Urban and rural population in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Urban and rural population was 50.90 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
50.90 million
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
18th
of 236 countries
All-time high
50.90 million
in 2025
All-time low
2.31 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 50.90 million. 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, urban and rural population in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 50.90 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.31 million, 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.
Urban and rural population in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.31 million | — |
| 1951 | 2.48 million | +7.5% |
| 1952 | 2.64 million | +6.5% |
| 1953 | 2.78 million | +5.4% |
| 1954 | 2.90 million | +4.3% |
| 1955 | 2.99 million | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 3.07 million | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 3.15 million | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 3.23 million | +2.4% |
| 1959 | 3.31 million | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 3.40 million | +2.9% |
| 1961 | 3.51 million | +3.1% |
| 1962 | 3.62 million | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 3.74 million | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 3.87 million | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 4.01 million | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 4.16 million | +3.7% |
| 1967 | 4.31 million | +3.8% |
| 1968 | 4.48 million | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 4.66 million | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 4.84 million | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 5.03 million | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 5.21 million | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 5.41 million | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 5.62 million | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 5.84 million | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 6.06 million | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 6.28 million | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 6.56 million | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 6.87 million | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 7.17 million | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 7.47 million | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 7.78 million | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 8.13 million | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 8.50 million | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 8.89 million | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 9.28 million | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 9.70 million | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 10.14 million | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 10.60 million | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 11.11 million | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 11.64 million | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 12.20 million | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 12.83 million | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 13.64 million | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 14.42 million | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 14.91 million | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 15.38 million | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 16.03 million | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 16.82 million | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 17.63 million | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 18.46 million | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 19.32 million | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 20.18 million | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 21.09 million | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 21.98 million | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 22.91 million | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 23.87 million | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 24.85 million | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 25.90 million | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 27.01 million | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 28.19 million | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 29.43 million | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 30.75 million | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 32.11 million | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 33.50 million | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 35.03 million | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 36.67 million | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 38.27 million | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 39.85 million | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 41.52 million | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 43.26 million | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 45.06 million | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 46.94 million | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 48.90 million | +4.2% |
| 2025 | 50.90 million | +4.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 50.90 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 7.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 50.90 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 10.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.89 million | 2.31 million | 3.31 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.98 million | 3.40 million | 4.66 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.77 million | 4.84 million | 6.87 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.77 million | 7.17 million | 10.60 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.90 million | 11.11 million | 16.82 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.62 million | 17.63 million | 25.90 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.08 million | 27.01 million | 39.85 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.10 million | 41.52 million | 50.90 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More population data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.658 (2100)
- Population density 189.99 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 33.44 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.658 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.8224 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Urban and rural population in Democratic Republic of Congo was 50.90 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 50.90 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.31 million in 1950.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for urban and rural population?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 18th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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