Sub Saharan Africa

Congo
Last reviewed: 17 December 2007

Country information

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Map of Congo

Full Country Name: The Republic of Congo
Area: 342,000 sq km (132,000 sq miles)
Population: 4 million (2005 est)
Capital City: Brazzaville (population: 1.2m)
People: 15 main Bantu groups, the largest being Bacongo, Vili, Bateke, M'Bochi, and Sangha. There are also over 70 subgroups and a small pygmy population.
Language(s): French (official), Lingala, Kikongo and Munukutuba (national)
Religion(s): traditional beliefs (50%), Roman Catholic (35%), other Christians (15%), Muslim (2%)
Currency: CFA Franc (fixed to euro)
Major political parties: The largest political party is the Congolese Labour Party (PCT). Other parties include the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS), Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Mouvement Action et Renouveau (MAR), Mouvement pour la Solidarité et le Développement (MSD) and Union pour la Démocratie et la République-Mwinda (UDR-Mwinda)
Head of State: President Denis Sassou-Nguesso
Membership of international groupings/organisations: African Development Bank (AFDB), Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), United Nations (UN), African Union(AU)