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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 7.23 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Congo vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Iraq
2100 20,197,393 101,632,594
2099 20,056,338 101,421,266
2098 19,909,990 101,212,536
2097 19,763,169 100,980,835
2096 19,613,556 100,724,441
2095 19,462,505 100,464,590
2094 19,309,823 100,194,041
2093 19,154,254 99,876,174
2092 18,993,517 99,532,041
2091 18,831,137 99,203,830
2090 18,666,035 98,886,956
2089 18,500,705 98,513,025
2088 18,328,408 98,144,039
2087 18,156,542 97,767,537
2086 17,982,556 97,325,026
2085 17,810,599 96,873,007
2084 17,634,115 96,448,602
2083 17,455,922 95,991,166
2082 17,273,447 95,509,663
2081 17,095,916 95,009,326
2080 16,913,187 94,507,216
2079 16,731,545 93,960,228
2078 16,545,390 93,417,384
2077 16,360,458 92,903,983
2076 16,175,508 92,359,592
2075 15,984,378 91,825,254
2074 15,794,071 91,229,266
2073 15,599,735 90,571,021
2072 15,404,494 89,918,374
2071 15,207,921 89,265,548
2070 15,011,471 88,596,492
2069 14,810,543 87,909,474
2068 14,612,051 87,220,494
2067 14,415,033 86,513,996
2066 14,213,222 85,734,530
2065 14,012,829 84,971,898
2064 13,813,071 84,191,350
2063 13,611,733 83,387,951
2062 13,407,155 82,604,577
2061 13,206,406 81,800,637
2060 13,006,970 80,951,008
2059 12,808,144 80,141,868
2058 12,611,185 79,319,543
2057 12,415,316 78,477,339
2056 12,219,298 77,609,202
2055 12,024,601 76,739,924
2054 11,826,644 75,857,125
2053 11,629,783 74,952,948
2052 11,433,645 74,072,580
2051 11,236,927 73,150,234
2050 11,041,020 72,235,938
2049 10,846,652 71,272,122
2048 10,651,879 70,316,860
2047 10,455,019 69,347,823
2046 10,260,138 68,400,664
2045 10,065,444 67,435,953
2044 9,872,742 66,447,309
2043 9,677,498 65,453,565
2042 9,483,953 64,433,831
2041 9,288,673 63,408,709
2040 9,097,986 62,360,117
2039 8,908,556 61,289,355
2038 8,720,599 60,253,073
2037 8,534,256 59,221,658
2036 8,350,011 58,155,990
2035 8,167,940 57,127,999
2034 7,986,915 56,087,695
2033 7,806,956 55,051,140
2032 7,629,621 54,002,289
2031 7,454,630 52,991,443
2030 7,285,238 51,986,773
2029 7,119,031 50,982,563
2028 6,956,345 50,001,133
2027 6,795,830 49,014,822
2026 6,639,560 48,020,334
2025 6,485,440 47,020,527
2024 6,332,961 46,042,015
2023 6,182,885 45,074,049
2022 6,035,104 44,070,551
2021 5,892,183 43,071,211
2020 5,752,791 42,116,605
2019 5,616,661 41,192,171
2018 5,483,118 40,265,624
2017 5,351,011 39,337,353
2016 5,222,536 38,469,627
2015 5,097,581 37,560,535
2014 4,975,880 36,550,059
2013 4,857,099 35,281,989
2012 4,740,450 33,654,842
2011 4,609,724 32,161,424
2010 4,462,290 31,045,366
2009 4,281,219 30,058,206
2008 4,113,517 28,971,036
2007 3,980,430 28,391,607
2006 3,837,409 28,616,515
2005 3,696,393 28,407,448
2004 3,565,554 27,577,878
2003 3,445,753 26,802,659
2002 3,350,771 26,006,559
2001 3,272,537 25,197,840
2000 3,151,345 24,424,056
1999 3,032,874 23,636,527
1998 2,952,061 22,884,399
1997 2,887,862 22,176,593
1996 2,826,785 21,501,321
1995 2,749,461 20,825,860
1994 2,673,144 20,139,807
