The current population of the DR Congo is 117,507,801 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 109,276,265 in 2024.
- The DR Congo is projected to reach 436M people in 2100.
- For the last 20 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of 4.69% per year.
- The DR Congo accounts for 1.42% of the world's population.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth in 20 years).
- The DR Congo is ranked 15/197 by population and was ranked 22nd in 2006.
The DR Congo population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 436,320,913 | 0.68% |
| 2099 | 433,372,904 | 0.71% |
| 2098 | 430,335,169 | 0.73% |
| 2097 | 427,231,271 | 0.75% |
| 2096 | 424,043,303 | 0.78% |
| 2095 | 420,759,430 | 0.81% |
| 2094 | 417,384,609 | 0.83% |
| 2093 | 413,946,692 | 0.85% |
| 2092 | 410,440,733 | 0.88% |
| 2091 | 406,841,757 | 0.91% |
| 2090 | 403,166,901 | 0.94% |
| 2089 | 399,411,004 | 0.97% |
| 2088 | 395,583,655 | 0.99% |
| 2087 | 391,688,383 | 1.03% |
| 2086 | 387,713,874 | 1.05% |
| 2085 | 383,678,330 | 1.08% |
| 2084 | 379,568,054 | 1.11% |
| 2083 | 375,402,379 | 1.13% |
| 2082 | 371,195,818 | 1.16% |
| 2081 | 366,948,626 | 1.19% |
| 2080 | 362,644,227 | 1.21% |
| 2079 | 358,295,825 | 1.25% |
| 2078 | 353,888,897 | 1.27% |
| 2077 | 349,435,210 | 1.31% |
| 2076 | 344,932,895 | 1.33% |
| 2075 | 340,403,800 | 1.36% |
| 2074 | 335,826,108 | 1.39% |
| 2073 | 331,220,816 | 1.42% |
| 2072 | 326,568,298 | 1.45% |
| 2071 | 321,892,514 | 1.49% |
| 2070 | 317,165,418 | 1.52% |
| 2069 | 312,409,702 | 1.56% |
| 2068 | 307,625,941 | 1.59% |
| 2067 | 302,820,577 | 1.62% |
| 2066 | 297,989,401 | 1.66% |
| 2065 | 293,137,514 | 1.69% |
| 2064 | 288,267,282 | 1.73% |
| 2063 | 283,369,365 | 1.77% |
| 2062 | 278,452,605 | 1.8% |
| 2061 | 273,517,380 | 1.84% |
| 2060 | 268,572,331 | 1.88% |
| 2059 | 263,620,905 | 1.91% |
| 2058 | 258,672,397 | 1.95% |
| 2057 | 253,733,756 | 1.98% |
| 2056 | 248,796,045 | 2.02% |
| 2055 | 243,861,631 | 2.06% |
| 2054 | 238,931,249 | 2.1% |
| 2053 | 234,016,357 | 2.14% |
| 2052 | 229,117,369 | 2.17% |
| 2051 | 224,240,788 | 2.21% |
| 2050 | 219,397,034 | 2.24% |
| 2049 | 214,588,560 | 2.28% |
| 2048 | 209,814,694 | 2.31% |
| 2047 | 205,079,870 | 2.35% |
| 2046 | 200,379,842 | 2.38% |
| 2045 | 195,731,078 | 2.41% |
| 2044 | 191,124,003 | 2.44% |
| 2043 | 186,569,843 | 2.47% |
| 2042 | 182,068,630 | 2.51% |
| 2041 | 177,617,360 | 2.54% |
| 2040 | 173,224,822 | 2.57% |
| 2039 | 168,878,834 | 2.61% |
| 2038 | 164,583,465 | 2.64% |
| 2037 | 160,347,349 | 2.7% |
| 2036 | 156,129,049 | 2.75% |
| 2035 | 151,953,443 | 2.8% |
| 2034 | 147,811,138 | 2.85% |
