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DR Congo vs Zambia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has a population of 109M (ranked 15/197), compared with 21.3M in Zambia (ranked 63/197). The DR Congo's land area is 875,313 sq mi versus 287,024 sq mi for Zambia (ranked 11th vs. 37th).

By GDP, The DR Congo ranks 87/197 ($71B) and Zambia ranks 116/197 ($25.3B). By GDP per capita, The DR Congo ranks 190/197 ($649), while Zambia ranks 169/197 ($1,187).

Main facts and rankings

DR Congo Zambia
Population
117507801
22697916
Population rank 15/197 62/197
GDP
$71B
2024
$25.3B
2024
GDP rank 87/197 116/197
GDP per capita
$649
2024
$1,187
2024
GDP per capita rank 190/197 169/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,821
2024
$4,215
2024
Government debt
$16B
2024
$29.1B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
22.5%
2024
114.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$146.4
2024
$1,365
2024
Government debt per person rank 183/185 134/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,693
2026
$1,349
2026
Land area 875,313 sq mi 287,024 sq mi
Population density
133.1 ppl/mi²
2026
78.5 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
6.05
2023
4.1
2023
Median age
16.9 years
2024
18.8 years
2024
Life expectancy
62.4 years
2026
66.9 years
2026

DR Congo and Zambia: Comparison Charts

DR Congo and Zambia economies compared

GDP
DR Congo

Zambia
1x
Year GDP
DR Congo Zambia
2024 $70,962,185,791 $25,303,185,342
2023 $69,843,655,425 $27,577,956,471
2022 $70,422,346,142 $29,163,782,140
2021 $59,067,289,574 $22,096,416,932
2020 $46,691,989,749 $18,137,764,931
2019 $46,845,900,350 $23,308,667,781
2018 $46,659,954,092 $26,311,507,274
2017 $37,537,521,566 $25,873,601,261
2016 $38,600,224,214 $20,958,412,538
2015 $40,179,574,490 $21,251,216,799
2014 $38,352,980,553 $27,141,023,558
2013 $34,891,189,160 $28,037,239,463
2012 $30,029,369,929 $25,503,060,420
2011 $26,392,379,642 $23,459,515,276
2010 $24,161,641,931 $20,265,559,484
2009 $18,607,259,481 $15,328,342,304
2008 $22,723,488,723 $17,910,858,638
2007 $18,374,807,773 $14,056,957,976
2006 $15,484,044,535 $12,756,858,899
2005 $12,609,728,573 $8,331,870,169
2004 $10,297,483,481 $6,221,110,219
2003 $8,937,567,060 $4,901,869,764
2002 $8,728,038,525 $4,193,850,445
2001 $7,438,189,100 $4,094,441,301
2000 $19,088,046,306 $3,600,632,111
1999 $4,711,259,427 $3,404,284,891
1998 $6,217,805,821 $3,537,741,942
1997 $6,090,838,693 $4,303,288,480
1996 $5,771,456,952 $3,597,220,962
1995 $5,643,439,376 $3,806,983,413
1994 $5,820,382,248 $3,656,806,166
1993 $10,706,259,937 $3,273,505,344
1992 $8,227,343,907 $3,182,810,841
1991 $9,625,436,873 $3,376,806,697
1990 $9,349,764,580 $3,288,381,797
1989 $9,021,862,775 $3,994,673,161
1988 $8,861,299,977 $3,728,878,149
1987 $7,661,625,473 $2,265,250,972
1986 $8,095,367,168 $1,664,413,508
1985 $7,195,042,616 $2,252,454,500
1984 $7,857,729,193 $2,719,518,933
1983 $11,006,712,650 $3,321,048,451
1982 $13,651,667,371 $3,871,117,093
1981 $12,537,821,038 $4,008,126,497
1980 $14,394,927,495 $3,884,530,854
1979 $15,068,422,236 $3,353,445,378
1978 $15,372,608,002 $2,811,032,473
1977 $12,344,424,764 $2,515,296,940
1976 $9,648,583,225 $2,742,859,263
1975 $10,237,343,174 $2,442,672,141
1974 $9,596,960,180 $2,910,981,262
1973 $7,870,239,461 $2,434,255,237
1972 $6,173,712,814 $1,872,416,680
1971 $5,594,770,359 $1,653,259,341
1970 $4,877,684,910 $1,788,779,285
1969 $5,032,434,970 $1,926,399,230
1968 $3,909,780,539 $1,573,739,371
1967 $3,384,063,372 $1,340,639,464
1966 $4,532,660,182 $1,238,999,505
1965 $4,043,901,818 $1,061,199,576
1964 $2,881,545,273 $822,639,671
1963 $6,213,185,743 $704,339,719
1962 $3,779,841,429 $679,279,729
1961 $3,086,746,857 $682,359,727
1960 $3,359,404,118 $698,739,721

