The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.
Population statistics:
- Zambia's population is 3.4 times bigger than the Congo's.
- The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
- The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.27% for Zambia.
- For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
- Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).
Congo vs Zambia: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|
| 2100 | 20,197,393 | 65,217,429 |
| 2099 | 20,056,338 | 64,871,545 |
| 2098 | 19,909,990 | 64,515,891 |
| 2097 | 19,763,169 | 64,148,736 |
| 2096 | 19,613,556 | 63,777,313 |
| 2095 | 19,462,505 | 63,393,169 |
| 2094 | 19,309,823 | 62,992,652 |
| 2093 | 19,154,254 | 62,590,327 |
| 2092 | 18,993,517 | 62,175,930 |
| 2091 | 18,831,137 | 61,750,591 |
| 2090 | 18,666,035 | 61,321,399 |
| 2089 | 18,500,705 | 60,880,148 |
| 2088 | 18,328,408 | 60,434,676 |
| 2087 | 18,156,542 | 59,970,107 |
| 2086 | 17,982,556 | 59,499,234 |
| 2085 | 17,810,599 | 59,023,040 |
| 2084 | 17,634,115 | 58,535,857 |
| 2083 | 17,455,922 | 58,040,512 |
| 2082 | 17,273,447 | 57,538,672 |
| 2081 | 17,095,916 | 57,027,491 |
| 2080 | 16,913,187 | 56,506,421 |
| 2079 | 16,731,545 | 55,983,242 |
| 2078 | 16,545,390 | 55,449,777 |
| 2077 | 16,360,458 | 54,906,771 |
| 2076 | 16,175,508 | 54,361,075 |
| 2075 | 15,984,378 | 53,806,856 |
| 2074 | 15,794,071 | 53,246,777 |
| 2073 | 15,599,735 | 52,677,348 |
| 2072 | 15,404,494 | 52,101,139 |
| 2071 | 15,207,921 | 51,519,691 |
| 2070 | 15,011,471 | 50,931,614 |
| 2069 | 14,810,543 | 50,334,700 |
| 2068 | 14,612,051 | 49,737,479 |
| 2067 | 14,415,033 | 49,135,488 |
| 2066 | 14,213,222 | 48,530,443 |
| 2065 | 14,012,829 | 47,918,592 |
| 2064 | 13,813,071 | 47,299,740 |
| 2063 | 13,611,733 | 46,677,439 |
| 2062 | 13,407,155 | 46,048,819 |
| 2061 | 13,206,406 | 45,416,657 |
| 2060 | 13,006,970 | 44,777,347 |
| 2059 | 12,808,144 | 44,137,306 |
| 2058 | 12,611,185 | 43,494,451 |
| 2057 | 12,415,316 | 42,851,923 |
| 2056 | 12,219,298 | 42,206,898 |
| 2055 | 12,024,601 | 41,558,284 |
| 2054 | 11,826,644 | 40,906,492 |
| 2053 | 11,629,783 | 40,255,629 |
| 2052 | 11,433,645 | 39,603,888 |
| 2051 | 11,236,927 | 38,949,958 |
| 2050 | 11,041,020 | 38,294,607 |
| 2049 | 10,846,652 | 37,634,194 |
| 2048 | 10,651,879 | 36,971,309 |
| 2047 | 10,455,019 | 36,309,749 |
| 2046 | 10,260,138 | 35,645,868 |
| 2045 | 10,065,444 | 34,981,812 |
| 2044 | 9,872,742 | 34,316,981 |
| 2043 | 9,677,498 | 33,652,420 |
| 2042 | 9,483,953 | 32,990,657 |
| 2041 | 9,288,673 | 32,329,447 |
| 2040 | 9,097,986 | 31,664,262 |
| 2039 | 8,908,556 | 31,001,305 |
| 2038 | 8,720,599 | 30,335,662 |
| 2037 | 8,534,256 | 29,668,561 |