| 2033 | 143,712,496 | 2.89% |
| 2032 | 139,669,159 | 2.95% |
| 2031 | 135,660,570 | 3% |
| 2030 | 131,710,378 | 3.05% |
| 2029 | 127,818,130 | 3.1% |
| 2028 | 123,980,695 | 3.14% |
| 2027 | 120,212,011 | 3.18% |
| 2026 | 116,505,117 | 3.24% |
| 2025 | 112,854,120 | 3.27% |
| 2024 | 109,276,265 | 3.3% |
| 2023 | 105,789,731 | 3.31% |
| 2022 | 102,396,968 | 3.28% |
| 2021 | 99,148,932 | 3.29% |
| 2020 | 95,989,998 | 3.27% |
| 2019 | 92,947,442 | 3.22% |
| 2018 | 90,047,644 | 3.4% |
| 2017 | 87,083,398 | 3.72% |
| 2016 | 83,956,415 | 3.6% |
| 2015 | 81,035,531 | 3.36% |
| 2014 | 78,403,242 | 3.45% |
| 2013 | 75,789,395 | 3.46% |
| 2012 | 73,254,618 | 3.39% |
| 2011 | 70,849,311 | 3.33% |
| 2010 | 68,563,038 | 3.24% |
| 2009 | 66,412,044 | 3.14% |
| 2008 | 64,390,664 | 3.06% |
| 2007 | 62,477,752 | 3.07% |
| 2006 | 60,615,908 | 3.13% |
| 2005 | 58,775,724 | 3.12% |
| 2004 | 56,997,741 | 2.99% |
| 2003 | 55,343,867 | 2.96% |
| 2002 | 53,750,524 | 3.1% |
| 2001 | 52,132,646 | 3.22% |
| 2000 | 50,507,442 | 3.26% |
| 1999 | 48,912,971 | 3.42% |
| 1998 | 47,297,600 | 2.75% |
| 1997 | 46,029,902 | 1.62% |
| 1996 | 45,296,124 | 1.94% |
| 1995 | 44,433,704 | 4.24% |
| 1994 | 42,626,876 | 4.85% |
| 1993 | 40,656,336 | 3.64% |
| 1992 | 39,228,910 | 3.44% |
| 1991 | 37,925,817 | 3.38% |
| 1990 | 36,684,063 | 3.37% |
| 1989 | 35,486,866 | 3.21% |
| 1988 | 34,382,752 | 3.25% |
| 1987 | 33,298,904 | 3.2% |
| 1986 | 32,265,196 | 3.2% |
| 1985 | 31,264,816 | 3.37% |
| 1984 | 30,245,081 | 3.4% |
| 1983 | 29,250,963 | 3.22% |
| 1982 | 28,338,190 | 3.05% |
| 1981 | 27,500,515 | 2.96% |
| 1980 | 26,711,099 | 3.18% |
| 1979 | 25,886,782 | 3.58% |
| 1978 | 24,992,689 | 3.15% |
| 1977 | 24,229,061 | 2.56% |
| 1976 | 23,624,031 | 2.62% |
| 1975 | 23,021,101 | 2.69% |
| 1974 | 22,418,878 | 2.71% |
| 1973 | 21,827,665 | 2.71% |
| 1972 | 21,251,160 | 2.68% |
| 1971 | 20,695,569 | 2.77% |
| 1970 | 20,137,436 | 2.9% |
| 1969 | 19,570,445 | 2.94% |
| 1968 | 19,012,189 | 2.98% |
| 1967 | 18,462,782 | 2.96% |
| 1966 | 17,931,929 | 2.89% |
| 1965 | 17,427,802 | 2.79% |
| 1964 | 16,955,327 | 2.71% |
| 1963 | 16,507,599 | 2.69% |
| 1962 | 16,075,724 | 2.64% |
| 1961 | 15,662,374 | 2.6% |
| 1960 | 15,264,846 | - |
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/dr-congo | CC BY 
The DR Congo has a population of 118M as of 2026, compared to 84M in 2016, 60.6M in 2006, and 45.3M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 4% per year. The DR Congo is ranked 4th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) the DR Congo will have 200,379,842 people (70.5% growth) with a rank change from 15th to 10th.
