Democratic Republic of the Congo: Population, Economy & Travel Facts

Essential data for planning your trip to Democratic Republic of the Congo — from population and demographics to economic indicators, healthcare infrastructure, tourism trends, and digital connectivity.

Population & Geography

Population
84,068,091
#16 of 197 countries
Area
2,344,858 km²
#13 of 248 countries
Density
35.9 / km²
#180 of 245 countries

Democratic Republic of the Congo has a population of 84,068,091 spread across 2,344,858 km², giving it an average density of 35.9 people per km². It ranks among the 20 most populous countries in the world.

Population Density Map

Population density map of Democratic Republic of the Congo
< 5 25–100 500–1k 2.5k–5k > 10k / km²

Most Populous Cities

Kinshasa
16,000,000
56325 / km²
Lubumbashi
2,221,925
16704 / km²
Mbuji-Mayi
2,101,332
34261 / km²
Kananga
1,247,168
9826 / km²
Kisangani
1,181,788
6064 / km²
Bukavu
816,811
12921 / km²
Likasi
635,768
8670 / km²
Kikwit
509,367
10204 / km²
Masina, Kinshasa
485,167
14340 / km²
Mbandaka
455,011
5512 / km²

Demographics

Median Age
16.9
Life Expectancy
62.6 yrs
Literacy Rate
73.6%
Government
semi-presidential republic
Ethnic Groups
Religions
GDP by Sector

Population Trends

How a country's age structure is shifting tells you a lot about what to expect on the ground. A growing elderly population often means better healthcare and higher costs, while a young population signals energy and growth but potentially less developed infrastructure.

Age Structure Over Time
Population Growth Rate (%)
Urban vs Rural (%)
Birth & Death Rates (per 1,000)

Economy & Cost of Living

Understanding the local economy helps travellers budget effectively and set expectations. Democratic Republic of the Congo is classified as a low income country by the World Bank. Prices are roughly 38% of US levels, meaning your money goes significantly further here — accommodation, food, and transport are very affordable by Western standards.

Income Level
Low income
GDP per Capita
$660
Cost of Living
38% of US
Inequality
44.7
High
GDP per Capita (USD)
GDP Growth (%)
Inflation Rate (%)
Employment
GDP/Capita (PPP)
$1,500
Unemployment
4.6%

Tourism

Tourism data reveals how popular a destination is and how much infrastructure exists to support visitors. Tourism accounts for 0.4% of Democratic Republic of the Congo's total exports, making it a smaller part of the economy, meaning you may find fewer purpose-built tourist facilities but more authentic experiences.

Tourism % of Exports
0.4%
Air Passengers
1,150,170
International Tourist Arrivals
Tourism Receipts (USD)
Air Passengers Carried
Tourism as % of Exports

Health & Safety Infrastructure

Healthcare quality matters when you're far from home. These indicators help gauge what level of medical care is available — Democratic Republic of the Congo has 0.21 physicians per 1,000 people, which is well below the global average of 1.7. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended.

Physicians
0.21/1k
Hospital Beds
0.8/1k
Health Spend
$23/person
Infant Mortality
44.5/1k
Immunization
55%
Safe Drinking Water
35.7%
Bottled water recommended
Basic Sanitation
16.3%
Health Expenditure per Capita (USD)
Hospital Beds per 1,000

Connectivity & Digital Infrastructure

Staying connected while travelling is essential for navigation, communication, and remote work. In Democratic Republic of the Congo, 31% of the population uses the internet — connectivity can be limited outside major cities, so download offline maps and content before heading to rural areas. There are 53 mobile subscriptions per 100 people.

Internet Users
30.6%
Mobile Subs
53/100
Broadband
0.0/100
Electricity Access
22.1%
Internet Users (%)
Urbanization (%)

Source: World Bank Open Data