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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 112,832,473 people in the DR Congo in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 118,386,491 in the DR Congo.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 11.9 times bigger than the DR Congo's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while the DR Congo is the 14th.
  • The countries together account for 18.3% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 1.42% for the DR Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +3.36% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (95.3% growth).

China vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China DR Congo
2100 633,662,382 436,237,219
2099 644,307,192 433,289,774
2098 655,044,881 430,252,622
2097 665,876,462 427,149,320
2096 676,803,171 423,961,963
2095 687,828,883 420,678,721
2094 698,966,872 417,304,547
2093 710,235,681 413,867,290
2092 721,640,723 410,362,003
2091 733,187,178 406,763,717
2090 744,903,105 403,089,566
2089 756,812,472 399,334,389
2088 768,893,004 395,507,774
2087 781,128,909 391,613,249
2086 793,508,970 387,639,503
2085 806,043,039 383,604,733
2084 818,709,832 379,495,246
2083 831,420,518 375,330,369
2082 844,177,036 371,124,615
2081 856,996,835 366,878,238
2080 869,821,040 362,574,665
2079 882,622,985 358,227,097
2078 895,372,147 353,821,014
2077 908,082,676 349,368,182
2076 920,776,984 344,866,731
2075 933,459,600 340,338,504
2074 946,141,456 335,761,691
2073 958,870,128 331,157,281
2072 971,639,931 326,505,656
2071 984,469,009 321,830,769
2070 997,391,342 317,104,580
2069 1,010,450,818 312,349,776
2068 1,023,633,867 307,566,932
2067 1,036,979,285 302,762,490
2066 1,050,453,924 297,932,241
2065 1,064,051,499 293,081,284
2064 1,077,787,979 288,211,987
2063 1,091,571,021 283,315,009
2062 1,105,429,748 278,399,192
2061 1,119,286,514 273,464,914
2060 1,133,115,260 268,520,814
2059 1,146,818,251 263,570,338
2058 1,160,340,554 258,622,778
2057 1,173,596,480 253,685,085
2056 1,186,578,041 248,748,321
2055 1,199,197,172 243,814,854
2054 1,211,403,028 238,885,417
2053 1,223,160,257 233,971,468
2052 1,234,474,716 229,073,420
2051 1,245,255,938 224,197,775
2050 1,255,501,171 219,354,949
2049 1,265,281,319 214,547,398
2048 1,274,572,888 209,774,448
2047 1,283,393,445 205,040,532
2046 1,291,830,414 200,341,405
2045 1,299,855,379 195,693,533
2044 1,307,510,531 191,087,342
2043 1,314,885,869 186,534,055
2042 1,322,032,311 182,033,706
2041 1,328,936,491 177,583,290
2040 1,335,577,799 173,191,594
2039 1,341,989,157 168,846,440
2038 1,348,134,255 164,551,895
2037 1,354,107,817 160,316,591
2036 1,359,866,705 156,099,100
2035 1,365,387,904 151,924,296
2034 1,370,679,807 147,782,785
2033 1,375,744,986 143,684,929
2032 1,380,528,766 139,642,368
2031 1,385,048,521 135,634,548
2030 1,389,269,809 131,685,113
2029 1,393,241,425 127,793,612
2028 1,396,917,178 123,956,913
2027 1,400,271,033 120,188,952
2026 1,403,335,670 116,482,769
2025 1,406,585,000 112,832,473
2024 1,408,975,000 109,276,265
2023 1,410,710,000 105,789,731
2022 1,412,175,000 102,396,968
2021 1,412,360,000 99,148,932
2020 1,411,100,000 95,989,998
2019 1,407,745,000 92,947,442
2018 1,402,760,000 90,047,644
2017 1,396,215,000 87,083,398
2016 1,387,790,000 83,956,415
2015 1,379,860,000 81,035,531
2014 1,371,860,000 78,403,242
2013 1,363,240,000 75,789,395
2012 1,354,190,000 73,254,618
2011 1,345,035,000 70,849,311
2010 1,337,705,000 68,563,038
2009 1,331,260,000 66,412,044
2008 1,324,655,000 64,390,664
2007 1,317,885,000 62,477,752
2006 1,311,020,000 60,615,908
2005 1,303,720,000 58,775,724
2004 1,296,075,000 56,997,741
2003 1,288,400,000 55,343,867
2002 1,280,400,000 53,750,524
2001 1,271,850,000 52,132,646
2000 1,262,645,000 50,507,442
1999 1,252,735,000 48,912,971
1998 1,241,935,000 47,297,600
1997 1,230,075,000 46,029,902
1996 1,217,550,000 45,296,124
1995 1,204,855,000 44,433,704
1994 1,191,835,000 42,626,876
1993 1,178,440,000 40,656,336
1992 1,164,970,000 39,228,910
1991 1,150,780,000 37,925,817
1990 1,135,185,000 36,684,063
1989 1,118,650,000 35,486,866
1988 1,101,630,000 34,382,752
1987 1,084,035,000 33,298,904
1986 1,066,790,000 32,265,196
1985 1,051,040,000 31,264,816
1984 1,036,825,000 30,245,081
1983 1,023,310,000 29,250,963
1982 1,008,630,000 28,338,190
1981 993,885,000 27,500,515
1980 981,235,000 26,711,099
1979 969,005,000 25,886,782
1978 956,165,000 24,992,689
1977 943,455,000 24,229,061
1976 930,685,000 23,624,031
1975 916,395,000 23,021,101
1974 900,350,000 22,418,878
1973 881,940,000 21,827,665
1972 862,030,000 21,251,160
1971 841,105,000 20,695,569
1970 818,315,000 20,137,436
1969 796,025,000 19,570,445
1968 774,510,000 19,012,189
1967 754,550,000 18,462,782
1966 735,400,000 17,931,929
1965 715,185,000 17,427,802
1964 698,355,000 16,955,327
1963 682,335,000 16,507,599
1962 665,770,000 16,075,724
1961 660,330,000 15,662,374
1960 667,070,000 15,264,846