| 2036 | 8,350,011 | 29,000,264 |
| 2035 | 8,167,940 | 28,333,498 |
| 2034 | 7,986,915 | 27,671,195 |
| 2033 | 7,806,956 | 27,011,974 |
| 2032 | 7,629,621 | 26,356,580 |
| 2031 | 7,454,630 | 25,702,812 |
| 2030 | 7,285,238 | 25,055,216 |
| 2029 | 7,119,031 | 24,414,405 |
| 2028 | 6,956,345 | 23,780,809 |
| 2027 | 6,795,830 | 23,151,479 |
| 2026 | 6,639,560 | 22,529,742 |
| 2025 | 6,485,440 | 21,918,187 |
| 2024 | 6,332,961 | 21,314,956 |
| 2023 | 6,182,885 | 20,723,965 |
| 2022 | 6,035,104 | 20,152,938 |
| 2021 | 5,892,183 | 19,603,607 |
| 2020 | 5,752,791 | 19,059,395 |
| 2019 | 5,616,661 | 18,513,839 |
| 2018 | 5,483,118 | 17,973,569 |
| 2017 | 5,351,011 | 17,441,320 |
| 2016 | 5,222,536 | 16,914,423 |
| 2015 | 5,097,581 | 16,399,089 |
| 2014 | 4,975,880 | 15,895,315 |
| 2013 | 4,857,099 | 15,398,997 |
| 2012 | 4,740,450 | 14,913,629 |
| 2011 | 4,609,724 | 14,437,796 |
| 2010 | 4,462,290 | 13,965,594 |
| 2009 | 4,281,219 | 13,490,389 |
| 2008 | 4,113,517 | 13,021,324 |
| 2007 | 3,980,430 | 12,565,085 |
| 2006 | 3,837,409 | 12,129,553 |
| 2005 | 3,696,393 | 11,718,819 |
| 2004 | 3,565,554 | 11,338,198 |
| 2003 | 3,445,753 | 10,983,595 |
| 2002 | 3,350,771 | 10,647,949 |
| 2001 | 3,272,537 | 10,325,185 |
| 2000 | 3,151,345 | 10,017,631 |
| 1999 | 3,032,874 | 9,740,005 |
| 1998 | 2,952,061 | 9,482,408 |
| 1997 | 2,887,862 | 9,237,063 |
| 1996 | 2,826,785 | 9,004,053 |
| 1995 | 2,749,461 | 8,785,763 |
| 1994 | 2,673,144 | 8,576,269 |
| 1993 | 2,595,124 | 8,373,921 |
| 1992 | 2,519,465 | 8,176,680 |
| 1991 | 2,449,229 | 7,981,650 |
| 1990 | 2,380,560 | 7,786,169 |
| 1989 | 2,313,558 | 7,589,216 |
| 1988 | 2,247,653 | 7,391,440 |
| 1987 | 2,183,473 | 7,191,282 |
| 1986 | 2,120,602 | 6,986,471 |
| 1985 | 2,059,311 | 6,780,953 |
| 1984 | 1,999,528 | 6,580,490 |
| 1983 | 1,950,321 | 6,381,038 |
| 1982 | 1,910,430 | 6,178,637 |
| 1981 | 1,869,759 | 5,983,289 |
| 1980 | 1,828,985 | 5,802,833 |
| 1979 | 1,788,524 | 5,631,728 |
| 1978 | 1,748,089 | 5,465,374 |
| 1977 | 1,707,568 | 5,302,480 |
| 1976 | 1,667,225 | 5,143,842 |
| 1975 | 1,627,032 | 4,990,086 |
| 1974 | 1,582,301 | 4,842,746 |
| 1973 | 1,533,680 | 4,702,693 |
| 1972 | 1,486,468 | 4,569,309 |
| 1971 | 1,441,039 | 4,442,525 |
| 1970 | 1,397,638 | 4,321,718 |
| 1969 | 1,356,182 | 4,197,116 |
| 1968 | 1,316,519 | 4,065,593 |
| 1967 | 1,278,691 | 3,936,343 |
| 1966 | 1,242,534 | 3,812,003 |
| 1965 | 1,207,880 | 3,692,086 |
| 1964 | 1,174,816 | 3,577,017 |
| 1963 | 1,143,263 | 3,465,907 |
| 1962 | 1,113,175 | 3,358,099 |
| 1961 | 1,084,389 | 3,254,086 |
| 1960 | 1,056,732 | 3,153,729 |
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/zambia | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).
