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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 7,873,046 people in Laos in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 8,027,464 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • Laos' population is 1.19 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.1% for Laos.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +1.47% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8.03M (34.6% growth).

Congo vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Laos
2100 20,194,267 9,340,510
2099 20,053,234 9,387,374
2098 19,906,909 9,433,309
2097 19,760,110 9,478,091
2096 19,610,521 9,521,914
2095 19,459,493 9,564,898
2094 19,306,835 9,607,314
2093 19,151,289 9,648,899
2092 18,990,577 9,689,414
2091 18,828,222 9,729,262
2090 18,663,146 9,767,923
2089 18,497,842 9,805,489
2088 18,325,571 9,841,933
2087 18,153,731 9,876,893
2086 17,979,773 9,910,678
2085 17,807,843 9,942,991
2084 17,631,386 9,973,375
2083 17,453,221 10,002,778
2082 17,270,773 10,030,306
2081 17,093,270 10,056,473
2080 16,910,570 10,080,959
2079 16,728,955 10,104,434
2078 16,542,829 10,126,099
2077 16,357,926 10,146,255
2076 16,173,005 10,163,547
2075 15,981,904 10,179,776
2074 15,791,626 10,194,216
2073 15,597,321 10,206,546
2072 15,402,110 10,216,287
2071 15,205,567 10,223,430
2070 15,009,147 10,229,612
2069 14,808,250 10,233,020
2068 14,609,790 10,233,371
2067 14,412,802 10,231,633
2066 14,211,022 10,226,448
2065 14,010,661 10,219,732
2064 13,810,933 10,210,382
2063 13,609,626 10,198,463
2062 13,405,080 10,184,239
2061 13,204,362 10,166,878
2060 13,004,957 10,146,829
2059 12,806,162 10,124,398
2058 12,609,233 10,098,721
2057 12,413,395 10,070,317
2056 12,217,406 10,039,482
2055 12,022,740 10,006,669
2054 11,824,813 9,970,363
2053 11,627,983 9,931,133
2052 11,431,875 9,889,162
2051 11,235,188 9,844,445
2050 11,039,311 9,797,566
2049 10,844,973 9,748,481
2048 10,650,230 9,695,755
2047 10,453,401 9,641,319
2046 10,258,550 9,584,097
2045 10,063,886 9,524,890
2044 9,871,213 9,462,921
2043 9,676,000 9,399,555
2042 9,482,485 9,332,795
2041 9,287,235 9,264,069
2040 9,096,577 9,193,691
2039 8,907,177 9,120,921
2038 8,719,250 9,044,658
2037 8,532,935 8,966,687
2036 8,348,719 8,886,908
2035 8,166,676 8,805,396
2034 7,985,679 8,721,979
2033 7,805,748 8,636,299
2032 7,628,440 8,548,097
2031 7,453,476 8,457,770
2030 7,284,111 8,365,427
2029 7,117,929 8,271,316
2028 6,955,268 8,174,975
2027 6,794,778 8,076,308
2026 6,638,532 7,975,876
2025 6,484,437 7,873,046
2024 6,332,961 7,769,819
2023 6,182,885 7,664,993
2022 6,035,104 7,559,007
2021 5,892,183 7,453,194
2020 5,752,791 7,346,533
2019 5,616,661 7,237,636
2018 5,483,118 7,128,045
2017 5,351,011 7,018,147
2016 5,222,536 6,908,802
2015 5,097,581 6,801,645
2014 4,975,880 6,703,172
2013 4,857,099 6,611,385
2012 4,740,450 6,518,978
2011 4,609,724 6,426,590
2010 4,462,290 6,334,194
2009 4,281,219 6,241,642
2008 4,113,517 6,148,969
2007 3,980,430 6,056,236
2006 3,837,409 5,963,200
2005 3,696,393 5,869,523
2004 3,565,554 5,781,626
2003 3,445,753 5,697,945
2002 3,350,771 5,610,889
2001 3,272,537 5,521,482
2000 3,151,345 5,431,212
1999 3,032,874 5,340,784
1998 2,952,061 5,248,266
1997 2,887,862 5,152,011
1996 2,826,785 5,045,678
1995 2,749,461 4,929,409
1994 2,673,144 4,809,220
1993 2,595,124 4,685,060
1992 2,519,465 4,559,646
1991 2,449,229 4,435,118
1990 2,380,560 4,311,955
1989 2,313,558 4,190,974
1988 2,247,653 4,072,601
1987 2,183,473 3,957,612
1986 2,120,602 3,846,715
1985 2,059,311 3,739,985
1984 1,999,528 3,637,843
1983 1,950,321 3,541,001
1982 1,910,430 3,450,026
1981 1,869,759 3,366,631
1980 1,828,985 3,292,573
1979 1,788,524 3,228,202
1978 1,748,089 3,171,740
1977 1,707,568 3,118,923
1976 1,667,225 3,064,876
1975 1,627,032 3,005,521
1974 1,582,301 2,939,761
1973 1,533,680 2,870,573
1972 1,486,468 2,801,660
1971 1,441,039 2,734,628
1970 1,397,638 2,669,702
1969 1,356,182 2,606,959
1968 1,316,519 2,546,377
1967 1,278,691 2,487,715
1966 1,242,534 2,431,084
1965 1,207,880 2,376,200
1964 1,174,816 2,322,826
1963 1,143,263 2,271,061
1962 1,113,175 2,219,910
1961 1,084,389 2,169,796
1960 1,056,732 2,121,514

