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Population in Cameroon compared to the DR Congo: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 109,276,265 people in the DR Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 117,507,801 in the DR Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 3.81 times bigger than Cameroon's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while the DR Congo is the 15th.
  • The countries together account for 1.79% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 1.42% for the DR Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +3.38% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (93.9% growth).

Cameroon vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon DR Congo
2100 89,781,496 436,320,913
2099 89,255,966 433,372,904
2098 88,720,337 430,335,169
2097 88,168,066 427,231,271
2096 87,604,050 424,043,303
2095 87,032,145 420,759,430
2094 86,441,720 417,384,609
2093 85,842,389 413,946,692
2092 85,235,505 410,440,733
2091 84,610,360 406,841,757
2090 83,973,967 403,166,901
2089 83,322,813 399,411,004
2088 82,662,944 395,583,655
2087 81,989,354 391,688,383
2086 81,310,407 387,713,874
2085 80,614,775 383,678,330
2084 79,910,947 379,568,054
2083 79,192,092 375,402,379
2082 78,464,535 371,195,818
2081 77,723,079 366,948,626
2080 76,963,821 362,644,227
2079 76,202,603 358,295,825
2078 75,431,803 353,888,897
2077 74,649,057 349,435,210
2076 73,862,841 344,932,895
2075 73,062,202 340,403,800
2074 72,248,179 335,826,108
2073 71,432,221 331,220,816
2072 70,603,305 326,568,298
2071 69,771,981 321,892,514
2070 68,936,208 317,165,418
2069 68,095,292 312,409,702
2068 67,251,348 307,625,941
2067 66,399,507 302,820,577
2066 65,539,313 297,989,401
2065 64,675,474 293,137,514
2064 63,807,579 288,267,282
2063 62,939,156 283,369,365
2062 62,065,714 278,452,605
2061 61,188,220 273,517,380
2060 60,302,920 268,572,331
2059 59,413,352 263,620,905
2058 58,519,385 258,672,397
2057 57,622,572 253,733,756
2056 56,730,793 248,796,045
2055 55,837,458 243,861,631
2054 54,935,159 238,931,249
2053 54,032,780 234,016,357
2052 53,122,812 229,117,369
2051 52,215,921 224,240,788
2050 51,314,050 219,397,034
2049 50,406,453 214,588,560
2048 49,501,629 209,814,694
2047 48,593,064 205,079,870
2046 47,688,721 200,379,842
2045 46,789,773 195,731,078
2044 45,890,362 191,124,003
2043 44,999,297 186,569,843
2042 44,103,714 182,068,630
2041 43,204,033 177,617,360
2040 42,316,677 173,224,822
2039 41,430,803 168,878,834
2038 40,554,253 164,583,465
2037 39,682,947 160,347,349
2036 38,815,989 156,129,049
2035 37,963,436 151,953,443
2034 37,116,013 147,811,138
2033 36,279,025 143,712,496
2032 35,446,827 139,669,159
2031 34,626,572 135,660,570
2030 33,811,853 131,710,378
2029 33,009,874 127,818,130
2028 32,213,983 123,980,695
2027 31,428,884 120,212,011
2026 30,654,707 116,505,117
2025 29,885,995 112,854,120
2024 29,123,744 109,276,265
2023 28,372,687 105,789,731
2022 27,632,771 102,396,968
2021 26,915,758 99,148,932
2020 26,210,558 95,989,998
2019 25,506,095 92,947,442
2018 24,806,383 90,047,644
2017 24,128,601 87,083,398
2016 23,454,161 83,956,415
2015 22,763,414 81,035,531
2014 22,059,893 78,403,242
2013 21,402,376 75,789,395
2012 20,809,529 73,254,618
2011 20,232,304 70,849,311
2010 19,668,066 68,563,038
2009 19,113,974 66,412,044
2008 18,574,056 64,390,664
2007 18,049,896 62,477,752
2006 17,550,407 60,615,908
2005 17,074,594 58,775,724
2004 16,610,487 56,997,741
2003 16,160,340 55,343,867
2002 15,725,528 53,750,524
2001 15,309,490 52,132,646
2000 14,912,631 50,507,442
1999 14,525,140 48,912,971
1998 14,144,860 47,297,600
1997 13,775,214 46,029,902
1996 13,414,757 45,296,124
1995 13,058,516 44,433,704
1994 12,704,903 42,626,876
1993 12,353,131 40,656,336
1992 12,006,353 39,228,910
1991 11,667,180 37,925,817
1990 11,331,821 36,684,063
1989 11,002,745 35,486,866
1988 10,684,968 34,382,752
1987 10,370,749 33,298,904
1986 10,060,342 32,265,196
1985 9,761,730 31,264,816
1984 9,475,078 30,245,081
1983 9,215,397 29,250,963
1982 9,028,678 28,338,190
1981 8,816,377 27,500,515
1980 8,512,219 26,711,099
1979 8,239,641 25,886,782
1978 8,011,921 24,992,689
1977 7,796,501 24,229,061
1976 7,597,962 23,624,031
1975 7,397,120 23,021,101
1974 7,193,583 22,418,878
1973 6,996,660 21,827,665
1972 6,806,872 21,251,160
1971 6,624,408 20,695,569
1970 6,449,793 20,137,436
1969 6,283,462 19,570,445
1968 6,125,863 19,012,189
1967 5,977,318 18,462,782
1966 5,837,295 17,931,929
1965 5,704,686 17,427,802
1964 5,578,257 16,955,327
1963 5,456,623 16,507,599
1962 5,338,620 16,075,724
1961 5,239,273 15,662,374
1960 5,159,057 15,264,846

