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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 2.72 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).

Congo vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Netherlands
2100 20,194,267 17,329,352
2099 20,053,234 17,362,626
2098 19,906,909 17,395,665
2097 19,760,110 17,429,925
2096 19,610,521 17,465,162
2095 19,459,493 17,502,567
2094 19,306,835 17,540,959
2093 19,151,289 17,580,632
2092 18,990,577 17,619,384
2091 18,828,222 17,658,238
2090 18,663,146 17,700,204
2089 18,497,842 17,739,947
2088 18,325,571 17,779,324
2087 18,153,731 17,815,257
2086 17,979,773 17,854,371
2085 17,807,843 17,890,610
2084 17,631,386 17,926,885
2083 17,453,221 17,963,416
2082 17,270,773 17,998,527
2081 17,093,270 18,032,297
2080 16,910,570 18,062,716
2079 16,728,955 18,093,254
2078 16,542,829 18,121,649
2077 16,357,926 18,150,234
2076 16,173,005 18,175,683
2075 15,981,904 18,196,574
2074 15,791,626 18,214,405
2073 15,597,321 18,232,486
2072 15,402,110 18,249,136
2071 15,205,567 18,264,367
2070 15,009,147 18,279,781
2069 14,808,250 18,295,123
2068 14,609,790 18,310,300
2067 14,412,802 18,325,333
2066 14,211,022 18,343,435
2065 14,010,661 18,364,513
2064 13,810,933 18,386,352
2063 13,609,626 18,409,851
2062 13,405,080 18,433,299
2061 13,204,362 18,460,766
2060 13,004,957 18,488,598
2059 12,806,162 18,517,020
2058 12,609,233 18,545,884
2057 12,413,395 18,576,502
2056 12,217,406 18,606,997
2055 12,022,740 18,634,546
2054 11,824,813 18,660,585
2053 11,627,983 18,686,212
2052 11,431,875 18,709,643
2051 11,235,188 18,736,166
2050 11,039,311 18,757,302
2049 10,844,973 18,777,673
2048 10,650,230 18,795,411
2047 10,453,401 18,812,362
2046 10,258,550 18,823,628
2045 10,063,886 18,834,974
2044 9,871,213 18,844,772
2043 9,676,000 18,850,396
2042 9,482,485 18,853,495
2041 9,287,235 18,852,912
2040 9,096,577 18,847,238
2039 8,907,177 18,837,931
2038 8,719,250 18,823,220
2037 8,532,935 18,804,912
2036 8,348,719 18,779,656
2035 8,166,676 18,751,144
2034 7,985,679 18,718,013
2033 7,805,748 18,676,061
2032 7,628,440 18,630,094
2031 7,453,476 18,577,582
2030 7,284,111 18,517,866
2029 7,117,929 18,449,618
2028 6,955,268 18,372,676
2027 6,794,778 18,289,268
2026 6,638,532 18,196,186
2025 6,484,437 18,087,633
2024 6,332,961 17,993,485
2023 6,182,885 17,877,117
2022 6,035,104 17,700,982
2021 5,892,183 17,533,044
2020 5,752,791 17,441,500
2019 5,616,661 17,344,874
2018 5,483,118 17,231,624
2017 5,351,011 17,131,296
2016 5,222,536 17,030,314
2015 5,097,581 16,939,923
2014 4,975,880 16,865,008
2013 4,857,099 16,804,432
2012 4,740,450 16,754,962
2011 4,609,724 16,693,074
2010 4,462,290 16,615,394
2009 4,281,219 16,530,388
2008 4,113,517 16,445,593
2007 3,980,430 16,381,696
2006 3,837,409 16,346,101
2005 3,696,393 16,319,868
2004 3,565,554 16,281,779
2003 3,445,753 16,225,302
2002 3,350,771 16,148,929
2001 3,272,537 16,046,180
2000 3,151,345 15,925,513
1999 3,032,874 15,812,088
1998 2,952,061 15,707,209
1997 2,887,862 15,610,650
1996 2,826,785 15,530,498
1995 2,749,461 15,459,006
1994 2,673,144 15,382,838
1993 2,595,124 15,290,368
1992 2,519,465 15,184,166
1991 2,449,229 15,069,798
1990 2,380,560 14,951,510
1989 2,313,558 14,848,907
1988 2,247,653 14,760,094
