Capital of Congo: Brazzaville
The capital of Congo is Brazzaville. Congo sits in Africa, has a population of 5,970,424, and uses the XAF. Official languages include French.
Quick facts
- Capital: Brazzaville
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~5,970,424
- Area: 342,000 km²
- Population density: 17.5 people per km²
- Official language: French
- Currency: XAF
- ISO code: CG
How big is Congo?
By population, Congo ranks 113th in the world, holding roughly 0.08% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 64th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Congo has 17.5 people per square kilometre, which is about 3.4 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Congo is the 36th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Congo in population are Singapore (5,975,689) and Denmark (5,882,261).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Finland (338,424 km²) and Vietnam (331,212 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
French is spoken officially in 30 countries in this dataset, including Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Cameroon, and 24 others.
The XAF is not unique to Congo — it is also used by Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad and Equatorial Guinea, and 1 other. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Congo in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Congo belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Congo and a page on the flag of Congo.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Congo?
The capital of Congo is Brazzaville.
What is the population of Congo?
About 5,970,424, making it the 113th most populous country in the world.
How big is Congo?
342,000 square kilometres, ranking 64th by land area, at a density of 17.5 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Congo use?
The XAF, shared with 5 other countries.