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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 5,395,790 people in Ireland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 5,518,360 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • The Congo's population is 1.21 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 121st.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.07% for Ireland.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +1.41% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.52M (29.1% growth).

Congo vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Ireland
2100 20,197,393 5,468,791
2099 20,056,338 5,493,162
2098 19,909,990 5,516,999
2097 19,763,169 5,540,157
2096 19,613,556 5,562,811
2095 19,462,505 5,583,505
2094 19,309,823 5,603,538
2093 19,154,254 5,623,266
2092 18,993,517 5,642,437
2091 18,831,137 5,661,268
2090 18,666,035 5,680,076
2089 18,500,705 5,697,512
2088 18,328,408 5,714,108
2087 18,156,542 5,729,431
2086 17,982,556 5,743,405
2085 17,810,599 5,757,666
2084 17,634,115 5,771,610
2083 17,455,922 5,785,324
2082 17,273,447 5,798,037
2081 17,095,916 5,809,262
2080 16,913,187 5,821,598
2079 16,731,545 5,836,731
2078 16,545,390 5,851,937
2077 16,360,458 5,867,627
2076 16,175,508 5,883,876
2075 15,984,378 5,900,200
2074 15,794,071 5,917,659
2073 15,599,735 5,934,975
2072 15,404,494 5,952,211
2071 15,207,921 5,969,279
2070 15,011,471 5,986,770
2069 14,810,543 6,003,570
2068 14,612,051 6,019,937
2067 14,415,033 6,035,810
2066 14,213,222 6,051,604
2065 14,012,829 6,066,791
2064 13,813,071 6,081,606
2063 13,611,733 6,094,455
2062 13,407,155 6,106,325
2061 13,206,406 6,118,587
2060 13,006,970 6,131,482
2059 12,808,144 6,143,979
2058 12,611,185 6,153,447
2057 12,415,316 6,161,059
2056 12,219,298 6,164,047
2055 12,024,601 6,168,611
2054 11,826,644 6,169,455
2053 11,629,783 6,169,673
2052 11,433,645 6,167,591
2051 11,236,927 6,164,894
2050 11,041,020 6,159,756
2049 10,846,652 6,151,623
2048 10,651,879 6,140,272
2047 10,455,019 6,128,245
2046 10,260,138 6,115,454
2045 10,065,444 6,099,562
2044 9,872,742 6,081,384
2043 9,677,498 6,062,477
2042 9,483,953 6,041,683
2041 9,288,673 6,017,573
2040 9,097,986 5,992,311
2039 8,908,556 5,967,604
2038 8,720,599 5,940,474
2037 8,534,256 5,912,327
2036 8,350,011 5,884,159
2035 8,167,940 5,855,902
2034 7,986,915 5,825,178
2033 7,806,956 5,792,751
2032 7,629,621 5,757,842
2031 7,454,630 5,721,671
2030 7,285,238 5,684,420
2029 7,119,031 5,644,008
2028 6,956,345 5,600,083
2027 6,795,830 5,553,725
2026 6,639,560 5,505,248
2025 6,485,440 5,452,752
2024 6,332,961 5,395,790
2023 6,182,885 5,311,538
2022 6,035,104 5,212,836
2021 5,892,183 5,110,585
2020 5,752,791 5,039,747
2019 5,616,661 4,976,456
2018 5,483,118 4,898,022
2017 5,351,011 4,827,445
2016 5,222,536 4,762,722
2015 5,097,581 4,701,957
2014 4,975,880 4,657,740
2013 4,857,099 4,623,816
2012 4,740,450 4,599,533
2011 4,609,724 4,580,084
2010 4,462,290 4,560,155
2009 4,281,219 4,535,375
2008 4,113,517 4,489,544
2007 3,980,430 4,398,942
2006 3,837,409 4,273,591
2005 3,696,393 4,159,914
2004 3,565,554 4,070,262
2003 3,445,753 3,996,521
2002 3,350,771 3,931,947
2001 3,272,537 3,866,243
2000 3,151,345 3,805,174
1999 3,032,874 3,754,786
1998 2,952,061 3,712,696
1997 2,887,862 3,674,171
1996 2,826,785 3,637,510
1995 2,749,461 3,608,841
1994 2,673,144 3,590,386
1993 2,595,124 3,576,261
1992 2,519,465 3,558,430
1991 2,449,229 3,534,235
1990 2,380,560 3,513,974
1989 2,313,558 3,511,009
1988 2,247,653 3,524,949
1987 2,183,473 3,540,057
1986 2,120,602 3,539,690
1985 2,059,311 3,538,082
1984 1,999,528 3,532,423
1983 1,950,321 3,510,600
1982 1,910,430 3,485,800
1981 1,869,759 3,453,000
1980 1,828,985 3,412,800
1979 1,788,524 3,373,750
1978 1,748,089 3,329,100
1977 1,707,568 3,282,200
1976 1,667,225 3,238,050
1975 1,627,032 3,189,550
1974 1,582,301 3,137,500
1973 1,533,680 3,085,950
1972 1,486,468 3,036,850
1971 1,441,039 2,992,050
1970 1,397,638 2,957,250
1969 1,356,182 2,932,650
1968 1,316,519 2,915,550
1967 1,278,691 2,902,450
1966 1,242,534 2,888,800
1965 1,207,880 2,877,300
1964 1,174,816 2,866,550
1963 1,143,263 2,852,650
1962 1,113,175 2,836,050
1961 1,084,389 2,824,400
1960 1,056,732 2,828,600