1987 2,183,473 14,665,037
1986 2,120,602 14,572,278
1985 2,059,311 14,491,632
1984 1,999,528 14,424,211
1983 1,950,321 14,367,070
1982 1,910,430 14,312,690
1981 1,869,759 14,247,208
1980 1,828,985 14,149,800
1979 1,788,524 14,038,270
1978 1,748,089 13,941,700
1977 1,707,568 13,856,185
1976 1,667,225 13,774,037
1975 1,627,032 13,666,335
1974 1,582,301 13,545,056
1973 1,533,680 13,439,322
1972 1,486,468 13,328,593
1971 1,441,039 13,194,497
1970 1,397,638 13,038,526
1969 1,356,182 12,877,984
1968 1,316,519 12,729,721
1967 1,278,691 12,598,201
1966 1,242,534 12,456,251
1965 1,207,880 12,294,732
1964 1,174,816 12,127,120
1963 1,143,263 11,965,966
1962 1,113,175 11,805,689
1961 1,084,389 11,638,712
1960 1,056,732 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Netherlands
2100 0.7% -0.19%
2099 0.74% -0.19%
2098 0.74% -0.2%
2097 0.76% -0.2%
2096 0.78% -0.21%
2095 0.79% -0.22%
2094 0.81% -0.23%
2093 0.85% -0.22%
2092 0.86% -0.22%
2091 0.88% -0.24%
2090 0.89% -0.22%
2089 0.94% -0.22%
2088 0.95% -0.2%
2087 0.97% -0.22%
2086 0.97% -0.2%
2085 1% -0.2%
2084 1.02% -0.2%
2083 1.06% -0.2%
2082 1.04% -0.19%
2081 1.08% -0.17%
2080 1.09% -0.17%
2079 1.13% -0.16%
2078 1.13% -0.16%
2077 1.14% -0.14%
2076 1.2% -0.11%
2075 1.2% -0.1%
2074 1.25% -0.1%
2073 1.27% -0.09%
2072 1.29% -0.08%
2071 1.31% -0.08%
2070 1.36% -0.08%
2069 1.36% -0.08%
2068 1.37% -0.08%
2067 1.42% -0.1%
2066 1.43% -0.11%
2065 1.45% -0.12%
2064 1.48% -0.13%
2063 1.53% -0.13%
2062 1.52% -0.15%
2061 1.53% -0.15%
2060 1.55% -0.15%
2059 1.56% -0.16%
2058 1.58% -0.16%
2057 1.6% -0.16%
2056 1.62% -0.15%
2055 1.67% -0.14%
2054 1.69% -0.14%
2053 1.72% -0.13%
2052 1.75% -0.14%
2051 1.77% -0.11%
2050 1.79% -0.11%
2049 1.83% -0.09%
2048 1.88% -0.09%
2047 1.9% -0.06%
2046 1.93% -0.06%
2045 1.95% -0.05%
2044 2.02% -0.03%
2043 2.04% -0.02%
2042 2.1% 0.003%
2041 2.1% 0.03%
2040 2.13% 0.05%
2039 2.16% 0.08%
2038 2.18% 0.1%
2037 2.21% 0.13%
2036 2.23% 0.15%
2035 2.27% 0.18%
2034 2.31% 0.22%
2033 2.32% 0.25%
2032 2.35% 0.28%
2031 2.33% 0.32%
2030 2.33% 0.37%
2029 2.34% 0.42%
2028 2.36% 0.46%
2027 2.35% 0.51%
2026 2.38% 0.6%
2025 2.39% 0.52%
2024 2.43% 0.65%
2023 2.45% 1%
2022 2.43% 0.96%
2021 2.42% 0.52%
2020 2.42% 0.56%
2019 2.44% 0.66%
2018 2.47% 0.59%
2017 2.46% 0.59%
2016 2.45% 0.53%
2015 2.45% 0.44%
2014 2.45% 0.36%
2013 2.46% 0.3%
2012 2.84% 0.37%
2011 3.3% 0.47%
2010 4.23% 0.51%
2009 4.08% 0.52%
2008 3.34% 0.39%
2007 3.73% 0.22%
2006 3.81% 0.16%
2005 3.67% 0.23%
2004 3.48% 0.35%
2003 2.83% 0.47%
2002 2.39% 0.64%
2001 3.85% 0.76%
2000 3.91% 0.72%
1999 2.74% 0.67%
1998 2.22% 0.62%
1997 2.16% 0.52%
1996 2.81% 0.46%
1995 2.85% 0.5%
1994 3.01% 0.6%
1993 3% 0.7%
1992 2.87% 0.76%
1991 2.88% 0.79%
1990 2.9% 0.69%
1989 2.93% 0.6%
1988 2.94% 0.65%
1987 2.96% 0.64%
1986 2.98% 0.56%
1985 2.99% 0.47%
1984 2.52% 0.4%
1983 2.09% 0.38%
1982 2.18% 0.46%
1981 2.23% 0.69%
1980 2.26% 0.79%
1979 2.31% 0.69%
1978 2.37% 0.62%
1977 2.42% 0.6%
1976 2.47% 0.79%
1975 2.83% 0.9%
1974 3.17% 0.79%
1973 3.18% 0.83%
1972 3.15% 1.02%
1971 3.11% 1.2%
1970 3.06% 1.25%
1969 3.01% 1.16%
1968 2.96% 1.04%
1967 2.91% 1.14%
1966 2.87% 1.31%
1965 2.81% 1.38%
1964 2.76% 1.35%
1963 2.7% 1.36%
1962 2.65% 1.43%
1961 2.62% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.

