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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 109,276,265 people in the DR Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 117,507,801 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 15th.
  • 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 +0.3% per year vs +3.38% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (93.9% growth).

China vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China DR Congo
2100 633,320,628 436,320,913
2099 643,959,697 433,372,904
2098 654,691,595 430,335,169
2097 665,517,335 427,231,271
2096 676,438,150 424,043,303
2095 687,457,915 420,759,430
2094 698,589,897 417,384,609
2093 709,852,629 413,946,692
2092 721,251,520 410,440,733
2091 732,791,748 406,841,757
2090 744,501,355 403,166,901
2089 756,404,299 399,411,004
2088 768,478,316 395,583,655
2087 780,707,622 391,688,383
2086 793,081,006 387,713,874
2085 805,608,315 383,678,330
2084 818,268,277 379,568,054
2083 830,972,107 375,402,379
2082 843,721,746 371,195,818
2081 856,534,631 366,948,626
2080 869,351,919 362,644,227
2079 882,146,959 358,295,825
2078 894,889,246 353,888,897
2077 907,592,919 349,435,210
2076 920,280,380 344,932,895
2075 932,956,157 340,403,800
2074 945,631,173 335,826,108
2073 958,352,980 331,220,816
2072 971,115,895 326,568,298
2071 983,938,054 321,892,514
2070 996,853,418 317,165,418
2069 1,009,905,851 312,409,702
2068 1,023,081,790 307,625,941
2067 1,036,420,010 302,820,577
2066 1,049,887,382 297,989,401
2065 1,063,477,623 293,137,514
2064 1,077,206,695 288,267,282
2063 1,090,982,303 283,369,365
2062 1,104,833,556 278,452,605
2061 1,118,682,849 273,517,380
2060 1,132,504,136 268,572,331
2059 1,146,199,736 263,620,905
2058 1,159,714,746 258,672,397
2057 1,172,963,523 253,733,756
2056 1,185,938,083 248,796,045
2055 1,198,550,408 243,861,631
2054 1,210,749,681 238,931,249
2053 1,222,500,569 234,016,357
2052 1,233,808,926 229,117,369
2051 1,244,584,333 224,240,788
2050 1,254,824,040 219,397,034
2049 1,264,598,914 214,588,560
2048 1,273,885,471 209,814,694
2047 1,282,701,271 205,079,870
2046 1,291,133,690 200,379,842
2045 1,299,154,327 195,731,078
2044 1,306,805,350 191,124,003
2043 1,314,176,710 186,569,843
2042 1,321,319,298 182,068,630
2041 1,328,219,755 177,617,360
2040 1,334,857,481 173,224,822
2039 1,341,265,381 168,878,834
2038 1,347,407,165 164,583,465
2037 1,353,377,505 160,347,349
2036 1,359,133,287 156,129,049
2035 1,364,651,508 151,953,443
2034 1,369,940,557 147,811,138
2033 1,375,003,005 143,712,496
2032 1,379,784,204 139,669,159
2031 1,384,301,522 135,660,570
2030 1,388,520,533 131,710,378
2029 1,392,490,007 127,818,130
2028 1,396,163,778 123,980,695
2027 1,399,515,824 120,212,011
2026 1,402,578,808 116,505,117
2025 1,405,826,385 112,854,120
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while the DR Congo's population increased by 33,551,386 people (a 40% 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 15th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of the DR Congo will increase by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people and rank change from 15th 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 633M 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 -0.22% 3.27%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.3%.

Live population counters

China DR Congo
Current population
1402578808
117507801
Population rank 2/197 15/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 1.42%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
9.05 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
7.22 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
35 seconds
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +9,552
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +3,486,534
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +3.3%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 11/197
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 - -318,992 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 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, 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 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/china/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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