Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo
Congo: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 84.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo, 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 stood at 84.7%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo peaked at 84.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 41.9%, in 1950.
Congo ranks 9th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 41.9% | — |
| 1955 | 42.8% | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 46.3% | +8.0% |
| 1965 | 55.5% | +20.0% |
| 1970 | 65.5% | +18.0% |
| 1975 | 71.0% | +8.4% |
| 1980 | 74.4% | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 72.8% | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 69.4% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 66.9% | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 67.8% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 69.1% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 70.9% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 78.3% | +10.4% |
| 2020 | 84.7% | +8.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 42.4% | 41.9% | 42.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 50.9% | 46.3% | 55.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 68.3% | 65.5% | 71.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 73.6% | 72.8% | 74.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 68.1% | 66.9% | 69.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 68.4% | 67.8% | 69.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 74.6% | 70.9% | 78.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 84.7% | 84.7% | 84.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More population data for Congo
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5095 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.51 million people (2100)
- Population density 58.64 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0471 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.17 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Congo was 84.7% 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?
- The highest recorded value was 84.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.9% in 1950.
- How does Congo rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Congo ranks 9th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Congo 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.