Republic of the Congo

The Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) covers 342,000 km2 and is one of the least densely populated in Africa. Its population of 6.1 million is largely young, with 47% being under the age of 18. More than half of the population lives in its two main cities — Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.

Covered mainly by tropical forests, Congo is home to one of the largest areas of tropical peatlands, a fragile ecosystem that plays a crucial role in climate regulation. The oil sector accounts for about half of the country’s GDP and 80% of its exports, making it the third largest producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. The country also has a wealth of mineral resources that remains largely untapped.

President Denis Sassou N'Guesso was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term on March 15, 2026, with 94.90% of the vote. Voter turnout stood at 84.99%, representing approximately 2.6 million ballots cast.

With a human capital index of 0.42, the Republic of Congo is behind the average of 0.48 for its peer group of Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Among children under five, neonatal mortality stands at 16 per 10,000 live births, while under-five mortality reaches 29 per 10,000. By the end of primary education, only 30% of students are proficient in reading.

Access to electricity stands at 67% of the population in urban areas compared to just 12.4% in rural areas. 74% of the population has access to clean water source, against 46% in rural areas, despite the country’s considerable hydrological resources.

The dynamics of social exclusion and drivers of fragility are multidimensional and further exacerbated by poverty and inequality. Youth unemployment has also increased over the years and has reached around 42%.

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Economic activity in the Republic of Congo sustained its growth momentum in 2025, with real GDP expanding by an estimated 3.1%, driven by broad-based gains across oil and non-oil sectors. Non-oil growth reached 3.8%, supported by services, while the oil sector contributed positively to growth, driven by investments by new and established operators. Despite this expansion, poverty edged up slightly to 51.7% at the $3.00 (2021 PPP) poverty line.

On the fiscal side, the budget surplus narrowed sharply to 0.9% of GDP, driven by declining oil revenues. However, the non-oil fiscal deficit continued to narrow, reaching 6.8% of GDP in 2025, down from 7.4% in 2024, reflecting sustained non-oil revenue mobilization efforts.

Public finances remained strained by high expenditures - partly driven by higher spending on goods and services - and acute liquidity pressures. The government issued three Eurobonds totaling $1.63 billion between November 2025 and February 2026 aimed at refinancing short-term debt.

Public debt declined marginally to 97.4% of GDP, though the country remains in debt distress, with ongoing arrears on both domestic and external obligations. While the Eurobond issuances offered short-term financing relief, they carry significant currency and liquidity risks. Servicing dollar-denominated obligations amid structurally declining foreign exchange inflows across CEMAC could deplete Congo's external reserves and amplify existing macroeconomic vulnerabilities.

The current account fell into deficit for the first time since 2014, reaching 2.5% of GDP in 2025, driven by weaker oil export revenues. Inflation eased slightly to 2.9%, and the banking sector continued to strengthen, with non-performing loans declining to 13.5%.

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The Social Protection and Productive Inclusion of Youth Project aims to improve access to productive safety nets for poor and vulnerable households, as well as for young people in targeted areas. Since October 2020, the project has enabled 29,987 households to benefit from conditional cash transfers (CCTs) to cover essential expenses related to food, education, and health.

Transforming the Education Sector for Better Outcomes and Results (TRESOR) is a $94.625 million operation dedicated to improving the quality of basic education and strengthening education sector management systems.

The Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Livelihoods Project (ProClimat Congo) of $132 million aims to strengthen landscape management, increase the use of improved livelihood activities, and reduce food insecurity in targeted communities.

The Congo Digital Acceleration Project (PATN) of $100 million aims to support the implementation of foundations for digital transformation including strengthening policy and regulatory environment for the digital economy along with improving digital skills. 3G internet coverage to regions previously unconnected expanded with 136 localities for new 2G/3G coverage - ongoing, and 76 localities for upgrade from 2G to 3G- completed.

The Strengthening Electricity Services Project (PASEL) of $100 million, aims to improve the performance of the electricity sector, through a performance-based PPP to improve quality of electricity service delivery and increase access to the population.

The Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West and Central Africa — Series of Projects Two (HISWACA-SOP 2) of $60 million, aims to support strengthening of the national statistical system.

The Central Africa Regional Waterways Project (PRACAC) aims to improve transport and trade efficiency, the climate resilience of infrastructure, and socio-economic inclusion along the Brazzaville-Bangui waterway corridor and the Bossembélé-Bossangoa road section in CAR. Initial waterway maintenance works have already benefited approximately 66,000 people.

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In January 2022, the government approved a National Development Plan (NDP) for the 2022-2026 period focusing on economic diversification to reduce fragilities and putting the country on the path to high, resilient, and inclusive growth. The government placed significant emphasis on youth employment in the last two years of NDP implementation.

The 2020-2024 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) was extended by a year until 2025 following a Performance and Learning Review (PLR) conducted in the fall of 2021 and approved by the Board of Directors on April 7, 2022.

The CPF, which is aligned with the government’s objectives, aims to help the country improve economic management, create a business environment conducive to economic diversification, strengthen its human capital, and improve the delivery of basic public services, particularly in health, education, and social protection services.

The upcoming CPF will be aligned with the new National Development Plan (PND), and Congo’s 2060 Vision under preparation. The WBG launched the Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA) in February 2026 to inform the new CPF.

As of March 1st, 2026, the World Bank’s active portfolio in the Republic of Congo comprises 13 projects, of which two are trust fund financed and three are regional projects. The total commitment amounts to $1 billion, with 68.8% remaining undisbursed.

Due to suspensions from September to March, the disbursement ratio for FY26 is currently at 5%. The portfolio remains fully active, as indicated by a 100% proactivity index.

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