Demographics of the Republic of the Congo
Encyclopedia
This article is about the demographic
features of the population
of the Republic of the Congo
, including population density
, ethnicity
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
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 Europe
ans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were French
. Presently, only about 9,500 remain. Pygmies make up between 5 to 10 percent of Congo's population.
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.
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
features of the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
, including population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
, ethnicity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
The Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
's sparse population is concentrated in the southwestern portion of the country, leaving the vast areas of tropical jungle
Jungle
A Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
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
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
, Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, following the capital of Brazzaville, and an autonomous department since 2004. Before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region . It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean...
, 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 Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Presently, only about 9,500 remain. Pygmies make up between 5 to 10 percent of Congo's population.
CIA World Factbook demographic statistics
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.Population
- 4,243,929
- Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to STD's; 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 2011 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.)
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
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: 54.91 years
- Male: 53.62 years
- Female: 56.25 years (2011 est.)
HIV/AIDS
- Adult prevalence rate: 3.4% (2009 est.)
- People living with HIV/AIDS: 77,000 (2009 est.)
- Deaths: 5,100 (2009 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- Degree of risk: very high
- Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- Vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Ethnic groups
- KongoKongo peopleThe Bakongo or the Kongo people , also sometimes referred to as Kongolese or Congolese, is a Bantu ethnic group which lives along the Atlantic coast of Africa from Pointe-Noire to Luanda, Angola...
48%, SanghaSangha peopleThe Sangha are an ethnic group in the northern Republic of the Congo. They make up 20% of the Congo's population, making them the second largest Congolese ethnic group ....
20%, M'Bochi 12%, TekeBatekeThe Bateke are a Central African ethnic group that speak the Teke languages. Its population is situated mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and with a minority in Gabon...
17%, Europeans and other 3%
Religions
- Catholic 50.5%, Protestant 40.2%, Muslim 1.3%, Animism 2.2% Baha'i 0.4%, other 2.2%.
Languages
- FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
(official language and the language of the élite), Lingala and KitubaKitubaKituba is a widely used lingua franca in Central Africa. It is a creole language based on Kikongo, a family of closely related Bantu languages. It is an official language in Congo-Brazzaville and Congo-Kinshasa....
(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
Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, following the capital of Brazzaville, and an autonomous department since 2004. Before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region . It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean...
and Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
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.