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Population density: Belgium vs DR Congo compared

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has a population density of 1,011 people per square mile compared to 133.1 people in the DR Congo. Belgium has 27,855 sq ft of land per person vs 230,973 sq ft in the DR Congo. Belgium and the DR Congo rank 24th and 138th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Belgium has 0.15% of the world's population and 0.02% of all countries' land area, compared to 1.34% of the population and 1.52% of the land area for the DR Congo, making the population density in Belgium 659% higher than in the DR Congo.

Population density by year

Belgium
DR Congo

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Belgium DR Congo
2026 1,011 133.1
2025 1,009 128.9
2024 1,007 124.8
2023 1,001 120.9
2022 992 117
2021 984 113.3
2020 980 109.7
2019 976 106.2
2018 971 102.9
2017 971 99.5
2016 968 95.9
2015 963 92.6
2014 957 89.6
2013 953 86.6
2012 948 83.7
2011 943 80.9
2010 930 78.3
2009 922 75.9
2008 914 73.6
2007 907 71.4
2006 901 69.3
2005 895 67.1
2004 890 65.1
2003 886 63.2
2002 882 61.4
2001 878 59.6
2000 875 57.7
1999 - 55.9
1998 - 54
1997 - 52.6
1996 - 51.7
1995 - 50.8
1994 - 48.7
1993 - 46.4
1992 - 44.8
1991 - 43.3
1990 - 41.9
1989 - 40.5
1988 - 39.3
1987 - 38
1986 - 36.9
1985 - 35.7
1984 - 34.6
1983 - 33.4
1982 - 32.4
1981 - 31.4
1980 - 30.5
1979 - 29.6
1978 - 28.6
1977 - 27.7
1976 - 27
1975 - 26.3
1974 - 25.6
1973 - 24.9
1972 - 24.3
1971 - 23.6
1970 - 23
1969 - 22.4
1968 - 21.7
1967 - 21.1
1966 - 20.5
1965 - 19.9
1964 - 19.4
1963 - 18.9
1962 - 18.4
1961 - 17.9

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Belgium increased by 12.2%, compared to a 92.2% growth in the DR Congo.

In 2006, Belgium ranked 20th by population density and is 24th now. The DR Congo was 150th in 2006 and ranks 138th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Belgium
DR Congo
1x
Year Urban population
Belgium DR Congo
2024 87.6% 44.7%
2023 87.6% 44.4%
2022 87.5% 44%
2021 87.4% 43.6%
2020 87.3% 43.3%
2019 87.1% 42.9%
2018 86.9% 42.5%
2017 86.7% 42.1%
2016 86.5% 41.7%
2015 86.2% 41.3%
2014 86% 41%
2013 85.7% 40.6%
2012 85.5% 40.2%
2011 85.2% 39.8%
2010 85% 39.4%
2009 84.7% 39%
2008 84.4% 38.6%
2007 84.1% 38.2%
2006 83.9% 37.8%
2005 83.6% 37.4%
2004 83.3% 37%
2003 83% 36.5%
2002 82.7% 35.9%
2001 82.3% 35.4%
2000 82% 34.9%
1999 81.7% 34.4%
1998 81.4% 33.9%
1997 81% 33.4%
1996 80.7% 32.9%
1995 80.3% 32.5%
1994 80% 32%
1993 79.6% 31.5%
1992 79.3% 31.1%
1991 78.9% 30.7%
1990 78.6% 30.3%
1989 78.2% 29.9%
1988 77.8% 29.5%
1987 77.4% 29.1%
1986 77.1% 28.8%
1985 76.7% 28.4%
1984 76.3% 28.1%
1983 75.9% 27.8%
1982 75.5% 27.5%
1981 75.1% 27.2%
1980 74.7% 26.8%
1979 74.3% 26.5%
1978 73.9% 26.2%
1977 73.5% 25.9%
1976 73.1% 25.6%
1975 72.7% 25.4%
1974 72.3% 25.1%
1973 71.9% 24.8%
1972 71.5% 24.5%
1971 71.1% 24.3%
1970 70.6% 24%
1969 70.2% 23.8%
1968 69.6% 23.6%
1967 69.1% 23.4%
1966 68.6% 23.2%
1965 68% 23%
1964 67.5% 22.8%
1963 67% 22.7%
1962 66.6% 22.5%
1961 66.2% 22.4%
1960 65.9% 22.3%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 83.3% to 87.6% in Belgium and from 37% to 44.7% in the DR Congo.

Densely populated cities

Belgium
City Population
Brussels 1.25M
Antwerp 529K
Ghent 273K
Charleroi 204K
Liege 195K
Schaerbeek 133K
Anderlecht 121K
Bruges 119K
Namur 115K
Leuven 101K
DR Congo
City Population
Kinshasa 14.6M
Mbuji-Mayi 2.89M
Kananga 1.97M
Lubumbashi 1.79M
Kisangani 1.37M
Tshikapa 1.01M
Uvira 726K
Bukavu 707K
Kolwezi 480K
Mbandaka 470K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/belgium/dr-congo | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2012–2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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