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Population in the Congo compared to Zimbabwe: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Congo was 6,332,961 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Congo's population is 6,681,829 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 2.6 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • The Congo is ranked the 109th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.08% for the Congo vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, the Congo has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Congo has increased from 3.84M people to 6.68M (74.1% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Congo vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Congo
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Congo Zimbabwe
2100 20,197,393 37,483,053
2099 20,056,338 37,412,398
2098 19,909,990 37,328,255
2097 19,763,169 37,235,542
2096 19,613,556 37,142,915
2095 19,462,505 37,032,129
2094 19,309,823 36,912,747
2093 19,154,254 36,810,893
2092 18,993,517 36,688,511
2091 18,831,137 36,567,262
2090 18,666,035 36,425,606
2089 18,500,705 36,280,973
2088 18,328,408 36,141,446
2087 18,156,542 35,977,638
2086 17,982,556 35,808,135
2085 17,810,599 35,637,092
2084 17,634,115 35,456,207
2083 17,455,922 35,268,035
2082 17,273,447 35,078,904
2081 17,095,916 34,873,129
2080 16,913,187 34,658,962
2079 16,731,545 34,439,720
2078 16,545,390 34,217,295
2077 16,360,458 33,982,909
2076 16,175,508 33,739,228
2075 15,984,378 33,495,867
2074 15,794,071 33,244,838
2073 15,599,735 32,978,488
2072 15,404,494 32,706,059
2071 15,207,921 32,445,747
2070 15,011,471 32,181,119
2069 14,810,543 31,906,793
2068 14,612,051 31,631,000
2067 14,415,033 31,345,338
2066 14,213,222 31,062,884
2065 14,012,829 30,766,830
2064 13,813,071 30,479,939
2063 13,611,733 30,176,104
2062 13,407,155 29,867,679
2061 13,206,406 29,557,068
2060 13,006,970 29,252,423
2059 12,808,144 28,945,088
2058 12,611,185 28,631,679
2057 12,415,316 28,307,305
2056 12,219,298 27,990,713
2055 12,024,601 27,658,887
2054 11,826,644 27,331,920
2053 11,629,783 26,986,935
2052 11,433,645 26,643,553
2051 11,236,927 26,287,592
2050 11,041,020 25,934,893
2049 10,846,652 25,585,239
2048 10,651,879 25,228,082
2047 10,455,019 24,874,649
2046 10,260,138 24,513,443
2045 10,065,444 24,147,637
2044 9,872,742 23,783,088
2043 9,677,498 23,401,965
2042 9,483,953 23,035,288
2041 9,288,673 22,647,950
2040 9,097,986 22,273,520
2039 8,908,556 21,902,980
2038 8,720,599 21,530,130
2037 8,534,256 21,159,664
2036 8,350,011 20,791,034
2035 8,167,940 20,413,656
2034 7,986,915 20,048,019
2033 7,806,956 19,676,339
2032 7,629,621 19,311,985
2031 7,454,630 18,959,300
2030 7,285,238 18,613,738
2029 7,119,031 18,270,049
2028 6,956,345 17,933,466
2027 6,795,830 17,600,984
2026 6,639,560 17,273,208
2025 6,485,440 16,949,303
2024 6,332,961 16,634,373
2023 6,182,885 16,340,822
2022 6,035,104 16,069,056
2021 5,892,183 15,797,210
2020 5,752,791 15,526,888
2019 5,616,661 15,271,368
2018 5,483,118 15,034,452
2017 5,351,011 14,812,482
2016 5,222,536 14,600,294
2015 5,097,581 14,399,013
2014 4,975,880 14,207,359
2013 4,857,099 14,013,808
2012 4,740,450 13,817,887
2011 4,609,724 13,595,424
2010 4,462,290 13,356,548
2009 4,281,219 13,142,790
2008 4,113,517 12,959,149
2007 3,980,430 12,804,058
2006 3,837,409 12,636,445
2005 3,696,393 12,483,432
2004 3,565,554 12,365,896
2003 3,445,753 12,232,323
2002 3,350,771 12,087,653
2001 3,272,537 11,971,901
2000 3,151,345 11,892,055
1999 3,032,874 11,783,458
1998 2,952,061 11,594,297
1997 2,887,862 11,369,827
