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Population in the Congo compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 1.65 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Congo vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Papua New Guinea
2100 20,197,393 18,802,138
2099 20,056,338 18,790,040
2098 19,909,990 18,776,265
2097 19,763,169 18,758,897
2096 19,613,556 18,737,707
2095 19,462,505 18,714,219
2094 19,309,823 18,687,257
2093 19,154,254 18,658,233
2092 18,993,517 18,625,772
2091 18,831,137 18,590,001
2090 18,666,035 18,549,501
2089 18,500,705 18,510,463
2088 18,328,408 18,468,827
2087 18,156,542 18,424,378
2086 17,982,556 18,376,043
2085 17,810,599 18,325,641
2084 17,634,115 18,274,394
2083 17,455,922 18,218,709
2082 17,273,447 18,163,177
2081 17,095,916 18,104,285
2080 16,913,187 18,039,008
2079 16,731,545 17,975,778
2078 16,545,390 17,908,670
2077 16,360,458 17,840,781
2076 16,175,508 17,771,791
2075 15,984,378 17,699,428
2074 15,794,071 17,625,044
2073 15,599,735 17,548,128
2072 15,404,494 17,466,649
2071 15,207,921 17,381,598
2070 15,011,471 17,295,105
2069 14,810,543 17,205,503
2068 14,612,051 17,112,154
2067 14,415,033 17,015,090
2066 14,213,222 16,915,436
2065 14,012,829 16,812,946
2064 13,813,071 16,708,669
2063 13,611,733 16,604,296
2062 13,407,155 16,497,292
2061 13,206,406 16,386,905
2060 13,006,970 16,270,535
2059 12,808,144 16,152,614
2058 12,611,185 16,032,684
2057 12,415,316 15,909,649
2056 12,219,298 15,784,519
2055 12,024,601 15,656,542
2054 11,826,644 15,523,143
2053 11,629,783 15,389,244
2052 11,433,645 15,250,715
2051 11,236,927 15,110,389
2050 11,041,020 14,968,530
2049 10,846,652 14,821,865
2048 10,651,879 14,673,459
2047 10,455,019 14,522,926
2046 10,260,138 14,370,120
2045 10,065,444 14,213,585
2044 9,872,742 14,056,036
2043 9,677,498 13,897,765
2042 9,483,953 13,738,690
2041 9,288,673 13,577,382
2040 9,097,986 13,413,396
2039 8,908,556 13,247,486
2038 8,720,599 13,079,352
2037 8,534,256 12,909,735
2036 8,350,011 12,738,223
2035 8,167,940 12,566,543
2034 7,986,915 12,392,476
2033 7,806,956 12,218,246
2032 7,629,621 12,042,345
2031 7,454,630 11,865,316
2030 7,285,238 11,685,599
2029 7,119,031 11,504,890
2028 6,956,345 11,322,573
2027 6,795,830 11,138,409
2026 6,639,560 10,952,454
2025 6,485,440 10,765,048
2024 6,332,961 10,576,502
2023 6,182,885 10,389,635
2022 6,035,104 10,203,169
2021 5,892,183 10,012,896
2020 5,752,791 9,815,746
2019 5,616,661 9,609,010
2018 5,483,118 9,394,513
2017 5,351,011 9,178,714
2016 5,222,536 8,961,718
2015 5,097,581 8,743,246
2014 4,975,880 8,523,441
2013 4,857,099 8,302,698
2012 4,740,450 8,081,390
2011 4,609,724 7,859,346
2010 4,462,290 7,633,523
2009 4,281,219 7,406,438
2008 4,113,517 7,183,002
2007 3,980,430 6,963,345
2006 3,837,409 6,747,720
2005 3,696,393 6,535,905
2004 3,565,554 6,328,041
2003 3,445,753 6,123,997
2002 3,350,771 5,924,003
2001 3,272,537 5,728,435
2000 3,151,345 5,537,064
1999 3,032,874 5,349,333
1998 2,952,061 5,166,390
1997 2,887,862 4,987,883
1996 2,826,785 4,813,361
