Largest Urban Areas by Population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2026)

These figures are from the 2004 estimate, 22 years old.

102 cities and towns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 20,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by population estimates for July 1, 2004.

Rank	City or Town	Population
1	Kinshasa	7,273,947
2	Lubumbashi	1,283,380
3	Mbuji-Mayi	1,213,726
4	Kananga	720,362
5	Kisangani	682,599
6	Bukavu	471,789
7	Kolwezi	456,446
8	Likasi	367,219
9	Tshikapa	366,503
10	Kikwit	294,210
11	Mbandaka	262,814
12	Goma	249,862
13	Matadi	245,862
14	Uvira	235,136
15	Bunia	230,625
16	Boma	171,552
17	Mwene-Ditu	170,786
18	Butembo	165,333
19	Isiro	147,524
20	Kindu	135,534
21	Kabinda	126,723
22	Gandajika	120,170
23	Bandundu	117,197
24	Kamina	115,626
25	Gemena	113,879
26	Kipushi	97,981
27	Kalemie	92,971
28	Bumba	89,289
29	Mbanza-Ngungu	82,466
30	Beni	81,286
31	Moanda	74,397
32	Lisala	67,847
33	Ilebo	67,721
34	Tshilenge	67,044
35	InkisiKisantu	66,607
36	Bukamaincl. Kibanda	60,954
37	Bakwa-KalonjiLukalaba	58,092
38	Kambove	57,693
39	Binga	55,906
40	Lodja	52,798
41	Katwa	51,610
42	Mulongo	51,603
43	Idiofa	50,761
44	Kongolo	50,212
45	Rutshuru	47,756
46	Manono	47,632
47	BalambaKasumbalesa	47,213
48	Kasongo	47,149
49	Bulungu	47,013
50	Mweka	46,940
51	Kabalo	46,896
52	Moba	46,890
53	Buta	46,642
54	Kaniama	46,233
55	Miabi	46,167
56	Kimpese	45,942
57	Basokoincl. Bandu	44,112
58	Oicha	43,065
59	Gbadolite	42,647
60	Kalima	41,776
61	Inongo	39,769
62	Kituku	38,340
63	Tshela	37,088
64	Mangai	36,801
65	Kenge	36,572
66	Nyunzu	36,138
67	Nioki	35,900
68	Yangambi	35,859
69	Aketi	35,486
70	Mushie	35,428
71	Kutu	32,381
72	Diyaba-Lubue	32,368
73	ManginaMatango	32,022
74	Luputa	31,581
75	Kirumba	30,059
76	Kayna	29,517
77	Boende	29,339
78	Fungurume	28,938
79	Lusambo	28,520
80	Zongo	28,105
81	Businga	27,921
82	Watsa	27,308
83	Bolobo	27,166
84	Lukula	26,878
85	Kipambaincl. Kikondja	26,818
86	Masi-Manimba	26,440
87	Aru	26,290
88	Luebo	26,248
89	Kasangulu	26,223
90	Mongbwalu	26,176
91	KenankunaKabeya	25,636
92	Kanyabayonga	25,499
93	Malemba-Nkulu	25,430
94	Katanda	24,320
95	Lubero	24,099
96	Djugu	23,918
97	Basankusu	23,763
98	Dungu	23,726
99	Pweto	22,121
100	Lubao	21,844
101	Libenge	21,570
102	Mokambo	20,079

Source: City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff.

Why don't these match official city populations?Official figures typically count only the population within administrative boundaries. UN urban area figures cover the entire built-up area, which can include multiple cities and towns.Show moreShow less

Tokyo

33,338,852

Urban area

9,953,160

23 wards

Essen

2,709,375

Urban area

573,618

City of Essen

Ankara

3,630,865

Urban area

5,186,002

Metropolitan municipality

What counts as an urban area? The UN uses satellite imagery to map built-up land, and treats each continuous stretch of built-up land as an urban area. This means that urban areas can extend beyond official city boundaries, and may include multiple cities and towns within a single urban area.

Can an urban area be smaller than its city? Yes. While most cities have urban areas larger than their administrative boundaries, some cities have extensive administrative limits that include sparsely populated areas.

223 urban areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 50,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by the UN's population estimates for 2026.

