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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 9.83 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 +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Congo vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo South Africa
2100 20,197,393 94,767,727
2099 20,056,338 94,556,931
2098 19,909,990 94,349,546
2097 19,763,169 94,158,472
2096 19,613,556 93,960,605
2095 19,462,505 93,752,736
2094 19,309,823 93,527,902
2093 19,154,254 93,300,398
2092 18,993,517 93,074,837
2091 18,831,137 92,826,204
2090 18,666,035 92,594,033
2089 18,500,705 92,355,184
2088 18,328,408 92,112,914
2087 18,156,542 91,866,024
2086 17,982,556 91,614,165
2085 17,810,599 91,385,350
2084 17,634,115 91,139,318
2083 17,455,922 90,877,425
2082 17,273,447 90,615,359
2081 17,095,916 90,345,492
2080 16,913,187 90,071,835
2079 16,731,545 89,801,998
2078 16,545,390 89,526,224
2077 16,360,458 89,249,206
2076 16,175,508 88,986,114
2075 15,984,378 88,713,215
2074 15,794,071 88,428,616
2073 15,599,735 88,149,885
2072 15,404,494 87,866,246
2071 15,207,921 87,540,177
2070 15,011,471 87,209,425
2069 14,810,543 86,901,512
2068 14,612,051 86,588,742
2067 14,415,033 86,268,392
2066 14,213,222 85,935,310
2065 14,012,829 85,604,376
2064 13,813,071 85,244,950
2063 13,611,733 84,875,503
2062 13,407,155 84,503,237
2061 13,206,406 84,132,885
2060 13,006,970 83,748,999
2059 12,808,144 83,354,923
2058 12,611,185 82,947,675
2057 12,415,316 82,538,045
2056 12,219,298 82,127,477
2055 12,024,601 81,698,196
2054 11,826,644 81,255,867
2053 11,629,783 80,818,632
2052 11,433,645 80,367,409
2051 11,236,927 79,886,672
2050 11,041,020 79,411,977
2049 10,846,652 78,925,493
2048 10,651,879 78,437,677
2047 10,455,019 77,922,211
2046 10,260,138 77,397,298
2045 10,065,444 76,879,838
2044 9,872,742 76,357,155
2043 9,677,498 75,827,709
2042 9,483,953 75,291,615
2041 9,288,673 74,748,408
2040 9,097,986 74,205,530
2039 8,908,556 73,663,047
2038 8,720,599 73,105,930
2037 8,534,256 72,532,742
2036 8,350,011 71,956,247
2035 8,167,940 71,362,555
2034 7,986,915 70,762,815
2033 7,806,956 70,153,205
2032 7,629,621 69,527,410
2031 7,454,630 68,890,002
2030 7,285,238 68,245,372
2029 7,119,031 67,573,179
2028 6,956,345 66,884,377
2027 6,795,830 66,190,258
2026 6,639,560 65,496,277
2025 6,485,440 64,770,314
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% 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 65.2% to 11,041,020 people with a rank change from 109th to 95th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 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 94.8M 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 2.41% 1.19%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/congo/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Congo South Africa
Current population
6681829
65683993
Population rank 109/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.79%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
2.78 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
13.5 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +411 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 85/197
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 - -2,491 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/congo/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 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 71.6K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
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 (1960–2024, 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/south-africa | 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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