Population in largest city in Congo
Congo: Population in largest city was 2.81 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.81 million
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
70th
of 153 countries
All-time high
2.81 million
in 2025
All-time low
123,643
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Congo, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Congo recorded 2.81 million for population in largest city in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 43.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Congo peaked at 2.81 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 123,643, in 1960.
That places Congo 70th out of 153 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.
Population in largest city in Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 123,643 | — |
| 1961 | 131,867 | +6.7% |
| 1962 | 140,751 | +6.7% |
| 1963 | 150,341 | +6.8% |
| 1964 | 160,599 | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 171,525 | +6.8% |
| 1966 | 183,212 | +6.8% |
| 1967 | 195,695 | +6.8% |
| 1968 | 209,047 | +6.8% |
| 1969 | 223,270 | +6.8% |
| 1970 | 238,483 | +6.8% |
| 1971 | 254,732 | +6.8% |
| 1972 | 272,112 | +6.8% |
| 1973 | 290,626 | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 309,803 | +6.6% |
| 1975 | 329,225 | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 349,895 | +6.3% |
| 1977 | 371,800 | +6.3% |
| 1978 | 395,110 | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 419,881 | +6.3% |
| 1980 | 446,242 | +6.3% |
| 1981 | 474,179 | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 503,907 | +6.3% |
| 1983 | 535,499 | +6.3% |
| 1984 | 569,120 | +6.3% |
| 1985 | 596,061 | +4.7% |
| 1986 | 616,150 | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 636,916 | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 658,412 | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 680,572 | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 703,509 | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 727,220 | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 751,764 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 777,065 | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 803,255 | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 830,327 | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 858,950 | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 896,962 | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 936,712 | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 978,223 | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 1.02 million | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 1.07 million | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 1.11 million | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 1.16 million | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 1.22 million | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 1.27 million | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 1.33 million | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 1.38 million | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 1.45 million | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 1.51 million | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 1.58 million | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 1.65 million | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 1.72 million | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 1.80 million | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 1.87 million | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 1.96 million | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 2.04 million | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 2.14 million | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 2.23 million | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 2.31 million | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 2.39 million | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 2.47 million | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 2.55 million | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 2.64 million | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 2.72 million | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 2.81 million | +3.3% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 2.81 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 1.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Congo's 2.81 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 1.3× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 168,995 | 123,643 | 223,270 | 10 |
| 1970s | 323,167 | 238,483 | 419,881 | 10 |
| 1980s | 571,706 | 446,242 | 680,572 | 10 |
| 1990s | 826,399 | 703,509 | 978,223 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.25 million | 1.02 million | 1.51 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.93 million | 1.58 million | 2.31 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.60 million | 2.39 million | 2.81 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More urban development data for Congo
- Population in the largest city 67.7% (2025)
- Population density 18.11 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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)
- 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 in largest city in Congo?
- Population in largest city in Congo was 2.81 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 2.81 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 123,643 in 1960.
- How does Congo rank for population in largest city?
- Congo ranks 70th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.