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Population density: DR Congo vs Italy compared

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has a population density of 133.1 people per square mile compared to 513 people in Italy. The DR Congo has 230,973 sq ft of land per person vs 55,153 sq ft in Italy. The DR Congo and Italy rank 138th and 55th 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 0.73% of the population and 0.2% of the land area for Italy, making the population density in the DR Congo 74% lower than in Italy.

Population density by year

DR Congo
Italy

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
DR Congo Italy
2026 133.1 513
2025 128.9 515
2024 124.8 516
2023 120.9 517
2022 117 517
2021 113.3 518
2020 109.7 521
2019 106.2 523
2018 102.9 527
2017 99.5 526
2016 95.9 527
2015 92.6 528
2014 89.6 528
2013 86.6 528
2012 83.7 527
2011 80.9 526
2010 78.3 524
2009 75.9 522
2008 73.6 519
2007 71.4 515
2006 69.3 511
2005 67.1 509
2004 65.1 506
2003 63.2 503
2002 61.4 500
2001 59.6 499
2000 57.7 499
1999 55.9 501
1998 54 501
1997 52.6 501
1996 51.7 501
1995 50.8 501
1994 48.7 501
1993 46.4 500
1992 44.8 500
1991 43.3 500
1990 41.9 499
1989 40.5 499
1988 39.3 499
1987 38 498
1986 36.9 498
1985 35.7 498
1984 34.6 498
1983 33.4 498
1982 32.4 498
1981 31.4 498
1980 30.5 497
1979 29.6 496
1978 28.6 495
1977 27.7 493
1976 27 491
1975 26.3 488
1974 25.6 485
1973 24.9 482
1972 24.3 479
1971 23.6 476
1970 23 474
1969 22.4 471
1968 21.7 469
1967 21.1 466
1966 20.5 462
1965 19.9 459
1964 19.4 455
1963 18.9 451
1962 18.4 448
1961 17.9 445

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/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the DR Congo increased by 92.2%, compared to a 0.28% growth in Italy.

In 2006, the DR Congo ranked 150th by population density and is 138th now. Italy was 42nd in 2006 and ranks 55th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

DR Congo
Italy
1x
Year Urban population
DR Congo Italy
2024 44.7% 69.6%
2023 44.4% 69.5%
2022 44% 69.5%
2021 43.6% 69.5%
2020 43.3% 69.5%
2019 42.9% 69.5%
2018 42.5% 69.5%
2017 42.1% 69.5%
2016 41.7% 69.6%
2015 41.3% 69.6%
2014 41% 69.6%
2013 40.6% 69.3%
2012 40.2% 68.8%
2011 39.8% 68.4%
2010 39.4% 68.2%
2009 39% 68%
2008 38.6% 67.9%
2007 38.2% 67.8%
2006 37.8% 67.7%
2005 37.4% 67.6%
2004 37% 67.5%
2003 36.5% 67.4%
2002 35.9% 67.4%
2001 35.4% 67.3%
2000 34.9% 67.2%
1999 34.4% 67.1%
1998 33.9% 67%
1997 33.4% 67%
1996 32.9% 66.9%
1995 32.5% 66.8%
1994 32% 66.8%
1993 31.5% 66.7%
1992 31.1% 66.7%
1991 30.7% 66.7%
1990 30.3% 66.7%
1989 29.9% 66.7%
1988 29.5% 66.8%
1987 29.1% 66.8%
1986 28.8% 66.8%
1985 28.4% 66.8%
1984 28.1% 66.9%
1983 27.8% 66.9%
1982 27.5% 66.9%
1981 27.2% 66.9%
1980 26.8% 66.8%
1979 26.5% 66.7%
1978 26.2% 66.6%
1977 25.9% 66.4%
1976 25.6% 66.2%
1975 25.4% 65.9%
1974 25.1% 65.7%
1973 24.8% 65.4%
1972 24.5% 65.1%
1971 24.3% 64.8%
1970 24% 64.5%
1969 23.8% 64%
1968 23.6% 63.6%
1967 23.4% 63.1%
1966 23.2% 62.5%
1965 23% 62%
1964 22.8% 61.4%
1963 22.7% 60.9%
1962 22.5% 60.3%
1961 22.4% 59.8%
1960 22.3% 59.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 37% to 44.7% in the DR Congo and from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy.

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
Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K

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/italy | 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 (2012–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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