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Population density: Burundi vs DR Congo compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 133.1 people in the DR Congo. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 230,973 sq ft in the DR Congo. Burundi and the DR Congo rank 15th and 138th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Burundi has 0.17% 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 Burundi 1,017% higher than in the DR Congo.

Population density by year

Burundi
DR Congo

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi DR Congo
2026 1,487 133.1
2025 1,452 128.9
2024 1,417 124.8
2023 1,381 120.9
2022 1,344 117
2021 1,308 113.3
2020 1,273 109.7
2019 1,236 106.2
2018 1,196 102.9
2017 1,161 99.5
2016 1,134 95.9
2015 1,114 92.6
2014 1,089 89.6
2013 1,053 86.6
2012 1,016 83.7
2011 980 80.9
2010 946 78.3
2009 902 75.9
2008 858 73.6
2007 823 71.4
2006 793 69.3
2005 765 67.1
2004 737 65.1
2003 710 63.2
2002 688 61.4
2001 669 59.6
2000 653 57.7
1999 639 55.9
1998 624 54
1997 612 52.6
1996 612 51.7
1995 612 50.8
1994 576 48.7
1993 573 46.4
1992 591 44.8
1991 575 43.3
1990 563 41.9
1989 552 40.5
1988 541 39.3
1987 529 38
1986 517 36.9
1985 508 35.7
1984 497 34.6
1983 485 33.4
1982 472 32.4
1981 461 31.4
1980 442 30.5
1979 424 29.6
1978 414 28.6
1977 402 27.7
1976 392 27
1975 383 26.3
1974 374 25.6
1973 364 24.9
1972 365 24.3
1971 365 23.6
1970 356 23
1969 348 22.4
1968 341 21.7
1967 333 21.1
1966 325 20.5
1965 317 19.9
1964 308 19.4
1963 299.5 18.9
1962 293.3 18.4
1961 285.9 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/burundi/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 92.2% growth in the DR Congo.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. The DR Congo was 150th in 2006 and ranks 138th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
DR Congo
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi DR Congo
2024 24.8% 44.7%
2023 23.6% 44.4%
2022 22.3% 44%
2021 21.1% 43.6%
2020 19.9% 43.3%
2019 18.8% 42.9%
2018 17.7% 42.5%
2017 16.6% 42.1%
2016 15.6% 41.7%
2015 14.7% 41.3%
2014 13.8% 41%
2013 13% 40.6%
2012 12.2% 40.2%
2011 11.6% 39.8%
2010 11% 39.4%
2009 10.5% 39%
2008 10.1% 38.6%
2007 9.77% 38.2%
2006 9.46% 37.8%
2005 9.18% 37.4%
2004 8.92% 37%
2003 8.68% 36.5%
2002 8.45% 35.9%
2001 8.24% 35.4%
2000 8.04% 34.9%
1999 7.86% 34.4%
1998 7.68% 33.9%
1997 7.51% 33.4%
1996 7.34% 32.9%
1995 7.17% 32.5%
1994 7% 32%
1993 6.83% 31.5%
1992 6.65% 31.1%
1991 6.46% 30.7%
1990 6.27% 30.3%
1989 6.07% 29.9%
1988 5.86% 29.5%
1987 5.66% 29.1%
1986 5.46% 28.8%
1985 5.26% 28.4%
1984 5.07% 28.1%
1983 4.88% 27.8%
1982 4.69% 27.5%
1981 4.51% 27.2%
1980 4.34% 26.8%
1979 4.18% 26.5%
1978 4.02% 26.2%
1977 3.87% 25.9%
1976 3.72% 25.6%
1975 3.57% 25.4%
1974 3.42% 25.1%
1973 3.28% 24.8%
1972 3.14% 24.5%
1971 3.01% 24.3%
1970 2.88% 24%
1969 2.75% 23.8%
1968 2.63% 23.6%
1967 2.51% 23.4%
1966 2.4% 23.2%
1965 2.3% 23%
1964 2.2% 22.8%
1963 2.11% 22.7%
1962 2.01% 22.5%
1961 1.92% 22.4%
1960 1.84% 22.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 37% to 44.7% in the DR Congo.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
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/burundi/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2012–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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