Mbandaka Population 2026

Mbandaka has a population of 455,011, making it the #12 biggest city in 🇨🇩 DR Congo, located in Équateur. Roughly 0.4% of DR Congo's population lives here. It is about 35× smaller than Kinshasa, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

455,011

Rank in DR Congo

#12

Coordinates

0.05°N, 18.26°E

~315 m elevation · Africa/Kinshasa

Distance to capital (Kinshasa)

586 km

364 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Équateur

City	Population	Rank in DR Congo
Bolenge	79,648	#58
Basankusu	41,141	#100

Cities near Mbandaka

Bolenge79,648 people · ~7 km away
Basankusu41,141 people · ~215 km away
Inongo68,852 people · ~220 km away
Boende50,794 people · ~294 km away
Kutu56,061 people · ~309 km away
Nioki62,153 people · ~314 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Mbandaka?

Mbandaka has a population of 455,011 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #12 biggest city in DR Congo.

What region is Mbandaka in?

Mbandaka is located in Équateur, DR Congo.

Is Mbandaka the capital of DR Congo?

No, the capital of DR Congo is Kinshasa, about 586 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.

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