Butembo Population 2026

Butembo has a population of 286,242, making it the #19 biggest city in 🇨🇩 DR Congo, located in North Kivu. Roughly 0.2% of DR Congo's population lives here. It is about 56× smaller than Kinshasa, the country's biggest city.

Location of Butembo (capital Kinshasa shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

286,242

Rank in DR Congo

#19

Coordinates

0.14°N, 29.29°E

~1,736 m elevation · Africa/Lubumbashi

Distance to capital (Kinshasa)

1,630 km

1,012 miles, straight line

Other big cities in North Kivu

City	Population	Rank in DR Congo
Goma	432,587	#13
Beni	140,731	#32
Katwa	89,352	#43
Rutshuru	82,680	#47
Hyosha	74,502	#61
Mangina	55,439	#76
Kirumba	52,041	#78
Kayna	51,103	#79

Cities near Butembo

Katwa89,352 people · ~6 km away
Lubero41,722 people · ~34 km away
Beni140,731 people · ~44 km away
Mangina55,439 people · ~51 km away
Hyosha74,502 people · ~67 km away
Kayna51,103 people · ~85 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Butembo?

Butembo has a population of 286,242 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #19 biggest city in DR Congo.

What region is Butembo in?

Butembo is located in North Kivu, DR Congo.

Is Butembo the capital of DR Congo?

No, the capital of DR Congo is Kinshasa, about 1,630 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

← All biggest cities in DR Congo · DR Congo population by year