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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 135,472,051 people in Ethiopia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 140,722,974 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 1.19 times bigger than the DR Congo's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 3.12% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +2.69% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 141M (74.4% growth).

DR Congo vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Ethiopia
2100 436,237,219 371,078,260
2099 433,289,774 369,338,252
2098 430,252,622 367,513,542
2097 427,149,320 365,567,496
2096 423,961,963 363,536,294
2095 420,678,721 361,596,042
2094 417,304,547 359,531,317
2093 413,867,290 357,460,480
2092 410,362,003 355,389,829
2091 406,763,717 353,218,632
2090 403,089,566 350,960,021
2089 399,334,389 348,751,618
2088 395,507,774 346,517,326
2087 391,613,249 344,162,324
2086 387,639,503 341,671,994
2085 383,604,733 339,167,930
2084 379,495,246 336,649,520
2083 375,330,369 334,083,247
2082 371,124,615 331,401,460
2081 366,878,238 328,715,487
2080 362,574,665 326,013,981
2079 358,227,097 323,282,865
2078 353,821,014 320,422,535
2077 349,368,182 317,492,915
2076 344,866,731 314,518,328
2075 340,338,504 311,487,723
2074 335,761,691 308,416,133
2073 331,157,281 305,383,505
2072 326,505,656 302,258,564
2071 321,830,769 299,119,280
2070 317,104,580 295,963,235
2069 312,349,776 292,756,723
2068 307,566,932 289,522,748
2067 302,762,490 286,191,689
2066 297,932,241 282,905,709
2065 293,081,284 279,576,283
2064 288,211,987 276,197,958
2063 283,315,009 272,782,685
2062 278,399,192 269,340,926
2061 273,464,914 265,803,351
2060 268,520,814 262,269,354
2059 263,570,338 258,692,767
2058 258,622,778 255,205,644
2057 253,685,085 251,656,356
2056 248,748,321 248,002,497
2055 243,814,854 244,426,069
2054 238,885,417 240,794,405
2053 233,971,468 237,155,110
2052 229,073,420 233,479,314
2051 224,197,775 229,733,593
2050 219,354,949 226,055,085
2049 214,547,398 222,351,471
2048 209,774,448 218,627,197
2047 205,040,532 214,883,954
2046 200,341,405 211,161,780
2045 195,693,533 207,461,987
2044 191,087,342 203,749,820
2043 186,534,055 200,035,613
2042 182,033,706 196,351,202
2041 177,583,290 192,689,672
2040 173,191,594 189,023,384
2039 168,846,440 185,365,776
2038 164,551,895 181,733,067
2037 160,316,591 178,124,993
2036 156,099,100 174,515,366
2035 151,924,296 170,904,339
2034 147,782,785 167,316,305
2033 143,684,929 163,763,376
2032 139,642,368 160,167,364
2031 135,634,548 156,590,018
2030 131,685,113 153,023,174
2029 127,793,612 149,461,578
2028 123,956,913 145,944,350
2027 120,188,952 142,419,893
2026 116,482,769 138,930,724
2025 112,832,473 135,472,051
2024 109,276,265 132,059,767
2023 105,789,731 128,691,692
2022 102,396,968 125,384,287
2021 99,148,932 122,138,588
2020 95,989,998 118,917,671
2019 92,947,442 115,737,383
2018 90,047,644 112,664,152
2017 87,083,398 109,666,481
2016 83,956,415 106,718,162
2015 81,035,531 103,867,135
2014 78,403,242 101,115,610
2013 75,789,395 98,438,751
2012 73,254,618 95,798,767
2011 70,849,311 93,149,970
2010 68,563,038 90,538,514
2009 66,412,044 88,007,636
2008 64,390,664 85,543,668
2007 62,477,752 83,103,217
2006 60,615,908 80,703,490
