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Population in the Congo compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 9.8 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Congo vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo South Africa
2100 20,194,267 94,734,082
2099 20,053,234 94,523,360
2098 19,906,909 94,316,049
2097 19,760,110 94,125,043
2096 19,610,521 93,927,246
2095 19,459,493 93,719,451
2094 19,306,835 93,494,697
2093 19,151,289 93,267,274
2092 18,990,577 93,041,793
2091 18,828,222 92,793,249
2090 18,663,146 92,561,159
2089 18,497,842 92,322,396
2088 18,325,571 92,080,212
2087 18,153,731 91,833,409
2086 17,979,773 91,581,639
2085 17,807,843 91,352,906
2084 17,631,386 91,106,961
2083 17,453,221 90,845,161
2082 17,270,773 90,583,188
2081 17,093,270 90,313,417
2080 16,910,570 90,039,857
2079 16,728,955 89,770,116
2078 16,542,829 89,494,440
2077 16,357,926 89,217,520
2076 16,173,005 88,954,522
2075 15,981,904 88,681,719
2074 15,791,626 88,397,221
2073 15,597,321 88,118,589
2072 15,402,110 87,835,051
2071 15,205,567 87,509,098
2070 15,009,147 87,178,463
2069 14,808,250 86,870,660
2068 14,609,790 86,558,000
2067 14,412,802 86,237,764
2066 14,211,022 85,904,801
2065 14,010,661 85,573,984
2064 13,810,933 85,214,686
2063 13,609,626 84,845,370
2062 13,405,080 84,473,236
2061 13,204,362 84,103,016
2060 13,004,957 83,719,266
2059 12,806,162 83,325,330
2058 12,609,233 82,918,226
2057 12,413,395 82,508,742
2056 12,217,406 82,098,320
2055 12,022,740 81,669,191
2054 11,824,813 81,227,019
2053 11,627,983 80,789,939
2052 11,431,875 80,338,877
2051 11,235,188 79,858,310
2050 11,039,311 79,383,784
2049 10,844,973 78,897,472
2048 10,650,230 78,409,829
2047 10,453,401 77,894,547
2046 10,258,550 77,369,819
2045 10,063,886 76,852,544
2044 9,871,213 76,330,046
2043 9,676,000 75,800,788
2042 9,482,485 75,264,885
2041 9,287,235 74,721,871
2040 9,096,577 74,179,185
2039 8,907,177 73,636,894
2038 8,719,250 73,079,976
2037 8,532,935 72,506,991
2036 8,348,719 71,930,701
2035 8,166,676 71,337,219
2034 7,985,679 70,737,692
2033 7,805,748 70,128,299
2032 7,628,440 69,502,726
2031 7,453,476 68,865,544
2030 7,284,111 68,221,143
2029 7,117,929 67,549,189
2028 6,955,268 66,860,631
2027 6,794,778 66,166,759
2026 6,638,532 65,473,024
2025 6,484,437 64,747,319
2024 6,332,961 64,007,187
2023 6,182,885 63,212,384
2022 6,035,104 62,378,410
2021 5,892,183 61,502,603
2020 5,752,791 60,562,381
2019 5,616,661 59,587,885
2018 5,483,118 58,613,001
2017 5,351,011 57,635,162
2016 5,222,536 57,259,551
2015 5,097,581 56,723,537
2014 4,975,880 55,594,838
2013 4,857,099 54,678,791
2012 4,740,450 53,782,567
2011 4,609,724 52,995,205
2010 4,462,290 52,344,051
2009 4,281,219 51,728,516
2008 4,113,517 51,114,599
2007 3,980,430 50,528,584
2006 3,837,409 49,998,277
2005 3,696,393 49,490,033
2004 3,565,554 48,991,421
2003 3,445,753 48,500,348
2002 3,350,771 48,019,415
2001 3,272,537 47,566,800
2000 3,151,345 47,159,719
1999 3,032,874 46,730,335
1998 2,952,061 46,223,880
1997 2,887,862 45,666,838
1996 2,826,785 45,123,018
1995 2,749,461 44,541,554
1994 2,673,144 44,004,139