1995 2,749,461 4,644,278
1994 2,673,144 4,480,208
1993 2,595,124 4,320,872
1992 2,519,465 4,166,699
1991 2,449,229 4,021,837
1990 2,380,560 3,896,481
1989 2,313,558 3,796,078
1988 2,247,653 3,711,880
1987 2,183,473 3,632,543
1986 2,120,602 3,554,793
1985 2,059,311 3,478,936
1984 1,999,528 3,405,198
1983 1,950,321 3,333,633
1982 1,910,430 3,264,291
1981 1,869,759 3,197,019
1980 1,828,985 3,131,512
1979 1,788,524 3,067,341
1978 1,748,089 3,003,714
1977 1,707,568 2,940,327
1976 1,667,225 2,877,327
1975 1,627,032 2,814,820
1974 1,582,301 2,752,671
1973 1,533,680 2,690,629
1972 1,486,468 2,628,432
1971 1,441,039 2,566,421
1970 1,397,638 2,505,628
1969 1,356,182 2,446,927
1968 1,316,519 2,390,803
1967 1,278,691 2,337,532
1966 1,242,534 2,285,774
1965 1,207,880 2,235,820
1964 1,174,816 2,188,325
1963 1,143,263 2,141,376
1962 1,113,175 2,093,919
1961 1,084,389 2,046,127
1960 1,056,732 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Papua New Guinea
2100 0.7% 0.06%
2099 0.74% 0.07%
2098 0.74% 0.09%
2097 0.76% 0.11%
2096 0.78% 0.13%
2095 0.79% 0.14%
2094 0.81% 0.16%
2093 0.85% 0.17%
2092 0.86% 0.19%
2091 0.88% 0.22%
2090 0.89% 0.21%
2089 0.94% 0.23%
2088 0.95% 0.24%
2087 0.97% 0.26%
2086 0.97% 0.28%
2085 1% 0.28%
2084 1.02% 0.31%
2083 1.06% 0.31%
2082 1.04% 0.33%
2081 1.08% 0.36%
2080 1.09% 0.35%
2079 1.13% 0.37%
2078 1.13% 0.38%
2077 1.14% 0.39%
2076 1.2% 0.41%
2075 1.2% 0.42%
2074 1.25% 0.44%
2073 1.27% 0.47%
2072 1.29% 0.49%
2071 1.31% 0.5%
2070 1.36% 0.52%
2069 1.36% 0.55%
2068 1.37% 0.57%
2067 1.42% 0.59%
2066 1.43% 0.61%
2065 1.45% 0.62%
2064 1.48% 0.63%
2063 1.53% 0.65%
2062 1.52% 0.67%
2061 1.53% 0.72%
2060 1.55% 0.73%
2059 1.56% 0.75%
2058 1.58% 0.77%
2057 1.6% 0.79%
2056 1.62% 0.82%
2055 1.67% 0.86%
2054 1.69% 0.87%
2053 1.72% 0.91%
2052 1.75% 0.93%
2051 1.77% 0.95%
2050 1.79% 0.99%
2049 1.83% 1.01%
2048 1.88% 1.04%
2047 1.9% 1.06%
2046 1.93% 1.1%
2045 1.95% 1.12%
2044 2.02% 1.14%
2043 2.04% 1.16%
2042 2.1% 1.19%
2041 2.1% 1.22%
2040 2.13% 1.25%
2039 2.16% 1.29%
2038 2.18% 1.31%
2037 2.21% 1.35%
2036 2.23% 1.37%
2035 2.27% 1.4%
2034 2.31% 1.43%
2033 2.32% 1.46%
2032 2.35% 1.49%
2031 2.33% 1.54%
2030 2.33% 1.57%
2029 2.34% 1.61%
2028 2.36% 1.65%
2027 2.35% 1.7%
2026 2.38% 1.74%
2025 2.41% 1.78%
2024 2.43% 1.8%
2023 2.45% 1.83%
2022 2.43% 1.9%
2021 2.42% 2.01%
2020 2.42% 2.15%
2019 2.44% 2.28%
2018 2.47% 2.35%
2017 2.46% 2.42%
2016 2.45% 2.5%
2015 2.45% 2.58%
2014 2.45% 2.66%
2013 2.46% 2.74%
2012 2.84% 2.83%
2011 3.3% 2.96%
2010 4.23% 3.07%
2009 4.08% 3.11%
2008 3.34% 3.15%
2007 3.73% 3.2%
2006 3.81% 3.24%
2005 3.67% 3.28%
2004 3.48% 3.33%
2003 2.83% 3.38%
2002 2.39% 3.41%
2001 3.85% 3.46%
2000 3.91% 3.51%
1999 2.74% 3.54%
1998 2.22% 3.58%
1997 2.16% 3.63%
1996 2.81% 3.64%
1995 2.85% 3.66%
1994 3.01% 3.69%
1993 3% 3.7%
1992 2.87% 3.6%
1991 2.88% 3.22%
1990 2.9% 2.64%
1989 2.93% 2.27%
1988 2.94% 2.18%
1987 2.96% 2.19%
1986 2.98% 2.18%
1985 2.99% 2.17%
1984 2.52% 2.15%
1983 2.09% 2.12%
1982 2.18% 2.1%
1981 2.23% 2.09%
1980 2.26% 2.09%
1979 2.31% 2.12%
1978 2.37% 2.16%
1977 2.42% 2.19%
1976 2.47% 2.22%