1996 2,826,785 11,158,360
1995 2,749,461 10,974,599
1994 2,673,144 10,873,148
1993 2,595,124 10,860,288
1992 2,519,465 10,702,700
1991 2,449,229 10,404,816
1990 2,380,560 10,137,281
1989 2,313,558 9,864,798
1988 2,247,653 9,583,094
1987 2,183,473 9,284,644
1986 2,120,602 8,982,578
1985 2,059,311 8,686,813
1984 1,999,528 8,391,488
1983 1,950,321 8,098,404
1982 1,910,430 7,796,496
1981 1,869,759 7,498,635
1980 1,828,985 7,041,303
1979 1,788,524 6,647,556
1978 1,748,089 6,543,575
1977 1,707,568 6,449,512
1976 1,667,225 6,287,105
1975 1,627,032 6,098,658
1974 1,582,301 5,908,328
1973 1,533,680 5,720,404
1972 1,486,468 5,542,445
1971 1,441,039 5,374,712
1970 1,397,638 5,215,918
1969 1,356,182 5,058,181
1968 1,316,519 4,900,440
1967 1,278,691 4,748,307
1966 1,242,534 4,601,217
1965 1,207,880 4,458,462
1964 1,174,816 4,320,006
1963 1,143,263 4,185,877
1962 1,113,175 4,055,959
1961 1,084,389 3,930,401
1960 1,056,732 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Congo increased by 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Congo gained 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

The Congo was ranked 125th most populous country in 2006 and is 109th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Congo
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Congo Zimbabwe
2100 0.7% 0.19%
2099 0.74% 0.23%
2098 0.74% 0.25%
2097 0.76% 0.25%
2096 0.78% 0.3%
2095 0.79% 0.32%
2094 0.81% 0.28%
2093 0.85% 0.33%
2092 0.86% 0.33%
2091 0.88% 0.39%
2090 0.89% 0.4%
2089 0.94% 0.39%
2088 0.95% 0.46%
2087 0.97% 0.47%
2086 0.97% 0.48%
2085 1% 0.51%
2084 1.02% 0.53%
2083 1.06% 0.54%
2082 1.04% 0.59%
2081 1.08% 0.62%
2080 1.09% 0.64%
2079 1.13% 0.65%
2078 1.13% 0.69%
2077 1.14% 0.72%
2076 1.2% 0.73%
2075 1.2% 0.76%
2074 1.25% 0.81%
2073 1.27% 0.83%
2072 1.29% 0.8%
2071 1.31% 0.82%
2070 1.36% 0.86%
2069 1.36% 0.87%
2068 1.37% 0.91%
2067 1.42% 0.91%
2066 1.43% 0.96%
2065 1.45% 0.94%
2064 1.48% 1.01%
2063 1.53% 1.03%
2062 1.52% 1.05%
2061 1.53% 1.04%
2060 1.55% 1.06%
2059 1.56% 1.09%
2058 1.58% 1.15%
2057 1.6% 1.13%
2056 1.62% 1.2%
2055 1.67% 1.2%
2054 1.69% 1.28%
2053 1.72% 1.29%
2052 1.75% 1.35%
2051 1.77% 1.36%
2050 1.79% 1.37%
2049 1.83% 1.42%
2048 1.88% 1.42%
2047 1.9% 1.47%
2046 1.93% 1.51%
2045 1.95% 1.53%
2044 2.02% 1.63%
2043 2.04% 1.59%
2042 2.1% 1.71%
2041 2.1% 1.68%
2040 2.13% 1.69%
2039 2.16% 1.73%
2038 2.18% 1.75%
2037 2.21% 1.77%
2036 2.23% 1.85%
2035 2.27% 1.82%
2034 2.31% 1.89%
2033 2.32% 1.89%
2032 2.35% 1.86%
2031 2.33% 1.86%
2030 2.33% 1.88%
2029 2.34% 1.88%
2028 2.36% 1.89%
2027 2.35% 1.9%
2026 2.38% 1.91%
2025 2.41% 1.89%
2024 2.43% 1.8%
2023 2.45% 1.69%
2022 2.43% 1.72%
2021 2.42% 1.74%
2020 2.42% 1.67%
2019 2.44% 1.58%
2018 2.47% 1.5%
2017 2.46% 1.45%
2016 2.45% 1.4%
2015 2.45% 1.35%
2014 2.45% 1.38%
2013 2.46% 1.42%
2012 2.84% 1.64%
2011 3.3% 1.79%
2010 4.23% 1.63%
2009 4.08% 1.42%
2008 3.34% 1.21%
2007 3.73% 1.33%
2006 3.81% 1.23%
2005 3.67% 0.95%
2004 3.48% 1.09%
2003 2.83% 1.2%
2002 2.39% 0.97%
2001 3.85% 0.67%
2000 3.91% 0.92%
1999 2.74% 1.63%
1998 2.22% 1.97%
1997 2.16% 1.9%
1996 2.81% 1.67%
1995 2.85% 0.93%
1994 3.01% 0.12%
1993 3% 1.47%
1992 2.87% 2.86%
1991 2.88% 2.64%
1990 2.9% 2.76%
1989 2.93% 2.94%
1988 2.94% 3.21%
1987 2.96% 3.36%
1986 2.98% 3.4%
1985 2.99% 3.52%
1984 2.52% 3.62%
1983 2.09% 3.87%
1982 2.18% 3.97%
1981 2.23% 6.49%
1980 2.26% 5.92%
1979 2.31% 1.59%
1978 2.37% 1.46%
1977 2.42% 2.58%
1976 2.47% 3.09%
1975 2.83% 3.22%
1974 3.17% 3.29%
1973 3.18% 3.21%
1972 3.15% 3.12%
1971 3.11% 3.04%
1970 3.06% 3.12%
1969 3.01% 3.22%
1968 2.96% 3.2%
1967 2.91% 3.2%
1966 2.87% 3.2%
1965 2.81% 3.2%
1964 2.76% 3.2%
