Skip to content

Population in the DR Congo compared to El Salvador: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 6,365,503 people in El Salvador in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 6,404,781 in El Salvador.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 18.5 times bigger than El Salvador's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while El Salvador is the 111th.
  • The countries together account for 1.5% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.08% for El Salvador.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +0.29% in El Salvador.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while El Salvador has grown from 6M to 6.4M (6.71% growth).

DR Congo vs El Salvador: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo El Salvador
2100 436,237,219 5,105,420
2099 433,289,774 5,149,457
2098 430,252,622 5,194,156
2097 427,149,320 5,239,201
2096 423,961,963 5,285,584
2095 420,678,721 5,332,377
2094 417,304,547 5,379,380
2093 413,867,290 5,426,293
2092 410,362,003 5,473,168
2091 406,763,717 5,520,243
2090 403,089,566 5,567,316
2089 399,334,389 5,614,518
2088 395,507,774 5,661,216
2087 391,613,249 5,708,023
2086 387,639,503 5,754,535
2085 383,604,733 5,800,712
2084 379,495,246 5,846,470
2083 375,330,369 5,890,746
2082 371,124,615 5,933,965
2081 366,878,238 5,976,533
2080 362,574,665 6,018,220
2079 358,227,097 6,058,704
2078 353,821,014 6,097,568
2077 349,368,182 6,135,005
2076 344,866,731 6,171,552
2075 340,338,504 6,205,725
2074 335,761,691 6,238,209
2073 331,157,281 6,271,184
2072 326,505,656 6,300,399
2071 321,830,769 6,328,923
2070 317,104,580 6,356,884
2069 312,349,776 6,383,690
2068 307,566,932 6,409,808
2067 302,762,490 6,434,255
2066 297,932,241 6,457,592
2065 293,081,284 6,480,747
2064 288,211,987 6,502,689
2063 283,315,009 6,523,174
2062 278,399,192 6,541,955
2061 273,464,914 6,559,213
2060 268,520,814 6,576,220
2059 263,570,338 6,591,451
2058 258,622,778 6,605,091
2057 253,685,085 6,619,257
2056 248,748,321 6,632,447
2055 243,814,854 6,644,372
2054 238,885,417 6,655,028
2053 233,971,468 6,662,891
2052 229,073,420 6,669,204
2051 224,197,775 6,675,431
2050 219,354,949 6,678,745
2049 214,547,398 6,682,265
2048 209,774,448 6,683,689
2047 205,040,532 6,683,495
2046 200,341,405 6,682,835
2045 195,693,533 6,680,720
2044 191,087,342 6,678,277
2043 186,534,055 6,672,970
2042 182,033,706 6,666,915
2041 177,583,290 6,659,099
2040 173,191,594 6,649,797
2039 168,846,440 6,639,891
2038 164,551,895 6,627,081
2037 160,316,591 6,614,212
2036 156,099,100 6,599,632
2035 151,924,296 6,583,864
2034 147,782,785 6,567,581
2033 143,684,929 6,548,738
2032 139,642,368 6,529,775
2031 135,634,548 6,509,868
2030 131,685,113 6,489,300
2029 127,793,612 6,466,193
2028 123,956,913 6,442,242
2027 120,188,952 6,417,110
2026 116,482,769 6,391,761
2025 112,832,473 6,365,503
2024 109,276,265 6,338,193
2023 105,789,731 6,309,624
2022 102,396,968 6,280,319
2021 99,148,932 6,255,782
2020 95,989,998 6,234,673
2019 92,947,442 6,222,318
2018 90,047,644 6,219,807
2017 87,083,398 6,213,533
2016 83,956,415 6,200,800
2015 81,035,531 6,183,676
2014 78,403,242 6,162,955
2013 75,789,395 6,138,839
2012 73,254,618 6,113,975
2011 70,849,311 6,090,127
2010 68,563,038 6,068,249
2009 66,412,044 6,048,279
2008 64,390,664 6,029,297
2007 62,477,752 6,009,824
2006 60,615,908 6,002,319
2005 58,775,724 6,005,578
2004 56,997,741 6,004,671
2003 55,343,867 5,998,599
2002 53,750,524 5,986,631
2001 52,132,646 5,968,060
2000 50,507,442 5,943,366
1999 48,912,971 5,913,900
1998 47,297,600 5,880,781
1997 46,029,902 5,844,578
1996 45,296,124 5,805,286
1995 44,433,704 5,762,131
1994 42,626,876 5,714,129
1993 40,656,336 5,659,957
1992 39,228,910 5,585,609
1991 37,925,817 5,495,077
1990 36,684,063 5,399,726
1989 35,486,866 5,298,979
1988 34,382,752 5,195,833
1987 33,298,904 5,092,441
1986 32,265,196 4,992,769
1985 31,264,816 4,894,706
1984 30,245,081 4,798,003
1983 29,250,963 4,707,367
1982 28,338,190 4,622,477
1981 27,500,515 4,570,599
1980 26,711,099 4,540,382
1979 25,886,782 4,480,388
1978 24,992,689 4,394,114
1977 24,229,061 4,301,256
1976 23,624,031 4,210,310
1975 23,021,101 4,120,449
1974 22,418,878 4,029,671
1973 21,827,665 3,938,068
1972 21,251,160 3,846,830
1971 20,695,569 3,757,523
1970 20,137,436 3,668,796
1969 19,570,445 3,576,485
1968 19,012,189 3,480,773
1967 18,462,782 3,385,184
1966 17,931,929 3,290,961
1965 17,427,802 3,199,466
1964 16,955,327 3,111,883
1963 16,507,599 3,028,679
1962 16,075,724 2,949,204
1961 15,662,374 2,870,016
1960 15,264,846 2,791,459