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/zambia | CC BY

DR Congo and Zambia economies compared

GDP per capita
DR Congo

Zambia
1x
Year GDP per capita
DR Congo Zambia
2024 $649 $1,187
2023 $660 $1,331
2022 $688 $1,447
2021 $596 $1,127
2020 $486 $952
2019 $504 $1,259
2018 $518 $1,464
2017 $431 $1,483
2016 $460 $1,239
2015 $496 $1,296
2014 $489 $1,707
2013 $460 $1,821
2012 $410 $1,710
2011 $373 $1,625
2010 $352 $1,451
2009 $280.2 $1,136
2008 $353 $1,376
2007 $294.1 $1,119
2006 $255.4 $1,052
2005 $214.5 $711
2004 $180.7 $549
2003 $161.5 $446
2002 $162.4 $394
2001 $142.7 $397
2000 $378 $359
1999 $96.3 $350
1998 $131.5 $373
1997 $132.3 $466
1996 $127.4 $400
1995 $127 $433
1994 $136.5 $426
1993 $263.3 $391
1992 $209.7 $389
1991 $253.8 $423
1990 $254.9 $422
1989 $254.2 $526
1988 $257.7 $504
1987 $230.1 $315
1986 $250.9 $238.2
1985 $230.1 $332
1984 $259.8 $413
1983 $376 $520
1982 $482 $627
1981 $456 $670
1980 $539 $669
1979 $582 $595
1978 $615 $514
1977 $509 $474
1976 $408 $533
1975 $445 $490
1974 $428 $601
1973 $361 $518
1972 $290.5 $410
1971 $270.3 $372
1970 $242.2 $414
1969 $257.1 $459
1968 $205.6 $387
1967 $183.3 $341
1966 $252.8 $325
1965 $232 $287.4
1964 $169.9 $230
1963 $376 $203.2
1962 $235.1 $202.3
1961 $197.1 $209.7
1960 $220.1 $221.6

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/zambia | CC BY

DR Congo vs. Zambia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
DR Congo

Zambia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
DR Congo Zambia
2026 62.4 66.9
2025 62.2 66.7
2024 62.1 66.5
2023 61.9 66.3
2022 61 65.3
2021 60 62.4
2020 60.4 63.4
2019 60.2 62.9
2018 59.9 62.1
2017 59.5 61.6
2016 59.1 61.1
2015 58.7 60.7
2014 58.2 60.1
2013 57.8 59.4
2012 57.4 58.7
2011 56.9 57.8
2010 56.4 56.9
2009 55.8 55.9
2008 55.4 54.8
2007 55 53.7
2006 54.5 52.7
2005 54 51.6
2004 53.5 50.5
2003 53 49.6
2002 52.4 48.5
2001 52.2 47.4
2000 51.9 46.6
1999 50.1 45.9
1998 49.7 45.7
1997 50.5 45.7
1996 49.4 45.8
1995 50.4 46.1
1994 49.9 46.3
1993 49.6 46.7
1992 49.3 47
1991 48.9 47.4
1990 48.5 48.2
1989 48.1 48.9
1988 47.8 49.7
1987 47.4 50.4
1986 47 51.1
1985 46.7 52
1984 46.5 52.9
1983 46.2 53.7
1982 45.9 54.4
1981 45.7 55
1980 45.5 55.5
1979 45.3 56
1978 44.6 56.3
1977 44.9 56.3
1976 44.7 56.1
1975 44.5 55.7
1974 44.3 55.4
1973 44.1 54.9
1972 43.9 54.4
1971 43.6 53.9
1970 43.3 53.4
1969 43 53
1968 42.7 52.7
1967 42.3 52.5
1966 42.2 52.3
1965 40.8 52.1
1964 40.1 51.2
1963 40.6 51.6
1962 40.4 51.3
1961 40.2 51
1960 40.8 50.6
1959 40.6 50.3
1958 40.5 49.9
1957 40.2 49.5
1956 39.9 49.1
1955 39.7 48.8
1954 39.4 48.4
1953 39.1 48
1952 38.9 47.6
1951 38.5 47.2
1950 38.2 46.8