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/ireland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Ireland gained 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and still ranked 121st 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 Ireland will increase by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people and rank change from 121st to 119th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 6.17M people in 2053 for Ireland.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Ireland
2100 0.7% -0.44%
2099 0.74% -0.43%
2098 0.74% -0.42%
2097 0.76% -0.41%
2096 0.78% -0.37%
2095 0.79% -0.36%
2094 0.81% -0.35%
2093 0.85% -0.34%
2092 0.86% -0.33%
2091 0.88% -0.33%
2090 0.89% -0.31%
2089 0.94% -0.29%
2088 0.95% -0.27%
2087 0.97% -0.24%
2086 0.97% -0.25%
2085 1% -0.24%
2084 1.02% -0.24%
2083 1.06% -0.22%
2082 1.04% -0.19%
2081 1.08% -0.21%
2080 1.09% -0.26%
2079 1.13% -0.26%
2078 1.13% -0.27%
2077 1.14% -0.28%
2076 1.2% -0.28%
2075 1.2% -0.3%
2074 1.25% -0.29%
2073 1.27% -0.29%
2072 1.29% -0.29%
2071 1.31% -0.29%
2070 1.36% -0.28%
2069 1.36% -0.27%
2068 1.37% -0.26%
2067 1.42% -0.26%
2066 1.43% -0.25%
2065 1.45% -0.24%
2064 1.48% -0.21%
2063 1.53% -0.19%
2062 1.52% -0.2%
2061 1.53% -0.21%
2060 1.55% -0.2%
2059 1.56% -0.15%
2058 1.58% -0.12%
2057 1.6% -0.05%
2056 1.62% -0.07%
2055 1.67% -0.01%
2054 1.69% -0.004%
2053 1.72% 0.03%
2052 1.75% 0.04%
2051 1.77% 0.08%
2050 1.79% 0.13%
2049 1.83% 0.18%
2048 1.88% 0.2%
2047 1.9% 0.21%
2046 1.93% 0.26%
2045 1.95% 0.3%
2044 2.02% 0.31%
2043 2.04% 0.34%
2042 2.1% 0.4%
2041 2.1% 0.42%
2040 2.13% 0.41%
2039 2.16% 0.46%
2038 2.18% 0.48%
2037 2.21% 0.48%
2036 2.23% 0.48%
2035 2.27% 0.53%
2034 2.31% 0.56%
2033 2.32% 0.61%
2032 2.35% 0.63%
2031 2.33% 0.66%
2030 2.33% 0.72%
2029 2.34% 0.78%
2028 2.36% 0.83%
2027 2.35% 0.88%
2026 2.38% 0.96%
2025 2.41% 1.06%
2024 2.43% 1.59%
2023 2.45% 1.89%
2022 2.43% 2%
2021 2.42% 1.41%
2020 2.42% 1.27%
2019 2.44% 1.6%
2018 2.47% 1.46%
2017 2.46% 1.36%
2016 2.45% 1.29%
2015 2.45% 0.95%
2014 2.45% 0.73%
2013 2.46% 0.53%
2012 2.84% 0.42%
2011 3.3% 0.44%
2010 4.23% 0.55%
2009 4.08% 1.02%
2008 3.34% 2.06%
2007 3.73% 2.93%
2006 3.81% 2.73%
2005 3.67% 2.2%
2004 3.48% 1.85%
2003 2.83% 1.64%
2002 2.39% 1.7%
2001 3.85% 1.6%
2000 3.91% 1.34%
1999 2.74% 1.13%
1998 2.22% 1.05%
1997 2.16% 1.01%
1996 2.81% 0.79%
1995 2.85% 0.51%
1994 3.01% 0.39%
1993 3% 0.5%
1992 2.87% 0.68%
1991 2.88% 0.58%
1990 2.9% 0.08%
1989 2.93% -0.4%
1988 2.94% -0.43%
1987 2.96% 0.01%
1986 2.98% 0.05%
1985 2.99% 0.16%
1984 2.52% 0.62%
1983 2.09% 0.71%
1982 2.18% 0.95%
1981 2.23% 1.18%
1980 2.26% 1.16%
1979 2.31% 1.34%
1978 2.37% 1.43%
1977 2.42% 1.36%
1976 2.47% 1.52%
1975 2.83% 1.66%
1974 3.17% 1.67%
1973 3.18% 1.62%
1972 3.15% 1.5%
1971 3.11% 1.18%
1970 3.06% 0.84%
1969 3.01% 0.59%
1968 2.96% 0.45%
1967 2.91% 0.47%
1966 2.87% 0.4%
1965 2.81% 0.38%
1964 2.76% 0.49%
1963 2.7% 0.59%
1962 2.65% 0.41%
1961 2.62% -0.15%

