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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 109,276,265 people in the DR Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 117,507,801 in the DR Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 17.6 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while the DR Congo is the 15th.
  • The countries together account for 1.5% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 1.42% for the DR Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +3.38% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (93.9% growth).

Congo vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo DR Congo
2100 20,197,393 436,320,913
2099 20,056,338 433,372,904
2098 19,909,990 430,335,169
2097 19,763,169 427,231,271
2096 19,613,556 424,043,303
2095 19,462,505 420,759,430
2094 19,309,823 417,384,609
2093 19,154,254 413,946,692
2092 18,993,517 410,440,733
2091 18,831,137 406,841,757
2090 18,666,035 403,166,901
2089 18,500,705 399,411,004
2088 18,328,408 395,583,655
2087 18,156,542 391,688,383
2086 17,982,556 387,713,874
2085 17,810,599 383,678,330
2084 17,634,115 379,568,054
2083 17,455,922 375,402,379
2082 17,273,447 371,195,818
2081 17,095,916 366,948,626
2080 16,913,187 362,644,227
2079 16,731,545 358,295,825
2078 16,545,390 353,888,897
2077 16,360,458 349,435,210
2076 16,175,508 344,932,895
2075 15,984,378 340,403,800
2074 15,794,071 335,826,108
2073 15,599,735 331,220,816
2072 15,404,494 326,568,298
2071 15,207,921 321,892,514
2070 15,011,471 317,165,418
2069 14,810,543 312,409,702
2068 14,612,051 307,625,941
2067 14,415,033 302,820,577
2066 14,213,222 297,989,401
2065 14,012,829 293,137,514
2064 13,813,071 288,267,282
2063 13,611,733 283,369,365
2062 13,407,155 278,452,605
2061 13,206,406 273,517,380
2060 13,006,970 268,572,331
2059 12,808,144 263,620,905
2058 12,611,185 258,672,397
2057 12,415,316 253,733,756
2056 12,219,298 248,796,045
2055 12,024,601 243,861,631
2054 11,826,644 238,931,249
2053 11,629,783 234,016,357
2052 11,433,645 229,117,369
2051 11,236,927 224,240,788
2050 11,041,020 219,397,034
2049 10,846,652 214,588,560
2048 10,651,879 209,814,694
2047 10,455,019 205,079,870
2046 10,260,138 200,379,842
2045 10,065,444 195,731,078
2044 9,872,742 191,124,003
2043 9,677,498 186,569,843
2042 9,483,953 182,068,630
2041 9,288,673 177,617,360
2040 9,097,986 173,224,822
2039 8,908,556 168,878,834
2038 8,720,599 164,583,465
2037 8,534,256 160,347,349
2036 8,350,011 156,129,049
2035 8,167,940 151,953,443
2034 7,986,915 147,811,138
2033 7,806,956 143,712,496
2032 7,629,621 139,669,159
2031 7,454,630 135,660,570
2030 7,285,238 131,710,378
2029 7,119,031 127,818,130
2028 6,956,345 123,980,695
2027 6,795,830 120,212,011
2026 6,639,560 116,505,117
2025 6,485,440 112,854,120
2024 6,332,961 109,276,265
2023 6,182,885 105,789,731
2022 6,035,104 102,396,968
2021 5,892,183 99,148,932
2020 5,752,791 95,989,998
2019 5,616,661 92,947,442
2018 5,483,118 90,047,644
2017 5,351,011 87,083,398
2016 5,222,536 83,956,415
2015 5,097,581 81,035,531
2014 4,975,880 78,403,242
2013 4,857,099 75,789,395
2012 4,740,450 73,254,618
2011 4,609,724 70,849,311
2010 4,462,290 68,563,038
2009 4,281,219 66,412,044
2008 4,113,517 64,390,664
2007 3,980,430 62,477,752
2006 3,837,409 60,615,908
2005 3,696,393 58,775,724
2004 3,565,554 56,997,741
2003 3,445,753 55,343,867
2002 3,350,771 53,750,524
2001 3,272,537 52,132,646
2000 3,151,345 50,507,442
1999 3,032,874 48,912,971
1998 2,952,061 47,297,600
1997 2,887,862 46,029,902
1996 2,826,785 45,296,124
1995 2,749,461 44,433,704
1994 2,673,144 42,626,876
1993 2,595,124 40,656,336
1992 2,519,465 39,228,910
1991 2,449,229 37,925,817
1990 2,380,560 36,684,063
1989 2,313,558 35,486,866
1988 2,247,653 34,382,752
1987 2,183,473 33,298,904
1986 2,120,602 32,265,196
1985 2,059,311 31,264,816