Live population counters

Congo Netherlands
Current population
6718789
18243998
Population rank 109/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.22%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
5.6 minutes
One birth every
2.73 minutes
3.18 minutes
One death every
13.3 minutes
3.04 minutes
Daily growth/decline +415 +258
Annual growth/decline +151,476 +94,148
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +0.52%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 127/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 +104,681
Net migration rank 108/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - 104,681
2024 153,150 -2,491 -7,197 121,628
2023 150,486 -995 -5,363 144,558
2022 147,076 -995 -1,770 224,472
2021 144,241 -4,476 7,014 106,416
2020 143,492 -4,472 0 67,598
2019 139,513 -6,268 17,345 109,003
2018 142,704 -8,856 15,508 87,197
2017 141,973 -11,601 18,844 86,332
2016 141,358 -14,783 23,843 88,743
2015 141,539 -18,207 23,716 55,585
2014 141,674 -21,598 35,417 36,591
2013 142,080 -24,605 30,248 19,973
2012 142,464 -26,643 35,186 14,861
2011 140,371 5,262 45,072 31,224
2010 136,908 12,318 48,184 33,703
2009 126,904 86,014 51,244 39,832
2008 120,711 1,774 49,337 32,406
2007 112,459 31,239 49,145 -304
2006 106,876 35,475 49,038 -25,401
2005 101,344 38,337 50,592 -22,496
2004 96,577 25,412 56,987 -9,230
2003 91,326 26,280 58,411 7,937
2002 88,497 -16,140 59,751 28,824
2001 84,876 -764 62,580 56,096
2000 78,491 79,780 66,887 59,308
1999 76,204 2,470 60,086 47,179
1998 72,450 10,500 61,258 52,058
1997 66,149 -20,704 56,198 31,302
1996 75,628 1,085 51,251 21,792
1995 74,189 3,747 54,106 15,056
1994 72,857 1,850 61,532 20,193
1993 71,119 10,218 58,103 44,514
1992 69,973 0 66,811 50,148
1991 68,534 1,966 69,321 51,670
1990 67,241 -395 68,777 53,564
1989 65,944 1,214 59,396 31,165
1988 64,629 22 61,993 31,026
1987 63,183 525 64,526 39,559
1986 61,669 367 59,746 30,380
1985 60,359 182 55,069 27,356
1984 59,028 0 54,812 12,902
1983 58,120 -18,720 51,722 11,007
1982 57,036 -16,664 54,388 7,644
1981 56,603 -15,630 62,688 17,643
1980 55,550 -14,972 66,504 54,010
1979 54,723 -14,378 63,172 42,772
1978 53,885 -13,356 61,344 26,639
1977 53,179 -12,673 63,739 19,809
1976 52,148 -11,971 63,361 18,774
1975 51,155 -10,944 64,232 68,569
1974 49,563 -312 75,853 31,645
1973 48,017 -22 84,668 18,705
1972 46,427 0 101,297 17,470
1971 44,431 0 116,112 32,756
1970 42,374 0 129,082 32,438
1969 40,532 0 139,082 21,850
1968 38,786 0 132,389 7,243
1967 36,866 0 138,580 -10,673
1966 35,452 0 138,265 20,740
1965 33,865 0 146,308 19,444
1964 32,270 0 157,653 15,014
1963 30,832 0 154,361 -21
1962 29,342 0 153,474 18,024
1961 28,220 0 159,450 8,258
1960 27,094 0 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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