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/ireland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.59%.

Live population counters

Congo Ireland
Current population
6681829
5518360
Population rank 109/197 121/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.07%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
6.24 minutes
One birth every
2.78 minutes
9.61 minutes
One death every
13.5 minutes
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline +411 +231
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +84,252
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +1.59%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 68/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 +35,417
Net migration rank 108/196 27/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 1,216,237
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 23.1%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Ireland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Ireland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - 35,417
2024 - -2,491 - 39,059
2023 150,486 -995 19,652 43,873
2022 147,076 -995 19,287 93,535
2021 144,241 -4,476 26,064 27,419
2020 143,492 -4,472 23,687 15,746
2019 139,513 -6,268 28,365 29,663
2018 142,704 -8,856 29,878 33,387
2017 141,973 -11,601 31,379 28,883
2016 141,358 -14,783 33,339 18,967
2015 141,539 -18,207 35,265 13,376
2014 141,674 -21,598 37,728 448
2013 142,080 -24,605 39,302 -12,309
2012 142,464 -26,643 42,775 -22,411
2011 140,371 5,262 45,801 -26,529
2010 136,908 12,318 47,426 -26,974
2009 126,904 86,014 47,168 -18,524
2008 120,711 1,774 46,691 18,979
2007 112,459 31,239 43,109 76,465
2006 106,876 35,475 36,752 94,513
2005 101,344 38,337 33,279 63,983
2004 96,577 25,412 33,376 49,102
2003 91,326 26,280 32,372 32,220
2002 88,497 -16,140 31,062 34,286
2001 84,876 -764 27,837 39,220
2000 78,491 79,780 23,592 31,298
1999 76,204 2,470 21,402 23,592
1998 72,450 10,500 22,277 16,615
1997 66,149 -20,704 21,311 17,425
1996 75,628 1,085 18,915 9,959
1995 74,189 3,747 16,601 10,019
1994 72,857 1,850 17,234 -3,118
1993 71,119 10,218 17,166 -3,762
1992 69,973 0 20,283 1,335
1991 68,534 1,966 21,206 4,944
1990 67,241 -395 21,787 -8,203
1989 65,944 1,214 20,012 -28,752
1988 64,629 22 22,912 -44,020
1987 63,183 525 26,904 -38,426
1986 61,669 367 27,963 -21,139
1985 60,359 182 29,013 -16,178
1984 59,028 0 31,791 -15,549
1983 58,120 -18,720 34,053 -15,043
1982 57,036 -16,664 38,344 -14,464
1981 56,603 -15,630 39,364 -10,834
1980 55,550 -14,972 40,612 -2,876
1979 54,723 -14,378 38,798 1,486
1978 53,885 -13,356 36,288 15,543
1977 53,179 -12,673 35,448 14,505
1976 52,148 -11,971 33,676 14,200
1975 51,155 -10,944 34,128 13,828
1974 49,563 -312 34,199 13,482
1973 48,017 -22 34,562 13,164
1972 46,427 0 34,316 12,858
1971 44,431 0 35,606 5,851
1970 42,374 0 30,756 -8,892
1969 40,532 0 29,326 -10,250
1968 38,786 0 27,697 -11,132
1967 36,866 0 29,895 -11,708
1966 35,452 0 26,866 -11,858
1965 33,865 0 30,500 -14,016
1964 32,270 0 31,532 -15,640
1963 30,832 0 29,667 -16,615
1962 29,342 0 28,077 -17,438
1961 28,220 0 25,137 -22,237
1960 27,094 0 28,286 -38,492

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/ireland | 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 Ireland 48.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 1,216,237 people or 23.1% in Ireland.

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
Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K

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/ireland | 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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