2005 58,775,724 78,367,470
2004 56,997,741 76,077,206
2003 55,343,867 73,832,663
2002 53,750,524 71,635,517
2001 52,132,646 69,487,762
2000 50,507,442 67,411,494
1999 48,912,971 65,374,561
1998 47,297,600 63,363,524
1997 46,029,902 61,404,539
1996 45,296,124 59,467,635
1995 44,433,704 57,537,335
1994 42,626,876 55,611,508
1993 40,656,336 53,708,891
1992 39,228,910 51,853,747
1991 37,925,817 49,717,198
1990 36,684,063 47,609,755
1989 35,486,866 45,879,690
1988 34,382,752 44,150,825
1987 33,298,904 42,460,039
1986 32,265,196 41,037,656
1985 31,264,816 39,842,136
1984 30,245,081 38,735,722
1983 29,250,963 37,740,817
1982 28,338,190 36,701,290
1981 27,500,515 35,304,012
1980 26,711,099 34,428,514
1979 25,886,782 34,238,652
1978 24,992,689 33,734,592
1977 24,229,061 33,167,272
1976 23,624,031 32,534,418
1975 23,021,101 31,723,252
1974 22,418,878 30,957,273
1973 21,827,665 30,166,785
1972 21,251,160 29,374,608
1971 20,695,569 28,600,106
1970 20,137,436 27,829,128
1969 19,570,445 27,072,571
1968 19,012,189 26,337,930
1967 18,462,782 25,620,276
1966 17,931,929 24,952,689
1965 17,427,802 24,310,612
1964 16,955,327 23,666,548
1963 16,507,599 23,051,637
1962 16,075,724 22,465,126
1961 15,662,374 21,906,102
1960 15,264,846 21,376,693

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/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th 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 Ethiopia will increase by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 371M people in 2100 for Ethiopia.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Ethiopia
2100 0.68% 0.47%
2099 0.71% 0.5%
2098 0.73% 0.53%
2097 0.75% 0.56%
2096 0.78% 0.54%
2095 0.81% 0.57%
2094 0.83% 0.58%
2093 0.85% 0.58%
2092 0.88% 0.61%
2091 0.91% 0.64%
2090 0.94% 0.63%
2089 0.97% 0.64%
2088 0.99% 0.68%
2087 1.03% 0.73%
2086 1.05% 0.74%
2085 1.08% 0.75%
2084 1.11% 0.77%
2083 1.13% 0.81%
2082 1.16% 0.82%
2081 1.19% 0.83%
2080 1.21% 0.84%
2079 1.25% 0.89%
2078 1.27% 0.92%
2077 1.31% 0.95%
2076 1.33% 0.97%
2075 1.36% 1%
2074 1.39% 0.99%
2073 1.42% 1.03%
2072 1.45% 1.05%
2071 1.49% 1.07%
2070 1.52% 1.1%
2069 1.56% 1.12%
2068 1.59% 1.16%
2067 1.62% 1.16%
2066 1.66% 1.19%
2065 1.69% 1.22%
2064 1.73% 1.25%
2063 1.77% 1.28%
2062 1.8% 1.33%
2061 1.84% 1.35%
2060 1.88% 1.38%
2059 1.91% 1.37%
2058 1.95% 1.41%
2057 1.98% 1.47%
2056 2.02% 1.46%
2055 2.06% 1.51%
2054 2.1% 1.53%
2053 2.14% 1.57%
2052 2.17% 1.63%
2051 2.21% 1.63%
2050 2.24% 1.67%
2049 2.28% 1.7%
2048 2.31% 1.74%
2047 2.35% 1.76%
2046 2.38% 1.78%
2045 2.41% 1.82%
2044 2.44% 1.86%
2043 2.47% 1.88%
2042 2.51% 1.9%
2041 2.54% 1.94%
2040 2.57% 1.97%
2039 2.61% 2%
2038 2.64% 2.03%
2037 2.7% 2.07%
2036 2.75% 2.11%
2035 2.8% 2.14%
2034 2.85% 2.17%
2033 2.89% 2.25%
2032 2.95% 2.28%
2031 3% 2.33%
2030 3.05% 2.38%
2029 3.1% 2.41%
2028 3.14% 2.47%
2027 3.18% 2.51%
2026 3.24% 2.55%
2025 3.25% 2.58%
2024 3.3% 2.62%
2023 3.31% 2.64%
2022 3.28% 2.66%
2021 3.29% 2.71%
2020 3.27% 2.75%
2019 3.22% 2.73%
2018 3.4% 2.73%
2017 3.72% 2.76%
2016 3.6% 2.74%
2015 3.36% 2.72%
2014 3.45% 2.72%
2013 3.46% 2.76%
2012 3.39% 2.84%
2011 3.33% 2.88%
2010 3.24% 2.88%
2009 3.14% 2.88%
2008 3.06% 2.94%
2007 3.07% 2.97%
2006 3.13% 2.98%
2005 3.12% 3.01%
2004 2.99% 3.04%
2003 2.96% 3.07%
2002 3.1% 3.09%
2001 3.22% 3.08%
2000 3.26% 3.12%
