Congo, Democratic Republic of the (DROC) - Population

The population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was estimated by the United Nations at 55,042,000 in 2003, which placed it as number 23 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In that year approximately 3% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 48% of the population under 15 years of age. There were 98 males for every 100 females in the country in 2003. According to the UN, the annual population growth rate for 2000–2005 is 2.88%, with the projected population for the year 2015 at 74,160,000. The population density in 2002 was 24 per sq km (61 per sq mi).

It was estimated by the Population Reference Bureau that 30% of the population lived in urban areas in 2001. The capital city, Kinshasa, had a population of 4,885,000 in that year. Almost one third of the population lives in or around Kinshasa, in the lower Congo area. Other large cities are Lubumbashi, Mbuji-Mayi; Kolwezi; Kananga; and Kisangani. According to the United Nations, the urban population growth rate for 2000–2005 was 4.5%.

The DROC's population was significantly affected by warfare in the 1990s and early 2000s. The eastern portion of the country has seen more than one million refugees from neighboring nations. Also, many Congolese have been displaced or fled the country due to internal violence.