Rank	Urban Area	Population Estimate (2026)	Yearly Change	Land Area (km²)	Density (P/km²)	World Rank	Projections (2030)	Projections (2050)
1	Kinshasa	11,078,527	+1.22%	515	21,520	30	11,618,069	13,210,577
2	Kasaï-Oriental	3,675,760	+1.91%	149	24,603	127	3,955,850	5,119,555
3	Lubumbashi	2,930,306	+3.33%	375	7,822	171	3,320,116	5,257,654
4	Beni	1,962,498	+1.98%	79	24,842	255	2,117,691	2,824,792
5	Kananga	1,557,073	+3.39%	107	14,525	325	1,767,884	2,795,451
6	Tshikapa	1,081,654	+2.49%	56	19,315	477	1,189,527	1,702,742
7	Bukavu	975,838	+2.76%	75	12,977	533	1,083,397	1,677,115
8	Kisangani	919,961	+2.13%	102	9,002	567	998,483	1,301,898
9	Goma	827,968	+2.22%	85	9,741	642	901,437	1,167,922
10	Kalemie	776,232	+2.30%	55	14,165	686	847,646	1,134,484
11	Kamina	749,135	+3.22%	41	18,095	720	845,748	1,307,987
12	Likasi	702,264	+4.16%	71	9,863	766	819,183	1,424,984
13	Bunia	594,204	+1.92%	73	8,095	926	639,854	843,383
14	Kikwit	563,594	+2.57%	75	7,515	984	621,560	856,487
15	Manono	531,052	+2.59%	26	20,744	1,052	586,045	896,316
16	Butembo	467,604	+2.73%	82	5,702	1,203	518,590	718,710
17	Kolwezi	467,438	+4.44%	90	5,171	1,205	550,353	1,067,240
18	Gemena	448,610	+1.85%	38	11,868	1,252	481,743	614,663
19	Mbandaka	437,550	+1.05%	38	11,514	1,288	455,848	543,924
20	Uvira	426,865	+2.42%	33	12,935	1,326	468,232	644,423
21	Kongolo	424,172	+3.25%	31	13,595	1,339	479,376	721,416
22	Malemba-Nkulu	398,309	+2.89%	20	19,915	1,439	444,386	716,333
23	Matadi	386,335	+2.34%	36	10,672	1,486	422,488	526,486
24	Mwene-Ditu	365,046	+3.76%	50	7,301	1,579	419,956	647,831
25	Ngandajika	358,408	+3.46%	30	11,947	1,611	408,055	637,046
26	Mulongo	333,757	+3.56%	18	18,963	1,739	381,261	684,364
27	Ilebo	330,951	+2.89%	22	15,043	1,749	369,187	556,294
28	Kindu	321,190	+3.57%	56	5,736	1,801	367,043	570,722
29	Fungurume	310,456	+3.78%	27	11,414	1,875	357,426	592,791
30	Kasumbalesa	304,542	+3.26%	37	8,187	1,918	344,216	669,502
31	Kasaji	302,238	+3.21%	19	15,742	1,929	341,096	508,082
32	Mweka	288,798	+3.29%	18	15,696	2,031	326,743	492,879
33	Kabinda	280,415	+4.03%	29	9,538	2,087	325,615	548,971
34	Kilwa	264,112	+3.01%	14	18,599	2,237	295,902	494,302
35	Kipushi	256,897	+3.64%	20	12,845	2,302	294,301	498,827
36	Demba	256,103	+3.09%	18	14,072	2,309	287,751	457,825
37	Lisala	253,554	+2.02%	31	8,286	2,328	274,035	366,626
38	Kambove	251,880	+3.55%	13	19,375	2,351	287,644	513,045
39	Kamituga	249,238	+2.40%	13	18,600	2,376	273,144	383,137
40	Boma	247,848	+2.34%	41	6,045	2,387	271,072	371,313
41	Mbanza-Ngungu	244,518	+3.46%	32	7,547	2,424	278,366	439,388
42	Luputa	240,258	+4.22%	21	11,333	2,472	280,778	426,576
43	Kabongo	221,388	+2.61%	13	17,030	2,699	244,492	356,239
