Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 19.22 million people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 19.22 million people for number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 64.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 19.22 million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1950.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 18th of 182 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0 people | — |
| 1955 | 0 people | — |
| 1960 | 0 people | — |
| 1965 | 0 people | — |
| 1970 | 0 people | — |
| 1975 | 1.04 million people | — |
| 1980 | 2.58 million people | +149.5% |
| 1985 | 3.45 million people | +33.5% |
| 1990 | 4.45 million people | +29.1% |
| 1995 | 5.97 million people | +34.1% |
| 2000 | 8.25 million people | +38.1% |
| 2005 | 10.16 million people | +23.1% |
| 2010 | 11.71 million people | +15.3% |
| 2015 | 14.32 million people | +22.4% |
| 2020 | 19.22 million people | +34.2% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 19.22 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.87 million people, 6.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 19.22 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.88 million people, 10.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 517,810 people | 0 people | 1.04 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 3.02 million people | 2.58 million people | 3.45 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 5.21 million people | 4.45 million people | 5.97 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.20 million people | 8.25 million people | 10.16 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.02 million people | 11.71 million people | 14.32 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.22 million people | 19.22 million people | 19.22 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 3,057 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 235.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 1,764 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 601.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 140.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 313.43 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Democratic Republic of Congo was 19.22 million people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 19.22 million people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1950.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 18th out of 182 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.