Skip to content

Population density: Congo vs Syria compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Congo has a population density of 50.4 people per square mile compared to 375 people in Syria. The Congo has 581,285 sq ft of land per person vs 80,788 sq ft in Syria. The Congo and Syria rank 172nd and 68th 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 0.3% of the population and 0.12% of the land area for Syria, making the population density in the Congo 86.6% lower than in Syria.

Population density by year

Congo
Syria

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Congo Syria
2026 50.4 375
2025 49.2 362
2024 48 348
2023 46.9 333
2022 45.8 317
2021 44.7 305
2020 43.6 296.9
2019 42.6 287.1
2018 41.6 276.1
2017 40.6 271.2
2016 39.6 270.7
2015 38.7 274
2014 37.7 285.9
2013 36.8 306
2012 36 321
2011 35 323
2010 33.8 317
2009 32.5 310
2008 31.2 305
2007 30.2 294.5
2006 29.1 277
2005 28 265.4
2004 27 258.7
2003 26.1 252.4
2002 25.4 246.2
2001 24.8 240.3
2000 23.9 234.5
1999 23 228.7
1998 22.4 223
1997 21.9 217.3
1996 21.4 211.6
1995 20.9 206
1994 20.3 200.2
1993 19.7 194.4
1992 19.1 188.6
1991 18.6 182.9
1990 18.1 177.3
1989 17.5 171.6
1988 17 166
1987 16.6 160.5
1986 16.1 155.1
1985 15.6 149.7
1984 15.2 144.6
1983 14.8 139.6
1982 14.5 134.9
1981 14.2 130.5
1980 13.9 126.2
1979 13.6 122.1
1978 13.3 118
1977 13 114
1976 12.6 110.2
1975 12.3 106.5
1974 12 102.9
1973 11.6 99.5
1972 11.3 96.2
1971 10.9 93
1970 10.6 89.9
1969 10.3 87
1968 9.98 84.3
1967 9.7 81.6
1966 9.42 79
1965 9.16 76.6
1964 8.91 74.3
1963 8.67 72
1962 8.44 69.9
1961 8.22 67.9

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/congo/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Congo increased by 73%, compared to a 35.5% growth in Syria.

In 2006, the Congo ranked 175th by population density and is 172nd now. Syria was 75th in 2006 and ranks 68th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Congo
Syria
1x
Year Urban population
Congo Syria
2024 63.9% 72.1%
2023 63.7% 72.2%
2022 63.6% 72.6%
2021 63.6% 73%
2020 63.6% 73.4%
2019 63.5% 73.8%
2018 63.4% 74.1%
2017 63.4% 74.5%
2016 63.3% 75.2%
2015 63.1% 75.8%
2014 63% 76%
2013 62.9% 73.1%
2012 62.7% 65.1%
2011 62.6% 58.5%
2010 62.4% 55.7%
2009 62.2% 55%
2008 62% 54.6%
2007 61.9% 54.3%
2006 61.6% 54.1%
2005 61.3% 53.8%
2004 60.9% 53.5%
2003 60.5% 53.1%
2002 60% 52.7%
2001 59.4% 52.3%
2000 58.9% 51.9%
1999 58.3% 51.5%
1998 57.8% 51.1%
1997 57.3% 50.7%
1996 56.8% 50.4%
1995 56.4% 50%
1994 56% 49.8%
1993 55.6% 49.5%
1992 55.3% 49.3%
1991 54.9% 49%
1990 54.6% 48.8%
1989 54.2% 48.6%
1988 53.8% 48.5%
1987 53.4% 48.3%
1986 52.9% 48.1%
1985 52.3% 47.9%
1984 51.6% 47.7%
1983 50.7% 47.5%
1982 49.6% 47.3%
1981 48.2% 47%
1980 46.8% 46.7%
1979 45.3% 46.4%
1978 43.8% 46.1%
1977 42.4% 45.8%
1976 41.2% 45.5%
1975 40.2% 45.2%
1974 39.6% 44.8%
1973 39.2% 44.5%
1972 38.9% 44.1%
1971 38.6% 43.8%
1970 38.3% 43.4%
1969 38.1% 43%
1968 37.8% 42.7%
1967 37.6% 42.4%
1966 37.4% 42%
1965 37.3% 41.7%
1964 37.2% 41.4%
1963 37.1% 41%
1962 37% 40.7%
1961 37% 40.4%
1960 36.7% 40%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/congo/syria | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.9% to 63.9% in the Congo and from 53.5% to 72.1% in Syria.

Densely populated cities

Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 71.6K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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 (2004–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.