Why has the Republic of the Congo become highly urbanized?

The Republic of the Congo has become highly urbanized primarily due to massive internal, rural-to-urban migration that has persisted since the country gained independence.1

During the colonial era, the establishment of new cities—most notably Brazzaville—served as a primary draw for African migrants. These urban centers were designed with administrative and commercial cores that attracted populations, a trend that continued to intensify after 1960 as social and economic mobility increased.21

Today, more than half of the population lives in cities, a rate that remains high relative to the sub-Saharan African average. This urbanization is driven by the fact that the urban growth rate consistently exceeds that of the country as a whole. While civil conflict in the late 1990s temporarily dampened these trends and caused significant displacement, the ongoing movement of people from rural communities into cities continues to shape the nation's demographic landscape.12