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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 1.87 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.23% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Congo vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo South Sudan
2100 20,197,393 24,086,901
2099 20,056,338 24,081,477
2098 19,909,990 24,063,461
2097 19,763,169 24,065,268
2096 19,613,556 24,054,483
2095 19,462,505 24,046,345
2094 19,309,823 24,047,776
2093 19,154,254 24,039,017
2092 18,993,517 24,019,054
2091 18,831,137 24,000,308
2090 18,666,035 23,978,496
2089 18,500,705 23,937,487
2088 18,328,408 23,892,166
2087 18,156,542 23,857,250
2086 17,982,556 23,803,312
2085 17,810,599 23,759,178
2084 17,634,115 23,687,109
2083 17,455,922 23,617,646
2082 17,273,447 23,541,119
2081 17,095,916 23,466,449
2080 16,913,187 23,391,758
2079 16,731,545 23,294,252
2078 16,545,390 23,197,067
2077 16,360,458 23,086,584
2076 16,175,508 22,987,331
2075 15,984,378 22,868,587
2074 15,794,071 22,726,189
2073 15,599,735 22,583,672
2072 15,404,494 22,438,943
2071 15,207,921 22,288,026
2070 15,011,471 22,151,650
2069 14,810,543 22,003,659
2068 14,612,051 21,829,800
2067 14,415,033 21,662,211
2066 14,213,222 21,496,881
2065 14,012,829 21,317,455
2064 13,813,071 21,142,002
2063 13,611,733 20,965,122
2062 13,407,155 20,785,055
2061 13,206,406 20,608,964
2060 13,006,970 20,430,857
2059 12,808,144 20,235,022
2058 12,611,185 20,048,974
2057 12,415,316 19,853,696
2056 12,219,298 19,659,362
2055 12,024,601 19,464,297
2054 11,826,644 19,257,481
2053 11,629,783 19,060,517
2052 11,433,645 18,840,461
2051 11,236,927 18,633,198
2050 11,041,020 18,434,212
2049 10,846,652 18,230,881
2048 10,651,879 18,021,026
2047 10,455,019 17,806,282
2046 10,260,138 17,579,173
2045 10,065,444 17,355,041
2044 9,872,742 17,121,972
2043 9,677,498 16,888,278
2042 9,483,953 16,645,354
2041 9,288,673 16,396,768
2040 9,097,986 16,142,816
2039 8,908,556 15,889,952
2038 8,720,599 15,628,043
2037 8,534,256 15,363,975
2036 8,350,011 15,091,275
2035 8,167,940 14,815,307
2034 7,986,915 14,543,511
2033 7,806,956 14,278,180
2032 7,629,621 14,007,134
2031 7,454,630 13,730,637
2030 7,285,238 13,465,615
2029 7,119,031 13,206,477
2028 6,956,345 12,947,082
2027 6,795,830 12,692,769
2026 6,639,560 12,439,296
2025 6,485,440 12,193,102
2024 6,332,961 11,943,408
2023 6,182,885 11,483,374
2022 6,035,104 11,021,177
2021 5,892,183 10,865,780
2020 5,752,791 10,698,467
2019 5,616,661 10,423,384
2018 5,483,118 10,122,977
2017 5,351,011 10,259,154
2016 5,222,536 10,830,102
2015 5,097,581 11,107,561
2014 4,975,880 11,235,073
2013 4,857,099 11,166,275
2012 4,740,450 10,756,240
2011 4,609,724 10,288,109
2010 4,462,290 9,745,953
2009 4,281,219 9,243,556
2008 4,113,517 8,817,647
2007 3,980,430 8,388,788
2006 3,837,409 7,976,526
2005 3,696,393 7,590,143
2004 3,565,554 7,233,041
2003 3,445,753 6,903,127
2002 3,350,771 6,596,806
2001 3,272,537 6,308,391
2000 3,151,345 6,032,267
1999 3,032,874 5,771,628
1998 2,952,061 5,620,068
1997 2,887,862 5,509,136
