Quick facts
Lubumbashi overview
Lubumbashi (orange) and the other large cities of DR Congo
Lubumbashi lies in Haut-Katanga in DR Congo at 11.66°S, 27.48°E, about 1,260 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Lubumbashi (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Kinshasa (16,000,000) and larger than Mbuji-Mayi (2,101,332). 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 1,567 km away; the nearest large city is Kipushi, 27 km from Lubumbashi.
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 Lubumbashi
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Kipushi Haut-Katanga | 27 km | 169,635 |
| Likasi Haut-Katanga | 110 km | 635,768 |
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 Lubumbashi?
Lubumbashi has about 2,221,925 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Lubumbashi the capital of DR Congo?
No. The capital of DR Congo is Kinshasa (16,000,000 people), about 1,567 km away. Lubumbashi is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Lubumbashi compared with the rest of DR Congo?
Its 2,221,925 residents are 1.9% of the 117,501,247 people living in DR Congo today. Kinshasa is larger with 16,000,000 people.
Where is Lubumbashi?
In Haut-Katanga, DR Congo, at latitude -11.66 and longitude 27.48, 1,260 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Kipushi (27 km), Likasi (110 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Lubumbashi Population 2026 — DR Congo. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/dr-congo/lubumbashi/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/dr-congo/lubumbashi/">Lubumbashi 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.