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Population in the Congo compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 3.99 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Congo vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo North Korea
2100 20,197,393 19,604,631
2099 20,056,338 19,733,548
2098 19,909,990 19,862,949
2097 19,763,169 19,993,288
2096 19,613,556 20,124,518
2095 19,462,505 20,256,401
2094 19,309,823 20,388,156
2093 19,154,254 20,520,253
2092 18,993,517 20,652,961
2091 18,831,137 20,785,785
2090 18,666,035 20,918,305
2089 18,500,705 21,050,580
2088 18,328,408 21,182,325
2087 18,156,542 21,314,047
2086 17,982,556 21,445,329
2085 17,810,599 21,575,835
2084 17,634,115 21,705,777
2083 17,455,922 21,835,029
2082 17,273,447 21,964,199
2081 17,095,916 22,092,862
2080 16,913,187 22,220,948
2079 16,731,545 22,348,577
2078 16,545,390 22,475,755
2077 16,360,458 22,602,817
2076 16,175,508 22,729,499
2075 15,984,378 22,856,369
2074 15,794,071 22,983,784
2073 15,599,735 23,111,441
2072 15,404,494 23,239,261
2071 15,207,921 23,367,583
2070 15,011,471 23,496,136
2069 14,810,543 23,625,538
2068 14,612,051 23,755,136
2067 14,415,033 23,884,879
2066 14,213,222 24,015,027
2065 14,012,829 24,144,985
2064 13,813,071 24,274,257
2063 13,611,733 24,402,439
2062 13,407,155 24,529,941
2061 13,206,406 24,656,350
2060 13,006,970 24,780,911
2059 12,808,144 24,903,037
2058 12,611,185 25,023,260
2057 12,415,316 25,140,523
2056 12,219,298 25,255,342
2055 12,024,601 25,366,397
2054 11,826,644 25,474,292
2053 11,629,783 25,578,870
2052 11,433,645 25,679,963
2051 11,236,927 25,777,639
2050 11,041,020 25,871,673
2049 10,846,652 25,962,167
2048 10,651,879 26,048,593
2047 10,455,019 26,131,429
2046 10,260,138 26,210,487
2045 10,065,444 26,286,208
2044 9,872,742 26,358,331
2043 9,677,498 26,427,062
2042 9,483,953 26,491,482
2041 9,288,673 26,552,564
2040 9,097,986 26,609,557
2039 8,908,556 26,661,815
2038 8,720,599 26,708,400
2037 8,534,256 26,749,134
2036 8,350,011 26,783,304
2035 8,167,940 26,810,026
2034 7,986,915 26,828,912
2033 7,806,956 26,839,229
2032 7,629,621 26,840,944
2031 7,454,630 26,832,957
2030 7,285,238 26,814,812
2029 7,119,031 26,787,117
2028 6,956,345 26,749,227
2027 6,795,830 26,701,444
2026 6,639,560 26,643,460
2025 6,485,440 26,575,953
2024 6,332,961 26,498,823
2023 6,182,885 26,418,204
2022 6,035,104 26,328,845
2021 5,892,183 26,232,534
2020 5,752,791 26,136,312
2019 5,616,661 26,037,632
2018 5,483,118 25,931,147
2017 5,351,011 25,817,709
2016 5,222,536 25,698,326
2015 5,097,581 25,575,350
2014 4,975,880 25,451,262
2013 4,857,099 25,329,451
2012 4,740,450 25,211,728
2011 4,609,724 25,097,874
2010 4,462,290 24,987,258
2009 4,281,219 24,878,332
2008 4,113,517 24,764,618
2007 3,980,430 24,646,383
2006 3,837,409 24,524,507
2005 3,696,393 24,396,433
2004 3,565,554 24,254,943
2003 3,445,753 24,090,380
2002 3,350,771 23,943,973
2001 3,272,537 23,815,358
2000 3,151,345 23,665,910
1999 3,032,874 23,497,599
1998 2,952,061 23,311,564
1997 2,887,862 23,110,830
