Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness was 57.75 million People in 2024. ▲ Rising
Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2013–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in People.
Analysis
In 2024, number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 57.75 million People. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 32.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 57.75 million People in 2024 and was at its lowest, 40.35 million People, in 2015.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 1st out of 31 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 42.39 million People | — |
| 2014 | 43.50 million People | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 40.35 million People | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 41.15 million People | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 46.45 million People | +12.9% |
| 2018 | 50.39 million People | +8.5% |
| 2019 | 49.33 million People | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 50.81 million People | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 52.04 million People | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 54.80 million People | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 55.37 million People | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 57.75 million People | +4.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 57.75 million People is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.52 million People, 12.8× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 57.75 million People is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.03 million People, 19.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 44.79 million People | 40.35 million People | 50.39 million People | 7 |
| 2020s | 54.16 million People | 50.81 million People | 57.75 million People | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More population data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.5489 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Democratic Republic of Congo was 57.75 million People in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 57.75 million People in 2024.
- What is the lowest number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.35 million People in 2015.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 1st out of 31 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The estimated number of people at risk of river blindness) who require preventive chemotherapy.