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while the DR Congo gained 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while the DR Congo's population increased by 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. The DR Congo was ranked 22nd in 2006 and ranked 14th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of the DR Congo will increase by 85.3% to 219,354,949 people and rank change from 14th to 8th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China DR Congo
2100 -1.65% 0.68%
2099 -1.64% 0.71%
2098 -1.63% 0.73%
2097 -1.61% 0.75%
2096 -1.6% 0.78%
2095 -1.59% 0.81%
2094 -1.59% 0.83%
2093 -1.58% 0.85%
2092 -1.57% 0.88%
2091 -1.57% 0.91%
2090 -1.57% 0.94%
2089 -1.57% 0.97%
2088 -1.57% 0.99%
2087 -1.56% 1.03%
2086 -1.56% 1.05%
2085 -1.55% 1.08%
2084 -1.53% 1.11%
2083 -1.51% 1.13%
2082 -1.5% 1.16%
2081 -1.47% 1.19%
2080 -1.45% 1.21%
2079 -1.42% 1.25%
2078 -1.4% 1.27%
2077 -1.38% 1.31%
2076 -1.36% 1.33%
2075 -1.34% 1.36%
2074 -1.33% 1.39%
2073 -1.31% 1.42%
2072 -1.3% 1.45%
2071 -1.3% 1.49%
2070 -1.29% 1.52%
2069 -1.29% 1.56%
2068 -1.29% 1.59%
2067 -1.28% 1.62%
2066 -1.28% 1.66%
2065 -1.27% 1.69%
2064 -1.26% 1.73%
2063 -1.25% 1.77%
2062 -1.24% 1.8%
2061 -1.22% 1.84%
2060 -1.19% 1.88%
2059 -1.17% 1.91%
2058 -1.13% 1.95%
2057 -1.09% 1.98%
2056 -1.05% 2.02%
2055 -1.01% 2.06%
2054 -0.96% 2.1%
2053 -0.92% 2.14%
2052 -0.87% 2.17%
2051 -0.82% 2.21%
2050 -0.77% 2.24%
2049 -0.73% 2.28%
2048 -0.69% 2.31%
2047 -0.65% 2.35%
2046 -0.62% 2.38%
2045 -0.59% 2.41%
2044 -0.56% 2.44%
2043 -0.54% 2.47%
2042 -0.52% 2.51%
2041 -0.5% 2.54%
2040 -0.48% 2.57%
2039 -0.46% 2.61%
2038 -0.44% 2.64%
2037 -0.42% 2.7%
2036 -0.4% 2.75%
2035 -0.39% 2.8%
2034 -0.37% 2.85%
2033 -0.35% 2.89%
2032 -0.33% 2.95%
2031 -0.3% 3%
2030 -0.29% 3.05%
2029 -0.26% 3.1%
2028 -0.24% 3.14%
2027 -0.22% 3.18%
2026 -0.23% 3.24%
2025 -0.17% 3.25%
2024 -0.12% 3.3%
2023 -0.1% 3.31%
2022 -0.01% 3.28%
2021 0.09% 3.29%
2020 0.24% 3.27%
2019 0.36% 3.22%
2018 0.47% 3.4%
2017 0.61% 3.72%
2016 0.57% 3.6%
2015 0.58% 3.36%
2014 0.63% 3.45%
2013 0.67% 3.46%
2012 0.68% 3.39%
2011 0.55% 3.33%
2010 0.48% 3.24%
2009 0.5% 3.14%
2008 0.51% 3.06%
2007 0.52% 3.07%
2006 0.56% 3.13%
2005 0.59% 3.12%
2004 0.6% 2.99%
2003 0.62% 2.96%
2002 0.67% 3.1%
2001 0.73% 3.22%
2000 0.79% 3.26%
1999 0.87% 3.42%
1998 0.96% 2.75%
1997 1.03% 1.62%
1996 1.05% 1.94%
1995 1.09% 4.24%
1994 1.14% 4.85%
1993 1.16% 3.64%
1992 1.23% 3.44%
1991 1.37% 3.38%
1990 1.48% 3.37%
1989 1.54% 3.21%
1988 1.62% 3.25%
1987 1.62% 3.2%
1986 1.5% 3.2%
1985 1.37% 3.37%
1984 1.32% 3.4%
1983 1.46% 3.22%
1982 1.48% 3.05%
1981 1.29% 2.96%
1980 1.26% 3.18%
1979 1.34% 3.58%
1978 1.35% 3.15%
1977 1.37% 2.56%
1976 1.56% 2.62%
1975 1.78% 2.69%
1974 2.09% 2.71%
1973 2.31% 2.71%
1972 2.49% 2.68%
1971 2.78% 2.77%
1970 2.8% 2.9%
1969 2.78% 2.94%
1968 2.65% 2.98%
1967 2.6% 2.96%
1966 2.83% 2.89%
1965 2.41% 2.79%
1964 2.35% 2.71%
1963 2.49% 2.69%
1962 0.82% 2.64%
1961 -1.01% 2.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.25%.