1996 2,826,785 22,895,746
1995 2,749,461 22,669,304
1994 2,673,144 22,393,975
1993 2,595,124 22,073,352
1992 2,519,465 21,750,911
1991 2,449,229 21,428,638
1990 2,380,560 21,112,137
1989 2,313,558 20,804,367
1988 2,247,653 20,503,161
1987 2,183,473 20,205,483
1986 2,120,602 19,910,855
1985 2,059,311 19,620,388
1984 1,999,528 19,335,043
1983 1,950,321 19,054,034
1982 1,910,430 18,776,357
1981 1,869,759 18,501,295
1980 1,828,985 18,236,786
1979 1,788,524 17,983,470
1978 1,748,089 17,735,995
1977 1,707,568 17,492,798
1976 1,667,225 17,243,450
1975 1,627,032 16,971,055
1974 1,582,301 16,673,121
1973 1,533,680 16,350,367
1972 1,486,468 15,975,069
1971 1,441,039 15,572,457
1970 1,397,638 15,172,775
1969 1,356,182 14,767,615
1968 1,316,519 14,365,596
1967 1,278,691 13,958,350
1966 1,242,534 13,569,094
1965 1,207,880 13,219,369
1964 1,174,816 12,889,770
1963 1,143,263 12,567,057
1962 1,113,175 12,262,882
1961 1,084,389 11,990,713
1960 1,056,732 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo North Korea
2100 0.7% -0.65%
2099 0.74% -0.65%
2098 0.74% -0.65%
2097 0.76% -0.65%
2096 0.78% -0.65%
2095 0.79% -0.65%
2094 0.81% -0.64%
2093 0.85% -0.64%
2092 0.86% -0.64%
2091 0.88% -0.63%
2090 0.89% -0.63%
2089 0.94% -0.62%
2088 0.95% -0.62%
2087 0.97% -0.61%
2086 0.97% -0.6%
2085 1% -0.6%
2084 1.02% -0.59%
2083 1.06% -0.59%
2082 1.04% -0.58%
2081 1.08% -0.58%
2080 1.09% -0.57%
2079 1.13% -0.57%
2078 1.13% -0.56%
2077 1.14% -0.56%
2076 1.2% -0.56%
2075 1.2% -0.55%
2074 1.25% -0.55%
2073 1.27% -0.55%
2072 1.29% -0.55%
2071 1.31% -0.55%
2070 1.36% -0.55%
2069 1.36% -0.55%
2068 1.37% -0.54%
2067 1.42% -0.54%
2066 1.43% -0.54%
2065 1.45% -0.53%
2064 1.48% -0.53%
2063 1.53% -0.52%
2062 1.52% -0.51%
2061 1.53% -0.5%
2060 1.55% -0.49%
2059 1.56% -0.48%
2058 1.58% -0.47%
2057 1.6% -0.45%
2056 1.62% -0.44%
2055 1.67% -0.42%
2054 1.69% -0.41%
2053 1.72% -0.39%
2052 1.75% -0.38%
2051 1.77% -0.36%
2050 1.79% -0.35%
2049 1.83% -0.33%
2048 1.88% -0.32%
2047 1.9% -0.3%
2046 1.93% -0.29%
2045 1.95% -0.27%
2044 2.02% -0.26%
2043 2.04% -0.24%
2042 2.1% -0.23%
2041 2.1% -0.21%
2040 2.13% -0.2%
2039 2.16% -0.17%
2038 2.18% -0.15%
2037 2.21% -0.13%
2036 2.23% -0.1%
2035 2.27% -0.07%
2034 2.31% -0.04%
2033 2.32% -0.006%
2032 2.35% 0.03%
2031 2.33% 0.07%
2030 2.33% 0.1%
2029 2.34% 0.14%
2028 2.36% 0.18%
2027 2.35% 0.22%
2026 2.38% 0.25%
2025 2.41% 0.29%
2024 2.43% 0.31%
2023 2.45% 0.34%
2022 2.43% 0.37%
2021 2.42% 0.37%
2020 2.42% 0.38%
2019 2.44% 0.41%
2018 2.47% 0.44%
2017 2.46% 0.46%
2016 2.45% 0.48%
2015 2.45% 0.49%
2014 2.45% 0.48%
2013 2.46% 0.47%
2012 2.84% 0.45%
2011 3.3% 0.44%
2010 4.23% 0.44%
2009 4.08% 0.46%
2008 3.34% 0.48%
2007 3.73% 0.5%
2006 3.81% 0.52%
2005 3.67% 0.58%
2004 3.48% 0.68%
2003 2.83% 0.61%
2002 2.39% 0.54%
2001 3.85% 0.63%
2000 3.91% 0.72%
1999 2.74% 0.8%
1998 2.22% 0.87%
1997 2.16% 0.94%
1996 2.81% 1%
1995 2.85% 1.23%
1994 3.01% 1.45%
1993 3% 1.48%
1992 2.87% 1.5%
1991 2.88% 1.5%
1990 2.9% 1.48%
1989 2.93% 1.47%
1988 2.94% 1.47%
1987 2.96% 1.48%
1986 2.98% 1.48%
1985 2.99% 1.48%