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while the DR Congo gained 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while the DR Congo's population increased by 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. The DR Congo was ranked 22nd in 2006 and ranked 15th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 66.3% to 51,314,050 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of the DR Congo will increase by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people and rank change from 15th to 8th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 436M people in 2100 for the DR Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon DR Congo
2100 0.59% 0.68%
2099 0.6% 0.71%
2098 0.63% 0.73%
2097 0.64% 0.75%
2096 0.66% 0.78%
2095 0.68% 0.81%
2094 0.7% 0.83%
2093 0.71% 0.85%
2092 0.74% 0.88%
2091 0.76% 0.91%
2090 0.78% 0.94%
2089 0.8% 0.97%
2088 0.82% 0.99%
2087 0.84% 1.03%
2086 0.86% 1.05%
2085 0.88% 1.08%
2084 0.91% 1.11%
2083 0.93% 1.13%
2082 0.95% 1.16%
2081 0.99% 1.19%
2080 1% 1.21%
2079 1.02% 1.25%
2078 1.05% 1.27%
2077 1.06% 1.31%
2076 1.1% 1.33%
2075 1.13% 1.36%
2074 1.14% 1.39%
2073 1.17% 1.42%
2072 1.19% 1.45%
2071 1.21% 1.49%
2070 1.23% 1.52%
2069 1.25% 1.56%
2068 1.28% 1.59%
2067 1.31% 1.62%
2066 1.34% 1.66%
2065 1.36% 1.69%
2064 1.38% 1.73%
2063 1.41% 1.77%
2062 1.43% 1.8%
2061 1.47% 1.84%
2060 1.5% 1.88%
2059 1.53% 1.91%
2058 1.56% 1.95%
2057 1.57% 1.98%
2056 1.6% 2.02%
2055 1.64% 2.06%
2054 1.67% 2.1%
2053 1.71% 2.14%
2052 1.74% 2.17%
2051 1.76% 2.21%
2050 1.8% 2.24%
2049 1.83% 2.28%
2048 1.87% 2.31%
2047 1.9% 2.35%
2046 1.92% 2.38%
2045 1.96% 2.41%
2044 1.98% 2.44%
2043 2.03% 2.47%
2042 2.08% 2.51%
2041 2.1% 2.54%
2040 2.14% 2.57%
2039 2.16% 2.61%
2038 2.2% 2.64%
2037 2.23% 2.7%
2036 2.25% 2.75%
2035 2.28% 2.8%
2034 2.31% 2.85%
2033 2.35% 2.89%
2032 2.37% 2.95%
2031 2.41% 3%
2030 2.43% 3.05%
2029 2.47% 3.1%
2028 2.5% 3.14%
2027 2.53% 3.18%
2026 2.57% 3.24%
2025 2.62% 3.27%
2024 2.65% 3.3%
2023 2.68% 3.31%
2022 2.66% 3.28%
2021 2.69% 3.29%
2020 2.76% 3.27%
2019 2.82% 3.22%
2018 2.81% 3.4%
2017 2.88% 3.72%
2016 3.03% 3.6%
2015 3.19% 3.36%
2014 3.07% 3.45%
2013 2.85% 3.46%
2012 2.85% 3.39%
2011 2.87% 3.33%
2010 2.9% 3.24%
2009 2.91% 3.14%
2008 2.9% 3.06%
2007 2.85% 3.07%
2006 2.79% 3.13%
2005 2.79% 3.12%
2004 2.79% 2.99%
2003 2.77% 2.96%
2002 2.72% 3.1%
2001 2.66% 3.22%
2000 2.67% 3.26%
1999 2.69% 3.42%
1998 2.68% 2.75%
1997 2.69% 1.62%
1996 2.73% 1.94%
1995 2.78% 4.24%
1994 2.85% 4.85%
1993 2.89% 3.64%
1992 2.91% 3.44%
1991 2.96% 3.38%
1990 2.99% 3.37%
1989 2.97% 3.21%
1988 3.03% 3.25%
1987 3.09% 3.2%
1986 3.06% 3.2%
1985 3.03% 3.37%
1984 2.82% 3.4%
1983 2.07% 3.22%
1982 2.41% 3.05%
1981 3.57% 2.96%
1980 3.31% 3.18%
1979 2.84% 3.58%
1978 2.76% 3.15%
1977 2.61% 2.56%
1976 2.72% 2.62%
1975 2.83% 2.69%
1974 2.81% 2.71%
1973 2.79% 2.71%
1972 2.75% 2.68%
1971 2.71% 2.77%
1970 2.65% 2.9%
1969 2.57% 2.94%
1968 2.49% 2.98%
1967 2.4% 2.96%
1966 2.32% 2.89%
1965 2.27% 2.79%
1964 2.23% 2.71%
1963 2.21% 2.69%
1962 1.9% 2.64%
1961 1.55% 2.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/dr-congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.3%.

