Population, per square kilometre in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Population, per square kilometre was 46.66 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
46.66 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
129th
of 186 countries
All-time high
46.66 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
6.91 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population, per square kilometre in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, population, per square kilometre in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 46.66 units per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 39.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population, per square kilometre in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 46.66 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.91 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 129th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, 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, per square kilometre in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.91 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 7.09 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 7.28 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 7.48 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 7.69 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 7.91 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 8.14 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 8.39 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 8.63 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 8.88 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 9.13 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 9.37 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 9.63 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 9.89 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 10.15 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 10.42 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 10.69 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 11.02 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 11.42 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 11.78 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 12.13 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 12.5 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 12.9 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 13.34 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 13.79 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 14.23 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 14.69 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 15.17 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 15.65 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 16.18 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 16.73 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 17.3 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 17.93 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 18.8 units per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 19.6 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 19.98 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 20.3 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 20.86 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 21.58 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 22.28 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 23 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 23.71 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 24.41 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 25.14 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 25.93 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 26.74 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 27.56 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 28.4 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 29.29 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 30.24 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 31.25 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 32.31 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 33.43 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 34.58 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 35.74 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 37.03 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 38.41 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 39.72 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 41 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 42.34 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 43.73 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 45.17 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 46.66 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 46.66 units per square kilometre is below the median for low income countries, which is 60.29 units per square kilometre, 77% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 46.66 units per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 68.7 units per square kilometre, 68% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.72 units per square kilometre | 6.91 units per square kilometre | 8.63 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.06 units per square kilometre | 8.88 units per square kilometre | 11.42 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.62 units per square kilometre | 11.78 units per square kilometre | 15.65 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.93 units per square kilometre | 16.18 units per square kilometre | 21.58 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.65 units per square kilometre | 22.28 units per square kilometre | 29.29 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.37 units per square kilometre | 30.24 units per square kilometre | 41 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.48 units per square kilometre | 42.34 units per square kilometre | 46.66 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 126 Fiji 50.58 units per square kilometre compare
- 127 Djibouti 49.74 units per square kilometre compare
- 128 Colombia 47.16 units per square kilometre compare
- 130 Montenegro 46.36 units per square kilometre compare
- 131 Lithuania 45.87 units per square kilometre compare
- 132 Belarus 45.22 units per square kilometre compare
More gender data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 59,241 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 2.48 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 72,291 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 72,291 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.47 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 2.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 2.08 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2.11 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 2.02 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population, per square kilometre in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Population, per square kilometre in Democratic Republic of Congo was 46.66 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population, per square kilometre recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 46.66 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest population, per square kilometre recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.91 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for population, per square kilometre?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 129th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population, per square kilometre rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Population ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population International Monetary Fund
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.