By the year 2100, the DR Congo's population is projected to grow by 271.3% from its current level to 436M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -27,309 |
| 2024 | - | - | -26,968 |
| 2023 | 3,452,795 | 3,467,787 | -14,992 |
| 2022 | 3,332,673 | 3,347,664 | -14,991 |
| 2021 | 3,163,353 | 3,227,992 | -64,639 |
| 2020 | 3,154,519 | 3,156,152 | -1,633 |
| 2019 | 2,930,618 | 3,075,538 | -144,920 |
| 2018 | 2,868,938 | 2,993,184 | -124,246 |
| 2017 | 3,059,535 | 2,883,245 | 176,290 |
| 2016 | 3,194,435 | 2,753,687 | 440,748 |
| 2015 | 2,647,305 | 2,665,016 | -17,711 |
| 2014 | 2,617,217 | 2,580,251 | 36,966 |
| 2013 | 2,610,475 | 2,489,378 | 121,097 |
| 2012 | 2,459,130 | 2,405,462 | 53,668 |
| 2011 | 2,351,570 | 2,310,679 | 40,891 |
| 2010 | 2,221,078 | 2,212,255 | 8,823 |
| 2009 | 2,080,903 | 2,126,912 | -46,009 |
| 2008 | 1,961,871 | 2,044,210 | -82,339 |
| 2007 | 1,863,996 | 1,963,738 | -99,742 |
| 2006 | 1,859,683 | 1,889,398 | -29,715 |
| 2005 | 1,820,684 | 1,800,300 | 20,384 |
| 2004 | 1,735,282 | 1,731,022 | 4,260 |
| 2003 | 1,572,457 | 1,679,188 | -106,731 |
| 2002 | 1,614,239 | 1,631,597 | -17,358 |
| 2001 | 1,621,522 | 1,594,999 | 26,523 |
| 2000 | 1,628,858 | 1,549,518 | 79,340 |
| 1999 | 1,560,079 | 1,450,318 | 109,761 |
| 1998 | 1,670,690 | 1,375,130 | 295,560 |
| 1997 | 864,681 | 1,392,037 | -527,356 |
| 1996 | 602,657 | 1,380,490 | -777,833 |
| 1995 | 1,122,006 | 1,395,440 | -273,434 |
| 1994 | 2,491,644 | 1,259,539 | 1,232,105 |
| 1993 | 1,449,418 | 1,209,242 | 240,176 |
| 1992 | 1,405,447 | 1,152,781 | 252,666 |
| 1991 | 1,200,754 | 1,114,033 | 86,721 |
| 1990 | 1,282,778 | 1,063,508 | 219,270 |
| 1989 | 1,111,653 | 1,027,238 | 84,415 |
| 1988 | 1,096,592 | 995,278 | 101,314 |
| 1987 | 1,071,095 | 959,875 | 111,220 |
| 1986 | 996,322 | 925,334 | 70,988 |
| 1985 | 1,004,461 | 885,670 | 118,791 |
| 1984 | 1,035,001 | 844,956 | 190,045 |
| 1983 | 953,217 | 807,122 | 146,095 |
| 1982 | 872,318 | 774,823 | 97,495 |
| 1981 | 803,027 | 748,371 | 54,656 |
| 1980 | 775,796 | 724,111 | 51,685 |
| 1979 | 872,801 | 691,773 | 181,028 |
| 1978 | 915,385 | 646,411 | 268,974 |
| 1977 | 611,887 | 638,242 | -26,355 |
| 1976 | 598,182 | 624,147 | -25,965 |
| 1975 | 607,683 | 608,655 | -972 |
| 1974 | 596,755 | 593,539 | 3,216 |
| 1973 | 585,694 | 578,280 | 7,414 |
| 1972 | 567,335 | 564,495 | 2,840 |
| 1971 | 543,846 | 549,343 | -5,497 |
| 1970 | 572,416 | 533,300 | 39,116 |
| 1969 | 561,578 | 514,800 | 46,778 |
| 1968 | 554,956 | 497,682 | 57,274 |
| 1967 | 543,859 | 479,552 | 64,307 |
| 1966 | 517,840 | 463,397 | 54,443 |
| 1965 | 490,399 | 429,002 | 61,397 |
| 1964 | 454,541 | 406,334 | 48,207 |
| 1963 | 440,932 | 398,972 | 41,960 |
| 1962 | 422,837 | 383,406 | 39,431 |
| 1961 | 403,861 | 368,207 | 35,654 |
| 1960 | 391,190 | 363,517 | 27,673 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in the DR Congo is from natural causes (a gain of 30,150,516 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a gain of 270,872 people).
As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 589,882 and 0.9% in 2010.
The DR Congo population clock
DR Congo
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
117507801
|
15/197 |
| Percent of world population | 1.42% | 15/197 |
| One net population change |
9.05 seconds
|
4/197 |
| One birth every |
7.22 seconds
|
6/196 |
| One death every |
35 seconds
|
11/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +9,552 | 4/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +3,486,534 | 4/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +3.3% | 11/197 |
| One migration net change every |
19.3 minutes
|
159/196 |
| Annual migration change | -27,309 | 159/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,085,090 | 57/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 1% | 152/195 |
Largest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
DR Congo population statistics
|
DR Congo
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 62.4 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 21.9 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 16.9 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.6:50.4 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 6.05 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 133.1 ppl/mi² | 144 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/dr-congo | 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)
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.