Quick facts
Mbuji-Mayi overview
Mbuji-Mayi (orange) and the other large cities of DR Congo
Mbuji-Mayi lies in East Kasai in DR Congo at 6.14°S, 23.59°E, about 621 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Lubumbashi (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Lubumbashi (2,221,925) and larger than Kisangani (1,602,144). 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 938 km away; the nearest large city is Gandajika, 79 km from Mbuji-Mayi.
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 Mbuji-Mayi
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Gandajika Lomami | 79 km | 208,051 |
| Mwene-Ditu Lomami | 98 km | 189,177 |
| Kabinda Lomami | 99 km | 219,396 |
| Kananga Kasai-Central | 132 km | 1,271,704 |
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 Mbuji-Mayi?
Mbuji-Mayi has about 2,101,332 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Mbuji-Mayi the capital of DR Congo?
No. The capital of DR Congo is Kinshasa (16,000,000 people), about 938 km away. Mbuji-Mayi is the 3rd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Mbuji-Mayi compared with the rest of DR Congo?
Its 2,101,332 residents are 1.8% of the 117,501,247 people living in DR Congo today. Kinshasa is larger with 16,000,000 people.
Where is Mbuji-Mayi?
In East Kasai, DR Congo, at latitude -6.14 and longitude 23.59, 621 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Gandajika (79 km), Mwene-Ditu (98 km), Kabinda (99 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Mbuji-Mayi Population 2026 — DR Congo. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/dr-congo/mbuji-mayi/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/dr-congo/mbuji-mayi/">Mbuji-Mayi 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.