Republic of the Congo

Region: Central Africa · ISO code: COG

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Economy

Nominal GDP

USD 15.8 billion

GDP per capita

USD 2,522

2021–2025 average

Currency

Name: Central African CFA franc
Франк КФА BEAC
ISO code: XAF
Rate against the US dollar: USD 1 = 579.64 XAF
Rate against the rouble: 10 XAF = 1.4416 RUB
Rate type: Cross rate via the Bank of Russia USD/RUB rate
Currency zone: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Note: fixed peg to the euro: 1 EUR = 655.957 CFA francs

Exchange rate as of 1 October 2026

Economic structure

GDP structure: 2021–2025 average Source: Based on World Bank data. Period: 2021–2025 average

Agriculture 9.1%
Industry 42.6%
Services 43.9%

Industries and programmes

Key industries: Oil production (the main export), forestry, potash, iron ore, and agriculture.
Government programmes: National Development Plan (PND) 2022–2026

Special economic zone program (Pointe-Noire, Oyo-Ollombo, Ouesso, Maloukou)

International trade

Exports of goods, 2021–2025

USD billion Source: World Bank / WTO, merchandise exports (TX.VAL.MRCH.CD.WT). Period: 2021–2025

Amount Index (2021 = 100)

Table

Exports of goods, 2021–2025: amount and index (2021 = 100)
Year	USD billion	index, 2021 = 100
2021	7.51	100.0
2022	8.87	118.1
2023	9.46	126.0
2024	7.86	104.7
2025	7.50	99.9

Imports of goods: USD 4.88 billion 2021–2025 averageSource: ITC. Period: 2021–2025 average
Exports of goods and services: USD 7.83 billion 2025Source: World Bank, national accounts. Period: 2025
Change in exports of goods, 2021–2025: −0.1%
Average annual rate of change in exports of goods, 2021–2025: 0.0%

Export specialisation

Main export products

share of exports of goods, %, 2023 Source: UN Comtrade, 2023; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2023

mineral fuels, oil and gas85.9%
ships and floating structures8.7%
wood and wood products2.5%
copper0.8%
salt, sulfur, cement and mineral materials0.4%

Main export destinations

share of exports of goods, %, 2023 Source: UN Comtrade, 2023; share of total merchandise exports, HS chapters (2 digits). Period: 2023

China54.4%
Netherlands10.6%
India5.5%
United States3.6%
Malaysia2.7%

Investment areas

Oil refining and pipeline infrastructure
Potash fertilizers
Wood processing
Agribusiness
SEZs

Agreements with Russia

Investment protection

Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments: signed 16 October 2025; ratified by Russia (June 2026), entry into force pending

Signed, not in force
Double taxation

There is no double taxation agreement with Russia.

Absent
Visa requirements

Russian citizens holding ordinary passports require a visa.

Visa required
Peaceful nuclear energy
- memorandum with Rosatom (February 2018)
Memorandum or other arrangement

Other agreements

Agreement on Cooperation in the Construction of the Petroleum Products Pipeline “Pointe-Noire — Loutété — Maloukou-Tréchot” (ratified by Russia in November 2025).

Incentives

Main regimes and incentives: Investment Charter (2003); SEZ regime (Law of 2017) — corporate income tax and equipment duty exemptions for up to 10 years.
Type of measure: Tax holidaysDuty exemptionSpecial territorial regimes (SEZ)
Investment agency: API — Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of the Congo
Ministry of Industrial Development, Special Economic Zones and Private Sector Promotion
Zone operator / authority: Ministry of Industrial Development, Special Economic Zones and Private Sector Promotion
Ministry: Ministry of Industrial Development, Special Economic Zones and Private Sector Promotion