1993 2,595,124 19,201,195
1992 2,519,465 18,300,845
1991 2,449,229 17,767,253
1990 2,380,560 17,581,206
1989 2,313,558 17,364,542
1988 2,247,653 16,908,819
1987 2,183,473 16,521,049
1986 2,120,602 16,074,145
1985 2,059,311 15,683,430
1984 1,999,528 15,310,733
1983 1,950,321 14,840,555
1982 1,910,430 14,406,083
1981 1,869,759 14,006,381
1980 1,828,985 13,591,992
1979 1,788,524 13,170,365
1978 1,748,089 12,753,355
1977 1,707,568 12,331,046
1976 1,667,225 11,927,651
1975 1,627,032 11,543,639
1974 1,582,301 11,167,761
1973 1,533,680 10,795,869
1972 1,486,468 10,430,164
1971 1,441,039 10,077,809
1970 1,397,638 9,735,611
1969 1,356,182 9,403,356
1968 1,316,519 9,085,016
1967 1,278,691 8,778,869
1966 1,242,534 8,485,104
1965 1,207,880 8,202,140
1964 1,174,816 7,929,566
1963 1,143,263 7,667,928
1962 1,113,175 7,413,875
1961 1,084,389 7,194,553
1960 1,056,732 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Iraq
2100 0.7% 0.21%
2099 0.74% 0.21%
2098 0.74% 0.23%
2097 0.76% 0.25%
2096 0.78% 0.26%
2095 0.79% 0.27%
2094 0.81% 0.32%
2093 0.85% 0.35%
2092 0.86% 0.33%
2091 0.88% 0.32%
2090 0.89% 0.38%
2089 0.94% 0.38%
2088 0.95% 0.39%
2087 0.97% 0.45%
2086 0.97% 0.47%
2085 1% 0.44%
2084 1.02% 0.48%
2083 1.06% 0.5%
2082 1.04% 0.53%
2081 1.08% 0.53%
2080 1.09% 0.58%
2079 1.13% 0.58%
2078 1.13% 0.55%
2077 1.14% 0.59%
2076 1.2% 0.58%
2075 1.2% 0.65%
2074 1.25% 0.73%
2073 1.27% 0.73%
2072 1.29% 0.73%
2071 1.31% 0.76%
2070 1.36% 0.78%
2069 1.36% 0.79%
2068 1.37% 0.82%
2067 1.42% 0.91%
2066 1.43% 0.9%
2065 1.45% 0.93%
2064 1.48% 0.96%
2063 1.53% 0.95%
2062 1.52% 0.98%
2061 1.53% 1.05%
2060 1.55% 1.01%
2059 1.56% 1.04%
2058 1.58% 1.07%
2057 1.6% 1.12%
2056 1.62% 1.13%
2055 1.67% 1.16%
2054 1.69% 1.21%
2053 1.72% 1.19%
2052 1.75% 1.26%
2051 1.77% 1.27%
2050 1.79% 1.35%
2049 1.83% 1.36%
2048 1.88% 1.4%
2047 1.9% 1.38%
2046 1.93% 1.43%
2045 1.95% 1.49%
2044 2.02% 1.52%
2043 2.04% 1.58%
2042 2.1% 1.62%
2041 2.1% 1.68%
2040 2.13% 1.75%
2039 2.16% 1.72%
2038 2.18% 1.74%
2037 2.21% 1.83%
2036 2.23% 1.8%
2035 2.27% 1.85%
2034 2.31% 1.88%
2033 2.32% 1.94%
2032 2.35% 1.91%
2031 2.33% 1.93%
2030 2.33% 1.97%
2029 2.34% 1.96%
2028 2.36% 2.01%
2027 2.35% 2.07%
2026 2.38% 2.13%
2025 2.41% 2.13%
2024 2.43% 2.15%
2023 2.45% 2.28%
2022 2.43% 2.32%
2021 2.42% 2.27%
2020 2.42% 2.24%
2019 2.44% 2.3%
2018 2.47% 2.36%
2017 2.46% 2.26%
2016 2.45% 2.42%
2015 2.45% 2.76%
2014 2.45% 3.59%
2013 2.46% 4.83%
2012 2.84% 4.64%
2011 3.3% 3.59%
2010 4.23% 3.28%
2009 4.08% 3.75%
2008 3.34% 2.04%
2007 3.73% -0.79%
2006 3.81% 0.74%
2005 3.67% 3.01%
2004 3.48% 2.89%
2003 2.83% 3.06%
2002 2.39% 3.21%
2001 3.85% 3.17%
2000 3.91% 3.33%
1999 2.74% 3.29%
1998 2.22% 3.19%
1997 2.16% 3.14%
1996 2.81% 3.24%
1995 2.85% 3.41%
1994 3.01% 4.89%
1993 3% 4.92%
1992 2.87% 3%
1991 2.88% 1.06%
1990 2.9% 1.25%
1989 2.93% 2.7%
1988 2.94% 2.35%
1987 2.96% 2.78%
1986 2.98% 2.49%
1985 2.99% 2.43%
1984 2.52% 3.17%
1983 2.09% 3.02%
1982 2.18% 2.85%
1981 2.23% 3.05%
1980 2.26% 3.2%
1979 2.31% 3.27%
1978 2.37% 3.42%
1977 2.42% 3.38%
1976 2.47% 3.33%
1975 2.83% 3.37%
1974 3.17% 3.44%
1973 3.18% 3.51%
1972 3.15% 3.5%
