MigrantoImmigrants in DR Congo
1M foreigners live in DR Congo — 1% of the country's population
Immigrants in DR Congo by country
The 3 largest groups make up 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
100% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in DR Congo in numbers
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 71% to 35%.
53% of all emigrants from Rwanda live in DR Congo
No other country has more people born in Rwanda.
Central Africans are the largest group by a wide margin
35% of all immigrants were born in the Central African Republic, while the next group accounts for just 27%.
1 in 14 people born in the Central African Republic lives in DR Congo
368.1K people born in the Central African Republic live in DR Congo — 6.91% of the population of the Central African Republic.
Immigrant population in DR Congo over time
Foreigners living in DR Congo, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 663006 |
| 1995 | 1715920 |
| 2000 | 617393 |
| 2005 | 493958 |
| 2010 | 429634 |
| 2015 | 775534 |
| 2020 | 919308 |
| 2024 | 1046870 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in DR Congo, by year
| Year | Central Africans | Rwandans | Angolans | South Sudanese | Burundians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in DR Congo
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in DR Congo
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in DR Congo?
Around 1M immigrants live in DR Congo — the world's #59 largest immigrant population.
What percentage 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.
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 immigrants.
How many Central Africans live in DR Congo?
Around 368.1K Central Africans live in DR Congo — about 35% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in DR Congo growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in DR Congo has grown from 775.5K to 1M, about 35%.
Where does the data on immigrants in DR Congo come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in DR Congo. Their children born in DR Congo are not included.
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Living in DR Congo
See the full country overview