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/zambia | CC BY

DR Congo and Zambia population clocks and comparison

Population
DR Congo

Zambia
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Zambia
2024 109,276,265 21,314,956
2023 105,789,731 20,723,965
2022 102,396,968 20,152,938
2021 99,148,932 19,603,607
2020 95,989,998 19,059,395
2019 92,947,442 18,513,839
2018 90,047,644 17,973,569
2017 87,083,398 17,441,320
2016 83,956,415 16,914,423
2015 81,035,531 16,399,089
2014 78,403,242 15,895,315
2013 75,789,395 15,398,997
2012 73,254,618 14,913,629
2011 70,849,311 14,437,796
2010 68,563,038 13,965,594
2009 66,412,044 13,490,389
2008 64,390,664 13,021,324
2007 62,477,752 12,565,085
2006 60,615,908 12,129,553
2005 58,775,724 11,718,819
2004 56,997,741 11,338,198
2003 55,343,867 10,983,595
2002 53,750,524 10,647,949
2001 52,132,646 10,325,185
2000 50,507,442 10,017,631
1999 48,912,971 9,740,005
1998 47,297,600 9,482,408
1997 46,029,902 9,237,063
1996 45,296,124 9,004,053
1995 44,433,704 8,785,763
1994 42,626,876 8,576,269
1993 40,656,336 8,373,921
1992 39,228,910 8,176,680
1991 37,925,817 7,981,650
1990 36,684,063 7,786,169
1989 35,486,866 7,589,216
1988 34,382,752 7,391,440
1987 33,298,904 7,191,282
1986 32,265,196 6,986,471
1985 31,264,816 6,780,953
1984 30,245,081 6,580,490
1983 29,250,963 6,381,038
1982 28,338,190 6,178,637
1981 27,500,515 5,983,289
1980 26,711,099 5,802,833
1979 25,886,782 5,631,728
1978 24,992,689 5,465,374
1977 24,229,061 5,302,480
1976 23,624,031 5,143,842
1975 23,021,101 4,990,086
1974 22,418,878 4,842,746
1973 21,827,665 4,702,693
1972 21,251,160 4,569,309
1971 20,695,569 4,442,525
1970 20,137,436 4,321,718
1969 19,570,445 4,197,116
1968 19,012,189 4,065,593
1967 18,462,782 3,936,343
1966 17,931,929 3,812,003
1965 17,427,802 3,692,086
1964 16,955,327 3,577,017
1963 16,507,599 3,465,907
1962 16,075,724 3,358,099
1961 15,662,374 3,254,086
1960 15,264,846 3,153,729

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/zambia | CC BY

Fertility rates in DR Congo and Zambia

Fertility rate
DR Congo

Zambia
1x
Year Fertility rate
DR Congo Zambia
2023 6.05 4.1
2022 6.11 4.18
2021 6.16 4.25
2020 6.21 4.32
2019 6.25 4.42
2018 6.3 4.49
2017 6.35 4.57
2016 6.39 4.67
2015 6.44 4.78
2014 6.48 4.89
2013 6.53 5.01
2012 6.56 5.14
2011 6.58 5.26
2010 6.59 5.36
2009 6.59 5.45
2008 6.58 5.53
2007 6.56 5.61
2006 6.55 5.68
2005 6.53 5.7
2004 6.53 5.7
2003 6.55 5.71
2002 6.61 5.77
2001 6.66 5.85
2000 6.7 5.92
1999 6.69 6
1998 6.7 6.07
1997 6.69 6.12
1996 6.67 6.18
1995 6.68 6.23
1994 6.64 6.26
1993 6.64 6.3
1992 6.64 6.35
1991 6.65 6.46
1990 6.65 6.57
1989 6.65 6.64
1988 6.66 6.7
1987 6.65 6.8
1986 6.63 6.87
1985 6.61 6.93
1984 6.59 6.97
1983 6.56 7.01
1982 6.54 7.04
1981 6.52 7.07
1980 6.5 7.14
1979 6.48 7.22
1978 6.46 7.29
1977 6.45 7.35
1976 6.44 7.39
1975 6.42 7.42
1974 6.4 7.36
1973 6.39 7.34
1972 6.37 7.3
1971 6.34 7.26
1970 6.33 7.22
1969 6.3 7.18
1968 6.29 7.18
1967 6.27 7.15
1966 6.24 7.14
1965 6.21 7.12
1964 6.19 7.09
1963 6.16 7.06
1962 6.14 7.01
1961 6.12 6.98
1960 6.11 6.95

