Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 50.90 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
50.90 million people
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
18th
of 236 countries
All-time high
50.90 million people
in 2025
All-time low
2.31 million people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 50.90 million people. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 51.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 50.90 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.31 million people, in 1950.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 18th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.31 million people | — |
| 1951 | 2.48 million people | +7.5% |
| 1952 | 2.64 million people | +6.5% |
| 1953 | 2.78 million people | +5.4% |
| 1954 | 2.90 million people | +4.3% |
| 1955 | 2.99 million people | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 3.07 million people | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 3.15 million people | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 3.23 million people | +2.4% |
| 1959 | 3.31 million people | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 3.40 million people | +2.9% |
| 1961 | 3.51 million people | +3.1% |
| 1962 | 3.62 million people | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 3.74 million people | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 3.87 million people | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 4.01 million people | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 4.16 million people | +3.7% |
| 1967 | 4.31 million people | +3.8% |
| 1968 | 4.48 million people | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 4.66 million people | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 4.84 million people | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 5.03 million people | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 5.21 million people | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 5.41 million people | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 5.62 million people | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 5.84 million people | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 6.06 million people | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 6.28 million people | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 6.56 million people | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 6.87 million people | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 7.17 million people | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 7.47 million people | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 7.78 million people | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 8.13 million people | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 8.50 million people | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 8.89 million people | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 9.28 million people | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 9.70 million people | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 10.14 million people | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 10.60 million people | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 11.11 million people | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 11.64 million people | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 12.20 million people | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 12.83 million people | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 13.64 million people | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 14.42 million people | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 14.91 million people | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 15.38 million people | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 16.03 million people | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 16.82 million people | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 17.63 million people | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 18.46 million people | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 19.32 million people | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 20.18 million people | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 21.09 million people | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 21.98 million people | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 22.91 million people | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 23.87 million people | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 24.85 million people | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 25.90 million people | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 27.01 million people | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 28.19 million people | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 29.43 million people | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 30.75 million people | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 32.11 million people | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 33.50 million people | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 35.03 million people | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 36.67 million people | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 38.27 million people | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 39.85 million people | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 41.52 million people | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 43.26 million people | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 45.06 million people | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 46.94 million people | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 48.90 million people | +4.2% |
| 2025 | 50.90 million people | +4.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 50.90 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million people, 7.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 50.90 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 10.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.89 million people | 2.31 million people | 3.31 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.98 million people | 3.40 million people | 4.66 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.77 million people | 4.84 million people | 6.87 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.77 million people | 7.17 million people | 10.60 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.90 million people | 11.11 million people | 16.82 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.62 million people | 17.63 million people | 25.90 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.08 million people | 27.01 million people | 39.85 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.10 million people | 41.52 million people | 50.90 million people | 6 |
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 living in urban and rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Democratic Republic of Congo was 50.90 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 50.90 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.31 million people in 1950.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 18th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.