. "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  3. "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  4. Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision Archived May 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. BOKOLO, Guilesse (2024-01-08). "RESULTATS PRELIMINAIRES". INS-CONGO BRAZZAVILLE (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  6. "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics".
  7. "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics".
  8. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2022). "World Population Prospects 2022 Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XLS (91MB)). United Nations Population Division . 27 (Online ed.). New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. rows 3533:3604,cols M,X,AE,S,AH,S,AA,AV,AI. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09.
  9. "MEASURE DHS: Demographic and Health Surveys". microdata.worldbank.org.
  10. "Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2011-2012" (PDF). Dhsprogram.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Africa :: CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE". CIA The World Factbook. 19 April 2022.
  12. "World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations". esa.un.org. Retrieved 2018-08-26.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2025 ed.). CIA.  (Archived 2006 edition.)