Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Congo
Congo: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 4.16 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.16 million people
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
113th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.16 million people
in 2025
All-time low
262,903 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in 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
Congo recorded 4.16 million people for number of people living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 29.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Congo peaked at 4.16 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 262,903 people, in 1950.
That places Congo 113th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 262,903 people | — |
| 1951 | 274,195 people | +4.3% |
| 1952 | 285,788 people | +4.2% |
| 1953 | 297,673 people | +4.2% |
| 1954 | 309,829 people | +4.1% |
| 1955 | 322,253 people | +4.0% |
| 1956 | 334,949 people | +3.9% |
| 1957 | 347,876 people | +3.9% |
| 1958 | 361,016 people | +3.8% |
| 1959 | 374,340 people | +3.7% |
| 1960 | 388,025 people | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 401,224 people | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 412,084 people | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 423,851 people | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 436,601 people | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 450,363 people | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 465,184 people | +3.3% |
| 1967 | 481,046 people | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 498,028 people | +3.5% |
| 1969 | 516,209 people | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 535,590 people | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 556,247 people | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 578,228 people | +4.0% |
| 1973 | 601,455 people | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 626,608 people | +4.2% |
| 1975 | 654,779 people | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 687,119 people | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 724,332 people | +5.4% |
| 1978 | 765,514 people | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 809,521 people | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 855,256 people | +5.6% |
| 1981 | 901,604 people | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 947,002 people | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 989,622 people | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 1.03 million people | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 1.08 million people | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 1.12 million people | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 1.16 million people | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 1.21 million people | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 1.25 million people | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 1.30 million people | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 1.35 million people | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 1.39 million people | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 1.44 million people | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 1.50 million people | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 1.55 million people | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 1.61 million people | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 1.65 million people | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 1.71 million people | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 1.77 million people | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 1.86 million people | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 1.95 million people | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 2.01 million people | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 2.08 million people | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 2.17 million people | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 2.27 million people | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 2.36 million people | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 2.46 million people | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 2.55 million people | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 2.66 million people | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 2.78 million people | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 2.88 million people | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 2.97 million people | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 3.05 million people | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 3.14 million people | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 3.22 million people | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 3.30 million people | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 3.39 million people | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 3.48 million people | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 3.57 million people | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 3.66 million people | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 3.75 million people | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 3.84 million people | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 3.94 million people | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 4.05 million people | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 4.16 million people | +2.8% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 4.16 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Congo's 4.16 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 317,082 people | 262,903 people | 374,340 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 447,262 people | 388,025 people | 516,209 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 653,939 people | 535,590 people | 809,521 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.06 million people | 855,256 people | 1.25 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.53 million people | 1.30 million people | 1.77 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.24 million people | 1.86 million people | 2.66 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.18 million people | 2.78 million people | 3.57 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.90 million people | 3.66 million people | 4.16 million people | 6 |
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Congo?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Congo was 4.16 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 4.16 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 262,903 people in 1950.
- How does Congo rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Congo ranks 113th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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.