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Population density: DR Congo vs El Salvador compared

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has a population density of 133.1 people per square mile compared to 799 people in El Salvador. The DR Congo has 230,973 sq ft of land per person vs 35,733 sq ft in El Salvador. The DR Congo and El Salvador rank 138th and 33rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The DR Congo has 1.34% of the world's population and 1.52% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.08% of the population and 0.01% of the land area for El Salvador, making the population density in the DR Congo 83.3% lower than in El Salvador.

Population density by year

DR Congo
El Salvador

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
DR Congo El Salvador
2026 133.1 799
2025 128.9 796
2024 124.8 792
2023 120.9 789
2022 117 785
2021 113.3 782
2020 109.7 779
2019 106.2 778
2018 102.9 777
2017 99.5 777
2016 95.9 775
2015 92.6 773
2014 89.6 770
2013 86.6 767
2012 83.7 764
2011 80.9 761
2010 78.3 759
2009 75.9 756
2008 73.6 754
2007 71.4 751
2006 69.3 750
2005 67.1 751
2004 65.1 751
2003 63.2 750
2002 61.4 748
2001 59.6 746
2000 57.7 743
1999 55.9 739
1998 54 735
1997 52.6 731
1996 51.7 726
1995 50.8 720
1994 48.7 714
1993 46.4 707
1992 44.8 698
1991 43.3 687
1990 41.9 675
1989 40.5 662
1988 39.3 649
1987 38 637
1986 36.9 624
1985 35.7 612
1984 34.6 600
1983 33.4 588
1982 32.4 578
1981 31.4 571
1980 30.5 568
1979 29.6 560
1978 28.6 549
1977 27.7 538
1976 27 526
1975 26.3 512
1974 25.6 501
1973 24.9 489
1972 24.3 478
1971 23.6 467
1970 23 456
1969 22.4 444
1968 21.7 432
1967 21.1 421
1966 20.5 409
1965 19.9 397
1964 19.4 387
1963 18.9 376
1962 18.4 366
1961 17.9 357

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/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the DR Congo increased by 92.2%, compared to a 6.51% growth in El Salvador.

In 2006, the DR Congo ranked 150th by population density and is 138th now. El Salvador was 29th in 2006 and ranks 33rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

DR Congo
El Salvador
1x
Year Urban population
DR Congo El Salvador
2024 44.7% 75.1%
2023 44.4% 74.6%
2022 44% 74.1%
2021 43.6% 73.7%
2020 43.3% 73.1%
2019 42.9% 72.4%
2018 42.5% 71.8%
2017 42.1% 71.1%
2016 41.7% 70.4%
2015 41.3% 69.7%
2014 41% 68.9%
2013 40.6% 68.1%
2012 40.2% 67.2%
2011 39.8% 66.3%
2010 39.4% 65.4%
2009 39% 64.5%
2008 38.6% 63.6%
2007 38.2% 62.8%
2006 37.8% 61.9%
2005 37.4% 61%
2004 37% 60.1%
2003 36.5% 59.2%
2002 35.9% 58.3%
2001 35.4% 57.5%
2000 34.9% 56.6%
1999 34.4% 55.7%
1998 33.9% 54.8%
1997 33.4% 54%
1996 32.9% 53.2%
1995 32.5% 52.4%
1994 32% 51.7%
1993 31.5% 50.9%
1992 31.1% 50.3%
1991 30.7% 49.6%
1990 30.3% 49%
1989 29.9% 48.3%
1988 29.5% 47.7%
1987 29.1% 47%
1986 28.8% 46.4%
1985 28.4% 45.7%
1984 28.1% 45.1%
1983 27.8% 44.5%
1982 27.5% 43.9%
1981 27.2% 43.4%
1980 26.8% 42.8%
1979 26.5% 42.3%
1978 26.2% 41.8%
1977 25.9% 41.4%
1976 25.6% 41%
1975 25.4% 40.6%
1974 25.1% 40.2%
1973 24.8% 40%
1972 24.5% 39.7%
1971 24.3% 39.5%
1970 24% 39.4%
1969 23.8% 39.3%
1968 23.6% 39.2%
1967 23.4% 39.1%
1966 23.2% 39%
1965 23% 38.9%
1964 22.8% 38.8%
1963 22.7% 38.7%
1962 22.5% 38.6%
1961 22.4% 38.5%
1960 22.3% 38.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 37% to 44.7% in the DR Congo and from 60.1% to 75.1% in El Salvador.

Densely populated cities

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
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/dr-congo/el-salvador | 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 (2012–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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