Pointe-Noire

Pointe-Noire
Njinji (Kongo)
Motto: 
Interactive map of Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire
Location in the Republic of the Congo
Coordinates: 04°47′51″S 11°51′1″E / 4.79750°S 11.85028°E / -4.79750; 11.85028
Country Republic of the Congo
DepartmentPointe-Noire Department
CommunePointe-Noire
Founded1883
Government
 • MayorJean-François Kando (PCT)
Area
 • Total
2,134 km2 (824 sq mi)
Elevation
14 m (46 ft)
Population
 (2023 census)
 • Total
1,420,612
 • Density665.7/km2 (1,724/sq mi)
 • Official language
French
 • National language
Kituba language
Ethnicities: mostly Bakongo, especially Bavili
Area code242
HDI (2023)0.692 · medium · 2nd of 12

Pointe-Noire (French pronunciation: [pwɛ̃t.nwaʁ]; Kongo: Njinji, French: Ndjindji with the letter d following French spelling standards) is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo (behind the capital of Brazzaville), with a population of 1,420,612 inhabitants in 2023. It is also an autonomous department and a commune since the 2002 constitution; before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region (now a separate department). It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Pointe-Noire is the main economic centre of the country. It's also located near the border with Angola.