44	Bumba	221,165	+2.14%	34	6,582	2,701	240,109	310,304
45	Kahemba	220,453	+2.10%	12	18,070	2,715	238,966	317,041
46	Rutshuru	220,326	+2.80%	23	9,497	2,717	244,999	354,795
47	Bandundu	218,678	+3.05%	34	6,508	2,735	245,326	358,423
48	Kabondo-Dianda	218,419	+3.32%	13	16,801	2,740	247,428	407,548
49	Luena	212,666	+3.28%	11	18,988	2,826	240,566	381,501
50	Musangala	211,665	+5.58%	18	11,630	2,843	258,936	501,566
51	Mongbwalu	210,377	+2.53%	23	9,309	2,862	231,681	327,754
52	Dilolo	204,603	+3.68%	15	13,461	2,944	234,717	389,070
53	Kasangulu	204,511	+2.96%	16	12,624	2,947	228,687	355,494
54	Kisantu	202,420	+3.20%	29	6,932	2,987	228,302	356,252
55	Buta	199,879	+1.90%	20	10,198	3,029	215,032	272,190
56	Kinzao	199,175	+2.61%	12	16,326	3,038	219,984	317,059
57	Nyunzu	198,394	+3.12%	12	16,262	3,055	223,150	322,278
58	Rubaya	198,372	+4.28%	22	9,184	3,057	232,342	442,083
59	Kasongo	189,994	+2.64%	15	12,337	3,202	210,034	295,951
60	Kirumba	186,779	+2.49%	15	12,452	3,267	205,348	292,984
61	Lwambo	183,837	+3.91%	14	12,946	3,315	212,593	366,858
62	Kitenge	180,199	+2.92%	12	15,017	3,387	201,221	305,930
63	Pweto	178,009	+2.76%	12	14,834	3,440	197,651	283,424
64	Mukubu	173,481	+3.14%	8.00	21,685	3,533	195,273	306,660
65	Kanyama	173,194	+3.27%	12	14,196	3,537	195,841	293,849
66	Sandoa	171,544	+3.51%	12	14,061	3,576	195,631	326,946
67	Katanga	170,736	+3.21%	16	10,806	3,597	192,675	283,306
68	Baraka	170,682	+2.39%	23	7,421	3,599	186,999	274,393
69	Durba	169,676	+1.92%	29	5,811	3,611	182,710	232,813
70	Idiofa	165,052	+2.38%	26	6,348	3,707	180,791	264,141
71	Musumba	164,947	+4.12%	13	12,310	3,709	192,101	322,433
72	Kwilu-Ngongo	158,519	+3.32%	13	11,830	3,868	179,597	274,107
73	Tshimbulu	155,854	+4.02%	13	11,631	3,942	180,891	332,079
74	Mwadingusha	153,702	+2.97%	10	15,370	3,990	171,970	284,471
75	Lwebo	153,515	+10.54%	11	14,483	3,998	218,160	349,294
76	Mukanga	153,047	+3.61%	14	10,932	4,012	175,131	342,885
77	Tshela	151,840	+3.02%	16	9,490	4,049	170,179	276,718
78	Boende	149,260	+0.89%	8.00	18,657	4,111	154,551	181,043
79	Ankoro	145,018	+3.98%	14	10,358	4,254	168,084	285,184
80	Isiro	144,855	+1.62%	22	6,584	4,261	154,241	197,269
81	Lubao	143,409	+3.15%	12	11,951	4,300	161,467	245,666
82	Luiza	141,263	+4.12%	14	9,948	4,362	164,560	300,407
83	Kenge	140,489	+3.29%	20	6,887	4,387	159,003	260,117
84	Basankusu	135,307	+1.57%	11	11,869	4,557	143,797	180,030
85	Moba	133,659	+3.88%	11	12,609	4,617	154,414	253,616
86	Mahagi	133,020	+3.22%	17	7,918	4,640	150,146	268,581
87	Kakanda	130,358	+3.09%	11	11,851	4,741	146,468	249,754
88	Kanyabayonga	129,615	+2.76%	13	9,970	4,778	143,945	238,256
89	Lubutu	124,885	+3.52%	17	7,523	4,975	142,485	234,189
