Republic of the Congo

The country faces a critical challenge with its high unemployment rate, nearing 20%. This figure is indicative of structural economic issues and the difficulty the 1.9% GDP growth rate has in absorbing the labor force, potentially fueling social instability and hindering poverty reduction efforts.

A remarkable 64.13% of the Republic of the Congo's land area is covered by forest. This vast forest area represents a crucial global carbon sink and a significant natural resource, positioning the country as a major player in environmental conservation efforts in the Congo Basin.

The Republic of the Congo maintains a high fertility rate of 4.16 children per woman, suggesting continued rapid population growth. However, this is coupled with a relatively strong life expectancy of 65.77 years, which is above the average for Middle Africa, indicating improvements in basic healthcare and living standards.

Despite the country's status as an oil producer and its relatively high urbanization rate, only about half (51.3%) of the population has access to electricity. This significant infrastructure gap limits industrial development and reduces the quality of life for nearly half of the citizens, particularly in rural areas.