The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.
The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|
| 2100 | 0.7% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | 0.74% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | 0.74% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | 0.76% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | 0.78% | 0.61% |
| 2095 | 0.79% | 0.64% |
| 2094 | 0.81% | 0.64% |
| 2093 | 0.85% | 0.67% |
| 2092 | 0.86% | 0.69% |
| 2091 | 0.88% | 0.7% |
| 2090 | 0.89% | 0.72% |
| 2089 | 0.94% | 0.74% |
| 2088 | 0.95% | 0.77% |
| 2087 | 0.97% | 0.79% |
| 2086 | 0.97% | 0.81% |
| 2085 | 1% | 0.83% |
| 2084 | 1.02% | 0.85% |
| 2083 | 1.06% | 0.87% |
| 2082 | 1.04% | 0.9% |
| 2081 | 1.08% | 0.92% |
| 2080 | 1.09% | 0.93% |
| 2079 | 1.13% | 0.96% |
| 2078 | 1.13% | 0.99% |
| 2077 | 1.14% | 1% |
| 2076 | 1.2% | 1.03% |
| 2075 | 1.2% | 1.05% |
| 2074 | 1.25% | 1.08% |
| 2073 | 1.27% | 1.11% |
| 2072 | 1.29% | 1.13% |
| 2071 | 1.31% | 1.15% |
| 2070 | 1.36% | 1.19% |
| 2069 | 1.36% | 1.2% |
| 2068 | 1.37% | 1.23% |
| 2067 | 1.42% | 1.25% |
| 2066 | 1.43% | 1.28% |
| 2065 | 1.45% | 1.31% |
| 2064 | 1.48% | 1.33% |
| 2063 | 1.53% | 1.37% |
| 2062 | 1.52% | 1.39% |
| 2061 | 1.53% | 1.43% |
| 2060 | 1.55% | 1.45% |
| 2059 | 1.56% | 1.48% |
| 2058 | 1.58% | 1.5% |
| 2057 | 1.6% | 1.53% |
| 2056 | 1.62% | 1.56% |
| 2055 | 1.67% | 1.59% |
| 2054 | 1.69% | 1.62% |
| 2053 | 1.72% | 1.65% |
| 2052 | 1.75% | 1.68% |
| 2051 | 1.77% | 1.71% |
| 2050 | 1.79% | 1.75% |
| 2049 | 1.83% | 1.79% |
| 2048 | 1.88% | 1.82% |
| 2047 | 1.9% | 1.86% |
| 2046 | 1.93% | 1.9% |
| 2045 | 1.95% | 1.94% |
| 2044 | 2.02% | 1.97% |
| 2043 | 2.04% | 2.01% |
| 2042 | 2.1% | 2.05% |
| 2041 | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| 2040 | 2.13% | 2.14% |
| 2039 | 2.16% | 2.19% |
| 2038 | 2.18% | 2.25% |
| 2037 | 2.21% | 2.3% |
| 2036 | 2.23% | 2.35% |
| 2035 | 2.27% | 2.39% |
| 2034 | 2.31% | 2.44% |
| 2033 | 2.32% | 2.49% |
| 2032 | 2.35% | 2.54% |
| 2031 | 2.33% | 2.58% |
| 2030 | 2.33% | 2.62% |
| 2029 | 2.34% | 2.66% |
| 2028 | 2.36% | 2.72% |
| 2027 | 2.35% | 2.76% |
| 2026 | 2.38% | 2.79% |
| 2025 | 2.41% | 2.83% |
| 2024 | 2.43% | 2.85% |
| 2023 | 2.45% | 2.83% |
| 2022 | 2.43% | 2.8% |
| 2021 | 2.42% | 2.86% |
| 2020 | 2.42% | 2.95% |
| 2019 | 2.44% | 3.01% |
| 2018 | 2.47% | 3.05% |
| 2017 | 2.46% | 3.12% |
| 2016 | 2.45% | 3.14% |
| 2015 | 2.45% | 3.17% |
| 2014 | 2.45% | 3.22% |
| 2013 | 2.46% | 3.25% |
| 2012 | 2.84% | 3.3% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | 3.38% |
| 2010 | 4.23% | 3.52% |
| 2009 | 4.08% | 3.6% |
| 2008 | 3.34% | 3.63% |
| 2007 | 3.73% | 3.59% |
| 2006 | 3.81% | 3.5% |
| 2005 | 3.67% | 3.36% |
| 2004 | 3.48% | 3.23% |
| 2003 | 2.83% | 3.15% |
| 2002 | 2.39% | 3.13% |
| 2001 | 3.85% | 3.07% |
| 2000 | 3.91% | 2.85% |
| 1999 | 2.74% | 2.72% |
| 1998 | 2.22% | 2.66% |