1996 2,826,785 5,356,925
1995 2,749,461 5,225,836
1994 2,673,144 5,071,184
1993 2,595,124 4,956,002
1992 2,519,465 4,909,749
1991 2,449,229 4,836,677
1990 2,380,560 4,737,633
1989 2,313,558 4,713,229
1988 2,247,653 4,848,029
1987 2,183,473 4,962,395
1986 2,120,602 4,921,240
1985 2,059,311 4,834,296
1984 1,999,528 4,750,627
1983 1,950,321 4,661,574
1982 1,910,430 4,557,686
1981 1,869,759 4,447,272
1980 1,828,985 4,339,030
1979 1,788,524 4,232,605
1978 1,748,089 4,127,657
1977 1,707,568 4,024,032
1976 1,667,225 3,921,910
1975 1,627,032 3,821,494
1974 1,582,301 3,723,259
1973 1,533,680 3,627,383
1972 1,486,468 3,542,497
1971 1,441,039 3,468,646
1970 1,397,638 3,409,614
1969 1,356,182 3,365,533
1968 1,316,519 3,321,528
1967 1,278,691 3,277,648
1966 1,242,534 3,236,423
1965 1,207,880 3,189,835
1964 1,174,816 3,129,918
1963 1,143,263 3,072,669
1962 1,113,175 3,024,308
1961 1,084,389 2,976,724
1960 1,056,732 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo South Sudan
2100 0.7% 0.02%
2099 0.74% 0.07%
2098 0.74% -0.008%
2097 0.76% 0.04%
2096 0.78% 0.03%
2095 0.79% -0.006%
2094 0.81% 0.04%
2093 0.85% 0.08%
2092 0.86% 0.08%
2091 0.88% 0.09%
2090 0.89% 0.17%
2089 0.94% 0.19%
2088 0.95% 0.15%
2087 0.97% 0.23%
2086 0.97% 0.19%
2085 1% 0.3%
2084 1.02% 0.29%
2083 1.06% 0.33%
2082 1.04% 0.32%
2081 1.08% 0.32%
2080 1.09% 0.42%
2079 1.13% 0.42%
2078 1.13% 0.48%
2077 1.14% 0.43%
2076 1.2% 0.52%
2075 1.2% 0.63%
2074 1.25% 0.63%
2073 1.27% 0.64%
2072 1.29% 0.68%
2071 1.31% 0.62%
2070 1.36% 0.67%
2069 1.36% 0.8%
2068 1.37% 0.77%
2067 1.42% 0.77%
2066 1.43% 0.84%
2065 1.45% 0.83%
2064 1.48% 0.84%
2063 1.53% 0.87%
2062 1.52% 0.85%
2061 1.53% 0.87%
2060 1.55% 0.97%
2059 1.56% 0.93%
2058 1.58% 0.98%
2057 1.6% 0.99%
2056 1.62% 1%
2055 1.67% 1.07%
2054 1.69% 1.03%
2053 1.72% 1.17%
2052 1.75% 1.11%
2051 1.77% 1.08%
2050 1.79% 1.12%
2049 1.83% 1.16%
2048 1.88% 1.21%
2047 1.9% 1.29%
2046 1.93% 1.29%
2045 1.95% 1.36%
2044 2.02% 1.38%
2043 2.04% 1.46%
2042 2.1% 1.52%
2041 2.1% 1.57%
2040 2.13% 1.59%
2039 2.16% 1.68%
2038 2.18% 1.72%
2037 2.21% 1.81%
2036 2.23% 1.86%
2035 2.27% 1.87%
2034 2.31% 1.86%
2033 2.32% 1.94%
2032 2.35% 2.01%
2031 2.33% 1.97%
2030 2.33% 1.96%
2029 2.34% 2%
2028 2.36% 2%
2027 2.35% 2.04%
2026 2.38% 2.02%
2025 2.41% 2.09%
2024 2.43% 4.01%
2023 2.45% 4.19%
2022 2.43% 1.43%
2021 2.42% 1.56%
2020 2.42% 2.64%
2019 2.44% 2.97%
2018 2.47% -1.33%
2017 2.46% -5.27%
2016 2.45% -2.5%
2015 2.45% -1.13%
2014 2.45% 0.62%
2013 2.46% 3.81%
2012 2.84% 4.55%
2011 3.3% 5.56%
2010 4.23% 5.44%
2009 4.08% 4.83%
2008 3.34% 5.11%
2007 3.73% 5.17%
2006 3.81% 5.09%
2005 3.67% 4.94%
2004 3.48% 4.78%
2003 2.83% 4.64%
2002 2.39% 4.57%
2001 3.85% 4.58%
2000 3.91% 4.52%
1999 2.74% 2.7%
1998 2.22% 2.01%
1997 2.16% 2.84%
1996 2.81% 2.51%
1995 2.85% 3.05%
1994 3.01% 2.32%
1993 3% 0.94%
1992 2.87% 1.51%
1991 2.88% 2.09%
1990 2.9% 0.52%
1989 2.93% -2.78%
1988 2.94% -2.3%
1987 2.96% 0.84%
1986 2.98% 1.8%
1985 2.99% 1.76%
1984 2.52% 1.91%
1983 2.09% 2.28%
1982 2.18% 2.48%
1981 2.23% 2.49%
1980 2.26% 2.51%
1979 2.31% 2.54%