90	Kikondja	124,254	+7.19%	15	8,284	4,996	159,985	272,261
91	Mafuo	121,747	+8.63%	9.00	13,527	5,111	163,770	255,907
92	Tshimbalanga	119,945	+3.38%	7.20	16,659	5,184	136,147	208,511
93	Kyolo	119,551	+3.81%	7.20	16,604	5,204	137,761	227,552
94	Tenke	119,178	+4.34%	14	8,393	5,219	139,847	259,985
95	Kapolowe	119,071	+2.54%	6.00	19,845	5,228	131,169	196,011
96	Kingombe	118,648	+2.38%	9.00	13,183	5,249	129,966	189,257
97	Kimpese	117,867	+2.72%	18	6,548	5,284	130,693	201,426
98	Punia	115,560	+2.91%	15	7,704	5,392	129,026	200,488
99	Kabalo	114,221	+4.07%	15	7,615	5,470	132,822	233,931
100	Lukalaba	112,434	+3.69%	10	11,023	5,555	129,026	198,565
101	Bukama	110,782	+4.86%	8.60	12,882	5,641	132,324	253,464
102	Mangi 1	110,566	+4.83%	17	6,428	5,655	131,925	263,610
103	Gbadolite	110,142	+2.36%	18	5,986	5,678	120,530	150,848
104	Kabongo	110,081	+4.31%	11	9,829	5,685	129,069	236,955
105	Lwishia	109,989	+4.61%	9.20	11,955	5,691	130,289	229,766
106	Busisi	107,040	+3.20%	16	6,607	5,840	120,747	407,950
107	Kitotolo	106,902	+3.33%	9.00	11,878	5,849	121,123	207,157
108	Saramabila	105,215	+3.41%	9.40	11,193	5,947	119,557	175,530
109	Moanda	104,619	+2.42%	30	3,487	5,985	114,729	154,328
110	Maluku	104,187	+3.27%	11	9,302	6,014	117,809	231,421
111	Shabunda	103,579	+4.33%	9.00	11,509	6,051	121,498	191,219
112	Gungu	99,975	+2.81%	14	7,141	6,258	111,208	168,035
113	Lingi	98,960	+7.07%	16	6,185	6,318	126,933	212,580
114	Sake	98,859	+3.07%	11	8,827	6,325	111,011	181,628
115	Kipese	97,747	+5.08%	8.20	11,920	6,407	117,590	327,597
116	Mambasa	97,137	+2.72%	11	8,673	6,445	107,704	158,908
117	Kakenge	96,875	+4.52%	10	9,315	6,461	114,389	212,030
118	Dungu	95,426	+2.85%	20	4,869	6,539	106,311	143,278
119	Bena Muganda	90,695	+5.38%	9.60	9,447	6,930	110,212	272,814
120	Bena-Leka	90,239	+4.83%	8.40	10,743	6,964	107,653	195,616
121	Masisi	88,221	+2.21%	5.00	17,644	7,135	96,008	168,210
122	Kashobwe	87,130	+5.33%	11	7,779	7,230	105,686	218,776
123	Wikong	86,379	+4.72%	12	7,446	7,290	102,677	185,274
124	Kakumba	86,144	+3.21%	6.00	14,357	7,309	97,210	156,012
125	Mutabi	85,841	+4.89%	9.20	9,331	7,342	102,613	199,290
126	Bafwasende	85,312	+2.52%	8.00	10,664	7,391	93,922	139,504
127	Ariwara	85,072	+2.72%	18	4,834	7,419	94,334	129,180
128	Aru	84,871	+2.91%	17	5,113	7,438	94,758	130,061
129	Kamanyola	84,677	+2.54%	8.00	10,585	7,457	93,278	138,017
130	Mitwaba	83,975	+4.57%	9.00	9,331	7,511	99,311	189,606
131	Lukonzolwa	83,138	+4.55%	9.20	9,037	7,600	98,264	177,447
132	Misisi	83,074	+2.86%	9.40	8,838	7,608	92,586	128,797
133	Kitsombiro	83,064	+3.20%	9.20	9,029	7,611	93,689	185,862
134	Yakoma	82,719	+1.98%	14	5,825	7,646	89,285	117,278
135	Businga	82,040	+2.01%	11	7,458	7,694	88,649	126,231
