Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 27.36 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
27.36 million
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
14th
of 121 countries
All-time high
27.36 million
in 2025
All-time low
980,173
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 27.36 million. 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 53.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 27.36 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 980,173, in 1960.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 14th of 121 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 980,173 | — |
| 1961 | 1.06 million | +7.9% |
| 1962 | 1.14 million | +7.9% |
| 1963 | 1.23 million | +8.0% |
| 1964 | 1.33 million | +8.0% |
| 1965 | 1.44 million | +8.0% |
| 1966 | 1.55 million | +8.1% |
| 1967 | 1.68 million | +8.1% |
| 1968 | 1.80 million | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 1.91 million | +6.4% |
| 1970 | 2.04 million | +6.4% |
| 1971 | 2.15 million | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 2.26 million | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 2.38 million | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 2.51 million | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 2.65 million | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 2.80 million | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 2.95 million | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 3.12 million | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 3.29 million | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 3.48 million | +5.6% |
| 1981 | 3.67 million | +5.6% |
| 1982 | 3.88 million | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 4.10 million | +5.7% |
| 1984 | 4.33 million | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 4.55 million | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 4.78 million | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 5.03 million | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 5.28 million | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 5.55 million | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 5.83 million | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 6.13 million | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 6.45 million | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 6.77 million | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 7.12 million | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 7.48 million | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 7.87 million | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 8.27 million | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 8.66 million | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 9.04 million | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 9.43 million | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 9.84 million | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 10.26 million | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 10.71 million | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 11.17 million | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 11.66 million | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 12.16 million | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 12.69 million | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 13.24 million | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 13.82 million | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 14.42 million | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 15.04 million | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 15.70 million | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 16.38 million | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 17.09 million | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 17.83 million | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 18.61 million | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 19.42 million | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 20.26 million | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 21.14 million | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 22.07 million | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 23.03 million | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 24.05 million | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 25.11 million | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 26.21 million | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 27.36 million | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.41 million | 980,173 | 1.91 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.62 million | 2.04 million | 3.29 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.46 million | 3.48 million | 5.55 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.36 million | 5.83 million | 9.04 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.50 million | 9.43 million | 13.82 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.59 million | 14.42 million | 21.14 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.64 million | 22.07 million | 27.36 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 11 Turkey 33.66 million compare
- 12 Bangladesh 30.31 million compare
- 13 Egypt 28.88 million compare
- 15 South Korea 26.41 million compare
- 16 Colombia 23.80 million compare
- 17 South Africa 23.36 million compare
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, 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Democratic Republic of Congo was 27.36 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 27.36 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 980,173 in 1960.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 14th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.