MigrantoCongolese Diaspora
231.1K Congolese live abroad — 4% of the population of the Republic of Congo
Congolese diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 64% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| France | 94890 |
| South Africa | 29093 |
| Tanzania | 24189 |
| Gabon | 17698 |
| Zambia | 13869 |
| Mali | 13793 |
| DR Congo | 7108 |
| Benin | 4318 |
| Belgium | 3982 |
| Cameroon | 3817 |
| Italy | 2836 |
| Australia | 2688 |
| Morocco | 2201 |
| Greece | 1531 |
| China | 1263 |
| Namibia | 1239 |
| Chad | 1113 |
| Angola | 1091 |
| Malawi | 1008 |
| Portugal | 610 |
| Libya | 453 |
| Luxembourg | 345 |
| Norway | 282 |
| Brazil | 282 |
| Togo | 260 |
| Egypt | 228 |
| Mexico | 206 |
| Denmark | 170 |
| Finland | 147 |
| Guinea | 112 |
| Hungary | 90 |
| Eswatini | 72 |
| Bulgaria | 36 |
| Slovakia | 25 |
| Costa Rica | 11 |
| Bolivia | 8 |
| Lithuania | 6 |
| Estonia | 5 |
| Slovenia | 3 |
| Iceland | 2 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By region
53% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Congolese diaspora in numbers
Most Congolese abroad live in France
41% of the diaspora lives in France, while the next country accounts for just 13%.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
3 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Cameroon, Australia, Greece. Cameroon climbed from outside the top 20 to #10.
The diaspora is more concentrated than in 1990
The largest country's share rose from 33% to 41%, and today that country is France.
Congolese diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 64367 |
| 1995 | 88142 |
| 2000 | 118262 |
| 2005 | 160242 |
| 2010 | 169150 |
| 2015 | 201319 |
| 2020 | 220301 |
| 2024 | 231080 |
Largest communities over time
Congolese living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | France | South Africa | Tanzania | Gabon | Zambia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21122 | 2352 | 15007 | 5045 | 116 |
| 1995 | 31833 | 1774 | 22000 | 6747 | 456 |
| 2000 | 46017 | 6019 | 23123 | 8440 | 4330 |
| 2005 | 58914 | 15501 | 23777 | 9393 | 5632 |
| 2010 | 67995 | 24231 | 24354 | 10660 | 8481 |
| 2015 | 78314 | 32296 | 25017 | 14905 | 7471 |
| 2020 | 87925 | 36235 | 22287 | 16396 | 10460 |
| 2024 | 94890 | 29093 | 24189 | 17698 | 13869 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Congolese in each country has changed since the selected year
Congolese among immigrants in other countries
Where Congolese make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Congolese live outside Republic of Congo?
Around 231.1K Congolese live abroad, the world's #128 largest diaspora.
Where do most Congolese abroad live?
Most Congolese live in France, South Africa and Tanzania — these three countries account for about 64% of all Congolese living abroad.
Which country has the largest Congolese population outside Republic of Congo?
France is home to the largest Congolese community abroad — 94.9K people, about 41% of all Congolese living abroad.
What share of the population of the Republic of Congo lives abroad?
About 4% of the population of the Republic of Congo lives abroad — that's 231.1K out of a total population of 6.3M.
Is the Congolese diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Congolese living abroad has grown from 201.3K to 231.1K, about 15%.
Where does the data on the Congolese diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in the Republic of Congo who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
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Living in the Republic of Congo
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