Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Do more people live in urban or rural areas? was 45.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 45.1%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 45.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 176th of 238 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1890s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1900s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 1910s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 8.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 1 |
| 1930s | 10.7% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 1 |
| 1940s | 14.3% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 1 |
| 1950s | 21.3% | 18.8% | 22.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 23.0% | 22.3% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 25.2% | 24.0% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.3% | 26.8% | 29.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 32.3% | 30.3% | 34.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.1% | 34.9% | 39.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.1% | 39.4% | 42.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.2% | 43.3% | 45.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 173 Sierra Leone 45.9% compare
- 174 Zambia 45.9% compare
- 175 Seychelles 45.5% compare
- 177 Lesotho 44.7% compare
- 178 Central African Republic 44.6% compare
- 179 Togo 44.4% compare
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2047 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8778 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.05 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.17 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.6722 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 133.85 2010 = 100 (2016)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Democratic Republic of Congo was 45.1% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 45.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for do more people live in urban or rural areas??
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 176th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is do more people live in urban or rural areas? rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Do more people live in urban or rural areas?. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modelled historical data.