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DR Congo Population 2025 & Religious Demographics: Trends and Insights
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as DR Congo, and historically Zaire, is a country in Central Africa. It’s the second-largest in all of Africa (after Algeria), the 4th-most populous country in Africa (after Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt), and the 15th-most populous country globally.
As per the UN World Population Prospects report, the estimated population of DR Congo in 2025 is 109,075,560 (10.9 Crore or 109 million)
read about Top Countries in Africa by population
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s population growth rate was 3.18% from 2023 to 2024, equivalent to 1.15% of the total world population. The country’s total Land Area is 22,267,048 sq. km (875,312 sq. mi), and its Population Density is 48 per Km2 (125 persons per mi2).
| DR Congo | 2025 Population |
| Total Population | 109,075,560 (109 million) |
| Global Rank | 15th |
| Share of World Pop. | 1.15% |
| Land Area | 2,267,048 sq. km (875,312 sq. mi) |
| Area Rank | 11th |
| Pop. Density | 48 person/sq. km |
| Capital City | Kinshasa |
| Fertility Rate* | 5.96 |
| Infant mortality rate** | 59.7 |
| Median Age | 17 years |
| Life Expectancy | 61.60 years |
| Urban Population | 45.6% |
Source: United Nation World Populations Prospects
*Fertility rate, average number of children born to women during their reproductive years.
**Infant mortality rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under one year of age.
Source: World Population Prospects 2019
Religion in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Christianity is the main Religion religion in DR Congo. Christians make up 93.7% of the population and DR Congo has the second-largest Christian population in Africa. Among Christians, Catholics are 45%, Protestants at 40%, and other Christians at 10%. Other Christian groups include Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Greek Orthodox Church.
Traditional African religions and faiths are followed by 2.5% of the Population and followers of Islam are variously estimated around 1-2%.
Religion Percentage in DR Congo is as follows
| Religion/ Affiliations | Percentage |
| Christianity | 94.9% |
| – Roman Catholic | 45% |
| – Protestants | 40% |
| – Other Christian | 10% |
| Islam | 2% |
| Traditional faiths | 2.50% |
| No religion | 0.50% |
| Others | < 1% |
Source: Estimates
Projected Religious Demographics
| Year | Christianity (%) | Islam (%) | Indigenous Beliefs (%) | Others (%) | Total (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 95.8 | 1.5 | 1.7 | <1% | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 95.8 | 1.5 | 1.8 | <1% | 100.0 |
| 2030 | 95.8 | 1.6 | 1.7 | <1% | 100.0 |
| 2040 | 95.8 | 1.6 | 1.7 | <1% | 100.0 |
| 2050 | 95.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | <1% | 100.0 |
Source: PEW research center
Largets Cities in DR Congo by Population
| # | City | Province | Population |
| 1 | Kinshasa | Kinshasa | 8,900,721 |
| 2 | Lubumbashi | Katanga | 1,630,186 |
| 3 | Mbuji-Mayi (Bakwanga) | Kasai-Oriental | 1,559,073 |
| 4 | Bukavu | Sud-Kivu | 1,012,053 |
| 5 | Kananga | Kasai-Occidental | 967,007 |
| 6 | Kisangani | Orientale | 868,672 |
| 7 | Tshikapa | Kasai-Occidental | 524,293 |
| 8 | Kolwezi | Katanga | 451,168 |
| 9 | Likasi | Katanga | 422,535 |
| 10 | Goma | Nord-Kivu | 377,112 |
| 11 | Kikwit | Bandundu | 370,328 |
| 12 | Uvira | Sud-Kivu | 337,488 |
| 13 | Bunia | Orientale | 327,837 |
| 14 | Mbandaka (Coquilhatville) | Équateur | 324,236 |
| 15 | Matadi | Bas-Congo | 291,338 |
| 16 | Butembo | Nord-Kivu | 204,452 |
| 17 | Kabinda | Kasai-Oriental | 192,364 |
| 18 | Mwene-Ditu | Kasai-Oriental | 190,718 |
| 19 | Boma | Bas-Congo | 167,326 |
| 20 | Kindu | Maniema | 163,587 |
| 21 | Kamina | Katanga | 143,753 |
| 22 | Gandajika (Ngandajika) | Kasai-Oriental | 140,556 |
| 23 | Bandundu | Bandundu | 137,460 |
| 24 | Gemena | Équateur | 132,971 |
| 25 | Kipushi | Katanga | 121,831 |
