Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,484,437 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,718,789 people compared to 12,565,048 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 +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.72M (75.1% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Congo vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo South Sudan
2100 20,194,267 24,078,379
2099 20,053,234 24,072,957
2098 19,906,909 24,054,947
2097 19,760,110 24,056,753
2096 19,610,521 24,045,972
2095 19,459,493 24,037,837
2094 19,306,835 24,039,267
2093 19,151,289 24,030,512
2092 18,990,577 24,010,555
2091 18,828,222 23,991,816
2090 18,663,146 23,970,012
2089 18,497,842 23,929,017
2088 18,325,571 23,883,712
2087 18,153,731 23,848,809
2086 17,979,773 23,794,890
2085 17,807,843 23,750,772
2084 17,631,386 23,678,728
2083 17,453,221 23,609,290
2082 17,270,773 23,532,790
2081 17,093,270 23,458,146
2080 16,910,570 23,383,482
2079 16,728,955 23,286,011
2078 16,542,829 23,188,860
2077 16,357,926 23,078,416
2076 16,173,005 22,979,198
2075 15,981,904 22,860,496
2074 15,791,626 22,718,148
2073 15,597,321 22,575,682
2072 15,402,110 22,431,004
2071 15,205,567 22,280,140
2070 15,009,147 22,143,813
2069 14,808,250 21,995,874
2068 14,609,790 21,822,076
2067 14,412,802 21,654,546
2066 14,211,022 21,489,275
2065 14,010,661 21,309,913
2064 13,810,933 21,134,522
2063 13,609,626 20,957,705
2062 13,405,080 20,777,701
2061 13,204,362 20,601,672
2060 13,004,957 20,423,629
2059 12,806,162 20,227,862
2058 12,609,233 20,041,880
2057 12,413,395 19,846,671
2056 12,217,406 19,652,407
2055 12,022,740 19,457,411
2054 11,824,813 19,250,667
2053 11,627,983 19,053,773
2052 11,431,875 18,833,795
2051 11,235,188 18,626,605
2050 11,039,311 18,427,690
2049 10,844,973 18,224,430
2048 10,650,230 18,014,650
2047 10,453,401 17,799,982
2046 10,258,550 17,572,953
2045 10,063,886 17,348,901
2044 9,871,213 17,115,914
2043 9,676,000 16,882,303
2042 9,482,485 16,639,465
2041 9,287,235 16,390,966
2040 9,096,577 16,137,104
2039 8,907,177 15,884,330
2038 8,719,250 15,622,514
2037 8,532,935 15,358,539
2036 8,348,719 15,085,936
2035 8,166,676 14,810,066
2034 7,985,679 14,538,365
2033 7,805,748 14,273,128
2032 7,628,440 14,002,178
2031 7,453,476 13,725,779
2030 7,284,111 13,460,850
2029 7,117,929 13,201,804
2028 6,955,268 12,942,501
2027 6,794,778 12,688,278
2026 6,638,532 12,434,895
2025 6,484,437 12,188,788
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% 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 64.3% to 11,039,311 people with a rank change from 109th to 95th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 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 2.39% 2.05%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the Congo grew by 2.39%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Congo South Sudan
Current population
6718789
12565048
Population rank 109/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.15%
One net population change
3.48 minutes
2.15 minutes
One birth every
2.73 minutes
1.51 minutes
One death every
13.3 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +415 +672
Annual growth/decline +151,476 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 48/197
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 153,150 -2,491 231,714 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/congo/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 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 127K
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 (1960–2025, 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-sudan | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.