1984 1,999,528 30,245,081
1983 1,950,321 29,250,963
1982 1,910,430 28,338,190
1981 1,869,759 27,500,515
1980 1,828,985 26,711,099
1979 1,788,524 25,886,782
1978 1,748,089 24,992,689
1977 1,707,568 24,229,061
1976 1,667,225 23,624,031
1975 1,627,032 23,021,101
1974 1,582,301 22,418,878
1973 1,533,680 21,827,665
1972 1,486,468 21,251,160
1971 1,441,039 20,695,569
1970 1,397,638 20,137,436
1969 1,356,182 19,570,445
1968 1,316,519 19,012,189
1967 1,278,691 18,462,782
1966 1,242,534 17,931,929
1965 1,207,880 17,427,802
1964 1,174,816 16,955,327
1963 1,143,263 16,507,599
1962 1,113,175 16,075,724
1961 1,084,389 15,662,374
1960 1,056,732 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/congo/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while the DR Congo gained 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while the DR Congo's population increased by 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th 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) the Congo's population will grow by 65.2% to 11,041,020 people with a rank change from 109th to 95th. The population of the DR Congo will increase by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people and rank change from 15th to 8th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 436M people in 2100 for the DR Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo DR Congo
2100 0.7% 0.68%
2099 0.74% 0.71%
2098 0.74% 0.73%
2097 0.76% 0.75%
2096 0.78% 0.78%
2095 0.79% 0.81%
2094 0.81% 0.83%
2093 0.85% 0.85%
2092 0.86% 0.88%
2091 0.88% 0.91%
2090 0.89% 0.94%
2089 0.94% 0.97%
2088 0.95% 0.99%
2087 0.97% 1.03%
2086 0.97% 1.05%
2085 1% 1.08%
2084 1.02% 1.11%
2083 1.06% 1.13%
2082 1.04% 1.16%
2081 1.08% 1.19%
2080 1.09% 1.21%
2079 1.13% 1.25%
2078 1.13% 1.27%
2077 1.14% 1.31%
2076 1.2% 1.33%
2075 1.2% 1.36%
2074 1.25% 1.39%
2073 1.27% 1.42%
2072 1.29% 1.45%
2071 1.31% 1.49%
2070 1.36% 1.52%
2069 1.36% 1.56%
2068 1.37% 1.59%
2067 1.42% 1.62%
2066 1.43% 1.66%
2065 1.45% 1.69%
2064 1.48% 1.73%
2063 1.53% 1.77%
2062 1.52% 1.8%
2061 1.53% 1.84%
2060 1.55% 1.88%
2059 1.56% 1.91%
2058 1.58% 1.95%
2057 1.6% 1.98%
2056 1.62% 2.02%
2055 1.67% 2.06%
2054 1.69% 2.1%
2053 1.72% 2.14%
2052 1.75% 2.17%
2051 1.77% 2.21%
2050 1.79% 2.24%
2049 1.83% 2.28%
2048 1.88% 2.31%
2047 1.9% 2.35%
2046 1.93% 2.38%
2045 1.95% 2.41%
2044 2.02% 2.44%
2043 2.04% 2.47%
2042 2.1% 2.51%
2041 2.1% 2.54%
2040 2.13% 2.57%
2039 2.16% 2.61%
2038 2.18% 2.64%
2037 2.21% 2.7%
2036 2.23% 2.75%
2035 2.27% 2.8%
2034 2.31% 2.85%
2033 2.32% 2.89%
2032 2.35% 2.95%
2031 2.33% 3%
2030 2.33% 3.05%
2029 2.34% 3.1%
2028 2.36% 3.14%
2027 2.35% 3.18%
2026 2.38% 3.24%
2025 2.41% 3.27%
2024 2.43% 3.3%
2023 2.45% 3.31%
2022 2.43% 3.28%
2021 2.42% 3.29%
2020 2.42% 3.27%
2019 2.44% 3.22%
2018 2.47% 3.4%
2017 2.46% 3.72%
2016 2.45% 3.6%
2015 2.45% 3.36%
2014 2.45% 3.45%
2013 2.46% 3.46%
2012 2.84% 3.39%
2011 3.3% 3.33%
2010 4.23% 3.24%
2009 4.08% 3.14%
2008 3.34% 3.06%
2007 3.73% 3.07%
2006 3.81% 3.13%
2005 3.67% 3.12%
2004 3.48% 2.99%
2003 2.83% 2.96%
2002 2.39% 3.1%
2001 3.85% 3.22%
2000 3.91% 3.26%
1999 2.74% 3.42%
1998 2.22% 2.75%
1997 2.16% 1.62%
1996 2.81% 1.94%
1995 2.85% 4.24%
1994 3.01% 4.85%
1993 3% 3.64%
1992 2.87% 3.44%
1991 2.88% 3.38%
1990 2.9% 3.37%
1989 2.93% 3.21%
1988 2.94% 3.25%
1987 2.96% 3.2%
1986 2.98% 3.2%
1985 2.99% 3.37%
1984 2.52% 3.4%
1983 2.09% 3.22%
1982 2.18% 3.05%
1981 2.23% 2.96%
1980 2.26% 3.18%
1979 2.31% 3.58%
1978 2.37% 3.15%
1977 2.42% 2.56%
1976 2.47% 2.62%
1975 2.83% 2.69%
1974 3.17% 2.71%
1973 3.18% 2.71%
1972 3.15% 2.68%
1971 3.11% 2.77%
1970 3.06% 2.9%
1969 3.01% 2.94%
1968 2.96% 2.98%
1967 2.91% 2.96%
1966 2.87% 2.89%
1965 2.81% 2.79%
1964 2.76% 2.71%
1963 2.7% 2.69%
1962 2.65% 2.64%
1961 2.62% 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/congo/dr-congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.3%.

