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Population density: Congo vs Sri Lanka compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Congo has a population density of 50.4 people per square mile compared to 928 people in Sri Lanka. The Congo has 581,285 sq ft of land per person vs 32,224 sq ft in Sri Lanka. The Congo and Sri Lanka rank 172nd and 25th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The Congo has 0.08% of the world's population and 0.23% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.27% of the population and 0.04% of the land area for Sri Lanka, making the population density in the Congo 94.6% lower than in Sri Lanka.

Population density by year

Congo
Sri Lanka

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Congo Sri Lanka
2026 50.4 928
2025 49.2 923
2024 48 918
2023 46.9 923
2022 45.8 929
2021 44.7 928
2020 43.6 918
2019 42.6 913
2018 41.6 907
2017 40.6 898
2016 39.6 888
2015 38.7 878
2014 37.7 858
2013 36.8 850
2012 36 874
2011 35 868
2010 33.8 862
2009 32.5 857
2008 31.2 852
2007 30.2 846
2006 29.1 841
2005 28 835
2004 27 830
2003 26.1 824
2002 25.4 818
2001 24.8 810
2000 23.9 797
1999 23 782
1998 22.4 768
1997 21.9 754
1996 21.4 739
1995 20.9 725
1994 20.3 714
1993 19.7 703
1992 19.1 691
1991 18.6 680
1990 18.1 675
1989 17.5 671
1988 17 664
1987 16.6 657
1986 16.1 650
1985 15.6 642
1984 15.2 638
1983 14.8 636
1982 14.5 631
1981 14.2 624
1980 13.9 613
1979 13.6 602
1978 13.3 591
1977 13 580
1976 12.6 570
1975 12.3 560
1974 12 550
1973 11.6 539
1972 11.3 529
1971 10.9 518
1970 10.6 507
1969 10.3 496
1968 9.98 485
1967 9.7 473
1966 9.42 462
1965 9.16 451
1964 8.91 440
1963 8.67 429
1962 8.44 419
1961 8.22 409

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/congo/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Congo increased by 73%, compared to a 10.4% growth in Sri Lanka.

In 2006, the Congo ranked 175th by population density and is 172nd now. Sri Lanka was 25th in 2006 and still ranks 25th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Congo
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Urban population
Congo Sri Lanka
2024 63.9% 20.3%
2023 63.7% 20.1%
2022 63.6% 20%
2021 63.6% 19.8%
2020 63.6% 19.7%
2019 63.5% 19.5%
2018 63.4% 19.3%
2017 63.4% 19.2%
2016 63.3% 19%
2015 63.1% 18.8%
2014 63% 18.6%
2013 62.9% 18.4%
2012 62.7% 18.3%
2011 62.6% 17.8%
2010 62.4% 17.2%
2009 62.2% 16.7%
2008 62% 16.3%
2007 61.9% 15.9%
2006 61.6% 15.5%
2005 61.3% 15.2%
2004 60.9% 14.9%
2003 60.5% 14.7%
2002 60% 14.6%
2001 59.4% 14.6%
2000 58.9% 14.6%
1999 58.3% 14.7%
1998 57.8% 14.9%
1997 57.3% 15.2%
1996 56.8% 15.5%
1995 56.4% 15.9%
1994 56% 16.3%
1993 55.6% 16.7%
1992 55.3% 17.1%
1991 54.9% 17.6%
1990 54.6% 18.1%
1989 54.2% 18.6%
1988 53.8% 19%
1987 53.4% 19.5%
1986 52.9% 19.9%
1985 52.3% 20.3%
1984 51.6% 20.7%
1983 50.7% 21%
1982 49.6% 21.3%
1981 48.2% 21.5%
1980 46.8% 21.6%
1979 45.3% 21.8%
1978 43.8% 21.9%
1977 42.4% 22%
1976 41.2% 22.1%
1975 40.2% 22.2%
1974 39.6% 22.3%
1973 39.2% 22.4%
1972 38.9% 22.4%
1971 38.6% 22.4%
1970 38.3% 22.3%
1969 38.1% 22%
1968 37.8% 21.5%
1967 37.6% 21%
1966 37.4% 20.4%
1965 37.3% 19.8%
1964 37.2% 19.3%
1963 37.1% 18.9%
1962 37% 18.5%
1961 37% 18%
1960 36.7% 17.6%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/congo/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.9% to 63.9% in the Congo and from 14.9% to 20.3% in Sri Lanka.

Densely populated cities

Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 71.6K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/congo/sri-lanka | 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 (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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