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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.24 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.26% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Congo vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Rwanda
2100 20,197,393 33,092,520
2099 20,056,338 32,987,847
2098 19,909,990 32,907,335
2097 19,763,169 32,832,706
2096 19,613,556 32,747,490
2095 19,462,505 32,615,044
2094 19,309,823 32,529,590
2093 19,154,254 32,396,544
2092 18,993,517 32,274,083
2091 18,831,137 32,171,077
2090 18,666,035 32,068,626
2089 18,500,705 31,872,593
2088 18,328,408 31,726,882
2087 18,156,542 31,533,364
2086 17,982,556 31,379,315
2085 17,810,599 31,235,000
2084 17,634,115 31,092,940
2083 17,455,922 30,917,707
2082 17,273,447 30,733,578
2081 17,095,916 30,557,819
2080 16,913,187 30,367,298
2079 16,731,545 30,176,627
2078 16,545,390 29,997,866
2077 16,360,458 29,800,561
2076 16,175,508 29,627,021
2075 15,984,378 29,423,503
2074 15,794,071 29,225,643
2073 15,599,735 29,007,777
2072 15,404,494 28,780,763
2071 15,207,921 28,560,382
2070 15,011,471 28,316,533
2069 14,810,543 28,103,541
2068 14,612,051 27,854,906
2067 14,415,033 27,591,747
2066 14,213,222 27,355,659
2065 14,012,829 27,084,704
2064 13,813,071 26,821,315
2063 13,611,733 26,543,184
2062 13,407,155 26,296,132
2061 13,206,406 25,985,356
2060 13,006,970 25,712,904
2059 12,808,144 25,437,446
2058 12,611,185 25,106,242
2057 12,415,316 24,837,928
2056 12,219,298 24,566,784
2055 12,024,601 24,266,669
2054 11,826,644 23,976,914
2053 11,629,783 23,690,426
2052 11,433,645 23,406,346
2051 11,236,927 23,099,207
2050 11,041,020 22,800,250
2049 10,846,652 22,484,698
2048 10,651,879 22,157,938
2047 10,455,019 21,834,786
2046 10,260,138 21,540,566
2045 10,065,444 21,215,262
2044 9,872,742 20,902,695
2043 9,677,498 20,535,605
2042 9,483,953 20,201,608
2041 9,288,673 19,832,577
2040 9,097,986 19,463,015
2039 8,908,556 19,096,860
2038 8,720,599 18,761,626
2037 8,534,256 18,421,864
2036 8,350,011 18,116,691
2035 8,167,940 17,753,910
2034 7,986,915 17,421,234
2033 7,806,956 17,089,349
2032 7,629,621 16,811,505
2031 7,454,630 16,485,559
2030 7,285,238 16,167,916
2029 7,119,031 15,858,862
2028 6,956,345 15,544,959
2027 6,795,830 15,207,733
2026 6,639,560 14,888,776
2025 6,485,440 14,560,205
2024 6,332,961 14,256,567
2023 6,182,885 13,954,471
2022 6,035,104 13,651,030
2021 5,892,183 13,355,260
2020 5,752,791 13,065,837
2019 5,616,661 12,776,103
2018 5,483,118 12,487,996
2017 5,351,011 12,202,060
2016 5,222,536 11,919,183
2015 5,097,581 11,640,022
2014 4,975,880 11,364,757
2013 4,857,099 11,093,340
2012 4,740,450 10,829,901
2011 4,609,724 10,573,733
2010 4,462,290 10,317,553
2009 4,281,219 10,060,432
2008 4,113,517 9,804,269
2007 3,980,430 9,549,933
2006 3,837,409 9,299,246
2005 3,696,393 9,054,528
2004 3,565,554 8,816,844
2003 3,445,753 8,586,875
2002 3,350,771 8,400,180
2001 3,272,537 8,287,094
2000 3,151,345 8,213,931
1999 3,032,874 8,147,912
1998 2,952,061 8,081,681
1997 2,887,862 7,755,238
1996 2,826,785 6,708,764