1978 2.37% 2.58%
1977 2.42% 2.6%
1976 2.47% 2.63%
1975 2.83% 2.64%
1974 3.17% 2.64%
1973 3.18% 2.4%
1972 3.15% 2.13%
1971 3.11% 1.73%
1970 3.06% 1.31%
1969 3.01% 1.32%
1968 2.96% 1.34%
1967 2.91% 1.27%
1966 2.87% 1.46%
1965 2.81% 1.91%
1964 2.76% 1.86%
1963 2.7% 1.6%
1962 2.65% 1.6%
1961 2.62% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Congo South Sudan
Current population
6681829
12507858
Population rank 109/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.15%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
2.78 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
13.5 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +411 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 7/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -2,999 +6,145
Net migration rank 108/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - 6,145
2024 - -2,491 - 15,374
2023 150,486 -995 217,966 455,000
2022 147,076 -995 211,166 40,259
2021 144,241 -4,476 213,567 -154,359
2020 143,492 -4,472 212,332 62,935
2019 139,513 -6,268 209,708 65,198
2018 142,704 -8,856 168,497 157,408
2017 141,973 -11,601 72,193 -670,477
2016 141,358 -14,783 110,553 -654,225
2015 141,539 -18,207 148,542 -159,822
2014 141,674 -21,598 227,611 -471,523
2013 142,080 -24,605 315,983 65,337
2012 142,464 -26,643 312,974 125,771
2011 140,371 5,262 303,181 194,325
2010 136,908 12,318 287,409 299,402
2009 126,904 86,014 278,859 139,129
2008 120,711 1,774 268,268 165,557
2007 112,459 31,239 256,546 167,350
2006 106,876 35,475 246,706 153,926
2005 101,344 38,337 239,272 132,869
2004 96,577 25,412 231,877 110,182
2003 91,326 26,280 225,822 91,951
2002 88,497 -16,140 212,014 82,847
2001 84,876 -764 204,108 77,856
2000 78,491 79,780 196,055 74,227
1999 76,204 2,470 180,721 70,271
1998 72,450 10,500 -12,157 64,285
1997 66,149 -20,704 121,454 48,280
1996 75,628 1,085 116,728 17,953
1995 74,189 3,747 110,417 17,077
1994 72,857 1,850 165,407 16,407
1993 71,119 10,218 32,779 15,772
1992 69,973 0 28,874 15,077
1991 68,534 1,966 87,873 14,327
1990 67,241 -395 82,900 12,988
1989 65,944 1,214 83,735 -130,821
1988 64,629 22 -125,447 -97,065
1987 63,183 525 5,756 -11,976
1986 61,669 367 99,502 -10,973
1985 60,359 182 95,342 -9,986
1984 59,028 0 90,970 -8,984
1983 58,120 -18,720 104,107 -7,986
1982 57,036 -16,664 118,641 -6,983
1981 56,603 -15,630 115,163 -5,994
1980 55,550 -14,972 112,307 -4,997
1979 54,723 -14,378 109,540 -3,997
1978 53,885 -13,356 107,352 -2,998
1977 53,179 -12,673 104,886 -1,997
1976 52,148 -11,971 102,346 -995
1975 51,155 -10,944 99,882 -395
1974 49,563 -312 97,181 -192
1973 48,017 -22 94,765 0
1972 46,427 0 74,803 193
1971 44,431 0 72,308 394
1970 42,374 0 44,776 587
1969 40,532 0 42,015 786
1968 38,786 0 44,213 995
1967 36,866 0 41,357 1,194
1966 35,452 0 38,523 1,386
1965 33,865 0 51,682 1,591
1964 32,270 0 64,786 1,785
1963 30,832 0 46,333 1,591
1962 29,342 0 47,406 1,386
1961 28,220 0 45,186 1,194
1960 27,094 0 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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