1975 2.83% 2.26%
1974 3.17% 2.31%
1973 3.18% 2.37%
1972 3.15% 2.42%
1971 3.11% 2.43%
1970 3.06% 2.4%
1969 3.01% 2.35%
1968 2.96% 2.28%
1967 2.91% 2.26%
1966 2.87% 2.23%
1965 2.81% 2.17%
1964 2.76% 2.19%
1963 2.7% 2.27%
1962 2.65% 2.34%
1961 2.62% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Congo Papua New Guinea
Current population
6681829
11002753
Population rank 109/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.13%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
2.78 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
13.5 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +411 +512
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 59/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -2,999 -284
Net migration rank 108/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -284
2024 - -2,491 - -707
2023 150,486 -995 187,637 -787
2022 147,076 -995 186,861 -787
2021 144,241 -4,476 183,766 10,703
2020 143,492 -4,472 189,130 10,703
2019 139,513 -6,268 190,662 22,978
2018 142,704 -8,856 190,662 24,684
2017 141,973 -11,601 189,715 26,513
2016 141,358 -14,783 189,281 28,473
2015 141,539 -18,207 188,600 30,580
2014 141,674 -21,598 187,592 32,840
2013 142,080 -24,605 185,790 35,280
2012 142,464 -26,643 183,658 37,893
2011 140,371 5,262 181,842 40,690
2010 136,908 12,318 178,998 50,106
2009 126,904 86,014 175,421 49,647
2008 120,711 1,774 172,823 48,985
2007 112,459 31,239 169,306 48,203
2006 106,876 35,475 166,540 47,191
2005 101,344 38,337 163,888 46,014
2004 96,577 25,412 161,023 44,811
2003 91,326 26,280 158,611 43,639
2002 88,497 -16,140 155,091 42,657
2001 84,876 -764 151,431 41,962
2000 78,491 79,780 147,496 41,855
1999 76,204 2,470 143,592 42,519
1998 72,450 10,500 136,677 43,091
1997 66,149 -20,704 134,458 42,787
1996 75,628 1,085 129,802 41,994
1995 74,189 3,747 125,410 40,962
1994 72,857 1,850 122,113 39,669
1993 71,119 10,218 118,668 38,220
1992 69,973 0 114,818 36,622
1991 68,534 1,966 111,453 26,830
1990 67,241 -395 110,033 2,398
1989 65,944 1,214 108,199 -19,824
1988 64,629 22 106,256 -26,232
1987 63,183 525 104,367 -25,720
1986 61,669 367 102,346 -25,495
1985 60,359 182 100,333 -25,470
1984 59,028 0 98,103 -25,487
1983 58,120 -18,720 95,982 -25,465
1982 57,036 -16,664 93,522 -25,355
1981 56,603 -15,630 91,767 -25,383
1980 55,550 -14,972 90,266 -25,638
1979 54,723 -14,378 89,330 -25,618
1978 53,885 -13,356 88,747 -25,208
1977 53,179 -12,673 87,954 -24,722
1976 52,148 -11,971 86,965 -24,198
1975 51,155 -10,944 85,809 -23,562
1974 49,563 -312 84,829 -22,771
1973 48,017 -22 83,821 -21,803
1972 46,427 0 82,672 -20,303
1971 44,431 0 80,599 -18,945
1970 42,374 0 78,712 -18,773
1969 40,532 0 76,454 -18,994
1968 38,786 0 73,983 -19,188
1967 36,866 0 71,519 -19,767
1966 35,452 0 69,206 -17,454
1965 33,865 0 66,693 -18,532
1964 32,270 0 64,558 -17,730
1963 30,832 0 62,260 -15,189
1962 29,342 0 59,974 -12,141
1961 28,220 0 58,151 -10,409
1960 27,094 0 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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