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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 135,472,051 people in Ethiopia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 140,722,974 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 20.9 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 1.77% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.69% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 141M (74.4% growth).

Congo vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Ethiopia
2100 20,194,267 371,078,260
2099 20,053,234 369,338,252
2098 19,906,909 367,513,542
2097 19,760,110 365,567,496
2096 19,610,521 363,536,294
2095 19,459,493 361,596,042
2094 19,306,835 359,531,317
2093 19,151,289 357,460,480
2092 18,990,577 355,389,829
2091 18,828,222 353,218,632
2090 18,663,146 350,960,021
2089 18,497,842 348,751,618
2088 18,325,571 346,517,326
2087 18,153,731 344,162,324
2086 17,979,773 341,671,994
2085 17,807,843 339,167,930
2084 17,631,386 336,649,520
2083 17,453,221 334,083,247
2082 17,270,773 331,401,460
2081 17,093,270 328,715,487
2080 16,910,570 326,013,981
2079 16,728,955 323,282,865
2078 16,542,829 320,422,535
2077 16,357,926 317,492,915
2076 16,173,005 314,518,328
2075 15,981,904 311,487,723
2074 15,791,626 308,416,133
2073 15,597,321 305,383,505
2072 15,402,110 302,258,564
2071 15,205,567 299,119,280
2070 15,009,147 295,963,235
2069 14,808,250 292,756,723
2068 14,609,790 289,522,748
2067 14,412,802 286,191,689
2066 14,211,022 282,905,709
2065 14,010,661 279,576,283
2064 13,810,933 276,197,958
2063 13,609,626 272,782,685
2062 13,405,080 269,340,926
2061 13,204,362 265,803,351
2060 13,004,957 262,269,354
2059 12,806,162 258,692,767
2058 12,609,233 255,205,644
2057 12,413,395 251,656,356
2056 12,217,406 248,002,497
2055 12,022,740 244,426,069
2054 11,824,813 240,794,405
2053 11,627,983 237,155,110
2052 11,431,875 233,479,314
2051 11,235,188 229,733,593
2050 11,039,311 226,055,085
2049 10,844,973 222,351,471
2048 10,650,230 218,627,197
2047 10,453,401 214,883,954
2046 10,258,550 211,161,780
2045 10,063,886 207,461,987
2044 9,871,213 203,749,820
2043 9,676,000 200,035,613
2042 9,482,485 196,351,202
2041 9,287,235 192,689,672
2040 9,096,577 189,023,384
2039 8,907,177 185,365,776
2038 8,719,250 181,733,067
2037 8,532,935 178,124,993
2036 8,348,719 174,515,366
2035 8,166,676 170,904,339
2034 7,985,679 167,316,305
2033 7,805,748 163,763,376
2032 7,628,440 160,167,364
2031 7,453,476 156,590,018
2030 7,284,111 153,023,174
2029 7,117,929 149,461,578
2028 6,955,268 145,944,350
2027 6,794,778 142,419,893
2026 6,638,532 138,930,724
2025 6,484,437 135,472,051
2024 6,332,961 132,059,767
2023 6,182,885 128,691,692
2022 6,035,104 125,384,287
2021 5,892,183 122,138,588
2020 5,752,791 118,917,671
2019 5,616,661 115,737,383
2018 5,483,118 112,664,152
2017 5,351,011 109,666,481
2016 5,222,536 106,718,162
2015 5,097,581 103,867,135
2014 4,975,880 101,115,610
2013 4,857,099 98,438,751
2012 4,740,450 95,798,767
2011 4,609,724 93,149,970
2010 4,462,290 90,538,514
2009 4,281,219 88,007,636
2008 4,113,517 85,543,668
2007 3,980,430 83,103,217
2006 3,837,409 80,703,490
2005 3,696,393 78,367,470
2004 3,565,554 76,077,206
2003 3,445,753 73,832,663
2002 3,350,771 71,635,517
2001 3,272,537 69,487,762
2000 3,151,345 67,411,494
1999 3,032,874 65,374,561
1998 2,952,061 63,363,524
1997 2,887,862 61,404,539
1996 2,826,785 59,467,635
1995 2,749,461 57,537,335
1994 2,673,144 55,611,508
1993 2,595,124 53,708,891
1992 2,519,465 51,853,747
1991 2,449,229 49,717,198
1990 2,380,560 47,609,755
1989 2,313,558 45,879,690
1988 2,247,653 44,150,825
1987 2,183,473 42,460,039
1986 2,120,602 41,037,656
1985 2,059,311 39,842,136
1984 1,999,528 38,735,722
1983 1,950,321 37,740,817
1982 1,910,430 36,701,290
1981 1,869,759 35,304,012
1980 1,828,985 34,428,514
1979 1,788,524 34,238,652
1978 1,748,089 33,734,592
1977 1,707,568 33,167,272
1976 1,667,225 32,534,418
1975 1,627,032 31,723,252
1974 1,582,301 30,957,273
1973 1,533,680 30,166,785
1972 1,486,468 29,374,608
1971 1,441,039 28,600,106
1970 1,397,638 27,829,128
1969 1,356,182 27,072,571
1968 1,316,519 26,337,930
1967 1,278,691 25,620,276
1966 1,242,534 24,952,689
1965 1,207,880 24,310,612
1964 1,174,816 23,666,548
1963 1,143,263 23,051,637
1962 1,113,175 22,465,126
1961 1,084,389 21,906,102
1960 1,056,732 21,376,693

