Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 48.2 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
48.2 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
155th
of 216 countries
All-time high
48.2 people per sq. km of land area
in 2024
All-time low
6.91 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Population density in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1961–2024
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 48.2 people per sq. km of land area for population density in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 39.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 48.2 people per sq. km of land area in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.91 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 155th out of 216 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.91 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 7.09 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 7.28 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 7.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 7.69 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 7.91 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 8.14 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 8.39 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 8.63 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 8.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 9.13 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 9.37 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 9.63 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 9.89 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 10.15 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 10.42 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 10.69 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 11.02 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 11.42 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 11.78 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 12.13 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 12.5 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 12.9 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 13.34 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 13.79 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 14.23 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 14.69 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 15.17 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 15.65 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 16.18 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 16.73 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 17.3 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 17.93 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 18.8 people per sq. km of land area | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 19.6 people per sq. km of land area | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 19.98 people per sq. km of land area | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 20.3 people per sq. km of land area | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 20.86 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 21.58 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 22.28 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 23 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 23.71 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 24.41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 25.14 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 25.93 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 26.74 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 27.56 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 28.4 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 29.29 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 30.24 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 31.25 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 32.31 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 33.43 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 34.58 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 35.74 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 37.03 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 38.41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 39.72 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 42.34 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 43.73 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 45.17 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 46.66 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 48.2 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 48.2 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for low income countries, which is 65.39 people per sq. km of land area, 74% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 48.2 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.86 people per sq. km of land area, 69% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.72 people per sq. km of land area | 6.91 people per sq. km of land area | 8.63 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.06 people per sq. km of land area | 8.88 people per sq. km of land area | 11.42 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.62 people per sq. km of land area | 11.78 people per sq. km of land area | 15.65 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.93 people per sq. km of land area | 16.18 people per sq. km of land area | 21.58 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.65 people per sq. km of land area | 22.28 people per sq. km of land area | 29.29 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.37 people per sq. km of land area | 30.24 people per sq. km of land area | 41 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.22 people per sq. km of land area | 42.34 people per sq. km of land area | 48.2 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 152 Fiji 50.66 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 153 Djibouti 50.42 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 154 Turks and Caicos Islands 49.08 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 156 Colombia 47.67 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 157 Montenegro 46.36 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 158 Lithuania 46.15 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Population in the largest city 34.9% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 35.81 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2425 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 27.36 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 11.07 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 17.78 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Population density in Democratic Republic of Congo was 48.2 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 48.2 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.91 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for population density?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 155th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.