1995 2,749,461 5,674,118
1994 2,673,144 6,792,352
1993 2,595,124 7,981,132
1992 2,519,465 7,683,266
1991 2,449,229 7,526,966
1990 2,380,560 7,375,307
1989 2,313,558 7,184,706
1988 2,247,653 6,968,071
1987 2,183,473 6,749,493
1986 2,120,602 6,531,881
1985 2,059,311 6,317,228
1984 1,999,528 6,107,627
1983 1,950,321 5,905,311
1982 1,910,430 5,711,549
1981 1,869,759 5,527,230
1980 1,828,985 5,353,259
1979 1,788,524 5,189,541
1978 1,748,089 5,035,171
1977 1,707,568 4,888,240
1976 1,667,225 4,745,954
1975 1,627,032 4,607,728
1974 1,582,301 4,474,228
1973 1,533,680 4,345,047
1972 1,486,468 4,220,335
1971 1,441,039 4,100,044
1970 1,397,638 3,980,669
1969 1,356,182 3,861,271
1968 1,316,519 3,744,010
1967 1,278,691 3,629,577
1966 1,242,534 3,521,626
1965 1,207,880 3,423,210
1964 1,174,816 3,334,834
1963 1,143,263 3,258,890
1962 1,113,175 3,186,025
1961 1,084,389 3,106,779
1960 1,056,732 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Rwanda
2100 0.7% 0.32%
2099 0.74% 0.24%
2098 0.74% 0.23%
2097 0.76% 0.26%
2096 0.78% 0.41%
2095 0.79% 0.26%
2094 0.81% 0.41%
2093 0.85% 0.38%
2092 0.86% 0.32%
2091 0.88% 0.32%
2090 0.89% 0.62%
2089 0.94% 0.46%
2088 0.95% 0.61%
2087 0.97% 0.49%
2086 0.97% 0.46%
2085 1% 0.46%
2084 1.02% 0.57%
2083 1.06% 0.6%
2082 1.04% 0.58%
2081 1.08% 0.63%
2080 1.09% 0.63%
2079 1.13% 0.6%
2078 1.13% 0.66%
2077 1.14% 0.59%
2076 1.2% 0.69%
2075 1.2% 0.68%
2074 1.25% 0.75%
2073 1.27% 0.79%
2072 1.29% 0.77%
2071 1.31% 0.86%
2070 1.36% 0.76%
2069 1.36% 0.89%
2068 1.37% 0.95%
2067 1.42% 0.86%
2066 1.43% 1%
2065 1.45% 0.98%
2064 1.48% 1.05%
2063 1.53% 0.94%
2062 1.52% 1.2%
2061 1.53% 1.06%
2060 1.55% 1.08%
2059 1.56% 1.32%
2058 1.58% 1.08%
2057 1.6% 1.1%
2056 1.62% 1.24%
2055 1.67% 1.21%
2054 1.69% 1.21%
2053 1.72% 1.21%
2052 1.75% 1.33%
2051 1.77% 1.31%
2050 1.79% 1.4%
2049 1.83% 1.47%
2048 1.88% 1.48%
2047 1.9% 1.37%
2046 1.93% 1.53%
2045 1.95% 1.5%
2044 2.02% 1.79%
2043 2.04% 1.65%
2042 2.1% 1.86%
2041 2.1% 1.9%
2040 2.13% 1.92%
2039 2.16% 1.79%
2038 2.18% 1.84%
2037 2.21% 1.68%
2036 2.23% 2.04%
2035 2.27% 1.91%
2034 2.31% 1.94%
2033 2.32% 1.65%
2032 2.35% 1.98%
2031 2.33% 1.96%
2030 2.33% 1.95%
2029 2.34% 2.02%
2028 2.36% 2.22%
2027 2.35% 2.14%
2026 2.38% 2.26%
2025 2.41% 2.13%
2024 2.43% 2.16%
2023 2.45% 2.22%
2022 2.43% 2.21%
2021 2.42% 2.22%
2020 2.42% 2.27%
2019 2.44% 2.31%
2018 2.47% 2.34%
2017 2.46% 2.37%
2016 2.45% 2.4%
2015 2.45% 2.42%
2014 2.45% 2.45%
2013 2.46% 2.43%
2012 2.84% 2.42%
2011 3.3% 2.48%
2010 4.23% 2.56%
2009 4.08% 2.61%
2008 3.34% 2.66%
2007 3.73% 2.7%
2006 3.81% 2.7%
2005 3.67% 2.7%
2004 3.48% 2.68%
2003 2.83% 2.22%
2002 2.39% 1.36%
2001 3.85% 0.89%
2000 3.91% 0.81%
1999 2.74% 0.82%
1998 2.22% 4.21%
1997 2.16% 15.6%
1996 2.81% 18.2%
1995 2.85% -16.5%
1994 3.01% -14.9%
1993 3% 3.88%
1992 2.87% 2.08%
1991 2.88% 2.06%
1990 2.9% 2.65%
1989 2.93% 3.11%
1988 2.94% 3.24%
1987 2.96% 3.33%
1986 2.98% 3.4%
1985 2.99% 3.43%
1984 2.52% 3.43%
1983 2.09% 3.39%
1982 2.18% 3.33%
1981 2.23% 3.25%
1980 2.26% 3.15%
1979 2.31% 3.07%
1978 2.37% 3.01%
1977 2.42% 3%
1976 2.47% 3%
1975 2.83% 2.98%
1974 3.17% 2.97%
