Urban area over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Urban area over the long-term was 5,799 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
5,799 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
27th
of 202 countries
All-time high
5,799 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 5,799 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 56.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 5,799 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 27th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | +250.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1300 | 0.002 km² per grid cell | +237.5% |
| 1400 | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | +250.0% |
| 1500 | 0.0242 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1600 | 0.0773 km² per grid cell | +218.7% |
| 1700 | 0.2455 km² per grid cell | +217.6% |
| 1710 | 0.478 km² per grid cell | +94.7% |
| 1720 | 0.6475 km² per grid cell | +35.4% |
| 1730 | 0.8767 km² per grid cell | +35.4% |
| 1740 | 1.19 km² per grid cell | +35.4% |
| 1750 | 1.61 km² per grid cell | +35.3% |
| 1760 | 2.17 km² per grid cell | +35.3% |
| 1770 | 2.94 km² per grid cell | +35.3% |
| 1780 | 3.98 km² per grid cell | +35.3% |
| 1790 | 5.38 km² per grid cell | +35.2% |
| 1800 | 7.27 km² per grid cell | +35.2% |
| 1810 | 9.83 km² per grid cell | +35.2% |
| 1820 | 13.29 km² per grid cell | +35.2% |
| 1830 | 17.96 km² per grid cell | +35.1% |
| 1840 | 24.26 km² per grid cell | +35.1% |
| 1850 | 32.78 km² per grid cell | +35.1% |
| 1860 | 43.95 km² per grid cell | +34.1% |
| 1870 | 62.43 km² per grid cell | +42.1% |
| 1880 | 89.81 km² per grid cell | +43.8% |
| 1890 | 125.1 km² per grid cell | +39.3% |
| 1900 | 157.09 km² per grid cell | +25.6% |
| 1910 | 183.38 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1920 | 209.64 km² per grid cell | +14.3% |
| 1930 | 261.52 km² per grid cell | +24.8% |
| 1940 | 295.5 km² per grid cell | +13.0% |
| 1950 | 344.96 km² per grid cell | +16.7% |
| 1951 | 348.78 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 352.9 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 357.5 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 362.8 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 368.88 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1956 | 375.8 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1957 | 383.56 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1958 | 392.14 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 401.49 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1960 | 411.57 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 429.6 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1962 | 448.93 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1963 | 469.83 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1964 | 492.71 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1965 | 517.84 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 545.56 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1967 | 575.97 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1968 | 609.14 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1969 | 644.91 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1970 | 683.36 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1971 | 696.24 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 709.66 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 724.02 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 739.95 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 757.75 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 775.2 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 794.72 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 815.65 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 837.14 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 858.64 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 878.07 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 898.05 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 919.33 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 942.9 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 968.75 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 988.44 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 1,012 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 1,041 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 1,078 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 1,124 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 1,165 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 1,216 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 1,272 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 1,327 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 1,377 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 1,432 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 1,482 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 1,531 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 1,587 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 1,654 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 1,733 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 1,818 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 1,910 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 2,009 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 2,113 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 2,223 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 2,339 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 2,462 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 2,592 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 2,728 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 2,895 km² per grid cell | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 3,068 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 3,331 km² per grid cell | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 3,515 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 3,704 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 3,899 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 4,099 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 4,305 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 4,516 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 4,733 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 4,937 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 5,146 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 5,359 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 5,577 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 5,799 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 5,799 km² per grid cell is above the median for low income countries, which is 889.43 km² per grid cell, 6.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 5,799 km² per grid cell is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 7.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +250.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +250.0% | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 0.0071 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +242.9% | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +242.9% | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | 0.0242 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +237.5% | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.002 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +218.7% | 0.0242 km² per grid cell | 0.0773 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 0.0002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 0.0006 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 0.002 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | 0.0071 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0242 km² per grid cell | 0.0242 km² per grid cell | 0.0242 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.0773 km² per grid cell | 0.0773 km² per grid cell | 0.0773 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.2455 km² per grid cell | 0.2455 km² per grid cell | 0.2455 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.478 km² per grid cell | 0.478 km² per grid cell | 0.478 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.6475 km² per grid cell | 0.6475 km² per grid cell | 0.6475 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.8767 km² per grid cell | 0.8767 km² per grid cell | 0.8767 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 1.19 km² per grid cell | 1.19 km² per grid cell | 1.19 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 1.61 km² per grid cell | 1.61 km² per grid cell | 1.61 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.17 km² per grid cell | 2.17 km² per grid cell | 2.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 2.94 km² per grid cell | 2.94 km² per grid cell | 2.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.98 km² per grid cell | 3.98 km² per grid cell | 3.98 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.38 km² per grid cell | 5.38 km² per grid cell | 5.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 7.27 km² per grid cell | 7.27 km² per grid cell | 7.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 9.83 km² per grid cell | 9.83 km² per grid cell | 9.83 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 13.29 km² per grid cell | 13.29 km² per grid cell | 13.29 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 17.96 km² per grid cell | 17.96 km² per grid cell | 17.96 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 24.26 km² per grid cell | 24.26 km² per grid cell | 24.26 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 32.78 km² per grid cell | 32.78 km² per grid cell | 32.78 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 43.95 km² per grid cell | 43.95 km² per grid cell | 43.95 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 62.43 km² per grid cell | 62.43 km² per grid cell | 62.43 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 89.81 km² per grid cell | 89.81 km² per grid cell | 89.81 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 125.1 km² per grid cell | 125.1 km² per grid cell | 125.1 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 157.09 km² per grid cell | 157.09 km² per grid cell | 157.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 183.38 km² per grid cell | 183.38 km² per grid cell | 183.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 209.64 km² per grid cell | 209.64 km² per grid cell | 209.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 261.52 km² per grid cell | 261.52 km² per grid cell | 261.52 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 295.5 km² per grid cell | 295.5 km² per grid cell | 295.5 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 368.88 km² per grid cell | 344.96 km² per grid cell | 401.49 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 514.61 km² per grid cell | 411.57 km² per grid cell | 644.91 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 753.37 km² per grid cell | 683.36 km² per grid cell | 837.14 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 958.45 km² per grid cell | 858.64 km² per grid cell | 1,078 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,351 km² per grid cell | 1,124 km² per grid cell | 1,587 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,085 km² per grid cell | 1,654 km² per grid cell | 2,592 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,606 km² per grid cell | 2,728 km² per grid cell | 4,516 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,258 km² per grid cell | 4,733 km² per grid cell | 5,799 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Urban area over the long-term in Democratic Republic of Congo was 5,799 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 5,799 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 27th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.