Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 14.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population who live in the largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo is 14.9%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 16.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 1950.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 143rd of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.5% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 5.7% | 5.3% | 6.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 7.4% | 7.0% | 7.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.2% | 10.1% | 12.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 14.6% | 13.9% | 15.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.3% | 14.4% | 16.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.5% | 13.3% | 13.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.9% | 14.9% | 14.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More population data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 33.44 million people (2100)
- Population density 189.99 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 5.98 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 517,404 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 5.98 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 5.98 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 3.3% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 6.05 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo was 14.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 1950.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 143rd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.