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/zambia | CC BY

DR Congo and Zambia demographics compared

Median age
DR Congo

Zambia
1x
Year Median age, years
DR Congo Zambia
2024 16.9 18.8
2023 16.9 18.6
2022 16.9 18.4
2021 16.9 18.2
2020 16.9 18
2019 16.9 17.9
2018 17 17.7
2017 17 17.5
2016 16.9 17.4
2015 16.9 17.2
2014 16.9 17.1
2013 16.9 17
2012 16.9 16.9
2011 16.9 16.8
2010 16.9 16.7
2009 16.9 16.6
2008 16.9 16.5
2007 17 16.4
2006 17 16.3
2005 17 16.3
2004 17 16.2
2003 17.1 16.1
2002 17.1 16
2001 17.1 15.9
2000 17.2 15.9
1999 17.2 15.8
1998 17.2 15.8
1997 17.4 15.8
1996 17.7 15.8
1995 18.1 15.8
1994 18 15.8
1993 17.8 15.8
1992 17.8 15.8
1991 17.8 15.7
1990 17.8 15.7
1989 17.8 15.7
1988 17.8 15.6
1987 17.9 15.6
1986 17.9 15.5
1985 17.9 15.5
1984 17.9 15.4
1983 17.9 15.4
1982 17.8 15.3
1981 17.9 15.3
1980 17.9 15.2
1979 17.9 15.3
1978 17.8 15.3
1977 17.8 15.4
1976 17.8 15.4
1975 17.9 15.5
1974 18 15.7
1973 18.1 15.8
1972 18.2 15.9
1971 18.3 16.1
1970 18.4 16.2
1969 18.5 16.4
1968 18.5 16.4
1967 18.5 16.5
1966 18.5 16.5
1965 18.5 16.6
1964 18.5 16.6
1963 18.5 16.7
1962 18.4 16.8
1961 18.4 16.9
1960 18.4 17

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/dr-congo/zambia | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for the DR Congo and Zambia.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

DR Congo Zambia
GNI, Atlas method
$72.7B
2024
$25.9B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
16.7%
2024
25.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.84%
2022
4.07%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.23%
2024
1.33%
2024
Armed forces personnel
134,000
2020
16,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.48%
2024
-3.32%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.47%
2020
5.86%
2023
Services, % of GDP
46.6%
2024
57.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
39.9%
2024
35.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
47
2026
51.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
35.7%
2020
39.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2020
1.5%
2022
Listed domestic companies n/a
20
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$7.77B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$5.1B
2023
$4.09B
2024
Personal remittances received
$2B
2024
$334M
2024
International tourist arrivals
351,000
2016
502,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.38%
2018
n/a
Banked people share
39.2%
2024
72.7%
2024

Energy

DR Congo Zambia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
391 kg
2022
801 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$4.07
2022
$4.8
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
6.21 megatons
2024
11.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.06 tons
2024
0.54 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
3.97%
2022
18.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
96.3%
2021
83%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
2.84%
2022
9.18%
2022
Net energy imports use share
1.6%
2022
9.03%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
130.7 kWh
2022
704 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
90.4%
2021
92.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
99.6%
2022
87.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
22.1%
2023
51.1%
2023

Society

DR Congo Zambia
% of world population
1.34%
2024
0.26%
2024
Annual migration change
-27,309
2025
+6,562
2025
Urban population
44.7%
2024
45.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.6:50.4
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.53 ft
2025
5.5 ft
2025
Average female height
5.13 ft
2025
5.16 ft
2025
Quality of life index
8.38
2026
30.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
20
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
43
2026
47
2026
Homicides per 100K people
13.6
2015
5.25
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
34.9
2019
20.5
2019
Visa free countries
51
2025
74
2025
Adult literacy rate
80.5%
2022
82%
2023
English speaking
1%
2025
16%
2023
People using the Internet
30.5%
2023
33%
2023

Health

DR Congo Zambia
Government health expenditure per capita
$23.4
2023
$79.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$8.9
2023
$8.18
2023
Life expectancy
62.4 years
2026
66.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
37%
2023
47.9%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.21
2022
0.32
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.9 years
2025
19.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
427
2023
85
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
73.2
2023
44.7
2023
Obesity rate
6.89%
2022
11.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.7%
2024
10.3%
2024
Air quality index
5
2026
30
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
12.2%
2022
14.6%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.92 liters
2020
3.62 liters
2020

Territory

DR Congo Zambia
% of world land
1.52%
2026
0.5%
2026
Land area per capita
8,010 sq mi
2024
13,466 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
135,505 sq mi
2026
92,043 sq mi
2026
Forest area
474,331 sq mi
2026
170,848 sq mi
2026
Roads length
94,680 mi
2015
42,049 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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