Countries Congo
Congo

Congo

Africa GEC: CF ISO: CG

Key Economic Indicators

GDP (PPP)
$44.5 billion
GDP Per Capita
$7,026
GDP Growth Rate
2.58%
Inflation Rate
3.09%
Unemployment
19.88%
GDP (Nominal)
$15.72 billion (2024 est.)
Public Debt
128.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current Account
$1.72 billion

Economic Overview

primarily an oil- and natural resources-based economy; recovery from mid-2010s oil devaluation has been slow and curtailed by COVID-19; extreme poverty increasing, particularly in southern rural regions; attempting to implement recommended CEMAC reforms; increasing likelihood of debt default

All Economic Data

Agricultural products
cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Budget
Expenditures: $3.231 billion (2020 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $2.393 billion (2020 est.)
Currency
code: XAF
name: Central African CFA franc (XAF) [Fr]
Current account balance
$1.72 billion
Current account balance 2019: $1.632 billion (2019 est.)
Current account balance 2020: $1.441 billion (2020 est.)
Current account balance 2021: $1.716 billion (2021 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
$6.73 billion
Debt - external 2023: $6.36 billion (2023 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
Currency: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exports
$8.3 billion
Exports 2019: $7.855 billion (2019 est.)
Exports 2020: $4.67 billion (2020 est.)
Exports 2021: $7.752 billion (2021 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Foreign direct investment
net inflows: $603.62 million
GDP - composition, by end use
Exports of goods and services: 52.8% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.)
Household consumption: 47.4% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Industry: 40.1% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 45% (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$15.72 billion (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP per capita (nominal)
$2,482
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
48.9 (2011)
GNI (gross national income)
$14.18 billion
GNI per capita
$2,280
Gross domestic investment
27 % of GDP
Imports
$6.35 billion
Imports 2019: $4.945 billion (2019 est.)
Imports 2020: $3.279 billion (2020 est.)
Imports 2021: $4.487 billion (2021 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
0.3% (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.09%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
2.563 million (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 2.64 million persons
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 36.35%
industry: 19.48%
services: 44.17%
Public debt
Public debt 2016: 128.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$44.5 billion
Note: <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $37.448 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $38.163 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $39.147 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
2.58%
Note: <b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$7,026
Note: <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,200 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $6,200 (2024 est.)
Remittances
$44 million
Note: <b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$715.39 million
Note: <b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $828.56 million (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $835.649 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $715.391 million (2023 est.)
Revenue (excl grants)
20 % of GDP
Tax revenue
7 % of GDP
Taxes and other revenues
6.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
19.88%
Note: <b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 20.2% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 19.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Female: 39% (2024 est.)
Male: 41% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 40% (2024 est.)

World Bank Indicators

Currency
Central African CFA franc (XAF) Fr (2025)
Exports (US$)
$412.92M (2024)
External Debt
$1.05B (2024)
FDI Net Inflows (US$)
$40.41M (2024)
GDP Growth (%)
1.50 (2024)
Gdp Nominal
$2.75B (2024)
GDP Per Capita
516 (2024)
Gini Index
56.20 (2008)
Imports (US$)
$864.65M (2024)
Inflation Rate (%)
1.48 (2024)
Languages
French, Sango (2025)
Reserves
$479.59M (2023)
Unemployment Rate (%)
6.25 (2024)
Youth Unemployment
9.99 (2024)
Map of Congo

Economic Rankings

Unemployment Rate #7
Gini Index #19
External Debt #79
Exports #122
GDP (PPP) #135
GDP (Nominal) #139
Imports #141
GDP per Capita #144
Reserves #146
GDP Growth Rate #169
Inflation Rate #171

Quick Facts

Industries
petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
Agricultural products
cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)
Labor force
2.563 million (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023)
Exchange rates
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

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