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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 36.5 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.03% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Congo vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Nigeria
2100 20,194,267 481,640,156
2099 20,053,234 481,456,918
2098 19,906,909 481,181,892
2097 19,760,110 480,838,161
2096 19,610,521 480,422,467
2095 19,459,493 479,938,579
2094 19,306,835 479,395,022
2093 19,151,289 478,769,369
2092 18,990,577 478,059,864
2091 18,828,222 477,236,907
2090 18,663,146 476,329,495
2089 18,497,842 475,326,347
2088 18,325,571 474,231,442
2087 18,153,731 473,035,563
2086 17,979,773 471,732,001
2085 17,807,843 470,328,175
2084 17,631,386 468,806,172
2083 17,453,221 467,187,453
2082 17,270,773 465,472,417
2081 17,093,270 463,643,190
2080 16,910,570 461,705,493
2079 16,728,955 459,644,523
2078 16,542,829 457,477,264
2077 16,357,926 455,218,871
2076 16,173,005 452,849,991
2075 15,981,904 450,367,356
2074 15,791,626 447,789,885
2073 15,597,321 445,117,028
2072 15,402,110 442,340,440
2071 15,205,567 439,464,323
2070 15,009,147 436,505,329
2069 14,808,250 433,437,998
2068 14,609,790 430,286,232
2067 14,412,802 427,032,499
2066 14,211,022 423,702,640
2065 14,010,661 420,285,359
2064 13,810,933 416,778,394
2063 13,609,626 413,198,800
2062 13,405,080 409,551,159
2061 13,204,362 405,827,482
2060 13,004,957 402,041,765
2059 12,806,162 398,197,311
2058 12,609,233 394,284,767
2057 12,413,395 390,311,065
2056 12,217,406 386,267,580
2055 12,022,740 382,162,992
2054 11,824,813 378,000,511
2053 11,627,983 373,769,779
2052 11,431,875 369,472,476
2051 11,235,188 365,120,741
2050 11,039,311 360,706,317
2049 10,844,973 356,243,287
2048 10,650,230 351,724,743
2047 10,453,401 347,142,279
2046 10,258,550 342,505,549
2045 10,063,886 337,807,869
2044 9,871,213 333,050,132
2043 9,676,000 328,230,652
2042 9,482,485 323,363,366
2041 9,287,235 318,443,989
2040 9,096,577 313,468,061
2039 8,907,177 308,450,008
2038 8,719,250 303,399,842
2037 8,532,935 298,327,800
2036 8,348,719 293,227,654
2035 8,166,676 288,115,630
2034 7,985,679 282,995,818
2033 7,805,748 277,875,880
2032 7,628,440 272,747,599
2031 7,453,476 267,645,657
2030 7,284,111 262,562,767
2029 7,117,929 257,484,616
2028 6,955,268 252,445,821
2027 6,794,778 247,437,680
2026 6,638,532 242,458,365
2025 6,484,437 237,527,782
2024 6,332,961 232,679,478
2023 6,182,885 227,882,945
2022 6,035,104 223,150,896
2021 5,892,183 218,529,286
2020 5,752,791 213,996,181
2019 5,616,661 209,485,641
2018 5,483,118 204,938,755
2017 5,351,011 200,254,579
2016 5,222,536 195,443,700
2015 5,097,581 190,671,878
2014 4,975,880 185,896,915
2013 4,857,099 181,049,443
2012 4,740,450 176,200,625
2011 4,609,724 171,379,598
2010 4,462,290 166,642,886
2009 4,281,219 162,049,464
2008 4,113,517 157,595,014
2007 3,980,430 153,267,261
2006 3,837,409 149,077,334
2005 3,696,393 145,017,253
2004 3,565,554 141,057,045
2003 3,445,753 137,202,644
2002 3,350,771 133,471,989
2001 3,272,537 129,862,595
2000 3,151,345 126,382,494
1999 3,032,874 123,047,320
1998 2,952,061 119,846,254
1997 2,887,862 116,754,792
1996 2,826,785 113,754,779
1995 2,749,461 110,819,428
1994 2,673,144 107,935,714
1993 2,595,124 105,122,069
1992 2,519,465 102,372,770
1991 2,449,229 99,720,162
1990 2,380,560 97,120,925
