Demographics of the Republic of the Congo

2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: African Geography

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 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 15,000 Europeans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were French. Presently, only about 9,500 remain.

Demographic data from the CIA World Factbook

Population

3,702,314

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 2006 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.4% (male 864,407/female 853,728)

15-64 years: 50.7% (male 930,390/female 945,545)

65 years and over: 2.9% (male 44,430/female 63,814) (2006 est.)

Population growth rate

2.6% (2006 est.)

Birth rate

42.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

12.93 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate

-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.03 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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 85.29 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 91 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 79.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 52.8 years

Male: 51.65 years

Female: 53.98 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.07 children born/woman (2006 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 (2005)

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%

Religions

Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Languages

French (official language and the language of the elite), Lingala and Kituba (national languages and linguae francae among common people), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

The majority of the population is concentrated along the railroad between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville in the south where Kituba (a creole language based on Kikongo) is the primary language. Lingala is influential in the sparsely inhabited northern half of the country.

Literacy

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Total population: 83.8%

Male: 89.6%

Female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook (2006 edition) which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.