1993 2,595,124 43,297,156
1992 2,519,465 42,443,509
1991 2,449,229 41,687,898
1990 2,380,560 40,746,268
1989 2,313,558 39,628,575
1988 2,247,653 38,480,649
1987 2,183,473 37,326,190
1986 2,120,602 36,180,515
1985 2,059,311 35,042,093
1984 1,999,528 33,892,788
1983 1,950,321 32,739,304
1982 1,910,430 31,615,339
1981 1,869,759 30,541,044
1980 1,828,985 29,518,857
1979 1,788,524 28,634,162
1978 1,748,089 27,869,507
1977 1,707,568 27,118,952
1976 1,667,225 26,395,450
1975 1,627,032 25,690,940
1974 1,582,301 24,989,108
1973 1,533,680 24,294,263
1972 1,486,468 23,609,456
1971 1,441,039 22,942,143
1970 1,397,638 22,279,984
1969 1,356,182 21,614,676
1968 1,316,519 20,957,287
1967 1,278,691 20,314,066
1966 1,242,534 19,690,087
1965 1,207,880 19,089,380
1964 1,174,816 18,511,361
1963 1,143,263 17,954,564
1962 1,113,175 17,418,522
1961 1,084,389 16,908,035
1960 1,056,732 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo South Africa
2100 0.7% 0.22%
2099 0.74% 0.22%
2098 0.74% 0.2%
2097 0.76% 0.21%
2096 0.78% 0.22%
2095 0.79% 0.24%
2094 0.81% 0.24%
2093 0.85% 0.24%
2092 0.86% 0.27%
2091 0.88% 0.25%
2090 0.89% 0.26%
2089 0.94% 0.26%
2088 0.95% 0.27%
2087 0.97% 0.27%
2086 0.97% 0.25%
2085 1% 0.27%
2084 1.02% 0.29%
2083 1.06% 0.29%
2082 1.04% 0.3%
2081 1.08% 0.3%
2080 1.09% 0.3%
2079 1.13% 0.31%
2078 1.13% 0.31%
2077 1.14% 0.3%
2076 1.2% 0.31%
2075 1.2% 0.32%
2074 1.25% 0.32%
2073 1.27% 0.32%
2072 1.29% 0.37%
2071 1.31% 0.38%
2070 1.36% 0.35%
2069 1.36% 0.36%
2068 1.37% 0.37%
2067 1.42% 0.39%
2066 1.43% 0.39%
2065 1.45% 0.42%
2064 1.48% 0.44%
2063 1.53% 0.44%
2062 1.52% 0.44%
2061 1.53% 0.46%
2060 1.55% 0.47%
2059 1.56% 0.49%
2058 1.58% 0.5%
2057 1.6% 0.5%
2056 1.62% 0.53%
2055 1.67% 0.54%
2054 1.69% 0.54%
2053 1.72% 0.56%
2052 1.75% 0.6%
2051 1.77% 0.6%
2050 1.79% 0.62%
2049 1.83% 0.62%
2048 1.88% 0.66%
2047 1.9% 0.68%
2046 1.93% 0.67%
2045 1.95% 0.68%
2044 2.02% 0.7%
2043 2.04% 0.71%
2042 2.1% 0.73%
2041 2.1% 0.73%
2040 2.13% 0.74%
2039 2.16% 0.76%
2038 2.18% 0.79%
2037 2.21% 0.8%
2036 2.23% 0.83%
2035 2.27% 0.85%
2034 2.31% 0.87%
2033 2.32% 0.9%
2032 2.35% 0.93%
2031 2.33% 0.94%
2030 2.33% 0.99%
2029 2.34% 1.03%
2028 2.36% 1.05%
2027 2.35% 1.06%
2026 2.38% 1.12%
2025 2.39% 1.16%
2024 2.43% 1.26%
2023 2.45% 1.34%
2022 2.43% 1.42%
2021 2.42% 1.55%
2020 2.42% 1.64%
2019 2.44% 1.66%
2018 2.47% 1.7%
2017 2.46% 0.66%
2016 2.45% 0.94%
2015 2.45% 2.03%
2014 2.45% 1.68%
2013 2.46% 1.67%
2012 2.84% 1.49%
2011 3.3% 1.24%
2010 4.23% 1.19%
2009 4.08% 1.2%
2008 3.34% 1.16%
2007 3.73% 1.06%
2006 3.81% 1.03%
2005 3.67% 1.02%
2004 3.48% 1.01%
2003 2.83% 1%
2002 2.39% 0.95%
2001 3.85% 0.86%
2000 3.91% 0.92%
1999 2.74% 1.1%
1998 2.22% 1.22%
1997 2.16% 1.21%
1996 2.81% 1.31%
1995 2.85% 1.22%
1994 3.01% 1.63%
1993 3% 2.01%
1992 2.87% 1.81%
1991 2.88% 2.31%
1990 2.9% 2.82%
1989 2.93% 2.98%
1988 2.94% 3.09%
1987 2.96% 3.17%
1986 2.98% 3.25%
1985 2.99% 3.39%
1984 2.52% 3.52%
1983 2.09% 3.56%
1982 2.18% 3.52%
1981 2.23% 3.46%
1980 2.26% 3.09%
1979 2.31% 2.74%
1978 2.37% 2.77%
1977 2.42% 2.74%
1976 2.47% 2.74%
1975 2.83% 2.81%
1974 3.17% 2.86%
1973 3.18% 2.9%