| 1997 | 2.16% | 2.59% |
| 1996 | 2.81% | 2.48% |
| 1995 | 2.85% | 2.44% |
| 1994 | 3.01% | 2.42% |
| 1993 | 3% | 2.41% |
| 1992 | 2.87% | 2.44% |
| 1991 | 2.88% | 2.51% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | 2.6% |
| 1989 | 2.93% | 2.68% |
| 1988 | 2.94% | 2.78% |
| 1987 | 2.96% | 2.93% |
| 1986 | 2.98% | 3.03% |
| 1985 | 2.99% | 3.05% |
| 1984 | 2.52% | 3.13% |
| 1983 | 2.09% | 3.28% |
| 1982 | 2.18% | 3.26% |
| 1981 | 2.23% | 3.11% |
| 1980 | 2.26% | 3.04% |
| 1979 | 2.31% | 3.04% |
| 1978 | 2.37% | 3.07% |
| 1977 | 2.42% | 3.08% |
| 1976 | 2.47% | 3.08% |
| 1975 | 2.83% | 3.04% |
| 1974 | 3.17% | 2.98% |
| 1973 | 3.18% | 2.92% |
| 1972 | 3.15% | 2.85% |
| 1971 | 3.11% | 2.8% |
| 1970 | 3.06% | 2.97% |
| 1969 | 3.01% | 3.24% |
| 1968 | 2.96% | 3.28% |
| 1967 | 2.91% | 3.26% |
| 1966 | 2.87% | 3.25% |
| 1965 | 2.81% | 3.22% |
| 1964 | 2.76% | 3.21% |
| 1963 | 2.7% | 3.21% |
| 1962 | 2.65% | 3.2% |
| 1961 | 2.62% | 3.18% |
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/zambia | CC BY
In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.
Live population counters
|
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
6681829
|
22697916
|
| Population rank | 109/197 | 62/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.08% | 0.27% |
| One net population change |
3.5 minutes
|
53.4 seconds
|
| One birth every |
2.78 minutes
|
46 seconds
|
| One death every |
13.5 minutes
|
4.87 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +411 | +1,619 |
| Annual growth/decline | +150,076 | +590,991 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.43% | +2.85% |
| Population growth rate rank | 31/197 | 21/197 |
| One migration net change every |
2.93 hours
|
1.34 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -2,999 | +6,562 |
| Net migration rank | 108/196 | 47/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 385,589 | 249,205 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 91/195 | 105/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 86/195 | 150/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,999 | - | 6,562 |
| 2024 | - | -2,491 | - | 7,381 |
| 2023 | 150,486 | -995 | 577,660 | 9,521 |
| 2022 | 147,076 | -995 | 563,456 | -8,566 |
| 2021 | 144,241 | -4,476 | 535,629 | 8,143 |
| 2020 | 143,492 | -4,472 | 536,484 | 8,156 |
| 2019 | 139,513 | -6,268 | 528,089 | 18,385 |
| 2018 | 142,704 | -8,856 | 515,644 | 18,431 |
| 2017 | 141,973 | -11,601 | 504,630 | 25,789 |
| 2016 | 141,358 | -14,783 | 497,521 | 25,860 |
| 2015 | 141,539 | -18,207 | 491,021 | 16,261 |
| 2014 | 141,674 | -21,598 | 483,663 | 16,574 |
| 2013 | 142,080 | -24,605 | 476,846 | 15,542 |
| 2012 | 142,464 | -26,643 | 469,406 | 8,958 |
| 2011 | 140,371 | 5,262 | 459,743 | 13,569 |
| 2010 | 136,908 | 12,318 | 448,337 | 22,761 |
| 2009 | 126,904 | 86,014 | 434,458 | 44,867 |