1963 2.7% 3.2%
1962 2.65% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Congo grew by 2.43%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Congo Zimbabwe
Current population
6681829
17361868
Population rank 109/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.21%
One net population change
3.5 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
2.78 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
13.5 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +411 +804
Annual growth/decline +150,076 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 31/197 60/197
One migration net change every
2.93 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -2,999 -54,555
Net migration rank 108/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 385,589 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 91/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.1% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 86/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Congo
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Congo Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,999 - -54,555
2024 - -2,491 - -60,528
2023 150,486 -995 372,505 -97,380
2022 147,076 -995 371,243 -102,828
2021 144,241 -4,476 349,908 -74,623
2020 143,492 -4,472 354,790 -89,440
2019 139,513 -6,268 348,798 -103,107
2018 142,704 -8,856 345,883 -117,758
2017 141,973 -11,601 344,035 -128,241
2016 141,358 -14,783 348,772 -140,181
2015 141,539 -18,207 356,203 -162,220
2014 141,674 -21,598 366,350 -177,029
2013 142,080 -24,605 374,757 -176,972
2012 142,464 -26,643 371,135 -177,061
2011 140,371 5,262 359,572 -108,714
2010 136,908 12,318 335,570 -108,671
2009 126,904 86,014 309,316 -108,689
2008 120,711 1,774 280,527 -113,858
2007 112,459 31,239 261,805 -118,299
2006 106,876 35,475 248,963 -57,257
2005 101,344 38,337 248,545 -134,212
2004 96,577 25,412 248,307 -127,550
2003 91,326 26,280 243,057 -96,667
2002 88,497 -16,140 244,170 -101,212
2001 84,876 -764 227,909 -139,361
2000 78,491 79,780 236,343 -165,181
1999 76,204 2,470 232,393 -86,343
1998 72,450 10,500 225,614 6,645
1997 66,149 -20,704 216,288 395
1996 75,628 1,085 205,269 978
1995 74,189 3,747 206,695 -45,428
1994 72,857 1,850 216,343 -174,723
1993 71,119 10,218 228,045 -243,947
1992 69,973 0 255,291 75,788
1991 68,534 1,966 260,943 3,749
1990 67,241 -395 265,444 4,948
1989 65,944 1,214 270,838 3,736
1988 64,629 22 277,498 11,327
1987 63,183 525 286,766 21,308
1986 61,669 367 289,894 6,154
1985 60,359 182 290,756 4,718
1984 59,028 0 290,052 5,124
1983 58,120 -18,720 286,545 4,456
1982 57,036 -16,664 279,934 32,899
1981 56,603 -15,630 271,361 11,523
1980 55,550 -14,972 241,179 390,593
1979 54,723 -14,378 223,657 -67,937
1978 53,885 -13,356 222,979 -170,727
1977 53,179 -12,673 225,139 -89,270
1976 52,148 -11,971 221,419 -32,495
1975 51,155 -10,944 216,947 -28,988
1974 49,563 -312 208,806 -16,105
1973 48,017 -22 201,885 -18,733
1972 46,427 0 193,725 -20,959
1971 44,431 0 185,427 -22,719
1970 42,374 0 178,979 -24,102
1969 40,532 0 172,626 -12,028
1968 38,786 0 166,865 -11,997
1967 36,866 0 161,205 -11,814
1966 35,452 0 156,014 -11,211
1965 33,865 0 151,164 -10,465
1964 32,270 0 145,848 -9,631
1963 30,832 0 140,984 -8,936
1962 29,342 0 136,317 -8,529
1961 28,220 0 131,531 -8,204
1960 27,094 0 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/congo/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 385,589 residents or 6.1% of the population were not native-born in the Congo, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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