1972 3.15% 2.91%
1971 3.11% 2.97%
1970 3.06% 3.08%
1969 3.01% 3.14%
1968 2.96% 3.17%
1967 2.91% 3.17%
1966 2.87% 3.15%
1965 2.81% 3.12%
1964 2.76% 3.1%
1963 2.7% 3.08%
1962 2.65% 3.02%
1961 2.62% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Congo South Africa
Current population
6718789
65829368
Population rank 109/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.79%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
2.73 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
13.3 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +415 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +151,476 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 91/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 +146,370
Net migration rank 108/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - 146,370
2024 153,150 -2,491 591,618 166,972
2023 150,486 -995 602,793 228,222
2022 147,076 -995 603,636 233,284
2021 144,241 -4,476 456,411 458,246
2020 143,492 -4,472 595,873 369,901
2019 139,513 -6,268 652,130 331,124
2018 142,704 -8,856 648,319 318,260
2017 141,973 -11,601 645,975 343,146
2016 141,358 -14,783 641,365 -879,235
2015 141,539 -18,207 668,771 641,150
2014 141,674 -21,598 674,754 272,697
2013 142,080 -24,605 652,427 232,230
2012 142,464 -26,643 643,723 264,091
2011 140,371 5,262 601,708 65,166
2010 136,908 12,318 566,834 68,563
2009 126,904 86,014 554,115 41,528
2008 120,711 1,774 595,332 36,869
2007 112,459 31,239 503,567 36,339
2006 106,876 35,475 487,584 33,159
2005 101,344 38,337 464,464 31,286
2004 96,577 25,412 442,540 58,924
2003 91,326 26,280 415,018 65,604
2002 88,497 -16,140 430,926 50,313
2001 84,876 -764 484,801 -60,793
2000 78,491 79,780 526,963 -136,794
1999 76,204 2,470 594,643 -126,011
1998 72,450 10,500 627,027 -82,722
1997 66,149 -20,704 667,969 -98,181
1996 75,628 1,085 710,868 -193,007
1995 74,189 3,747 743,488 -98,403
1994 72,857 1,850 698,609 -268,849
1993 71,119 10,218 789,220 194,977
1992 69,973 0 794,415 -71,342
1991 68,534 1,966 827,296 -39,131
1990 67,241 -395 835,421 259,718
1989 65,944 1,214 884,629 255,605
1988 64,629 22 909,221 246,382
1987 63,183 525 922,330 231,009
1986 61,669 367 903,644 234,378
1985 60,359 182 893,889 244,940
1984 59,028 0 869,011 290,789
1983 58,120 -18,720 837,013 310,172
1982 57,036 -16,664 807,550 293,195
1981 56,603 -15,630 767,833 279,985
1980 55,550 -14,972 738,415 258,127
1979 54,723 -14,378 716,541 56,323
1978 53,885 -13,356 694,341 62,121
1977 53,179 -12,673 680,929 63,739
1976 52,148 -11,971 675,011 27,333
1975 51,155 -10,944 667,862 38,809
1974 49,563 -312 658,438 38,518
1973 48,017 -22 651,596 41,125
1972 46,427 0 638,754 38,163
1971 44,431 0 624,761 32,961
1970 42,374 0 605,102 61,514
1969 40,532 0 590,794 73,225
1968 38,786 0 571,841 78,932
1967 36,866 0 553,741 81,932
1966 35,452 0 534,862 77,417
1965 33,865 0 506,632 82,514
1964 32,270 0 490,606 76,298
1963 30,832 0 473,821 72,844
1962 29,342 0 455,634 69,771
1961 28,220 0 437,851 57,728
1960 27,094 0 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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