Live population counters

Cameroon DR Congo
Current population
30864115
117507801
Population rank 51/197 15/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 1.42%
One net population change
42 seconds
9.05 seconds
One birth every
32.9 seconds
7.22 seconds
One death every
2.59 minutes
35 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +9,552
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +3,486,534
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +3.3%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 11/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 -27,309
Net migration rank 146/196 159/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 1,085,090
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
DR Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon DR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -27,309
2024 - -13,892 - -26,968
2023 754,486 -4,798 3,467,787 -14,992
2022 734,893 -4,798 3,347,664 -14,991
2021 713,806 -9,888 3,227,992 -64,639
2020 716,361 -9,888 3,156,152 -1,633
2019 714,681 -12,255 3,075,538 -144,920
2018 706,188 -9,184 2,993,184 -124,246
2017 696,496 -37,912 2,883,245 176,290
2016 677,051 13,255 2,753,687 440,748
2015 649,190 42,008 2,665,016 -17,711
2014 619,243 96,599 2,580,251 36,966
2013 606,072 -6,900 2,489,378 121,097
2012 594,029 -7,523 2,405,462 53,668
2011 580,607 -12,669 2,310,679 40,891
2010 569,921 -9,366 2,212,255 8,823
2009 557,841 -10,203 2,126,912 -46,009
2008 542,919 -10,720 2,044,210 -82,339
2007 526,949 -10,807 1,963,738 -99,742
2006 511,366 -28,528 1,889,398 -29,715
2005 496,547 -27,775 1,800,300 20,384
2004 478,880 -19,444 1,731,022 4,260
2003 459,422 -18,568 1,679,188 -106,731
2002 439,544 -10,766 1,631,597 -17,358
2001 422,511 -19,203 1,594,999 26,523
2000 411,633 -21,221 1,549,518 79,340
1999 401,969 -17,398 1,450,318 109,761
1998 388,432 -12,446 1,375,130 295,560
1997 377,138 -13,842 1,392,037 -527,356
1996 370,355 -12,738 1,380,490 -777,833
1995 367,532 -12,661 1,395,440 -273,434
1994 364,390 -12,028 1,259,539 1,232,105
1993 360,785 -9,601 1,209,242 240,176
1992 356,072 -13,702 1,152,781 252,666
1991 350,493 -14,520 1,114,033 86,721
1990 342,901 -8,163 1,063,508 219,270
1989 334,649 -11,244 1,027,238 84,415
1988 328,168 -16,016 995,278 101,314
1987 320,134 -3,829 959,875 111,220
1986 308,188 -3,671 925,334 70,988
1985 296,317 -3,604 885,670 118,791
1984 284,110 -3,512 844,956 190,045
1983 276,112 -37,346 807,122 146,095
1982 274,652 -139,974 774,823 97,495
1981 262,076 27,845 748,371 54,656
1980 247,808 70,589 724,111 51,685
1979 238,875 -12,108 691,773 181,028
1978 229,958 -1,282 646,411 268,974
1977 222,785 -20,622 638,242 -26,355
1976 214,916 -19,994 624,147 -25,965
1975 206,986 -237 608,655 -972
1974 200,693 -377 593,539 3,216
1973 193,997 -466 578,280 7,414
1972 186,521 -473 564,495 2,840
1971 179,317 -439 549,343 -5,497
1970 170,713 -367 533,300 39,116
1969 162,603 -286 514,800 46,778
1968 153,080 -204 497,682 57,274
1967 144,370 -148 479,552 64,307
1966 135,927 -96 463,397 54,443
1965 129,428 -39 429,002 61,397
1964 123,469 0 406,334 48,207
1963 119,784 0 398,972 41,960
1962 116,232 0 383,406 39,431
1961 82,471 0 368,207 35,654
1960 77,948 0 363,517 27,673

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/dr-congo | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 6,982,395 people) and 0.9% is from migration (a gain of 63,139 people). In the DR Congo 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,150,516 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a gain of 270,872 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 1,085,090 people or 1% in the DR Congo.

Biggest cities by population

Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K
DR Congo
City Population
Kinshasa 14.6M
Mbuji-Mayi 2.89M
Kananga 1.97M
Lubumbashi 1.79M
Kisangani 1.37M
Tshikapa 1.01M
Uvira 726K
Bukavu 707K
Kolwezi 480K
Mbandaka 470K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/dr-congo | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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