Regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: population and official figures
the Democratic Republic of the Congo is divided into 26 regions. The largest by population is Kinshasa with 13,916,000 people (14.1% of the total); the smallest is Bas-Uele with 1,250,000. The DR Congo's 11 provinces were divided into 26 in 2015; each now has its own page, and the pages of the former Katanga, Orientale, Bandundu, Kasaï-Occidental and Bas-Congo redirect to the successor holding the old capital (Kongo Central is the renamed Bas-Congo). Population figures are Institut National de la Statistique projections for 2019; the country has not held a census since 1984. Each province page adds child and adult health from the 2023-24 Demographic and Health Survey, water, sanitation, schooling and living standards from the INS MICS-Palu 2017-18 survey, school statistics and 2016 employment figures from the INS statistical yearbook, and transfers from the Ministry of Budget's draft 2026 finance law.
Who governs the Democratic Republic of the Congo's regions?
Provinces (26, including the city-province of Kinshasa): Provincial assembly directly elected (last in December 2023), with some seats for co-opted customary chiefs; the assembly elects the governor. Provincial laws and services, sharing many powers with the national government.
How local power works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 26 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kinshasa | 13,916,000 | 2019 | +4.7% |
| 2 | Nord-Kivu | 7,574,000 | 2019 | +3.3% |
| 3 | Sud-Kivu | 6,565,000 | 2019 | +3.3% |
| 4 | Kongo Central | 6,365,000 | 2019 | +3.4% |
| 5 | Kwilu | 6,169,000 | 2019 | +3.0% |
| 6 | Haut-Katanga | 5,378,000 | 2019 | +3.9% |
| 7 | Ituri | 4,008,000 | 2019 | +2.4% |
| 8 | Kasaï-Central | 3,743,000 | 2019 | +3.1% |
| 9 | Kasaï-Oriental | 3,601,000 | 2019 | +3.4% |
| 10 | Tanganyika | 3,570,000 | 2019 | +3.9% |
| 11 | Haut-Lomami | 3,444,000 | 2019 | +3.9% |
| 12 | Kasaï | 3,165,000 | 2019 | +3.1% |
| 13 | Lualaba | 2,993,000 | 2019 | +3.9% |
| 14 | Lomami | 2,801,000 | 2019 | +3.5% |
| 15 | Sud-Ubangi | 2,755,000 | 2019 | +2.9% |
| 16 | Maniema | 2,654,000 | 2019 | +3.3% |
| 17 | Tshopo | 2,582,000 | 2019 | +2.4% |
| 18 | Sankuru | 2,417,000 | 2019 | +3.5% |
| 19 | Kwango | 2,416,000 | 2019 | +2.9% |
| 20 | Mai-Ndombe | 2,082,000 | 2019 | +3.0% |
| 21 | Haut-Uele | 2,046,000 | 2019 | +2.4% |
| 22 | Mongala | 1,950,000 | 2019 | +2.9% |
| 23 | Tshuapa | 1,789,000 | 2019 | +2.8% |
| 24 | Équateur | 1,712,000 | 2019 | +2.9% |
| 25 | Nord-Ubangi | 1,425,000 | 2019 | +2.9% |
| 26 | Bas-Uele | 1,250,000 | 2019 | +2.4% |
More on the Democratic Republic of the Congo: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Institut National de la Statistique (Ministry of Planning): Annuaire statistique RDC 2020 (9th edition), Tableau 58: population by province and sex, 2015-2019 (INS projections, thousands); Tableau 28: area by province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0b8e8667e2d9…)
- Institut National de la Statistique and École de Santé Publique de Kinshasa (with ICF): Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2023-24 (EDS-RDC III), Rapport des indicateurs clés: Tableaux 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 18, 22 and 23 by province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a9c8355303a4…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (with UNICEF): Enquête par grappes à indicateurs multiples MICS-Palu 2017-2018, rapport de résultats: Tableaux SR.2.3, SR.9.2, WS.1.2, WS.3.2.1, LN.2.3.1, PR.1.1 and PR.3.3 by province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8ff6141f9aeb…)
- Ministère du Budget: Projet de loi de finances pour l'exercice 2026 (Doc. n°1, September 2025): Annexe XI (40% share of national revenue to provinces), Annexe XII (equalisation fund) and Annexe XIX (local development programme by territory), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 02250658e4dd…)
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