Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 48.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo, Democratic Republic of the, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo, Democratic Republic of the stood at 48.7%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo, Democratic Republic of the peaked at 48.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 1950.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the ranks 62nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo, Democratic Republic of the, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10.5% | — |
| 1955 | 13.4% | +28.4% |
| 1960 | 18.2% | +35.5% |
| 1965 | 22.6% | +24.0% |
| 1970 | 28.0% | +23.9% |
| 1975 | 32.8% | +17.2% |
| 1980 | 33.8% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 34.9% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 36.0% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 38.7% | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 41.2% | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 43.2% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 44.7% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 47.2% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 48.7% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.9% | 10.5% | 13.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 20.4% | 18.2% | 22.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 30.4% | 28.0% | 32.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 34.3% | 33.8% | 34.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 37.3% | 36.0% | 38.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 42.2% | 41.2% | 43.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 45.9% | 44.7% | 47.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 48.7% | 48.7% | 48.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- 59 Australia 48.9% compare
- 60 Ghana 48.9% compare
- 61 South Africa 48.8% compare
- 63 Panama 48.6% compare
- 64 Bangladesh 47.6% compare
- 65 Russian Federation 47.6% compare
More population data for Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- 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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo, Democratic Republic of the was 48.7% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- The highest recorded value was 48.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 1950.
- How does Congo, Democratic Republic of the rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the ranks 62nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Congo, Democratic Republic of the?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Congo, Democratic Republic of the data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.