MigrantoImmigrants in DR Congo
1M foreign-born residents — the #59 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 82% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Central African Republic | 368125 |
| Rwanda | 286208 |
| Angola | 201592 |
| South Sudan | 103594 |
| Burundi | 67352 |
| Republic of Congo | 7108 |
| Uganda | 6776 |
| Sudan | 6115 |
By region of origin
Africa is the leading region of origin at 100%
1M
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in DR Congo.
Immigration sources have diversified since 1990
The top source country's share fell from 71% to 35%, indicating a broader spread of origins.
DR Congo is a primary destination for emigrants from Rwanda
DR Congo attracts 53% of all emigrants from Rwanda, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Central African Republic is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Central African Republic accounts for 35% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 27%.
A significant share of the population of the Central African Republic has settled here
More than 1 in 14 people from the Central African Republic now live in DR Congo — 368.1K people, representing 6.91% of the population of the Central African Republic.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 663006 |
| 1995 | 1715920 |
| 2000 | 617393 |
| 2005 | 493958 |
| 2010 | 429634 |
| 2015 | 775534 |
| 2020 | 919308 |
| 2024 | 1046870 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Central African Republic | Rwanda | Angola | South Sudan | Burundi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 22972 | 468462 | 113409 | 20203 |
| 1995 | 0 | 1132791 | 276402 | 137306 | 128458 |
| 2000 | 0 | 85936 | 325733 | 118742 | 36692 |
| 2005 | 0 | 82035 | 262144 | 57568 | 35973 |
| 2010 | 0 | 123871 | 259584 | 4465 | 37626 |
| 2015 | 253402 | 275136 | 181954 | 8596 | 38377 |
| 2020 | 323269 | 251333 | 177028 | 90971 | 59145 |
| 2024 | 368125 | 286208 | 201592 | 103594 | 67352 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
DR Congo as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in DR Congo
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in DR Congo?
Around 1M foreign-born residents live in DR Congo, making it the #59-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in DR Congo come from?
Most immigrants in DR Congo come from Central African Republic, Rwanda and Angola — these three countries account for about 82% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of DR Congo are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of DR Congo — that's 1M out of a total population of 109.3M.
How has immigration to DR Congo changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in DR Congo has grown from 775.5K to 1M people, a growth of about 35%.
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