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/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while El Salvador gained 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while El Salvador's population increased by 203,981 people (a 3.29% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. El Salvador was ranked 102nd in 2006 and ranked 111th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the DR Congo's population will grow by 85.3% to 219,354,949 people with a rank change from 14th to 8th. The population of El Salvador will increase by 4.28% to 6,678,745 people and rank change from 111th to 116th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 6.68M people in 2048 for El Salvador.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo El Salvador
2100 0.68% -0.86%
2099 0.71% -0.86%
2098 0.73% -0.86%
2097 0.75% -0.88%
2096 0.78% -0.88%
2095 0.81% -0.87%
2094 0.83% -0.86%
2093 0.85% -0.86%
2092 0.88% -0.85%
2091 0.91% -0.85%
2090 0.94% -0.84%
2089 0.97% -0.82%
2088 0.99% -0.82%
2087 1.03% -0.81%
2086 1.05% -0.8%
2085 1.08% -0.78%
2084 1.11% -0.75%
2083 1.13% -0.73%
2082 1.16% -0.71%
2081 1.19% -0.69%
2080 1.21% -0.67%
2079 1.25% -0.64%
2078 1.27% -0.61%
2077 1.31% -0.59%
2076 1.33% -0.55%
2075 1.36% -0.52%
2074 1.39% -0.53%
2073 1.42% -0.46%
2072 1.45% -0.45%
2071 1.49% -0.44%
2070 1.52% -0.42%
2069 1.56% -0.41%
2068 1.59% -0.38%
2067 1.62% -0.36%
2066 1.66% -0.36%
2065 1.69% -0.34%
2064 1.73% -0.31%
2063 1.77% -0.29%
2062 1.8% -0.26%
2061 1.84% -0.26%
2060 1.88% -0.23%
2059 1.91% -0.21%
2058 1.95% -0.21%
2057 1.98% -0.2%
2056 2.02% -0.18%
2055 2.06% -0.16%
2054 2.1% -0.12%
2053 2.14% -0.09%
2052 2.17% -0.09%
2051 2.21% -0.05%
2050 2.24% -0.05%
2049 2.28% -0.02%
2048 2.31% 0.003%
2047 2.35% 0.01%
2046 2.38% 0.03%
2045 2.41% 0.04%
2044 2.44% 0.08%
2043 2.47% 0.09%
2042 2.51% 0.12%
2041 2.54% 0.14%
2040 2.57% 0.15%
2039 2.61% 0.19%
2038 2.64% 0.19%
2037 2.7% 0.22%
2036 2.75% 0.24%
2035 2.8% 0.25%
2034 2.85% 0.29%
2033 2.89% 0.29%
2032 2.95% 0.31%
2031 3% 0.32%
2030 3.05% 0.36%
2029 3.1% 0.37%
2028 3.14% 0.39%
2027 3.18% 0.4%
2026 3.24% 0.41%
2025 3.25% 0.43%
2024 3.3% 0.45%
2023 3.31% 0.47%
2022 3.28% 0.39%
2021 3.29% 0.34%
2020 3.27% 0.2%
2019 3.22% 0.04%
2018 3.4% 0.1%
2017 3.72% 0.21%
2016 3.6% 0.28%
2015 3.36% 0.34%
2014 3.45% 0.39%
2013 3.46% 0.41%
2012 3.39% 0.39%
2011 3.33% 0.36%
2010 3.24% 0.33%
2009 3.14% 0.31%
2008 3.06% 0.32%
2007 3.07% 0.13%
2006 3.13% -0.05%
2005 3.12% 0.02%
2004 2.99% 0.1%
2003 2.96% 0.2%
2002 3.1% 0.31%
2001 3.22% 0.42%
2000 3.26% 0.5%
1999 3.42% 0.56%
1998 2.75% 0.62%
1997 1.62% 0.68%
1996 1.94% 0.75%
1995 4.24% 0.84%
1994 4.85% 0.96%
1993 3.64% 1.33%
1992 3.44% 1.65%
1991 3.38% 1.77%
1990 3.37% 1.9%
1989 3.21% 1.99%
1988 3.25% 2.03%
1987 3.2% 2%
1986 3.2% 2%
1985 3.37% 2.02%
1984 3.4% 1.93%
1983 3.22% 1.84%
1982 3.05% 1.14%
1981 2.96% 0.67%
1980 3.18% 1.34%
1979 3.58% 1.96%
1978 3.15% 2.16%
1977 2.56% 2.16%
1976 2.62% 2.18%
1975 2.69% 2.25%
1974 2.71% 2.33%
1973 2.71% 2.37%
1972 2.68% 2.38%
1971 2.77% 2.42%
1970 2.9% 2.58%
1969 2.94% 2.75%
1968 2.98% 2.82%
1967 2.96% 2.86%
1966 2.89% 2.86%
1965 2.79% 2.81%
1964 2.71% 2.75%
1963 2.69% 2.69%
1962 2.64% 2.76%
1961 2.6% 2.81%

