
DR Congo
- Capital:
- Kinshasa
- Continent:
- Africa
- Region(s):
- Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Largest Cities:
- Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Mbuji-Mayi
- Abbreviation:
- COD
DR Congo's population structure shows a nearly equal male to female ratio of 0.98 to 1, with a median male age of 16.56 years old and a median female age of 17.01 years old. The highest concentration of adults under 75 years old is in the 18 and 19 year-old age groups, while the lowest concentration is in the 74 and 73 year-old age groups.
Data after 2022 is projected based on recent change
* As of 2/12/2025
1 birth
Every 6.9 seconds
1 death
Every 33.6 seconds
1 emigrant
Every 19.2 minutes
1 person
Every 8.8 seconds
City | 2025 Pop. |
---|---|
Kinshasa | 7,785,965 |
Lubumbashi | 1,373,770 |
Mbuji-Mayi | 874,761 |
Kisangani | 539,158 |
Masina | 485,167 |
Kananga | 463,546 |
Likasi | 422,414 |
Kolwezi | 418,000 |
Tshikapa | 267,462 |
Beni | 232,000 |
80% of the people in DR Congo are Bantu, but there are more than 250 ethnic groups in the country. Other groups include the Central Sudanic/Ubangian, Milotic and Pygmy peoples.
The official language of the nation is French, but Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, and Tshiluba are also common. Both French and English are taught in secondary and high schools.
The median age of DR Congo is 18.8 years with nearly half of the population under 15 years old.
80-95% of the population is Christian, making the Congo the most Christian nation in Africa. Indigenous beliefs account for 2-10% of the population, followed by Islam at 1.5-10%.
The Second Congo War that started in 1998 (also called the African world war) was the deadliest conflict on earth since the Chinese Civil War. 90% of soldiers died from malaria and disease and displaced a huge percentage of the population. 47% of the deaths were children under 5, and DR Congo is still trying to recover. DR Congo’s population grew from only 39 million in 1992 to 66 million in 2009, despite its ongoing war.