Economy of Congo-Brazzaville: growth, debt and trade

Economy of Congo-Brazzaville: a dependence on oil

The economy of Congo-Brazzaville rests on oil, which accounts for about half of GDP and 80% of exports, according to the World Bank. A lower-middle-income country, it draws the rest of its wealth from services, 45% of value added in 2024, from industry, 40.1%, and from a still modest agriculture, 9.4%.

Growth, debt and public finances

Real GDP growth reached 2.1% in 2024 and then 3.1% in 2025, according to the World Bank, supported mainly by oil production. Government revenue represented 25.1% of GDP in 2024, and public debt 93.6%, against 103.6% in 2020.

The 2026 finance law, passed in December 2025, set state revenue at 2,550.54 billion CFA francs and created a single treasury account; an amending finance law adopted on 23 July 2026 raises it to 2,778.016 billion. On 11 May 2026, the Ministry of Finance formally requested talks with the IMF on a new programme, more than a year after the end of the previous one.

Non-oil sectors: forest, agriculture, industry

Forests cover more than 69% of the territory, and sawn wood supplies 2.2% of exports in 2024. Non-oil firms saw their revenues rise by 11% on average, but employment grew by only 3%, because unstable electricity and limited financing hold back their development, according to the World Bank. Diversification remains embryonic.

Agriculture does not cover food needs: meat is the leading import item, at around 8%, ahead of mineral oils, fish and palm oil. Manufactured exports are rising, driven by demand from regional markets.

Foreign trade: crude oil and Asian partners

According to the national statistics institute, as relayed by the French Treasury, exports reached 4,390.2 billion CFA francs in 2024, down 15.3% on the previous year, and imports 2,556.2 billion. The trade balance remains in surplus, at 1,834 billion. Crude oil accounts for around 92% of sales abroad.

China takes 54.5% of exports, ahead of the Netherlands, 10.9%, Singapore, 7.2%, Italy, 6%, and India, 5.2%. On the import side, China supplies 35% of purchases, France around 10% and Belgium 7%. The European Union remains the leading economic partner, with 20.8% of exports and 26% of imports.

Currency and investment in the economy of Congo-Brazzaville

The country uses the Central African CFA franc, the XAF, issued by the BEAC for the six CEMAC states, at a fixed parity with the euro. The CEMAC heads of state met in an extraordinary summit in Brazzaville on 22 January 2026 to address macroeconomic stability and the sustainability of public finances in the sub-region.

The French investment stock stood at 2.59 billion euros in 2024, down 21% from 2020, with 54 subsidiaries employing 3,208 people. The 2022-2026 National Development Plan aims at economic diversification and youth employment.