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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 3,535,603 people in Eritrea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 3,700,586 in Eritrea.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 31.8 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Eritrea is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 1.46% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.04% for Eritrea.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +1.28% in Eritrea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Eritrea has grown from 2.7M to 3.7M (36.9% growth).

DR Congo vs Eritrea: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Eritrea
2100 436,320,913 8,514,681
2099 433,372,904 8,489,924
2098 430,335,169 8,466,983
2097 427,231,271 8,444,468
2096 424,043,303 8,422,323
2095 420,759,430 8,396,086
2094 417,384,609 8,370,114
2093 413,946,692 8,344,405
2092 410,440,733 8,309,034
2091 406,841,757 8,278,860
2090 403,166,901 8,243,905
2089 399,411,004 8,209,883
2088 395,583,655 8,172,664
2087 391,688,383 8,136,016
2086 387,713,874 8,093,065
2085 383,678,330 8,046,814
2084 379,568,054 7,999,706
2083 375,402,379 7,956,385
2082 371,195,818 7,911,764
2081 366,948,626 7,871,753
2080 362,644,227 7,815,766
2079 358,295,825 7,765,677
2078 353,888,897 7,711,886
2077 349,435,210 7,656,307
2076 344,932,895 7,600,951
2075 340,403,800 7,538,912
2074 335,826,108 7,484,322
2073 331,220,816 7,420,571
2072 326,568,298 7,358,500
2071 321,892,514 7,296,109
2070 317,165,418 7,231,198
2069 312,409,702 7,164,883
2068 307,625,941 7,094,530
2067 302,820,577 7,026,000
2066 297,989,401 6,952,514
2065 293,137,514 6,884,323
2064 288,267,282 6,814,893
2063 283,369,365 6,733,263
2062 278,452,605 6,659,531
2061 273,517,380 6,580,923
2060 268,572,331 6,500,944
2059 263,620,905 6,422,305
2058 258,672,397 6,343,070
2057 253,733,756 6,265,450
2056 248,796,045 6,194,123
2055 243,861,631 6,114,099
2054 238,931,249 6,039,801
2053 234,016,357 5,957,339
2052 229,117,369 5,871,954
2051 224,240,788 5,791,096
2050 219,397,034 5,711,061
2049 214,588,560 5,632,165
2048 209,814,694 5,549,890
2047 205,079,870 5,468,518
2046 200,379,842 5,387,267
2045 195,731,078 5,300,511
2044 191,124,003 5,215,831
2043 186,569,843 5,131,686
2042 182,068,630 5,044,262
2041 177,617,360 4,960,422
2040 173,224,822 4,870,981
2039 168,878,834 4,782,316
2038 164,583,465 4,693,015
2037 160,347,349 4,599,752
2036 156,129,049 4,506,879
2035 151,953,443 4,420,367
2034 147,811,138 4,332,828
2033 143,712,496 4,248,272
2032 139,669,159 4,165,241
2031 135,660,570 4,083,762
2030 131,710,378 3,998,903
2029 127,818,130 3,917,775
2028 123,980,695 3,836,693
2027 120,212,011 3,756,696
2026 116,505,117 3,679,782
2025 112,854,120 3,603,902
2024 109,276,265 3,535,603
2023 105,789,731 3,470,390
2022 102,396,968 3,409,447
2021 99,148,932 3,350,183
2020 95,989,998 3,291,271
2019 92,947,442 3,240,194
2018 90,047,644 3,192,760
2017 87,083,398 3,150,347
2016 83,956,415 3,124,698
2015 81,035,531 3,105,546
2014 78,403,242 3,095,173
2013 75,789,395 3,074,360
2012 73,254,618 3,036,988
2011 70,849,311 2,998,485
2010 68,563,038 2,945,186
2009 66,412,044 2,887,885
2008 64,390,664 2,816,327
2007 62,477,752 2,743,222
2006 60,615,908 2,703,502
2005 58,775,724 2,661,215
2004 56,997,741 2,598,284
2003 55,343,867 2,493,903
2002 53,750,524 2,392,978
2001 52,132,646 2,312,079
2000 50,507,442 2,247,031
1999 48,912,971 2,212,780
1998 47,297,600 2,180,419
1997 46,029,902 2,152,135
1996 45,296,124 2,128,464
1995 44,433,704 2,025,267
1994 42,626,876 1,913,915
1993 40,656,336 1,856,006
1992 39,228,910 1,798,748
1991 37,925,817 1,919,571
1990 36,684,063 2,032,737
1989 35,486,866 1,987,017
1988 34,382,752 1,938,255
1987 33,298,904 1,888,669
1986 32,265,196 1,845,164
1985 31,264,816 1,807,816
1984 30,245,081 1,771,730
1983 29,250,963 1,736,160
1982 28,338,190 1,695,461
1981 27,500,515 1,649,939
1980 26,711,099 1,605,797
1979 25,886,782 1,563,332
1978 24,992,689 1,522,378
1977 24,229,061 1,482,565
1976 23,624,031 1,443,807
1975 23,021,101 1,408,210
1974 22,418,878 1,375,688
1973 21,827,665 1,342,669
1972 21,251,160 1,309,235
1971 20,695,569 1,276,154
1970 20,137,436 1,243,453
1969 19,570,445 1,212,005
1968 19,012,189 1,181,737
1967 18,462,782 1,152,339
1966 17,931,929 1,124,957
1965 17,427,802 1,098,335
1964 16,955,327 1,071,287
1963 16,507,599 1,045,092
1962 16,075,724 1,019,788
1961 15,662,374 995,573
1960 15,264,846 972,547