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/congo/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Congo's population will grow by 64.3% to 11,039,311 people with a rank change from 109th to 95th. The population of Ethiopia will increase by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 371M people in 2100 for Ethiopia.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Ethiopia
2100 0.7% 0.47%
2099 0.74% 0.5%
2098 0.74% 0.53%
2097 0.76% 0.56%
2096 0.78% 0.54%
2095 0.79% 0.57%
2094 0.81% 0.58%
2093 0.85% 0.58%
2092 0.86% 0.61%
2091 0.88% 0.64%
2090 0.89% 0.63%
2089 0.94% 0.64%
2088 0.95% 0.68%
2087 0.97% 0.73%
2086 0.97% 0.74%
2085 1% 0.75%
2084 1.02% 0.77%
2083 1.06% 0.81%
2082 1.04% 0.82%
2081 1.08% 0.83%
2080 1.09% 0.84%
2079 1.13% 0.89%
2078 1.13% 0.92%
2077 1.14% 0.95%
2076 1.2% 0.97%
2075 1.2% 1%
2074 1.25% 0.99%
2073 1.27% 1.03%
2072 1.29% 1.05%
2071 1.31% 1.07%
2070 1.36% 1.1%
2069 1.36% 1.12%
2068 1.37% 1.16%
2067 1.42% 1.16%
2066 1.43% 1.19%
2065 1.45% 1.22%
2064 1.48% 1.25%
2063 1.53% 1.28%
2062 1.52% 1.33%
2061 1.53% 1.35%
2060 1.55% 1.38%
2059 1.56% 1.37%
2058 1.58% 1.41%
2057 1.6% 1.47%
2056 1.62% 1.46%
2055 1.67% 1.51%
2054 1.69% 1.53%
2053 1.72% 1.57%
2052 1.75% 1.63%
2051 1.77% 1.63%
2050 1.79% 1.67%
2049 1.83% 1.7%
2048 1.88% 1.74%
2047 1.9% 1.76%
2046 1.93% 1.78%
2045 1.95% 1.82%
2044 2.02% 1.86%
2043 2.04% 1.88%
2042 2.1% 1.9%
2041 2.1% 1.94%
2040 2.13% 1.97%
2039 2.16% 2%
2038 2.18% 2.03%
2037 2.21% 2.07%
2036 2.23% 2.11%
2035 2.27% 2.14%
2034 2.31% 2.17%
2033 2.32% 2.25%
2032 2.35% 2.28%
2031 2.33% 2.33%
2030 2.33% 2.38%
2029 2.34% 2.41%
2028 2.36% 2.47%
2027 2.35% 2.51%
2026 2.38% 2.55%
2025 2.39% 2.58%
2024 2.43% 2.62%
2023 2.45% 2.64%
2022 2.43% 2.66%
2021 2.42% 2.71%
2020 2.42% 2.75%
2019 2.44% 2.73%
2018 2.47% 2.73%
2017 2.46% 2.76%
2016 2.45% 2.74%
2015 2.45% 2.72%
2014 2.45% 2.72%
2013 2.46% 2.76%
2012 2.84% 2.84%
2011 3.3% 2.88%
2010 4.23% 2.88%
2009 4.08% 2.88%
2008 3.34% 2.94%
2007 3.73% 2.97%
2006 3.81% 2.98%
2005 3.67% 3.01%
2004 3.48% 3.04%
2003 2.83% 3.07%
2002 2.39% 3.09%
2001 3.85% 3.08%
2000 3.91% 3.12%
1999 2.74% 3.17%
1998 2.22% 3.19%
1997 2.16% 3.26%
1996 2.81% 3.35%
1995 2.85% 3.46%
1994 3.01% 3.54%
1993 3% 3.58%
1992 2.87% 4.3%
1991 2.88% 4.43%
1990 2.9% 3.77%
1989 2.93% 3.92%
1988 2.94% 3.98%
1987 2.96% 3.47%
1986 2.98% 3%
1985 2.99% 2.86%
1984 2.52% 2.64%
1983 2.09% 2.83%
1982 2.18% 3.96%
1981 2.23% 2.54%
1980 2.26% 0.55%
1979 2.31% 1.49%
1978 2.37% 1.71%
1977 2.42% 1.95%
1976 2.47% 2.56%
1975 2.83% 2.47%
1974 3.17% 2.62%
1973 3.18% 2.7%
1972 3.15% 2.71%
1971 3.11% 2.77%
1970 3.06% 2.79%
1969 3.01% 2.79%
1968 2.96% 2.8%
1967 2.91% 2.68%
1966 2.87% 2.64%
1965 2.81% 2.72%
1964 2.76% 2.67%
1963 2.7% 2.61%
1962 2.65% 2.55%
1961 2.62% 2.48%

