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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 7.68 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Congo vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo South Korea
2100 20,194,267 22,001,649
2099 20,053,234 22,324,514
2098 19,906,909 22,657,541
2097 19,760,110 22,998,315
2096 19,610,521 23,348,632
2095 19,459,493 23,711,049
2094 19,306,835 24,081,510
2093 19,151,289 24,460,970
2092 18,990,577 24,848,715
2091 18,828,222 25,242,926
2090 18,663,146 25,642,926
2089 18,497,842 26,048,094
2088 18,325,571 26,457,020
2087 18,153,731 26,871,556
2086 17,979,773 27,288,450
2085 17,807,843 27,710,065
2084 17,631,386 28,133,600
2083 17,453,221 28,564,090
2082 17,270,773 28,998,646
2081 17,093,270 29,441,497
2080 16,910,570 29,887,135
2079 16,728,955 30,337,095
2078 16,542,829 30,793,984
2077 16,357,926 31,258,278
2076 16,173,005 31,728,826
2075 15,981,904 32,205,338
2074 15,791,626 32,689,892
2073 15,597,321 33,180,187
2072 15,402,110 33,679,874
2071 15,205,567 34,187,068
2070 15,009,147 34,702,204
2069 14,808,250 35,224,472
2068 14,609,790 35,745,164
2067 14,412,802 36,274,411
2066 14,211,022 36,808,495
2065 14,010,661 37,349,660
2064 13,810,933 37,897,742
2063 13,609,626 38,450,082
2062 13,405,080 39,009,227
2061 13,204,362 39,565,102
2060 13,004,957 40,130,032
2059 12,806,162 40,692,438
2058 12,609,233 41,256,780
2057 12,413,395 41,813,259
2056 12,217,406 42,356,530
2055 12,022,740 42,888,143
2054 11,824,813 43,405,840
2053 11,627,983 43,917,075
2052 11,431,875 44,419,192
2051 11,235,188 44,901,452
2050 11,039,311 45,362,931
2049 10,844,973 45,809,553
2048 10,650,230 46,235,718
2047 10,453,401 46,645,885
2046 10,258,550 47,033,200
2045 10,063,886 47,409,815
2044 9,871,213 47,773,842
2043 9,676,000 48,120,989
2042 9,482,485 48,455,085
2041 9,287,235 48,782,206
2040 9,096,577 49,091,438
2039 8,907,177 49,388,464
2038 8,719,250 49,669,835
2037 8,532,935 49,932,869
2036 8,348,719 50,175,947
2035 8,166,676 50,401,135
2034 7,985,679 50,607,994
2033 7,805,748 50,796,030
2032 7,628,440 50,961,878
2031 7,453,476 51,109,725
2030 7,284,111 51,242,628
2029 7,117,929 51,360,529
2028 6,955,268 51,461,403
2027 6,794,778 51,551,313
2026 6,638,532 51,624,449
2025 6,484,437 51,684,564
2024 6,332,961 51,751,065
2023 6,182,885 51,712,619
2022 6,035,104 51,672,569
2021 5,892,183 51,769,539
2020 5,752,791 51,836,239
2019 5,616,661 51,764,822
2018 5,483,118 51,585,058
2017 5,351,011 51,361,911
2016 5,222,536 51,217,803
2015 5,097,581 51,014,947
2014 4,975,880 50,746,659
2013 4,857,099 50,428,893
2012 4,740,450 50,199,853
2011 4,609,724 49,936,638
2010 4,462,290 49,554,112
2009 4,281,219 49,307,835
2008 4,113,517 49,054,708
2007 3,980,430 48,683,638
2006 3,837,409 48,438,292
2005 3,696,393 48,184,561
2004 3,565,554 48,082,519
2003 3,445,753 47,892,330
2002 3,350,771 47,644,736
2001 3,272,537 47,370,164
2000 3,151,345 47,008,111
1999 3,032,874 46,616,677
1998 2,952,061 46,286,503
1997 2,887,862 45,953,580
1996 2,826,785 45,524,681
1995 2,749,461 45,092,991
1994 2,673,144 44,641,540
1993 2,595,124 44,194,628
1992 2,519,465 43,747,962
1991 2,449,229 43,295,704
