GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

A lone tree standing by the riverbanks in Brazzaville, Congo.Tranquil view of the Bukavu waterfront with modern architecture and lake in Sud-Kivu, DRC.

Republic of the Congo

Africa · Middle Africa

Medium safetyMedium development

Access to essential health services is patchy.

Safety

119th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.256lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#119 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$2,280national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 20% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 24% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$4.0K$8.0K$7,248 PPP$2,515Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $2,104 a person, $4,588 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2007, $2,206 a person, $4,243 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2008, $2,832 a person, $4,448 at PPP, inflation 5%2009, $2,271 a person, $4,801 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2010, $2,947 a person, $5,125 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2011, $3,396 a person, $5,175 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2012, $3,732 a person, $6,058 at PPP, inflation 5%2013, $3,697 a person, $5,834 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2014, $3,601 a person, $5,733 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2015, $2,439 a person, $4,715 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2016, $2,093 a person, $4,016 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2017, $2,212 a person, $4,445 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2018, $2,694 a person, $5,593 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2019, $2,488 a person, $5,720 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2020, $1,994 a person, $4,771 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2021, $2,516 a person, $6,263 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2022, $2,621 a person, $6,646 at PPP, inflation 3%2023, $2,478 a person, $6,856 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2024, $2,482 a person, $7,004 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2025, $2,515 a person, $7,248 at PPP, inflation 2.4%$0$4.0K$8.0KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $2,104 a person, $4,588 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2007, $2,206 a person, $4,243 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2008, $2,832 a person, $4,448 at PPP, inflation 5%2009, $2,271 a person, $4,801 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2010, $2,947 a person, $5,125 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2011, $3,396 a person, $5,175 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2012, $3,732 a person, $6,058 at PPP, inflation 5%2013, $3,697 a person, $5,834 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2014, $3,601 a person, $5,733 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2015, $2,439 a person, $4,715 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2016, $2,093 a person, $4,016 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2017, $2,212 a person, $4,445 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2018, $2,694 a person, $5,593 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2019, $2,488 a person, $5,720 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2020, $1,994 a person, $4,771 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2021, $2,516 a person, $6,263 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2022, $2,621 a person, $6,646 at PPP, inflation 3%2023, $2,478 a person, $6,856 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2024, $2,482 a person, $7,004 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2025, $2,515 a person, $7,248 at PPP, inflation 2.4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
66.0years, at birthLow
#166 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
45WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
25.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
19.9%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Tranquil view of the Bukavu waterfront with modern architecture and lake in Sud-Kivu, DRC.
How it changed

Republic of the Congo's Human Development Index

0.649Medium human development

138th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 15th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #136Namibia0.665
  2. #137Guatemala0.662
  3. #138Republic of the Congo0.649
  4. #139Honduras0.645
  5. #140Kiribati0.644
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.573 in 1990 to 0.649 in 2023.

0.450.570.700.64919902000201020231990: 0.5731991: 0.5711992: 0.5721993: 0.5661994: 0.5611995: 0.5511996: 0.5501997: 0.5161998: 0.5421999: 0.5442000: 0.5452001: 0.5502002: 0.5522003: 0.5532004: 0.5572005: 0.5692006: 0.5822007: 0.5832008: 0.5912009: 0.6022010: 0.6092011: 0.6132012: 0.6242013: 0.6302014: 0.6392015: 0.6432016: 0.6402017: 0.6352018: 0.6402019: 0.6342020: 0.6432021: 0.6432022: 0.6442023: 0.6490.450.570.7019902000201020231990: 0.5731991: 0.5711992: 0.5721993: 0.5661994: 0.5611995: 0.5511996: 0.5501997: 0.5161998: 0.5421999: 0.5442000: 0.5452001: 0.5502002: 0.5522003: 0.5532004: 0.5572005: 0.5692006: 0.5822007: 0.5832008: 0.5912009: 0.6022010: 0.6092011: 0.6132012: 0.6242013: 0.6302014: 0.6392015: 0.6432016: 0.6402017: 0.6352018: 0.6402019: 0.6342020: 0.6432021: 0.6432022: 0.6442023: 0.649

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
66 years2024at birthUp 7.3 years from 58.7 years in 2005
Internet users
47%2024of people onlineUp 45 points from 2% in 2006
Urban population
64%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 3 points from 62% in 2006
Births per woman
4.112024births per womanDown 0.56 from 4.67 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
71%2021of energy usedUp 8 points from 63% in 2004
Access to electricity
53%2024of people with electricityUp 19 points from 34% in 2005
Infant mortality
272024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 29 from 56 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.2 t from 1.2 t in 2005
Forest area
64%2023of land under forestDown 1 point from 65% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Oil-dependent economy; Brazzaville faces Kinshasa across the river. The case against is patchy access to essential health services, low incomes and short lives.

About Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo is a Central African country of equatorial rainforest, the Congo River basin, and a coastal strip on the Atlantic, with a Congolese culture that shares deep musical and artistic traditions with its larger neighbour across the river. Brazzaville has a lively music scene and a distinctive Creole urban culture. It suits travellers with specific interests in the Congo Basin ecosystem or those making a wider journey through Central Africa.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBrazzaville
  • LanguagesFrench, Kikongo, Lingala
  • CurrencyCentral African CFA franc (XAF)
  • Area341,500 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Republic of the Congo's Human Development Index?

Republic of the Congo's Human Development Index is 0.649 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #138 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Republic of the Congo safe?

Republic of the Congo scores 2.26 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #119 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Republic of the Congo?

Life expectancy at birth in Republic of the Congo is 66.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #166 of 195 countries.