1984 2.52% 1.47%
1983 2.09% 1.48%
1982 2.18% 1.49%
1981 2.23% 1.45%
1980 2.26% 1.41%
1979 2.31% 1.4%
1978 2.37% 1.39%
1977 2.42% 1.45%
1976 2.47% 1.61%
1975 2.83% 1.79%
1974 3.17% 1.97%
1973 3.18% 2.35%
1972 3.15% 2.59%
1971 3.11% 2.63%
1970 3.06% 2.74%
1969 3.01% 2.8%
1968 2.96% 2.92%
1967 2.91% 2.87%
1966 2.87% 2.65%
1965 2.81% 2.56%
1964 2.76% 2.57%
1963 2.7% 2.48%
1962 2.65% 2.27%
1961 2.62% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Congo North Korea
Current population
6681829
26659144
Population rank 109/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.32%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
2.78 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
13.5 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +411 +221
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 150/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -2,999 -2,787
Net migration rank 108/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -2,787
2024 - -2,491 - -2,473
2023 150,486 -995 86,203 -1,997
2022 147,076 -995 96,495 -1,997
2021 144,241 -4,476 99,710 -1,585
2020 143,492 -4,472 95,920 -1,585
2019 139,513 -6,268 106,208 -3,142
2018 142,704 -8,856 113,164 -3,225
2017 141,973 -11,601 120,181 -3,224
2016 141,358 -14,783 125,048 -3,222
2015 141,539 -18,207 127,365 -3,208
2014 141,674 -21,598 127,078 -3,042
2013 142,080 -24,605 122,519 -2,933
2012 142,464 -26,643 118,773 -2,919
2011 140,371 5,262 114,798 -2,957
2010 136,908 12,318 112,443 -3,053
2009 126,904 86,014 111,530 -3,058
2008 120,711 1,774 122,015 -3,051
2007 112,459 31,239 120,521 -3,021
2006 106,876 35,475 129,171 -2,948
2005 101,344 38,337 132,765 -2,861
2004 96,577 25,412 155,838 -2,758
2003 91,326 26,280 178,775 -2,717
2002 88,497 -16,140 119,504 -2,763
2001 84,876 -764 143,321 -2,884
2000 78,491 79,780 161,591 -3,142
1999 76,204 2,470 181,613 -3,443
1998 72,450 10,500 197,589 -3,706
1997 66,149 -20,704 211,325 -3,745
1996 75,628 1,085 226,095 -3,512
1995 74,189 3,747 233,381 -3,094
1994 72,857 1,850 320,861 -517
1993 71,119 10,218 320,880 0
1992 69,973 0 324,002 0
1991 68,534 1,966 320,551 0
1990 67,241 -395 312,460 0
1989 65,944 1,214 303,078 0
1988 64,629 22 299,305 0
1987 63,183 525 296,030 0
1986 61,669 367 293,227 0
1985 60,359 182 287,714 0
1984 59,028 0 282,987 0
1983 58,120 -18,720 279,046 0
1982 57,036 -16,664 276,332 0
1981 56,603 -15,630 273,800 0
1980 55,550 -14,972 255,206 0
1979 54,723 -14,378 251,409 0
1978 53,885 -13,356 243,533 0
1977 53,179 -12,673 242,870 0
1976 52,148 -11,971 255,841 0
1975 51,155 -10,944 288,966 0
1974 49,563 -312 306,902 0
1973 48,017 -22 338,600 0
1972 46,427 0 411,997 0
1971 44,431 0 393,220 0
1970 42,374 0 406,129 0
1969 40,532 0 404,189 0
1968 38,786 0 399,837 0
1967 36,866 0 414,632 0
1966 35,452 0 363,882 0
1965 33,865 0 335,587 0
1964 32,270 0 323,623 0
1963 30,832 0 321,805 0
1962 29,342 0 286,534 0
1961 28,220 0 257,788 0
1960 27,094 0 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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