1989 2,313,558 94,531,014
1988 2,247,653 92,020,090
1987 2,183,473 89,591,716
1986 2,120,602 87,235,953
1985 2,059,311 84,897,973
1984 1,999,528 82,526,443
1983 1,950,321 80,438,260
1982 1,910,430 78,378,701
1981 1,869,759 76,068,103
1980 1,828,985 73,764,641
1979 1,788,524 71,498,242
1978 1,748,089 69,326,532
1977 1,707,568 67,234,590
1976 1,667,225 65,258,009
1975 1,627,032 63,410,815
1974 1,582,301 61,679,144
1973 1,533,680 60,082,139
1972 1,486,468 58,601,748
1971 1,441,039 57,214,684
1970 1,397,638 55,893,838
1969 1,356,182 54,631,914
1968 1,316,519 53,432,783
1967 1,278,691 52,293,065
1966 1,242,534 51,188,234
1965 1,207,880 50,086,764
1964 1,174,816 49,012,016
1963 1,143,263 47,973,575
1962 1,113,175 46,965,292
1961 1,084,389 45,989,310
1960 1,056,732 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Nigeria
2100 0.7% 0.04%
2099 0.74% 0.06%
2098 0.74% 0.07%
2097 0.76% 0.09%
2096 0.78% 0.1%
2095 0.79% 0.11%
2094 0.81% 0.13%
2093 0.85% 0.15%
2092 0.86% 0.17%
2091 0.88% 0.19%
2090 0.89% 0.21%
2089 0.94% 0.23%
2088 0.95% 0.25%
2087 0.97% 0.28%
2086 0.97% 0.3%
2085 1% 0.32%
2084 1.02% 0.35%
2083 1.06% 0.37%
2082 1.04% 0.39%
2081 1.08% 0.42%
2080 1.09% 0.45%
2079 1.13% 0.47%
2078 1.13% 0.5%
2077 1.14% 0.52%
2076 1.2% 0.55%
2075 1.2% 0.58%
2074 1.25% 0.6%
2073 1.27% 0.63%
2072 1.29% 0.65%
2071 1.31% 0.68%
2070 1.36% 0.71%
2069 1.36% 0.73%
2068 1.37% 0.76%
2067 1.42% 0.79%
2066 1.43% 0.81%
2065 1.45% 0.84%
2064 1.48% 0.87%
2063 1.53% 0.89%
2062 1.52% 0.92%
2061 1.53% 0.94%
2060 1.55% 0.97%
2059 1.56% 0.99%
2058 1.58% 1.02%
2057 1.6% 1.05%
2056 1.62% 1.07%
2055 1.67% 1.1%
2054 1.69% 1.13%
2053 1.72% 1.16%
2052 1.75% 1.19%
2051 1.77% 1.22%
2050 1.79% 1.25%
2049 1.83% 1.28%
2048 1.88% 1.32%
2047 1.9% 1.35%
2046 1.93% 1.39%
2045 1.95% 1.43%
2044 2.02% 1.47%
2043 2.04% 1.51%
2042 2.1% 1.54%
2041 2.1% 1.59%
2040 2.13% 1.63%
2039 2.16% 1.66%
2038 2.18% 1.7%
2037 2.21% 1.74%
2036 2.23% 1.77%
2035 2.27% 1.81%
2034 2.31% 1.84%
2033 2.32% 1.88%
2032 2.35% 1.91%
2031 2.33% 1.94%
2030 2.33% 1.97%
2029 2.34% 2%
2028 2.36% 2.02%
2027 2.35% 2.05%
2026 2.38% 2.08%
2025 2.39% 2.08%
2024 2.43% 2.1%
2023 2.45% 2.12%
2022 2.43% 2.11%
2021 2.42% 2.12%
2020 2.42% 2.15%
2019 2.44% 2.22%
2018 2.47% 2.34%
2017 2.46% 2.46%
2016 2.45% 2.5%
2015 2.45% 2.57%
2014 2.45% 2.68%
2013 2.46% 2.75%
2012 2.84% 2.81%
2011 3.3% 2.84%
2010 4.23% 2.83%
2009 4.08% 2.83%
2008 3.34% 2.82%
2007 3.73% 2.81%
2006 3.81% 2.8%
2005 3.67% 2.81%
2004 3.48% 2.81%
2003 2.83% 2.8%
2002 2.39% 2.78%
2001 3.85% 2.75%
2000 3.91% 2.71%
1999 2.74% 2.67%
1998 2.22% 2.65%
1997 2.16% 2.64%
1996 2.81% 2.65%
1995 2.85% 2.67%
1994 3.01% 2.68%
1993 3% 2.69%
1992 2.87% 2.66%
1991 2.88% 2.68%
1990 2.9% 2.74%
1989 2.93% 2.73%
1988 2.94% 2.71%
1987 2.96% 2.7%
1986 2.98% 2.75%
1985 2.99% 2.87%
1984 2.52% 2.6%
1983 2.09% 2.63%
1982 2.18% 3.04%
1981 2.23% 3.12%
1980 2.26% 3.17%
1979 2.31% 3.13%
1978 2.37% 3.11%
1977 2.42% 3.03%
1976 2.47% 2.91%
1975 2.83% 2.81%
1974 3.17% 2.66%
1973 3.18% 2.53%
1972 3.15% 2.42%
1971 3.11% 2.36%
1970 3.06% 2.31%
1969 3.01% 2.24%
1968 2.96% 2.18%
1967 2.91% 2.16%
1966 2.87% 2.2%
1965 2.81% 2.19%
1964 2.76% 2.16%
1963 2.7% 2.15%
1962 2.65% 2.12%
1961 2.62% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Congo Nigeria
Current population
6718789
245016045
Population rank 109/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 2.95%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
