Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Congo
Congo: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 18.11 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
18.11 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
191st
of 216 countries
All-time high
18.11 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
All-time low
16.45 people per sq. km of land area
in 2019
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population density in Congo, 1961–2023
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
In 2023, population density in Congo stood at 18.11 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 10.1% over five years.
Over the whole period, population density in Congo peaked at 18.11 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 16.45 people per sq. km of land area, in 2019.
That places Congo 191st out of 216 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Congo, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.18 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 3.26 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 3.35 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 3.44 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 3.54 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 3.64 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 3.74 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 3.86 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 3.97 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 4.09 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 4.22 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 4.35 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1973 | 4.49 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 4.63 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 4.76 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 4.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 5 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 5.12 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 5.24 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 5.36 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 5.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 5.59 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 5.71 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 5.86 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 6.03 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 6.21 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 6.39 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 6.58 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 6.77 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 6.97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 7.17 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 7.38 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 7.6 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 7.83 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 8.05 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 8.28 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 8.46 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 8.64 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 8.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 9.23 people per sq. km of land area | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 9.58 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 9.81 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 10.09 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 10.44 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 10.82 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 11.24 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 11.66 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 12.05 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 12.54 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 13.07 people per sq. km of land area | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 13.5 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 13.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 14.22 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 14.57 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 14.93 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 15.29 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 15.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 16.06 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 16.45 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 16.85 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 17.25 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 17.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 18.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 18.11 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 80.91 people per sq. km of land area, 22% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Congo's 18.11 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 68.7 people per sq. km of land area, 26% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.55 people per sq. km of land area | 3.18 people per sq. km of land area | 3.97 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.68 people per sq. km of land area | 4.09 people per sq. km of land area | 5.24 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 6 people per sq. km of land area | 5.36 people per sq. km of land area | 6.77 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.93 people per sq. km of land area | 6.97 people per sq. km of land area | 8.88 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.75 people per sq. km of land area | 9.23 people per sq. km of land area | 12.54 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.76 people per sq. km of land area | 13.07 people per sq. km of land area | 16.45 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.47 people per sq. km of land area | 16.85 people per sq. km of land area | 18.11 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 188 Uruguay 19.36 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 189 Finland 18.37 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 190 South Sudan 18.17 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 192 Belize 18.02 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 193 Paraguay 17.28 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 194 Argentina 16.64 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Congo
- Population in the largest city 67.7% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 36.54 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.6534 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 4.24 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.25 % 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 11.64 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 2.81 million (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 27.52 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Congo?
- Population density in Congo was 18.11 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 18.11 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.45 people per sq. km of land area in 2019.
- How does Congo rank for population density?
- Congo ranks 191st out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this 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.
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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.