136	Walungu	80,919	+11.16%	15	5,324	7,798	117,007	479,271
137	Nsioni	80,668	+4.23%	11	7,610	7,825	94,325	153,659
138	Walikale	80,584	+3.06%	9.00	8,954	7,833	90,431	148,302
139	Brabanta	80,288	+4.07%	12	6,691	7,864	93,371	168,550
140	Kipanga	80,031	+3.99%	7.00	11,433	7,897	92,799	175,370
141	Samba	79,483	+3.50%	7.20	11,039	7,952	90,602	139,828
142	Kamonia	79,106	+6.68%	7.60	10,409	7,988	100,239	175,993
143	Dekese	79,061	+4.32%	8.40	9,412	7,996	92,706	157,655
144	Masi Manimba	79,026	+2.92%	12	6,586	7,999	88,256	134,990
145	Bondo	77,842	+2.11%	11	6,950	8,124	84,420	110,063
146	Djulu	77,569	+3.22%	7.00	11,081	8,150	87,570	140,784
147	Makanza	76,441	+1.66%	9.00	8,493	8,252	81,515	102,833
148	Libenge	76,431	+1.95%	10	7,643	8,255	82,398	110,482
149	Dibaya-Lubwe	76,292	+2.46%	11	6,936	8,266	83,802	124,008
150	Mutombo-Lamata	75,982	+3.14%	6.00	12,664	8,296	85,534	131,830
151	Poko	75,462	+2.84%	12	6,185	8,367	84,037	119,161
152	Bulungu	75,233	+3.17%	13	5,614	8,382	84,771	128,297
153	Tshilenge	73,332	+4.90%	12	5,914	8,594	87,694	164,317
154	Aketi	73,120	+1.62%	7.00	10,446	8,616	77,872	102,081
155	Kabeya-Kamuanga	72,402	+4.54%	10	7,098	8,687	85,543	151,954
156	Kitchanga	71,491	+2.85%	8.00	8,936	8,793	79,649	120,686
157	Bozene	70,451	+2.38%	6.20	11,363	8,911	77,148	110,324
158	Loutu	69,032	+4.31%	20	3,384	9,083	80,934	367,150
159	Kisenge	69,031	+4.36%	7.20	9,588	9,084	81,079	145,762
160	Bwamanda	68,943	+2.22%	8.20	8,408	9,098	75,071	114,006
161	Lemba Village	68,827	+2.84%	7.00	9,832	9,113	76,634	123,436
162	Bena-Tshibangu	68,549	+5.29%	12	5,909	9,158	83,041	162,437
163	Lukula	68,216	+4.25%	7.60	8,976	9,202	79,817	121,087
164	Basoko	68,042	+1.86%	10	6,804	9,219	73,098	96,890
165	Wamaza	67,815	+3.88%	8.40	8,073	9,252	78,331	128,965
166	Luvungi	67,716	+2.44%	9.00	7,524	9,266	74,338	102,247
167	Binga	67,017	+3.36%	13	5,319	9,366	76,032	126,864
168	Kibombo	66,643	+4.50%	6.20	10,749	9,418	78,649	142,445
169	Bili	66,428	+1.79%	8.00	8,303	9,455	71,175	91,594
170	Mbulula	65,884	+4.06%	5.20	12,670	9,536	76,594	126,807
171	Kabala	65,835	+4.43%	6.00	10,973	9,542	77,509	155,283
172	Tshibinda	65,796	+4.02%	5.20	12,653	9,545	76,374	127,507
173	Bayombe	65,583	+4.99%	9.40	6,977	9,575	78,657	143,014
174	Yata	65,530	+1.90%	12	5,461	9,581	70,501	94,254
175	Kalombo	65,241	+3.94%	6.20	10,523	9,623	75,523	140,636
176	Karawa	64,931	+2.34%	15	4,329	9,672	70,998	107,960
177	Mashimba	64,804	+3.95%	7.00	9,258	9,687	75,030	133,792
178	Biakato	64,649	+2.69%	7.20	8,979	9,711	71,607	110,577
179	Kasongo-Lunda	64,434	+3.03%	6.20	10,393	9,755	72,230	118,144
180	Luozi	64,147	+3.46%	16	4,009	9,791	73,032	125,239
181	Kamungu	64,064	+1.95%	4.00	16,016	9,804	69,056	99,309
