Congo
Republic of the Congo Republique du Congo | |
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 Flag
 Seal
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Motto: "United We Stand" | |
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Anthem: "La Congolaise" | |
 Location of Congo, in green. | |
| Capital | Kinshasa |
| Largest city | Kousséri |
| Official languages |
English French |
| Recognised regional languages | List |
| Ethnic groups (2021) |
95% Black 3% White 2% Asian |
| Demonym(s) | Congolese |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional semi-presidential republic |
| Ronald Brisé (R) | |
| Matthew Green (R) | |
| Legislature | Congress |
| Senate | |
| National Assembly | |
| Formation | |
• Congo Free State | 1 July 1885 |
• Belgian Congo | 15 November 1908 |
• Independence from Belgium | 30 June 1960 |
• Republic of Zaire | 27 October 1971 |
• War of Expansion | 11 October 1974 |
• Current Constitution | 1 July 1989 |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,890,111 km2 (1,888,082 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2018 estimate | 262,500,000 (5th) |
• 2020 census | 263,506,399 |
• Density | 53.89/km2 (139.6/sq mi) (133rd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $3.397 trillion (14th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $3.152 trillion (14th) |
| HDI (2023) |
0.887 very high · 33rd |
| Currency | Congolese lira (Ł) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 to +2 (CWT and CET) |
• Summer (DST) | not observed |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +243 |
| Internet TLD | .gc |
Congo, officially the Republic of Congo (French: République du Congo) is a country in central and western Africa. It is the largest country in Africa, and the 7th largest in the world. Congo is the most populous country in Africa, with a population of 262.5 million. The national capital is Kinshasa, while its largest city is Kousséri. The country shares land borders with Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Libya, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. It is bound by the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Congo is the wealthiest country and most successful country in Africa, with the 14th largest economy in the world. It is a highly developed country with a high standard of living, with most of its economy in services and agriculture. It is the only country in sub-Saharan Africa to have a standard of living comparable to that of the western world. Christianity (predominantly Marionite and Roman Catholcism) and Islam (predominantly Sunni) are the most practiced religions in the country, with 36% and 34% of the population pracitising, respectively. Shia Islam, Protestantism, Greek Orthodoxy, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Taoism and indigenous religions are also practiced in the country.
Black Congolese form the majority of the population, with most of them being descended from local Bantu groups, but other sub-Saharan African peoples also have migrated and settled in the country since the mid-1980s. Other Black Congolese, especially those in politics and industry, have origins from the North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. White Congolese are the largest minority group, making up just over 3% of the population. Most white Congolese are of English and French descent. Smaller populations of Irish, Spanish, and Russians also appear in the country. Since 1994, Afrikaner migrations from South Africa have also become increasingly common. Asian Congolese comprise just over 2% of the population, with most of them being of Lebanese and Libyan Arab ancestry. A small population of Chinese from Fujian, Guangzhou, Shaanxi can be found in Chinatowns in Kinshasha, Kousséri, Bangui, and Malabo. Other Asian groups include Persians, Javanese, Pashtuns, and Punjabi peoples. The Census Bureau does not officially list ethnicity, and as such ethnic reports are compiled by independent news sources are not fully accurate.