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/laos | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Laos gained 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while Laos' population increased by 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. Laos was ranked 104th in 2006 and ranked 103rd 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 Laos will increase by 22.1% to 9,797,566 people and rank change from 103rd to 99th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 10.2M people in 2068 for Laos.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Laos
2100 0.7% -0.5%
2099 0.74% -0.49%
2098 0.74% -0.47%
2097 0.76% -0.46%
2096 0.78% -0.45%
2095 0.79% -0.44%
2094 0.81% -0.43%
2093 0.85% -0.42%
2092 0.86% -0.41%
2091 0.88% -0.4%
2090 0.89% -0.38%
2089 0.94% -0.37%
2088 0.95% -0.35%
2087 0.97% -0.34%
2086 0.97% -0.32%
2085 1% -0.3%
2084 1.02% -0.29%
2083 1.06% -0.27%
2082 1.04% -0.26%
2081 1.08% -0.24%
2080 1.09% -0.23%
2079 1.13% -0.21%
2078 1.13% -0.2%
2077 1.14% -0.17%
2076 1.2% -0.16%
2075 1.2% -0.14%
2074 1.25% -0.12%
2073 1.27% -0.1%
2072 1.29% -0.07%
2071 1.31% -0.06%
2070 1.36% -0.03%
2069 1.36% -0.003%
2068 1.37% 0.02%
2067 1.42% 0.05%
2066 1.43% 0.07%
2065 1.45% 0.09%
2064 1.48% 0.12%
2063 1.53% 0.14%
2062 1.52% 0.17%
2061 1.53% 0.2%
2060 1.55% 0.22%
2059 1.56% 0.25%
2058 1.58% 0.28%
2057 1.6% 0.31%
2056 1.62% 0.33%
2055 1.67% 0.36%
2054 1.69% 0.4%
2053 1.72% 0.42%
2052 1.75% 0.45%
2051 1.77% 0.48%
2050 1.79% 0.5%
2049 1.83% 0.54%
2048 1.88% 0.56%
2047 1.9% 0.6%
2046 1.93% 0.62%
2045 1.95% 0.65%
2044 2.02% 0.67%
2043 2.04% 0.72%
2042 2.1% 0.74%
2041 2.1% 0.77%
2040 2.13% 0.8%
2039 2.16% 0.84%
2038 2.18% 0.87%
2037 2.21% 0.9%
2036 2.23% 0.93%
2035 2.27% 0.96%
2034 2.31% 0.99%
2033 2.32% 1.03%
2032 2.35% 1.07%
2031 2.33% 1.1%
2030 2.33% 1.14%
2029 2.34% 1.18%
2028 2.36% 1.22%
2027 2.35% 1.26%
2026 2.38% 1.31%
2025 2.39% 1.33%
2024 2.43% 1.37%
2023 2.45% 1.4%
2022 2.43% 1.42%
2021 2.42% 1.45%
2020 2.42% 1.5%
2019 2.44% 1.54%
2018 2.47% 1.57%
2017 2.46% 1.58%
2016 2.45% 1.58%
2015 2.45% 1.47%
2014 2.45% 1.39%
2013 2.46% 1.42%
2012 2.84% 1.44%
2011 3.3% 1.46%
2010 4.23% 1.48%
2009 4.08% 1.51%
2008 3.34% 1.53%
2007 3.73% 1.56%
2006 3.81% 1.6%
2005 3.67% 1.52%
2004 3.48% 1.47%
2003 2.83% 1.55%
2002 2.39% 1.62%
2001 3.85% 1.66%
2000 3.91% 1.69%
1999 2.74% 1.76%
1998 2.22% 1.87%
1997 2.16% 2.11%
1996 2.81% 2.36%
1995 2.85% 2.5%
1994 3.01% 2.65%
1993 3% 2.75%
1992 2.87% 2.81%
1991 2.88% 2.86%
1990 2.9% 2.89%
1989 2.93% 2.91%
1988 2.94% 2.91%
1987 2.96% 2.88%
1986 2.98% 2.85%
1985 2.99% 2.81%
1984 2.52% 2.73%
1983 2.09% 2.64%
1982 2.18% 2.48%
1981 2.23% 2.25%
1980 2.26% 1.99%
1979 2.31% 1.78%
1978 2.37% 1.69%
1977 2.42% 1.76%
1976 2.47% 1.97%
1975 2.83% 2.24%
1974 3.17% 2.41%
1973 3.18% 2.46%
1972 3.15% 2.45%
1971 3.11% 2.43%
1970 3.06% 2.41%
1969 3.01% 2.38%
1968 2.96% 2.36%
1967 2.91% 2.33%
1966 2.87% 2.31%
1965 2.81% 2.3%
1964 2.76% 2.28%
1963 2.7% 2.3%
1962 2.65% 2.31%
1961 2.62% 2.28%

