Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Democratic Republic of the Congo

Urban population share in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025 — 45.1%. Ranked 161 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 22.8 pp.

2025 45.1% +0.4 pp vs 2024
World rank 161of 217
Period maximum 45.1%2025
Period minimum 22.3%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1960–20252030405019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 22.3%1962: 22.5%1964: 22.8%1966: 23.2%1968: 23.6%1970: 24%1972: 24.5%1974: 25.1%1976: 25.6%1978: 26.2%1980: 26.8%1982: 27.5%1984: 28.1%1986: 28.8%1988: 29.5%1990: 30.3%1992: 31.1%1994: 32%1996: 32.9%1998: 33.9%2000: 34.9%2002: 35.9%2004: 37%2006: 37.8%2008: 38.6%2010: 39.4%2012: 40.2%2014: 41%2016: 41.7%2018: 42.5%2020: 43.3%2022: 44%2024: 44.7%2025: 45.1%
Change over the period: +22.8 pp Annual average: 0.35 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo 45.1%
World 57.8%
Middle Africa computed 50.9%
Low-income countries computed 35.6%
Urban population share — Democratic Republic of the Congo, by year Democratic Republic of the Congo All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 45.1 +0.4 pp
2024 44.7 +0.4 pp
2023 44.4 +0.4 pp
2022 44 +0.4 pp
2021 43.6 +0.4 pp
2020 43.3 +0.4 pp
2019 42.9 +0.4 pp
2018 42.5 +0.4 pp
2017 42.1 +0.4 pp
2016 41.7 +0.4 pp
2015 41.3 +0.4 pp
2014 41 +0.4 pp
2013 40.6 +0.4 pp
2012 40.2 +0.4 pp
2011 39.8 +0.4 pp
2010 39.4 +0.4 pp
2009 39 +0.4 pp
2008 38.6 +0.4 pp
2007 38.2 +0.4 pp
2006 37.8 +0.4 pp
2005 37.4 +0.4 pp
2004 37 +0.5 pp
2003 36.5 +0.5 pp
2002 35.9 +0.5 pp
2001 35.4 +0.5 pp
2000 34.9 +0.5 pp
1999 34.4 +0.5 pp
1998 33.9 +0.5 pp
1997 33.4 +0.5 pp
1996 32.9 +0.5 pp
1995 32.5 +0.5 pp
1994 32 +0.4 pp
1993 31.5 +0.4 pp
1992 31.1 +0.4 pp
1991 30.7 +0.4 pp
1990 30.3 +0.4 pp
1989 29.9 +0.4 pp
1988 29.5 +0.4 pp
1987 29.1 +0.4 pp
1986 28.8 +0.3 pp
1985 28.4 +0.3 pp
1984 28.1 +0.3 pp
1983 27.8 +0.3 pp
1982 27.5 +0.3 pp
1981 27.2 +0.3 pp
1980 26.8 +0.3 pp
1979 26.5 +0.3 pp
1978 26.2 +0.3 pp
1977 25.9 +0.3 pp
1976 25.6 +0.3 pp
1975 25.4 +0.3 pp
1974 25.1 +0.3 pp
1973 24.8 +0.3 pp
1972 24.5 +0.3 pp
1971 24.3 +0.2 pp
1970 24 +0.2 pp
1969 23.8 +0.2 pp
1968 23.6 +0.2 pp
1967 23.4 +0.2 pp
1966 23.2 +0.2 pp
1965 23 +0.2 pp
1964 22.8 +0.2 pp
1963 22.7 +0.1 pp
1962 22.5 +0.1 pp
1961 22.4 +0.1 pp
1960 22.3

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.