Quick facts
Bukavu overview
Bukavu (orange) and the other large cities of DR Congo
Bukavu lies in South Kivu in DR Congo at 2.49°S, 28.84°E, about 1,631 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Lubumbashi (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Kananga (1,271,704) and larger than Kolwezi (790,248). The largest city in DR Congo is Kinshasa with 16,000,000 people; the capital, Kinshasa, has 16,000,000.
The national capital, Kinshasa, is about 1,515 km away; the nearest large city is Uvira, 106 km from Bukavu.
DR Congo as a whole has a live population of 117,501,247 (+3.1% a year) and ranks #15 of 238 countries — see the DR Congo population page for the full statistics and the DR Congo atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Bukavu
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Uvira South Kivu | 106 km | 407,092 |
Largest cities in DR Congo
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KinshasaCapital | Kinshasa | 16,000,000 |
| 2 | Lubumbashi | Haut-Katanga | 2,221,925 |
| 3 | Mbuji-Mayi | East Kasai | 2,101,332 |
| 4 | Kisangani | Tshopo | 1,602,144 |
| 5 | Kananga | Kasai-Central | 1,271,704 |
| 6 | Bukavu | South Kivu | 816,811 |
| 7 | Kolwezi | Lualaba | 790,248 |
| 8 | Likasi | Haut-Katanga | 635,768 |
| 9 | Tshikapa | Kasai | 634,529 |
| 10 | Kikwit | Kwilu | 509,367 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bukavu?
Bukavu has about 816,811 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Bukavu the capital of DR Congo?
No. The capital of DR Congo is Kinshasa (16,000,000 people), about 1,515 km away. Bukavu is the 6th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Bukavu compared with the rest of DR Congo?
Its 816,811 residents are 0.7% of the 117,501,247 people living in DR Congo today. Kinshasa is larger with 16,000,000 people.
Where is Bukavu?
In South Kivu, DR Congo, at latitude -2.49 and longitude 28.84, 1,631 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Uvira (106 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Bukavu Population 2026 — DR Congo. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/dr-congo/bukavu/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/dr-congo/bukavu/">Bukavu Population 2026 — DR Congo</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.