Factbook
Histoire de République du Congo — Chronologie
Dates clés de l'histoire de République du Congo, d'après le Factbook Magna et l'Encyclopédie universelle.
1960Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France).
1960Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo.
1968From 1968 to 1992, the country was named the People’s Republic of the Congo.
1990A quarter-century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990, and a democratically elected government took office in 1992, at which time the country reverted to "the Republic of the Congo" name.
1999A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored to power former President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992.
2003After a year of renewed fighting, SASSOU-Nguesso and southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in 2003.
2007Languages: French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread) Religions: Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguist 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2007 est.) Urban population: 69.2% of total population (2023).
2009SASSOU-Nguesso was reelected in 2009 and, after passing a constitutional referendum allowing him to run for additional terms, was reelected again in 2016 and 2021.
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 79.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 20.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 7.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes Agriculture: cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023) Electricity access: 50.6% (2022 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 2.638 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.336 million Pointe-Noire (2023) 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 Inflation: 3.1% (2024 est.).
2024Military spending: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.).
