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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 15,062,056 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 +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Congo vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Rwanda
2100 20,194,267 33,113,283
2099 20,053,234 33,008,545
2098 19,906,909 32,927,982
2097 19,760,110 32,853,307
2096 19,610,521 32,768,037
2095 19,459,493 32,635,508
2094 19,306,835 32,550,001
2093 19,151,289 32,416,870
2092 18,990,577 32,294,333
2091 18,828,222 32,191,262
2090 18,663,146 32,088,747
2089 18,497,842 31,892,591
2088 18,325,571 31,746,789
2087 18,153,731 31,553,150
2086 17,979,773 31,399,004
2085 17,807,843 31,254,597
2084 17,631,386 31,112,448
2083 17,453,221 30,937,106
2082 17,270,773 30,752,861
2081 17,093,270 30,576,992
2080 16,910,570 30,386,351
2079 16,728,955 30,195,560
2078 16,542,829 30,016,688
2077 16,357,926 29,819,259
2076 16,173,005 29,645,610
2075 15,981,904 29,441,964
2074 15,791,626 29,243,980
2073 15,597,321 29,025,977
2072 15,402,110 28,798,822
2071 15,205,567 28,578,302
2070 15,009,147 28,334,300
2069 14,808,250 28,121,174
2068 14,609,790 27,872,383
2067 14,412,802 27,609,059
2066 14,211,022 27,372,823
2065 14,010,661 27,101,698
2064 13,810,933 26,838,144
2063 13,609,626 26,559,838
2062 13,405,080 26,312,631
2061 13,204,362 26,001,660
2060 13,004,957 25,729,037
2059 12,806,162 25,453,407
2058 12,609,233 25,121,995
2057 12,413,395 24,853,512
2056 12,217,406 24,582,198
2055 12,022,740 24,281,895
2054 11,824,813 23,991,958
2053 11,627,983 23,705,290
2052 11,431,875 23,421,032
2051 11,235,188 23,113,700
2050 11,039,311 22,814,556
2049 10,844,973 22,498,806
2048 10,650,230 22,171,841
2047 10,453,401 21,848,486
2046 10,258,550 21,554,082
2045 10,063,886 21,228,573
2044 9,871,213 20,915,810
2043 9,676,000 20,548,490
2042 9,482,485 20,214,283
2041 9,287,235 19,845,021
2040 9,096,577 19,475,227
2039 8,907,177 19,108,842
2038 8,719,250 18,773,398
2037 8,532,935 18,433,422
2036 8,348,719 18,128,058
2035 8,166,676 17,765,049
2034 7,985,679 17,432,165
2033 7,805,748 17,100,072
2032 7,628,440 16,822,053
2031 7,453,476 16,495,903
2030 7,284,111 16,178,061
2029 7,117,929 15,868,812
2028 6,955,268 15,554,713
2027 6,794,778 15,217,275
2026 6,638,532 14,898,118
2025 6,484,437 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% 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 64.3% to 11,039,311 people with a rank change from 109th to 95th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 2.39% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/congo/rwanda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Congo Rwanda
Current population
6718789
15062056
Population rank 109/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.18%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
2.73 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
13.3 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +415 +857
Annual growth/decline +151,476 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 40/197
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 153,150 -2,491 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/congo/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 127K
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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda | 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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