Population density in Congo
Congo: Population density was 18.11 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
18.11 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
190th
of 215 countries
All-time high
18.11 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
All-time low
3.18 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
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 27.3% over ten 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, 3.18 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
That places Congo 190th out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density 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% |
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
- 187 Uruguay 19.36 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 188 Finland 18.37 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 189 South Sudan 18.17 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 191 Belize 18.02 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 192 Paraguay 17.28 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 193 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 3.18 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Congo rank for population density?
- Congo ranks 190th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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.