1973 3.18% 2.96%
1972 3.15% 2.93%
1971 3.11% 3%
1970 3.06% 3.09%
1969 3.01% 3.13%
1968 2.96% 3.15%
1967 2.91% 3.07%
1966 2.87% 2.87%
1965 2.81% 2.65%
1964 2.76% 2.33%
1963 2.7% 2.29%
1962 2.65% 2.55%
1961 2.62% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Congo Rwanda
Current population
6681829
14975051
Population rank 109/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.18%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
2.78 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
13.5 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +411 +828
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 45/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -2,999 +6,282
Net migration rank 108/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - 6,282
2024 - -2,491 - -15,582
2023 150,486 -995 312,762 -9,001
2022 147,076 -995 312,145 -9,001
2021 144,241 -4,476 309,895 -21,492
2020 143,492 -4,472 312,692 -22,251
2019 139,513 -6,268 313,525 -24,492
2018 142,704 -8,856 312,512 -25,323
2017 141,973 -11,601 310,323 -25,634
2016 141,358 -14,783 305,549 -24,474
2015 141,539 -18,207 299,114 -21,862
2014 141,674 -21,598 292,779 -19,505
2013 142,080 -24,605 286,331 -16,779
2012 142,464 -26,643 282,584 -25,260
2011 140,371 5,262 282,922 -27,915
2010 136,908 12,318 286,848 -29,501
2009 126,904 86,014 287,034 -30,128
2008 120,711 1,774 287,334 -31,913
2007 112,459 31,239 285,791 -32,537
2006 106,876 35,475 282,149 -34,008
2005 101,344 38,337 275,121 -33,830
2004 96,577 25,412 265,273 -31,214
2003 91,326 26,280 251,243 -25,355
2002 88,497 -16,140 239,036 -91,518
2001 84,876 -764 230,845 -152,197
2000 78,491 79,780 221,276 -153,588
1999 76,204 2,470 210,518 -146,162
1998 72,450 10,500 197,185 -129,089
1997 66,149 -20,704 174,687 410,106
1996 75,628 1,085 140,455 1,367,700
1995 74,189 3,747 121,137 439,995
1994 72,857 1,850 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 71,119 10,218 183,926 236,110
1992 69,973 0 188,025 -12,334
1991 68,534 1,966 196,431 -59,519
1990 67,241 -395 207,895 -41,483
1989 65,944 1,214 217,632 -2,826
1988 64,629 22 223,759 -5,285
1987 63,183 525 225,744 -7,062
1986 61,669 367 225,526 -8,982
1985 60,359 182 223,794 -11,031
1984 59,028 0 219,337 -12,899
1983 58,120 -18,720 212,750 -14,560
1982 57,036 -16,664 205,147 -15,818
1981 56,603 -15,630 195,769 -16,453
1980 55,550 -14,972 184,988 -16,359
1979 54,723 -14,378 174,477 -15,669
1978 53,885 -13,356 163,779 -13,838
1977 53,179 -12,673 155,011 -11,084
1976 52,148 -11,971 147,665 -7,027
1975 51,155 -10,944 140,596 -4,791
1974 49,563 -312 135,743 -4,535
1973 48,017 -22 131,021 -3,862
1972 46,427 0 126,403 -4,156
1971 44,431 0 122,567 -4,230
1970 42,374 0 119,273 1,149
1969 40,532 0 115,394 2,983
1968 38,786 0 111,422 4,728
1967 36,866 0 108,053 4,655
1966 35,452 0 105,128 -1,930
1965 33,865 0 103,422 -9,774
1964 32,270 0 102,562 -19,458
1963 30,832 0 94,296 -25,524
1962 29,342 0 102,548 -25,594
1961 28,220 0 102,051 -20,508
1960 27,094 0 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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