Live population counters

China DR Congo
Current population
1403335670
118386491
Population rank 2/197 14/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 1.42%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
8.89 seconds
One birth every
3.31 seconds
7.06 seconds
One death every
2.88 seconds
34.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +9,743
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +3,556,208
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +3.25%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 10/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 -27,309
Net migration rank 189/196 159/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 1,085,090
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
DR Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China DR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -27,309
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 3,547,217 -26,968
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 3,467,787 -14,992
2022 -847,305 -293,846 3,347,664 -14,991
2021 480,203 -379,749 3,227,992 -64,639
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 3,156,152 -1,633
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 3,075,538 -144,920
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 2,993,184 -124,246
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 2,883,245 176,290
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 2,753,687 440,748
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 2,665,016 -17,711
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 2,580,251 36,966
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 2,489,378 121,097
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 2,405,462 53,668
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 2,310,679 40,891
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 2,212,255 8,823
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 2,126,912 -46,009
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 2,044,210 -82,339
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 1,963,738 -99,742
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 1,889,398 -29,715
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 1,800,300 20,384
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 1,731,022 4,260
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 1,679,188 -106,731
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 1,631,597 -17,358
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 1,594,999 26,523
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 1,549,518 79,340
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 1,450,318 109,761
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 1,375,130 295,560
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 1,392,037 -527,356
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 1,380,490 -777,833
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 1,395,440 -273,434
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 1,259,539 1,232,105
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 1,209,242 240,176
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 1,152,781 252,666
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 1,114,033 86,721
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 1,063,508 219,270
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 1,027,238 84,415
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 995,278 101,314
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 959,875 111,220
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 925,334 70,988
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 885,670 118,791
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 844,956 190,045
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 807,122 146,095
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 774,823 97,495
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 748,371 54,656
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 724,111 51,685
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 691,773 181,028
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 646,411 268,974
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 638,242 -26,355
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 624,147 -25,965
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 608,655 -972
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 593,539 3,216
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 578,280 7,414
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 564,495 2,840
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 549,343 -5,497
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 533,300 39,116
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 514,800 46,778
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 497,682 57,274
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 479,552 64,307
1966 19,282,187 4,165 463,397 54,443
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 429,002 61,397
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 406,334 48,207
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 398,972 41,960
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 383,406 39,431
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 368,207 35,654
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 363,517 27,673

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people). In the DR Congo 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 31,117,482 people) and 0.66% is from migration (a gain of 206,938 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,085,090 people or 1% in the DR Congo.

Biggest cities by population

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M
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 573K
Mbandaka 470K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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