1990 2,380,560 42,869,283
1989 2,313,558 42,449,038
1988 2,247,653 42,031,247
1987 2,183,473 41,621,690
1986 2,120,602 41,213,674
1985 2,059,311 40,805,744
1984 1,999,528 40,405,956
1983 1,950,321 39,910,403
1982 1,910,430 39,326,352
1981 1,869,759 38,723,248
1980 1,828,985 38,123,775
1979 1,788,524 37,534,236
1978 1,748,089 36,969,185
1977 1,707,568 36,411,795
1976 1,667,225 35,848,523
1975 1,627,032 35,280,725
1974 1,582,301 34,692,266
1973 1,533,680 34,103,149
1972 1,486,468 33,505,406
1971 1,441,039 32,882,704
1970 1,397,638 32,240,827
1969 1,356,182 31,544,266
1968 1,316,519 30,838,302
1967 1,278,691 30,130,983
1966 1,242,534 29,435,571
1965 1,207,880 28,704,674
1964 1,174,816 27,984,155
1963 1,143,263 27,261,747
1962 1,113,175 26,513,030
1961 1,084,389 25,765,673
1960 1,056,732 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo South Korea
2100 0.7% -1.45%
2099 0.74% -1.47%
2098 0.74% -1.48%
2097 0.76% -1.5%
2096 0.78% -1.53%
2095 0.79% -1.54%
2094 0.81% -1.55%
2093 0.85% -1.56%
2092 0.86% -1.56%
2091 0.88% -1.56%
2090 0.89% -1.56%
2089 0.94% -1.55%
2088 0.95% -1.54%
2087 0.97% -1.53%
2086 0.97% -1.52%
2085 1% -1.51%
2084 1.02% -1.51%
2083 1.06% -1.5%
2082 1.04% -1.5%
2081 1.08% -1.49%
2080 1.09% -1.48%
2079 1.13% -1.48%
2078 1.13% -1.49%
2077 1.14% -1.48%
2076 1.2% -1.48%
2075 1.2% -1.48%
2074 1.25% -1.48%
2073 1.27% -1.48%
2072 1.29% -1.48%
2071 1.31% -1.48%
2070 1.36% -1.48%
2069 1.36% -1.46%
2068 1.37% -1.46%
2067 1.42% -1.45%
2066 1.43% -1.45%
2065 1.45% -1.45%
2064 1.48% -1.44%
2063 1.53% -1.43%
2062 1.52% -1.4%
2061 1.53% -1.41%
2060 1.55% -1.38%
2059 1.56% -1.37%
2058 1.58% -1.33%
2057 1.6% -1.28%
2056 1.62% -1.24%
2055 1.67% -1.19%
2054 1.69% -1.16%
2053 1.72% -1.13%
2052 1.75% -1.07%
2051 1.77% -1.02%
2050 1.79% -0.97%
2049 1.83% -0.92%
2048 1.88% -0.88%
2047 1.9% -0.82%
2046 1.93% -0.79%
2045 1.95% -0.76%
2044 2.02% -0.72%
2043 2.04% -0.69%
2042 2.1% -0.67%
2041 2.1% -0.63%
2040 2.13% -0.6%
2039 2.16% -0.57%
2038 2.18% -0.53%
2037 2.21% -0.48%
2036 2.23% -0.45%
2035 2.27% -0.41%
2034 2.31% -0.37%
2033 2.32% -0.33%
2032 2.35% -0.29%
2031 2.33% -0.26%
2030 2.33% -0.23%
2029 2.34% -0.2%
2028 2.36% -0.17%
2027 2.35% -0.14%
2026 2.38% -0.12%
2025 2.39% -0.13%
2024 2.43% 0.07%
2023 2.45% 0.08%
2022 2.43% -0.19%
2021 2.42% -0.13%
2020 2.42% 0.14%
2019 2.44% 0.35%
2018 2.47% 0.43%
2017 2.46% 0.28%
2016 2.45% 0.4%
2015 2.45% 0.53%
2014 2.45% 0.63%
2013 2.46% 0.46%
2012 2.84% 0.53%
2011 3.3% 0.77%
2010 4.23% 0.5%
2009 4.08% 0.52%
2008 3.34% 0.76%
2007 3.73% 0.51%
2006 3.81% 0.53%
2005 3.67% 0.21%
2004 3.48% 0.4%
2003 2.83% 0.52%
2002 2.39% 0.58%
2001 3.85% 0.77%
2000 3.91% 0.84%
1999 2.74% 0.71%
1998 2.22% 0.72%
1997 2.16% 0.94%
1996 2.81% 0.96%
1995 2.85% 1.01%
1994 3.01% 1.01%
1993 3% 1.02%
1992 2.87% 1.04%
1991 2.88% 0.99%
1990 2.9% 0.99%
1989 2.93% 0.99%
1988 2.94% 0.98%
1987 2.96% 0.99%
1986 2.98% 1%
1985 2.99% 0.99%
1984 2.52% 1.24%
1983 2.09% 1.49%
1982 2.18% 1.56%
1981 2.23% 1.57%
1980 2.26% 1.57%
1979 2.31% 1.53%
1978 2.37% 1.53%
1977 2.42% 1.57%
1976 2.47% 1.61%
1975 2.83% 1.7%
1974 3.17% 1.73%
1973 3.18% 1.78%
1972 3.15% 1.89%
1971 3.11% 1.99%
1970 3.06% 2.21%
