Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo is a nation on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa. Its capital is Brazzaville, located across the Congo River from Kinshasa, the capital of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country is often called “Congo-Brazzaville” to distinguish it from the much larger Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which was formerly known as Zaire.

These stable identifiers come from the United Nations Statistics Division and the IANA Root Zone Database. They define the Republic of the Congo as a statistical entity for data processing, not as a territorial or sovereignty claim.

UN M49 code: 178
ISO alpha-2: CG
ISO alpha-3: COG
UN region: Africa
UN subregion: Sub-Saharan Africa
UN member state: Yes
World Bank capital field: Brazzaville
IANA country code top-level domain (ccTLD): .cg
IANA time zone: Africa/Brazzaville

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, M49 overview, (accessed [year]); IANA Root Zone Database (accessed [year]).

How to verify the stable identifiers

The UN M49 overview is the reference for statistical grouping: UN M49 code 178, ISO alpha-2 CG, ISO alpha-3 COG, UN region Africa, UN subregion Sub-Saharan Africa, and UN member state status. The World Bank API returns the official capital field (Brazzaville) and other identifiers in the same data structure used for all nations. These two sources fix the stable identifiers needed for cross-country comparison. They do not settle territorial or constitutional questions; they only describe how the UN and World Bank classify the territory in their statistical systems.

Statistical codes are not a statement of recognition. The UN M49 code (178) and the ISO codes (CG, COG) are administrative identifiers used for data processing. They do not define sovereignty, borders, or governmental status. The World Bank’s “capital” field is a data attribute for economic reporting, not a constitutional declaration. If a border, name, or capital is disputed, attribute the differing views to the parties involved and note the source of the grouping.

Every country entry links to the same three pillar guides: the Country Comparison Guide, the Source Literacy Guide, and the Data Provenance Guide.

How to check changeable facts

Population, language, currency, government type, and economic indicators change over time. For any figure, name the source and the reference year. For languages, the CIA World Factbook compiles the share of speakers, but its source year varies by location. For currency and government structure, check the relevant ministry or central bank. For visa requirements, use the IATA Travel Centre or your own foreign ministry’s travel advisory; never rely on a static country profile for visa rules.

Getting a current population estimate

Population figures change continuously and are revised after each census. Do not copy a number from a static webpage without checking its reference year and source. For the Republic of the Congo, the most reliable starting points are:

World Bank, country profile and indicators at data.worldbank.org/country/congo-rep; population data is an annual estimate, not a census count, and is revised periodically.
United Nations World Population Prospects, the UN’s official population estimates and projections, updated every two years. The UN M49 overview explains the statistical grouping and the list of territories used in UN reporting.
National statistical office, the Institut National de la Statistique (INS) publishes census and survey results; census data is typically several years old and may undercount remote or mobile communities.

When you compare population figures across sources, check the reference year and the data collection method. A UN estimate for 2024 will not match a 2012 census count, and neither is “wrong”; they are measuring different moments with different methods.

Current population snapshot

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs publishes population estimates and projections in the World Population Prospects. The World Bank’s Population, total indicator provides annual estimates from national statistics offices and UN projections. For the Republic of the Congo, the World Bank’s figure for 2023 is approximately 6.1 million people. The UN M49 overview lists the Republic of the Congo under Africa, subregion Sub-Saharan Africa, with M49 code 178 and ISO codes CG (alpha-2) and COG (alpha-3). Population figures are estimates, not censuses; the most recent census may be several years old, and the UN Population Division revises its estimates after each national census. Always check the reference year on the data you cite.