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Population density: DR Congo vs United Kingdom compared

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has a population density of 133.1 people per square mile compared to 750 people in the United Kingdom. The DR Congo has 230,973 sq ft of land per person vs 37,705 sq ft in the United Kingdom. The DR Congo and the United Kingdom rank 138th and 35th 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 0.85% of the population and 0.16% of the land area for the United Kingdom, making the population density in the DR Congo 82.3% lower than in the United Kingdom.

Population density by year

DR Congo
United Kingdom

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
DR Congo United Kingdom
2026 133.1 750
2025 128.9 746
2024 124.8 741
2023 120.9 733
2022 117 724
2021 113.3 717
2020 109.7 715
2019 106.2 713
2018 102.9 710
2017 99.5 706
2016 95.9 702
2015 92.6 697
2014 89.6 692
2013 86.6 687
2012 83.7 682
2011 80.9 677
2010 78.3 672
2009 75.9 667
2008 73.6 662
2007 71.4 656
2006 69.3 651
2005 67.1 647
2004 65.1 642
2003 63.2 639
2002 61.4 636
2001 59.6 633
2000 57.7 630
1999 55.9 628
1998 54 626
1997 52.6 624
1996 51.7 623
1995 50.8 621
1994 48.7 619
1993 46.4 618
1992 44.8 616
1991 43.3 615
1990 41.9 613
1989 40.5 611
1988 39.3 609
1987 38 608
1986 36.9 607
1985 35.7 605
1984 34.6 604
1983 33.4 603
1982 32.4 603
1981 31.4 603
1980 30.5 603
1979 29.6 602
1978 28.6 602
1977 27.7 602
1976 27 602
1975 26.3 602
1974 25.6 602
1973 24.9 602
1972 24.3 600
1971 23.6 598
1970 23 596
1969 22.4 594
1968 21.7 591
1967 21.1 588
1966 20.5 585
1965 19.9 582
1964 19.4 578
1963 18.9 574
1962 18.4 570
1961 17.9 565

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the DR Congo increased by 92.2%, compared to a 15.1% growth in the United Kingdom.

In 2006, the DR Congo ranked 150th by population density and is 138th now. The United Kingdom was 35th in 2006 and still ranks 35th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

DR Congo
United Kingdom
1x
Year Urban population
DR Congo United Kingdom
2024 44.7% 83.2%
2023 44.4% 83.2%
2022 44% 83.1%
2021 43.6% 83%
2020 43.3% 82.9%
2019 42.9% 82.7%
2018 42.5% 82.4%
2017 42.1% 82.2%
2016 41.7% 82%
2015 41.3% 81.8%
2014 41% 81.6%
2013 40.6% 81.5%
2012 40.2% 81.3%
2011 39.8% 81.1%
2010 39.4% 81%
2009 39% 80.9%
2008 38.6% 80.8%
2007 38.2% 80.6%
2006 37.8% 80.5%
2005 37.4% 80.4%
2004 37% 80.3%
2003 36.5% 80.2%
2002 35.9% 80.1%
2001 35.4% 80%
2000 34.9% 79.8%
1999 34.4% 79.6%
1998 33.9% 79.4%
1997 33.4% 79.1%
1996 32.9% 78.9%
1995 32.5% 78.7%
1994 32% 78.4%
1993 31.5% 78.3%
1992 31.1% 78.2%
1991 30.7% 78.1%
1990 30.3% 78.1%
1989 29.9% 78.1%
1988 29.5% 78.2%
1987 29.1% 78.3%
1986 28.8% 78.3%
1985 28.4% 78.4%
1984 28.1% 78.5%
1983 27.8% 78.5%
1982 27.5% 78.6%
1981 27.2% 78.6%
1980 26.8% 78.6%
1979 26.5% 78.5%
1978 26.2% 78.3%
1977 25.9% 78.1%
1976 25.6% 77.8%
1975 25.4% 77.5%
1974 25.1% 77.3%
1973 24.8% 77.1%
1972 24.5% 77%
1971 24.3% 76.9%
1970 24% 76.9%
1969 23.8% 77%
1968 23.6% 77.1%
1967 23.4% 77.2%
1966 23.2% 77.4%
1965 23% 77.6%
1964 22.8% 77.8%
1963 22.7% 78%
1962 22.5% 78.2%
1961 22.4% 78.4%
1960 22.3% 78.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 37% to 44.7% in the DR Congo and from 80.3% to 83.2% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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/united-kingdom | 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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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