1969 3.01% 2.29%
1968 2.96% 2.35%
1967 2.91% 2.36%
1966 2.87% 2.55%
1965 2.81% 2.57%
1964 2.76% 2.65%
1963 2.7% 2.82%
1962 2.65% 2.9%
1961 2.62% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Congo South Korea
Current population
6718789
51624449
Population rank 109/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.62%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
2.73 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
13.3 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +415 -182
Annual growth/decline +151,476 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 169/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 +65,731
Net migration rank 108/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - 65,731
2024 153,150 -2,491 -119,027 75,963
2023 150,486 -995 -124,111 87,800
2022 147,076 -995 -124,014 87,800
2021 144,241 -4,476 -56,947 -16,778
2020 143,492 -4,472 -31,101 112,631
2019 139,513 -6,268 10,353 128,622
2018 142,704 -8,856 30,951 118,220
2017 141,973 -11,601 71,907 104,029
2016 141,358 -14,783 122,923 91,568
2015 141,539 -18,207 163,248 276,427
2014 141,674 -21,598 167,464 308,037
2013 142,080 -24,605 166,415 301,926
2012 142,464 -26,643 215,859 281,866
2011 140,371 5,262 214,728 269,958
2010 136,908 12,318 213,083 52,042
2009 126,904 86,014 197,231 5,308
2008 120,711 1,774 215,841 -19,630
2007 112,459 31,239 248,286 -42,293
2006 106,876 35,475 203,441 -28,434
2005 101,344 38,337 187,920 -47,821
2004 96,577 25,412 225,988 -42,549
2003 91,326 26,280 244,251 -31,994
2002 88,497 -16,140 247,752 -18,105
2001 84,876 -764 312,643 -28,006
2000 78,491 79,780 390,167 -84,960
1999 76,204 2,470 368,272 -107,448
1998 72,450 10,500 393,436 -98,044
1997 66,149 -20,704 422,773 -109,130
1996 75,628 1,085 446,142 -115,705
1995 74,189 3,747 468,967 -208,491
1994 72,857 1,850 473,200 -208,309
1993 71,119 10,218 477,302 -222,802
1992 69,973 0 494,352 -265,849
1991 68,534 1,966 467,594 -270,754
1990 67,241 -395 411,546 79,294
1989 65,944 1,214 403,266 186,120
1988 64,629 22 399,297 192,534
1987 63,183 525 378,758 198,057
1986 61,669 367 395,651 189,782
1985 60,359 182 416,219 97,949
1984 59,028 0 436,384 101,394
1983 58,120 -18,720 514,844 102,167
1982 57,036 -16,664 605,626 48,638
1981 56,603 -15,630 631,189 18,442
1980 55,550 -14,972 583,294 -148,341
1979 54,723 -14,378 623,068 -139,566
1978 53,885 -13,356 499,084 -85,721
1977 53,179 -12,673 578,947 -90,737
1976 52,148 -11,971 530,558 -92,314
1975 51,155 -10,944 603,300 -52,332
1974 49,563 -312 673,030 27,005
1973 48,017 -22 699,115 35,779
1972 46,427 0 740,469 25,382
1971 44,431 0 789,185 -6,326
1970 42,374 0 747,987 -27,999
1969 40,532 0 694,227 -21,175
1968 38,786 0 684,487 -16,868
1967 36,866 0 692,169 -16,484
1966 35,452 0 623,534 -16,688
1965 33,865 0 641,090 -146,386
1964 32,270 0 655,501 -102,284
1963 30,832 0 685,824 -80,226
1962 29,342 0 712,590 -94,606
1961 28,220 0 730,173 -93,179
1960 27,094 0 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/south-korea | 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 Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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