182	Muimba	64,013	+4.74%	6.60	9,699	9,813	76,149	137,058
183	Luilu	63,466	+5.69%	16	3,870	9,899	77,920	253,860
184	Lukuni	63,364	+4.21%	7.00	9,052	9,917	74,026	153,858
185	Sakania	62,912	+4.43%	9.20	6,838	9,989	74,055	141,715
186	Bulape	62,861	+4.40%	7.20	8,731	9,995	73,934	132,508
187	Ngungu Centre	62,004	+3.27%	7.20	8,612	10,138	70,107	108,544
188	Nyangezi	61,822	+3.88%	6.60	9,367	10,159	71,414	203,462
189	Kibango	61,733	+5.24%	7.20	8,574	10,170	74,669	164,918
190	Kamiji	61,218	+3.23%	5.00	12,244	10,249	69,116	116,590
191	Mwadi Kayembe	61,020	+4.11%	6.20	9,842	10,286	71,047	114,097
192	Budjala	60,684	+2.51%	7.20	8,428	10,331	66,774	88,716
193	Lukala	60,131	+4.28%	7.60	7,912	10,408	70,423	109,128
194	Kabozia	59,926	+4.34%	6.00	9,988	10,440	70,332	141,210
195	Nyamilima	59,538	+2.55%	7.00	8,505	10,504	65,608	112,495
196	Elila	59,158	+3.12%	5.40	10,955	10,575	66,549	108,890
197	Tshofa	58,817	+5.54%	8.60	6,839	10,627	71,836	126,671
198	Lubero	58,119	+3.45%	9.20	6,317	10,731	66,141	127,678
199	Aba	57,679	+6.83%	15	3,951	10,812	73,432	110,846
200	Ango	57,201	+3.09%	6.40	8,938	10,906	64,262	84,829
201	Irangi	57,147	+3.90%	4.40	12,988	10,924	66,064	122,105
202	Banalia	57,051	+3.03%	6.20	9,202	10,943	63,974	99,081
203	Songwe	56,672	+3.88%	4.00	14,168	11,004	65,466	117,576
204	Pinga	56,519	+2.96%	6.00	9,420	11,034	63,203	99,723
205	Kagenge	56,472	+3.49%	7.40	7,631	11,044	64,358	103,446
206	Bikoro	55,867	+1.67%	8.00	6,983	11,165	59,609	83,155
207	Kamisalu	55,490	+4.82%	5.60	9,909	11,232	66,189	123,179
208	Inongo	55,389	+1.53%	12	4,616	11,256	58,771	77,283
209	Kasumba	55,247	+9.44%	5.20	10,624	11,282	76,089	132,435
210	Oicha	54,898	+3.72%	16	3,347	11,338	63,059	100,718
211	Mubi	54,411	+2.88%	4.20	12,955	11,441	60,676	99,028
212	Mululu	54,396	+2.63%	8.00	6,800	11,443	60,124	109,626
213	Miabi	54,119	+5.96%	7.60	7,121	11,514	67,017	129,882
214	Kasungeshi	54,076	+4.38%	4.20	12,875	11,521	63,541	122,544
215	Mwin-Kand	53,548	+3.90%	6.00	8,925	11,615	61,900	101,905
216	Kimba	53,366	+3.89%	8.20	6,508	11,642	61,668	99,218
217	Abumumbazi	53,189	+1.68%	7.00	7,598	11,674	56,760	73,970
218	Lenge	53,108	+3.42%	4.00	13,277	11,688	60,377	95,251
219	Kiambi	52,670	+2.10%	4.00	13,168	11,773	57,086	81,040
220	Niangara	52,458	+2.86%	9.20	5,702	11,818	58,466	87,204
221	Ubundu	52,276	+3.31%	6.20	8,432	11,849	59,198	96,766
222	Katombe	51,847	+3.20%	4.00	12,962	11,925	58,489	89,463
223	Watsa	51,455	+2.57%	10	5,045	11,978	56,749	78,816

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision, Online Edition.

Data topics

Reference

Tools

Largest Urban Areas by Population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2026)

See also