Republic of the Congo: cost of living

What is the poverty rate in the Republic of the Congo?

50.3% of people in the Republic of the Congo lived below the national poverty line in 2022, about 3 million people, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS) poverty report from the 2022 household living conditions survey (EHCVM), published in 2026. Poverty was 44.3% in urban areas and 66.2% in rural areas. 20.9% of people lived below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 a day.

The national line measures what people consume, including food and basic non-food needs. Because most of the population lives in towns, 64% of poor people live in urban areas even though rural poverty rates are higher.

Official sources: INS: EHCVM 2022 poverty report (PDF)

What is the poverty line in the Republic of the Congo?

The national poverty line in the Republic of the Congo was 443,050 CFA francs per person per year in 2022, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS). People whose consumption was below this level were counted as poor; 50.3% of the population were below it.

The line is built from the cost of a basic food basket plus an amount for essential non-food needs such as housing, clothing and transport. It is set per person, so a household of five would need about five times this amount. The report also gives a Gini coefficient of 0.382 for inequality in consumption.

Official sources: INS: EHCVM 2022 poverty report (PDF)

Which prices are rising fastest in the Republic of the Congo?

Restaurant and hotel prices in the Republic of the Congo were 7.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, the largest rise of any group, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS). Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose 5.5%, food and non-alcoholic drinks 5.0%, communication 3.8% and transport 3.6%. Overall prices were 4.4% higher.

These are year-on-year changes by spending group. Food has a large weight in household budgets, so its prices matter most for the overall index. In August alone, food prices fell 2.4%, which brought the overall index down 1.5% on the month.

Official sources: INS: consumer price index bulletin, August 2026 (PDF)

What is the inflation rate in the Republic of the Congo?

The IMF puts consumer price inflation in the Republic of the Congo at 2.4% in 2025. The peak was 6.5% in 2006 and the low 0.4% in 2010. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 3.4%, and the Republic of the Congo placed 26th highest of 39. Of 165 countries with 2025 data, 94th highest.

How much do households in the Republic of the Congo spend per person?

The World Bank puts household consumption per person in the Republic of the Congo at $860 in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from $689 (2017) to $964 (2015). It is 18th highest of 37 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is $840. Worldwide: 105th of 124.