Demographics of the Republic of the Congo
Demographic features of the population of the Republic of the Congo include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
| Demographics of Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|
Population pyramid of the Republic of the Congo in 2020 | |
| Population | 5,835,806 (2021 est.) |
| Growth rate | 2.34% (2022 est.) |
| Birth rate | 31.82 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Death rate | 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 62.1 years |
| • male | 60.65 years |
| • female | 63.61 years |
| Fertility rate | 4.36 children born/woman (2022 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | 47.93 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Net migration rate | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Age structure | |
| 0–14 years | 41.57% |
| 65 and over | 3.2% |
| Sex ratio | |
| Total | 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) |
| At birth | 1.03 male(s)/female |
| Under 15 | 1.02 male(s)/female |
| 65 and over | 0.66 male(s)/female |
| Nationality | |
| Nationality | Congolese |
| Language | |
| Official | French |
The Republic of the Congo's 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 534-kilometre (332 mi) 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 15,000 Europeans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were French. Presently, only about 9,500 remain. Pygmies make up 2% of Congo's population.