1971 3.11% 3.51%
1970 3.06% 3.53%
1969 3.01% 3.5%
1968 2.96% 3.49%
1967 2.91% 3.46%
1966 2.87% 3.45%
1965 2.81% 3.44%
1964 2.76% 3.41%
1963 2.7% 3.43%
1962 2.65% 3.05%
1961 2.62% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Congo Iraq
Current population
6681829
48289334
Population rank 109/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.58%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
32.6 seconds
One birth every
2.78 minutes
27.2 seconds
One death every
13.5 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +411 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 46/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -2,999 -1,064
Net migration rank 108/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -1,064
2024 - -2,491 - -17,735
2023 150,486 -995 973,420 -5,710
2022 147,076 -995 962,501 76,821
2021 144,241 -4,476 941,924 17,474
2020 143,492 -4,472 919,953 29,858
2019 139,513 -6,268 942,972 -43,919
2018 142,704 -8,856 938,310 15,775
2017 141,973 -11,601 924,507 -21,998
2016 141,358 -14,783 946,968 -113,980
2015 141,539 -18,207 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 141,674 -21,598 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 142,080 -24,605 1,026,036 474,379
2012 142,464 -26,643 999,987 753,907
2011 140,371 5,262 971,082 261,880
2010 136,908 12,318 906,369 92,779
2009 126,904 86,014 855,096 120,092
2008 120,711 1,774 802,382 396,792
2007 112,459 31,239 784,119 -824,428
2006 106,876 35,475 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 101,344 38,337 776,603 51,019
2004 96,577 25,412 761,563 69,948
2003 91,326 26,280 746,159 -27,236
2002 88,497 -16,140 739,419 133,839
2001 84,876 -764 729,704 14,451
2000 78,491 79,780 715,771 87,624
1999 76,204 2,470 702,170 69,491
1998 72,450 10,500 684,152 48,446
1997 66,149 -20,704 667,582 15,429
1996 75,628 1,085 652,866 14,652
1995 74,189 3,747 642,977 40,424
1994 72,857 1,850 634,344 54,355
1993 71,119 10,218 606,700 581,818
1992 69,973 0 591,886 20,292
1991 68,534 1,966 550,146 -95,155
1990 67,241 -395 518,575 -601,469
1989 65,944 1,214 496,852 19,392
1988 64,629 22 476,778 -81,562
1987 63,183 525 488,742 -108,426
1986 61,669 367 474,348 39,136
1985 60,359 182 467,445 -199,505
1984 59,028 0 455,740 21,709
1983 58,120 -18,720 439,800 23,115
1982 57,036 -16,664 428,336 -22,302
1981 56,603 -15,630 416,998 -23,640
1980 55,550 -14,972 419,653 15,757
1979 54,723 -14,378 428,458 -20,617
1978 53,885 -13,356 418,756 7,434
1977 53,179 -12,673 410,229 8,204
1976 52,148 -11,971 402,260 -13,915
1975 51,155 -10,944 385,916 -6,237
1974 49,563 -312 376,197 -4,090
1973 48,017 -22 373,191 -1,507
1972 46,427 0 362,334 -2,600
1971 44,431 0 351,464 -6,479
1970 42,374 0 338,030 1,377
1969 40,532 0 324,792 312
1968 38,786 0 310,644 928
1967 36,866 0 298,192 2,531
1966 35,452 0 285,507 1,298
1965 33,865 0 274,551 4,555
1964 32,270 0 262,825 3,224
1963 30,832 0 254,046 3,197
1962 29,342 0 247,520 3,343
1961 28,220 0 184,792 2,981
1960 27,094 0 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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