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/eritrea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Eritrea gained 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Eritrea's population increased by 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Eritrea was ranked 135th in 2006 and ranked 130th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the DR Congo's population will grow by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people with a rank change from 15th to 8th. The population of Eritrea will increase by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people and rank change from 130th to 123rd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 8.51M people in 2100 for Eritrea.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Eritrea
2100 0.68% 0.29%
2099 0.71% 0.27%
2098 0.73% 0.27%
2097 0.75% 0.26%
2096 0.78% 0.31%
2095 0.81% 0.31%
2094 0.83% 0.31%
2093 0.85% 0.43%
2092 0.88% 0.36%
2091 0.91% 0.42%
2090 0.94% 0.41%
2089 0.97% 0.46%
2088 0.99% 0.45%
2087 1.03% 0.53%
2086 1.05% 0.57%
2085 1.08% 0.59%
2084 1.11% 0.54%
2083 1.13% 0.56%
2082 1.16% 0.51%
2081 1.19% 0.72%
2080 1.21% 0.65%
2079 1.25% 0.7%
2078 1.27% 0.73%
2077 1.31% 0.73%
2076 1.33% 0.82%
2075 1.36% 0.73%
2074 1.39% 0.86%
2073 1.42% 0.84%
2072 1.45% 0.86%
2071 1.49% 0.9%
2070 1.52% 0.93%
2069 1.56% 0.99%
2068 1.59% 0.98%
2067 1.62% 1.06%
2066 1.66% 0.99%
2065 1.69% 1.02%
2064 1.73% 1.21%
2063 1.77% 1.11%
2062 1.8% 1.19%
2061 1.84% 1.23%
2060 1.88% 1.22%
2059 1.91% 1.25%
2058 1.95% 1.24%
2057 1.98% 1.15%
2056 2.02% 1.31%
2055 2.06% 1.23%
2054 2.1% 1.38%
2053 2.14% 1.45%
2052 2.17% 1.4%
2051 2.21% 1.4%
2050 2.24% 1.4%
2049 2.28% 1.48%
2048 2.31% 1.49%
2047 2.35% 1.51%
2046 2.38% 1.64%
2045 2.41% 1.62%
2044 2.44% 1.64%
2043 2.47% 1.73%
2042 2.51% 1.69%
2041 2.54% 1.84%
2040 2.57% 1.85%
2039 2.61% 1.9%
2038 2.64% 2.03%
2037 2.7% 2.06%
2036 2.75% 1.96%
2035 2.8% 2.02%
2034 2.85% 1.99%
2033 2.89% 1.99%
2032 2.95% 2%
2031 3% 2.12%
2030 3.05% 2.07%
2029 3.1% 2.11%
2028 3.14% 2.13%
2027 3.18% 2.09%
2026 3.24% 2.11%
2025 3.27% 1.93%
2024 3.3% 1.88%
2023 3.31% 1.79%
2022 3.28% 1.77%
2021 3.29% 1.79%
2020 3.27% 1.58%
2019 3.22% 1.49%
2018 3.4% 1.35%
2017 3.72% 0.82%
2016 3.6% 0.62%
2015 3.36% 0.34%
2014 3.45% 0.68%
2013 3.46% 1.23%
2012 3.39% 1.28%
2011 3.33% 1.81%
2010 3.24% 1.98%
2009 3.14% 2.54%
2008 3.06% 2.66%
2007 3.07% 1.47%
2006 3.13% 1.59%
2005 3.12% 2.42%
2004 2.99% 4.19%
2003 2.96% 4.22%
2002 3.1% 3.5%
2001 3.22% 2.89%
2000 3.26% 1.55%
1999 3.42% 1.48%
1998 2.75% 1.31%
1997 1.62% 1.11%
1996 1.94% 5.1%
1995 4.24% 5.82%
1994 4.85% 3.12%
1993 3.64% 3.18%
1992 3.44% -6.29%
1991 3.38% -5.57%
1990 3.37% 2.3%
1989 3.21% 2.52%
1988 3.25% 2.63%
1987 3.2% 2.36%
1986 3.2% 2.07%
1985 3.37% 2.04%
1984 3.4% 2.05%
1983 3.22% 2.4%
1982 3.05% 2.76%
1981 2.96% 2.75%
1980 3.18% 2.72%
1979 3.58% 2.69%
1978 3.15% 2.69%
1977 2.56% 2.68%
1976 2.62% 2.53%
1975 2.69% 2.36%
1974 2.71% 2.46%
1973 2.71% 2.55%
1972 2.68% 2.59%
1971 2.77% 2.63%
1970 2.9% 2.59%
1969 2.94% 2.56%
1968 2.98% 2.55%
1967 2.96% 2.43%
1966 2.89% 2.42%
1965 2.79% 2.52%
1964 2.71% 2.51%
1963 2.69% 2.48%
1962 2.64% 2.43%
1961 2.6% 2.37%

