Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

60.7

Political Risk Index

51.5

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

60.2

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

61.6

Operational Risk Index

69.9

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• Republic of the Congo is in Central Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Lower middle income. (World Bank)
• Population: 6.5 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$15.4bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 2.4% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 3.5% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 2.6% in 2025 (estimate); projected 4% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 100.4% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -5.1% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: 0.7% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 581.93 local currency units per US dollar in 2025, against 606.57 in 2023: 4.1% more units per dollar fewer (the currency strengthened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 60.7 (rank 41 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 51.5 (rank 24 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 60.2 (rank 37 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 61.6 (rank 44 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 69.9 (rank 39 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: crime and security risk (85.1, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 19; government effectiveness 28; political stability and absence of violence 57; rule of law 38; regulatory quality 35. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 52.8% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 19.9% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 3.7% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 13.8% of GDP (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 91.7% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 144 published records tagged to Republic of the Congo. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 53% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 71.4% (2021). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 0% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 1.2% of merchandise exports (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 3.7% of GDP (2025); domestic credit to the private sector 13.8% of GDP (2023). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 47.3% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 95.5 per 100 people (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 10.1% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 36.4% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 12.9% of GDP (2020); industry (including construction), value added 35.6% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 64.1% of population (2025); access to electricity 53% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Domestic credit to the private sector (Latest published value is for 2023); Fixed broadband subscriptions (Latest published value is for 2023); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2021); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Fuel exports (Latest published value is for 2023); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Ores and metals exports (Latest published value is for 2023); Manufacturing, value added (Latest published value is for 2020).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• Circle Ventures invests in CrissCross’ operations in Africa
• Airtel Money’s IPO at GBP 529 million
• Congo Terminal expansion at the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire – EUR 230m financing (AGL / APM Terminals / SOCOTRANS JV)
• Africa Finance Corporation US$2bn syndicated term loan (26 lenders): Nigerian counsel to the lenders
• Airtel Money prices London IPO at £1.96 a share, valuing the business at £5.3bn
• Africa Finance Corporation and Vision Invest invest USD 300 million in WIOCC Group