Population in largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Population in largest city was 17.78 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
17.78 million
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
10th
of 153 countries
All-time high
17.78 million
in 2025
All-time low
442,853
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 17.78 million for population in largest city in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.4% on the previous year and up 53.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 17.78 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 442,853, in 1960.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 10th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 442,853 | — |
| 1961 | 487,604 | +10.1% |
| 1962 | 536,949 | +10.1% |
| 1963 | 591,287 | +10.1% |
| 1964 | 651,211 | +10.1% |
| 1965 | 717,018 | +10.1% |
| 1966 | 789,579 | +10.1% |
| 1967 | 869,484 | +10.1% |
| 1968 | 939,065 | +8.0% |
| 1969 | 1.00 million | +6.7% |
| 1970 | 1.07 million | +6.7% |
| 1971 | 1.14 million | +6.7% |
| 1972 | 1.22 million | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 1.30 million | +6.7% |
| 1974 | 1.39 million | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 1.48 million | +6.7% |
| 1976 | 1.58 million | +6.7% |
| 1977 | 1.69 million | +6.7% |
| 1978 | 1.80 million | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 1.92 million | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 2.05 million | +6.7% |
| 1981 | 2.19 million | +6.7% |
| 1982 | 2.34 million | +6.7% |
| 1983 | 2.50 million | +6.7% |
| 1984 | 2.66 million | +6.7% |
| 1985 | 2.81 million | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 2.97 million | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 3.13 million | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 3.31 million | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 3.49 million | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 3.68 million | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 3.89 million | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 4.10 million | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 4.33 million | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 4.57 million | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 4.82 million | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 5.09 million | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 5.37 million | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 5.64 million | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 5.89 million | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 6.14 million | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 6.41 million | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 6.68 million | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 6.97 million | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 7.27 million | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 7.59 million | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 7.92 million | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 8.26 million | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 8.62 million | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 8.99 million | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 9.38 million | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 9.79 million | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 10.21 million | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 10.65 million | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 11.12 million | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 11.60 million | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 12.10 million | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 12.62 million | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 13.17 million | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 13.74 million | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 14.34 million | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 14.97 million | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 15.63 million | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 16.32 million | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 17.03 million | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 17.78 million | +4.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 17.78 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.98 million, 9.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 17.78 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 8.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 702,727 | 442,853 | 1.00 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.46 million | 1.07 million | 1.92 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.75 million | 2.05 million | 3.49 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.74 million | 3.68 million | 5.89 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.49 million | 6.14 million | 8.99 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.44 million | 9.38 million | 13.74 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.01 million | 14.34 million | 17.78 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More urban development data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Population in the largest city 34.9% (2025)
- Population density 46.66 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Population in largest city in Democratic Republic of Congo was 17.78 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 17.78 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 442,853 in 1960.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for population in largest city?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 10th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.