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/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while El Salvador's population grew by 0.43%.

Live population counters

DR Congo El Salvador
Current population
118386491
6404781
Population rank 14/197 111/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.08%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
19.3 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
5.32 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
11.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +75
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +27,310
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +0.43%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 137/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
22 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -23,934
Net migration rank 159/196 155/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 43,342
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 155/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 164/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
El Salvador
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo El Salvador
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -23,934
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 51,510 -23,102
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 51,985 -23,253
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 53,138 -23,255
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 46,530 -27,343
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 48,244 -25,213
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 56,816 -55,144
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 57,509 -54,163
2017 2,883,245 176,290 59,824 -50,608
2016 2,753,687 440,748 63,751 -47,491
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 69,263 -51,278
2014 2,580,251 36,966 72,581 -49,126
2013 2,489,378 121,097 73,869 -49,087
2012 2,405,462 53,668 75,495 -50,546
2011 2,310,679 40,891 76,182 -53,433
2010 2,212,255 8,823 75,695 -54,688
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 74,908 -55,966
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 75,107 -56,086
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 76,776 -56,857
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 80,887 -85,789
2005 1,800,300 20,384 84,883 -86,501
2004 1,731,022 4,260 90,905 -87,466
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 97,849 -89,146
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 106,137 -90,908
2001 1,594,999 26,523 114,313 -92,389
2000 1,549,518 79,340 122,315 -94,861
1999 1,450,318 109,761 128,947 -97,475
1998 1,375,130 295,560 134,065 -99,293
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 134,448 -96,820
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 136,929 -95,977
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 138,268 -92,912
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 137,974 -87,318
1993 1,209,242 240,176 138,432 -80,736
1992 1,152,781 252,666 139,221 -48,232
1991 1,114,033 86,721 140,691 -50,622
1990 1,063,508 219,270 140,311 -39,689
1989 1,027,238 84,415 139,093 -38,211
1988 995,278 101,314 136,230 -30,806
1987 959,875 111,220 133,667 -32,308
1986 925,334 70,988 130,177 -32,181
1985 885,670 118,791 127,248 -29,111
1984 844,956 190,045 125,036 -29,767
1983 807,122 146,095 121,700 -35,694
1982 774,823 97,495 120,938 -37,159
1981 748,371 54,656 117,346 -97,365
1980 724,111 51,685 111,771 -71,318
1979 691,773 181,028 123,838 -44,302
1978 646,411 268,974 124,468 -31,463
1977 638,242 -26,355 121,446 -28,742
1976 624,147 -25,965 120,511 -31,317
1975 608,655 -972 116,737 -26,198
1974 593,539 3,216 113,846 -22,844
1973 578,280 7,414 111,546 -19,347
1972 564,495 2,840 107,604 -17,317
1971 549,343 -5,497 104,714 -16,389
1970 533,300 39,116 100,499 -11,367
1969 514,800 46,778 99,848 -4,355
1968 497,682 57,274 98,851 -2,919
1967 479,552 64,307 98,424 -3,192
1966 463,397 54,443 97,156 -3,945
1965 429,002 61,397 95,341 -5,560
1964 406,334 48,207 93,328 -7,937
1963 398,972 41,960 90,794 -9,774
1962 383,406 39,431 88,237 -10,307
1961 368,207 35,654 84,614 -4,159
1960 363,517 27,673 81,544 -4,885

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in the DR Congo is from natural causes (a gain of 31,117,482 people) and 0.66% is from migration (a gain of 206,938 people). In El Salvador 59.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 558,570 people) and 40.5% is from migration (a loss of 380,850 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 43,342 people or 0.7% in El Salvador.

Biggest cities by population

DR Congo
City Population
Kinshasa 14.6M
Mbuji-Mayi 2.89M
Kananga 1.97M
Lubumbashi 1.79M
Kisangani 1.37M
Tshikapa 1.01M
Uvira 726K
Bukavu 707K
Kolwezi 573K
Mbandaka 470K
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/dr-congo/el-salvador | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, 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.