Live population counters

Congo DR Congo
Current population
6681829
117507801
Population rank 109/197 15/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.42%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
9.05 seconds
One birth every
2.78 minutes
7.22 seconds
One death every
13.5 minutes
35 seconds
Daily growth/decline +411 +9,552
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +3,486,534
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +3.3%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 11/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 -27,309
Net migration rank 108/196 159/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 1,085,090
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
DR Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo DR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -27,309
2024 - -2,491 - -26,968
2023 150,486 -995 3,467,787 -14,992
2022 147,076 -995 3,347,664 -14,991
2021 144,241 -4,476 3,227,992 -64,639
2020 143,492 -4,472 3,156,152 -1,633
2019 139,513 -6,268 3,075,538 -144,920
2018 142,704 -8,856 2,993,184 -124,246
2017 141,973 -11,601 2,883,245 176,290
2016 141,358 -14,783 2,753,687 440,748
2015 141,539 -18,207 2,665,016 -17,711
2014 141,674 -21,598 2,580,251 36,966
2013 142,080 -24,605 2,489,378 121,097
2012 142,464 -26,643 2,405,462 53,668
2011 140,371 5,262 2,310,679 40,891
2010 136,908 12,318 2,212,255 8,823
2009 126,904 86,014 2,126,912 -46,009
2008 120,711 1,774 2,044,210 -82,339
2007 112,459 31,239 1,963,738 -99,742
2006 106,876 35,475 1,889,398 -29,715
2005 101,344 38,337 1,800,300 20,384
2004 96,577 25,412 1,731,022 4,260
2003 91,326 26,280 1,679,188 -106,731
2002 88,497 -16,140 1,631,597 -17,358
2001 84,876 -764 1,594,999 26,523
2000 78,491 79,780 1,549,518 79,340
1999 76,204 2,470 1,450,318 109,761
1998 72,450 10,500 1,375,130 295,560
1997 66,149 -20,704 1,392,037 -527,356
1996 75,628 1,085 1,380,490 -777,833
1995 74,189 3,747 1,395,440 -273,434
1994 72,857 1,850 1,259,539 1,232,105
1993 71,119 10,218 1,209,242 240,176
1992 69,973 0 1,152,781 252,666
1991 68,534 1,966 1,114,033 86,721
1990 67,241 -395 1,063,508 219,270
1989 65,944 1,214 1,027,238 84,415
1988 64,629 22 995,278 101,314
1987 63,183 525 959,875 111,220
1986 61,669 367 925,334 70,988
1985 60,359 182 885,670 118,791
1984 59,028 0 844,956 190,045
1983 58,120 -18,720 807,122 146,095
1982 57,036 -16,664 774,823 97,495
1981 56,603 -15,630 748,371 54,656
1980 55,550 -14,972 724,111 51,685
1979 54,723 -14,378 691,773 181,028
1978 53,885 -13,356 646,411 268,974
1977 53,179 -12,673 638,242 -26,355
1976 52,148 -11,971 624,147 -25,965
1975 51,155 -10,944 608,655 -972
1974 49,563 -312 593,539 3,216
1973 48,017 -22 578,280 7,414
1972 46,427 0 564,495 2,840
1971 44,431 0 549,343 -5,497
1970 42,374 0 533,300 39,116
1969 40,532 0 514,800 46,778
1968 38,786 0 497,682 57,274
1967 36,866 0 479,552 64,307
1966 35,452 0 463,397 54,443
1965 33,865 0 429,002 61,397
1964 32,270 0 406,334 48,207
1963 30,832 0 398,972 41,960
1962 29,342 0 383,406 39,431
1961 28,220 0 368,207 35,654
1960 27,094 0 363,517 27,673

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 94% of the population change in the Congo is from natural causes (a gain of 1,434,056 people) and 6.04% is from migration (a loss of 92,251 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, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 1,085,090 people or 1% in the DR Congo.

Biggest cities by population

Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 71.6K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K
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/congo/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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