Demographics of the Republic of the Congo
|
|
Congo-Rep-demography.png
The Republic of the Congos 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 332-mile 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 war, about 9,000 Europeans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were French. Only a fraction of this number remains.
Demographic data from the CIA World Factbook
Population
- 3,039,126
- Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years: 37.3% (male 571,011/female 563,414)
- 15-64 years: 59% (male 886,297/female 907,348)
- 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 45,799/female 65,257) (2005 est.)
Median age
- Total: 20.7 years
- Male: 20.2 years
- Female: 21.1 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate
- 1.31% (2005 est.)
Birth rate
- 27.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate
- 14.82 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate
- 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio
- At birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
- Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
- Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- Total: 92.41 deaths/1,000 live births
- Male: 98.48 deaths/1,000 live births
- Female: 86.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
- Total population: 48.97 years
- Male: 47.94 years
- Female: 50.04 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate
- 3.54 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS
- Adult prevalence rate: 4.9% (2003 est.)
- People living with HIV/AIDS: 90,000 (2003 est.)
- Deaths: 9,700 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- Degree of risk: very high
- Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- Vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)
Nationality
- Noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
- Adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups
- Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
- Note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997
Religions
- Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages
- French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Literacy
- Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
- Total population: 83.8%
- Male: 89.6%
- Female: 78.4% (2003 est.)