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/laos | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while Laos' population grew by 1.33%.

Live population counters

Congo Laos
Current population
6718789
8027464
Population rank 109/197 103/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.1%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
5.11 minutes
One birth every
2.73 minutes
3.23 minutes
One death every
13.3 minutes
10.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +415 +283
Annual growth/decline +151,476 +103,227
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +1.33%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 76/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
49.5 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 -10,645
Net migration rank 108/196 134/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 51,446
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 149/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 166/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Laos
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Laos
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -10,645
2024 153,150 -2,491 114,574 -10,284
2023 150,486 -995 115,359 -10,003
2022 147,076 -995 116,620 -10,003
2021 144,241 -4,476 115,323 -10,305
2020 143,492 -4,472 118,609 -10,305
2019 139,513 -6,268 119,797 -10,305
2018 142,704 -8,856 119,986 -10,305
2017 141,973 -11,601 120,515 -10,400
2016 141,358 -14,783 119,978 -11,401
2015 141,539 -18,207 118,723 -12,991
2014 141,674 -21,598 118,103 -26,881
2013 142,080 -24,605 119,845 -27,492
2012 142,464 -26,643 121,324 -28,871
2011 140,371 5,262 122,863 -30,538
2010 136,908 12,318 122,516 -30,046
2009 126,904 86,014 122,174 -29,545
2008 120,711 1,774 121,042 -28,318
2007 112,459 31,239 119,980 -27,233
2006 106,876 35,475 118,602 -25,286
2005 101,344 38,337 118,165 -24,138
2004 96,577 25,412 121,888 -40,120
2003 91,326 26,280 122,158 -36,572
2002 88,497 -16,140 122,110 -33,595
2001 84,876 -764 123,847 -33,552
2000 78,491 79,780 124,201 -33,965
1999 76,204 2,470 127,255 -36,632
1998 72,450 10,500 128,409 -33,997
1997 66,149 -20,704 130,388 -32,288
1996 75,628 1,085 131,142 -16,574
1995 74,189 3,747 132,241 -14,279
1994 72,857 1,850 134,201 -11,782
1993 71,119 10,218 135,295 -9,390
1992 69,973 0 132,417 -7,502
1991 68,534 1,966 129,523 -5,390
1990 67,241 -395 125,297 -3,100
1989 65,944 1,214 121,044 -1,272
1988 64,629 22 117,050 -80
1987 63,183 525 113,005 0
1986 61,669 367 109,266 -475
1985 60,359 182 106,047 -1,376
1984 59,028 0 102,318 -2,698
1983 58,120 -18,720 98,178 -4,108
1982 57,036 -16,664 94,058 -6,184
1981 56,603 -15,630 89,963 -11,061
1980 55,550 -14,972 86,548 -17,339
1979 54,723 -14,378 82,852 -23,317
1978 53,885 -13,356 80,604 -27,208
1977 53,179 -12,673 79,149 -26,908
1976 52,148 -11,971 77,575 -21,738
1975 51,155 -10,944 76,725 -13,858
1974 49,563 -312 74,652 -6,000
1973 48,017 -22 70,513 -774
1972 46,427 0 68,095 0
1971 44,431 0 65,959 0
1970 42,374 0 63,896 0
1969 40,532 0 61,595 0
1968 38,786 0 59,567 0
1967 36,866 0 57,763 0
1966 35,452 0 55,494 0
1965 33,865 0 54,268 0
1964 32,270 0 52,482 0
1963 30,832 0 51,056 0
1962 29,342 0 51,244 0
1961 28,220 0 48,992 0
1960 27,094 0 47,575 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/laos | 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 Laos 91.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,179,484 people) and 8.27% is from migration (a loss of 106,302 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 51,446 people or 0.7% in Laos.

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
Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K

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/laos | 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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