| 2008 | 120,711 | 1,774 | 419,560 | 39,249 |
| 2007 | 112,459 | 31,239 | 403,729 | 49,945 |
| 2006 | 106,876 | 35,475 | 387,891 | 29,517 |
| 2005 | 101,344 | 38,337 | 368,756 | 35,316 |
| 2004 | 96,577 | 25,412 | 349,352 | 7,819 |
| 2003 | 91,326 | 26,280 | 331,189 | 20,845 |
| 2002 | 88,497 | -16,140 | 316,041 | 3,206 |
| 2001 | 84,876 | -764 | 302,682 | 23,582 |
| 2000 | 78,491 | 79,780 | 293,186 | -4,338 |
| 1999 | 76,204 | 2,470 | 283,297 | -16,888 |
| 1998 | 72,450 | 10,500 | 275,568 | -26,796 |
| 1997 | 66,149 | -20,704 | 268,198 | -26,276 |
| 1996 | 75,628 | 1,085 | 262,468 | -38,358 |
| 1995 | 74,189 | 3,747 | 257,897 | -45,423 |
| 1994 | 72,857 | 1,850 | 252,023 | -45,504 |
| 1993 | 71,119 | 10,218 | 245,917 | -47,739 |
| 1992 | 69,973 | 0 | 239,953 | -43,656 |
| 1991 | 68,534 | 1,966 | 237,957 | -44,203 |
| 1990 | 67,241 | -395 | 235,835 | -38,619 |
| 1989 | 65,944 | 1,214 | 233,429 | -36,736 |
| 1988 | 64,629 | 22 | 230,118 | -31,270 |
| 1987 | 63,183 | 525 | 227,813 | -26,338 |
| 1986 | 61,669 | 367 | 224,768 | -16,610 |
| 1985 | 60,359 | 182 | 221,351 | -18,474 |
| 1984 | 59,028 | 0 | 216,695 | -18,652 |
| 1983 | 58,120 | -18,720 | 212,712 | -11,849 |
| 1982 | 57,036 | -16,664 | 207,621 | -3,676 |
| 1981 | 56,603 | -15,630 | 202,822 | -16,072 |
| 1980 | 55,550 | -14,972 | 198,817 | -24,664 |
| 1979 | 54,723 | -14,378 | 197,578 | -29,515 |
| 1978 | 53,885 | -13,356 | 194,933 | -30,284 |
| 1977 | 53,179 | -12,673 | 191,557 | -30,423 |
| 1976 | 52,148 | -11,971 | 186,762 | -30,612 |
| 1975 | 51,155 | -10,944 | 182,258 | -30,886 |
| 1974 | 49,563 | -312 | 174,484 | -31,178 |
| 1973 | 48,017 | -22 | 168,258 | -31,472 |
| 1972 | 46,427 | 0 | 161,648 | -31,672 |
| 1971 | 44,431 | 0 | 155,249 | -31,651 |
| 1970 | 42,374 | 0 | 149,380 | -31,370 |
| 1969 | 40,532 | 0 | 142,660 | -11,469 |
| 1968 | 38,786 | 0 | 137,315 | -5,447 |
| 1967 | 36,866 | 0 | 131,938 | -5,298 |
| 1966 | 35,452 | 0 | 127,164 | -5,129 |
| 1965 | 33,865 | 0 | 122,814 | -5,023 |
| 1964 | 32,270 | 0 | 117,197 | -4,851 |
| 1963 | 30,832 | 0 | 114,555 | -4,676 |
| 1962 | 29,342 | 0 | 110,173 | -4,428 |
| 1961 | 28,220 | 0 | 106,318 | -4,043 |
| 1960 | 27,094 | 0 | 102,335 | -3,898 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/congo/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).
As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between the Congo and Zambia
|
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.4 years | 66.9 years |
| Average age | 24.2 years | 22.6 years |
| Median age | 19.5 years | 18.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50:50 | 49.5:50.5 |
| Fertility rate | 4.16 births per woman | 4.1 births per woman |
| Population density | 50.4 ppl/mi² | 78.5 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/zambia | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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