Number of people living in urban slum households in Democratic Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo: Number of people living in urban slum households was 35.31 million in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
35.31 million
Change on year
up 8.5%
World rank
3rd
of 174 countries
All-time high
35.31 million
in 2022
All-time low
13.89 million
in 2002
Years of data
11
2002–2022

Number of people living in urban slum households in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2002–2022

010.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M2002201220222002: 13.9M2004: 15.2M2006: 16.6M2008: 18.2M2010: 20.0M2012: 22.1M2014: 24.4M2016: 27.0M2018: 29.8M2020: 32.5M2022: 35.3M

Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2022, number of people living in urban slum households in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 35.31 million. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

The figure is up 8.5% on the previous year and up 59.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of people living in urban slum households in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 35.31 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 13.89 million, in 2002.

That places Democratic Republic of Congo 3rd out of 174 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Number of people living in urban slum households in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year

Annual values for Number of people living in urban slum households in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2002 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2002 13.89 million —
2004 15.17 million +9.2%
2006 16.58 million +9.4%
2008 18.22 million +9.8%
2010 20.04 million +10.0%
2012 22.11 million +10.3%
2014 24.42 million +10.4%
2016 26.97 million +10.4%
2018 29.81 million +10.5%
2020 32.53 million +9.1%
2022 35.31 million +8.5%

Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries

  • Democratic Republic of Congo's 35.31 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.27 million, 8.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
  • Democratic Republic of Congo's 35.31 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.60 million, 13.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.96 million 13.89 million 18.22 million 4
2010s 24.67 million 20.04 million 29.81 million 5
2020s 33.92 million 32.53 million 35.31 million 2

Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo

  1. 1 Nigeria 66.42 million compare
  2. 2 Pakistan 52.35 million compare
  3. 4 Indonesia 31.12 million compare
  4. 5 Iran 30.54 million compare
  5. 6 Bangladesh 27.63 million compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo

All data for Democratic Republic of Congo →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of people living in urban slum households in Democratic Republic of Congo?
Number of people living in urban slum households in Democratic Republic of Congo was 35.31 million in 2022, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest number of people living in urban slum households recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
The highest recorded value was 35.31 million in 2022.
What is the lowest number of people living in urban slum households recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
The lowest recorded value was 13.89 million in 2002.
How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for number of people living in urban slum households?
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 3rd out of 174 countries with data for 2022.
Is number of people living in urban slum households rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
Over the last ten years it is up 59.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban slum households. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of people living in urban slum households in Democratic Republic of Congo. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/urban-pop-in-out-of-slums/congo-dem-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of people living in urban slum households
Source
United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
174 places, 1,988 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed

A slum household is defined as a group of individuals living under the same roof lacking one or more of the following conditions: access to improved water and sanitation, sufficient living area, housing durability, and security of tenure.