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/congo/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.58%.

Live population counters

Congo Ethiopia
Current population
6718789
140722974
Population rank 109/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.69%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
9.27 seconds
One birth every
2.73 minutes
7.59 seconds
One death every
13.3 minutes
40.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +415 +9,349
Annual growth/decline +151,476 +3,412,284
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +2.58%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 24/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 +24,054
Net migration rank 108/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - 24,054
2024 153,150 -2,491 3,379,409 30,069
2023 150,486 -995 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 147,076 -995 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 144,241 -4,476 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 143,492 -4,472 3,199,718 38,866
2019 139,513 -6,268 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 142,704 -8,856 3,015,231 9,302
2017 141,973 -11,601 2,899,143 71,766
2016 141,358 -14,783 2,809,889 115,823
2015 141,539 -18,207 2,713,529 62,785
2014 141,674 -21,598 2,623,647 103,122
2013 142,080 -24,605 2,546,020 80,955
2012 142,464 -26,643 2,533,398 119,517
2011 140,371 5,262 2,527,811 116,793
2010 136,908 12,318 2,498,048 80,213
2009 126,904 86,014 2,467,118 16,315
2008 120,711 1,774 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 112,459 31,239 2,436,753 -381
2006 106,876 35,475 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 101,344 38,337 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 96,577 25,412 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 91,326 26,280 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 88,497 -16,140 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 84,876 -764 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 78,491 79,780 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 76,204 2,470 2,010,987 29,142
1998 72,450 10,500 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 66,149 -20,704 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 75,628 1,085 1,896,364 41,456
1995 74,189 3,747 1,831,068 91,727
1994 72,857 1,850 1,788,133 140,715
1993 71,119 10,218 1,734,851 141,545
1992 69,973 0 1,673,839 160,106
1991 68,534 1,966 1,579,416 859,737
1990 67,241 -395 1,479,663 296,014
1989 65,944 1,214 1,441,769 242,614
1988 64,629 22 1,393,356 379,966
1987 63,183 525 1,356,853 251,387
1986 61,669 367 1,050,277 186,227
1985 60,359 182 997,050 157,476
1984 59,028 0 920,670 137,632
1983 58,120 -18,720 863,472 68,022
1982 57,036 -16,664 1,080,853 66,702
1981 56,603 -15,630 1,018,838 628,135
1980 55,550 -14,972 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 54,723 -14,378 987,203 -711,455
1978 53,885 -13,356 943,388 -210,991
1977 53,179 -12,673 929,381 -527,133
1976 52,148 -11,971 899,577 -36,125
1975 51,155 -10,944 801,425 -42,540
1974 49,563 -312 777,306 -4,232
1973 48,017 -22 807,535 347
1972 46,427 0 779,808 -3,375
1971 44,431 0 787,047 -14,510
1970 42,374 0 760,821 8,589
1969 40,532 0 736,428 7,258
1968 38,786 0 715,602 9,992
1967 36,866 0 695,283 14,437
1966 35,452 0 616,281 9,160
1965 33,865 0 642,359 16,348
1964 32,270 0 618,667 10,749
1963 30,832 0 590,998 9,418
1962 29,342 0 563,650 8,960
1961 28,220 0 538,518 6,938
1960 27,094 0 511,694 1,696

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/ethiopia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 95.2% of the population change in the Congo is from natural causes (a gain of 1,445,532 people) and 4.82% is from migration (a loss of 73,144 people). In Ethiopia 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

Biggest cities by population

Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 127K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/congo/ethiopia | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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