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/dr-congo/eritrea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Eritrea's population grew by 1.88%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Eritrea
Current population
117507801
3700586
Population rank 15/197 130/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.04%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
8.06 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
5.31 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +179
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +65,213
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.88%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 58/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.31 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 -6,698
Net migration rank 159/196 122/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 12,512
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 176/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 178/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Eritrea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Eritrea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -6,698
2024 - -26,968 - -12,696
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 78,073 -15,284
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 76,221 -17,134
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 74,394 -14,966
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 73,362 -14,967
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 73,572 -29,818
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 72,511 -21,403
2017 2,883,245 176,290 72,291 -38,579
2016 2,753,687 440,748 73,002 -55,431
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 73,682 -52,965
2014 2,580,251 36,966 75,729 -75,696
2013 2,489,378 121,097 75,562 -33,974
2012 2,405,462 53,668 76,416 -43,269
2011 2,310,679 40,891 76,806 -32,949
2010 2,212,255 8,823 76,098 -13,361
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 76,206 -24,348
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 73,391 17,855
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 73,101 -18,131
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 74,470 -49,998
2005 1,800,300 20,384 72,930 -12,835
2004 1,731,022 4,260 72,147 -6,374
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 66,291 76,703
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 65,436 -6,574
2001 1,594,999 26,523 61,180 41,760
2000 1,549,518 79,340 60,274 -33,133
1999 1,450,318 109,761 45,120 -3,769
1998 1,375,130 295,560 55,332 -31,951
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 63,953 -30,768
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 66,557 -52,421
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 56,157 136,105
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 56,288 -25,841
1993 1,209,242 240,176 51,679 33,688
1992 1,152,781 252,666 51,443 -22,293
1991 1,114,033 86,721 57,741 -328,546
1990 1,063,508 219,270 56,903 -12,425
1989 1,027,238 84,415 54,299 -7,330
1988 995,278 101,314 54,163 -3,612
1987 959,875 111,220 52,229 -3,613
1986 925,334 70,988 39,470 -1,073
1985 885,670 118,791 37,362 -1,073
1984 844,956 190,045 35,101 772
1983 807,122 146,095 33,420 1,853
1982 774,823 97,495 44,146 1,985
1981 748,371 54,656 42,924 1,985
1980 724,111 51,685 41,392 1,985
1979 691,773 181,028 39,577 1,985
1978 646,411 268,974 38,353 1,985
1977 638,242 -26,355 37,295 1,985
1976 624,147 -25,965 36,250 1,985
1975 608,655 -972 30,971 1,985
1974 593,539 3,216 30,111 1,985
1973 578,280 7,414 31,969 1,985
1972 564,495 2,840 30,951 1,953
1971 549,343 -5,497 31,490 1,758
1970 533,300 39,116 30,686 1,480
1969 514,800 46,778 29,535 1,199
1968 497,682 57,274 28,777 1,013
1967 479,552 64,307 27,992 1,004
1966 463,397 54,443 24,713 1,063
1965 429,002 61,397 26,285 1,188
1964 406,334 48,207 25,327 1,300
1963 398,972 41,960 24,393 1,368
1962 383,406 39,431 23,478 1,364
1961 368,207 35,654 22,351 1,235
1960 363,517 27,673 21,424 1,045

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/eritrea | 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). In Eritrea 68.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 12,512 people or 0.4% in Eritrea.

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 480K
Mbandaka 470K
Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K

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/dr-congo/eritrea | 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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