2.73 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
13.3 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +415 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +151,476 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 45/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 -15,258
Net migration rank 108/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -15,258
2024 153,150 -2,491 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 150,486 -995 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 147,076 -995 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 144,241 -4,476 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 143,492 -4,472 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 139,513 -6,268 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 142,704 -8,856 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 141,973 -11,601 4,706,183 78,685
2016 141,358 -14,783 4,761,594 75,265
2015 141,539 -18,207 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 141,674 -21,598 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 142,080 -24,605 4,811,751 40,201
2012 142,464 -26,643 4,774,508 71,138
2011 140,371 5,262 4,728,363 67,808
2010 136,908 12,318 4,629,173 47,966
2009 126,904 86,014 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 120,711 1,774 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 112,459 31,239 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 106,876 35,475 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 101,344 38,337 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 96,577 25,412 3,877,376 46,370
2003 91,326 26,280 3,751,120 33,857
2002 88,497 -16,140 3,606,814 69,594
2001 84,876 -764 3,478,370 64,163
2000 78,491 79,780 3,343,196 74,535
1999 76,204 2,470 3,155,425 97,195
1998 72,450 10,500 3,003,946 145,575
1997 66,149 -20,704 2,936,500 96,885
1996 75,628 1,085 2,882,205 84,448
1995 74,189 3,747 2,830,771 73,243
1994 72,857 1,850 2,735,198 128,134
1993 71,119 10,218 2,673,675 90,200
1992 69,973 0 2,596,173 138,412
1991 68,534 1,966 2,527,807 42,760
1990 67,241 -395 2,491,928 135,959
1989 65,944 1,214 2,452,324 99,588
1988 64,629 22 2,376,419 93,510
1987 63,183 525 2,322,397 64,418
1986 61,669 367 2,295,003 29,682
1985 60,359 182 2,289,784 61,514
1984 59,028 0 2,278,060 113,758
1983 58,120 -18,720 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 57,036 -16,664 2,233,401 101,116
1981 56,603 -15,630 2,179,884 106,723
1980 55,550 -14,972 2,121,618 198,672
1979 54,723 -14,378 2,074,807 137,721
1978 53,885 -13,356 2,019,621 111,258
1977 53,179 -12,673 1,923,917 129,075
1976 52,148 -11,971 1,827,289 72,889
1975 51,155 -10,944 1,718,623 75,603
1974 49,563 -312 1,624,813 44,281
1973 48,017 -22 1,525,485 -618
1972 46,427 0 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 44,431 0 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 42,374 0 1,295,507 7,953
1969 40,532 0 1,213,484 6,912
1968 38,786 0 1,168,254 9,615
1967 36,866 0 1,082,884 18,683
1966 35,452 0 1,095,582 12,513
1965 33,865 0 1,061,840 32,988
1964 32,270 0 1,028,272 26,411
1963 30,832 0 995,116 27,115
1962 29,342 0 966,452 27,906
1961 28,220 0 932,111 25,515
1960 27,094 0 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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