1999 3.42% 3.17%
1998 2.75% 3.19%
1997 1.62% 3.26%
1996 1.94% 3.35%
1995 4.24% 3.46%
1994 4.85% 3.54%
1993 3.64% 3.58%
1992 3.44% 4.3%
1991 3.38% 4.43%
1990 3.37% 3.77%
1989 3.21% 3.92%
1988 3.25% 3.98%
1987 3.2% 3.47%
1986 3.2% 3%
1985 3.37% 2.86%
1984 3.4% 2.64%
1983 3.22% 2.83%
1982 3.05% 3.96%
1981 2.96% 2.54%
1980 3.18% 0.55%
1979 3.58% 1.49%
1978 3.15% 1.71%
1977 2.56% 1.95%
1976 2.62% 2.56%
1975 2.69% 2.47%
1974 2.71% 2.62%
1973 2.71% 2.7%
1972 2.68% 2.71%
1971 2.77% 2.77%
1970 2.9% 2.79%
1969 2.94% 2.79%
1968 2.98% 2.8%
1967 2.96% 2.68%
1966 2.89% 2.64%
1965 2.79% 2.72%
1964 2.71% 2.67%
1963 2.69% 2.61%
1962 2.64% 2.55%
1961 2.6% 2.48%

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/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.58%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Ethiopia
Current population
118386491
140722974
Population rank 14/197 10/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 1.69%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
9.27 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
7.59 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
40.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +9,349
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +3,412,284
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +2.58%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 24/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +24,054
Net migration rank 159/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 24,054
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 3,379,409 30,069
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 3,199,718 38,866
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 3,015,231 9,302
2017 2,883,245 176,290 2,899,143 71,766
2016 2,753,687 440,748 2,809,889 115,823
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 2,713,529 62,785
2014 2,580,251 36,966 2,623,647 103,122
2013 2,489,378 121,097 2,546,020 80,955
2012 2,405,462 53,668 2,533,398 119,517
2011 2,310,679 40,891 2,527,811 116,793
2010 2,212,255 8,823 2,498,048 80,213
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 2,467,118 16,315
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 2,436,753 -381
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 1,800,300 20,384 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 1,731,022 4,260 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 1,594,999 26,523 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 1,549,518 79,340 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 1,450,318 109,761 2,010,987 29,142
1998 1,375,130 295,560 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 1,896,364 41,456
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 1,831,068 91,727
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 1,788,133 140,715
1993 1,209,242 240,176 1,734,851 141,545
1992 1,152,781 252,666 1,673,839 160,106
1991 1,114,033 86,721 1,579,416 859,737
1990 1,063,508 219,270 1,479,663 296,014
1989 1,027,238 84,415 1,441,769 242,614
1988 995,278 101,314 1,393,356 379,966
1987 959,875 111,220 1,356,853 251,387
1986 925,334 70,988 1,050,277 186,227
1985 885,670 118,791 997,050 157,476
1984 844,956 190,045 920,670 137,632
1983 807,122 146,095 863,472 68,022
1982 774,823 97,495 1,080,853 66,702
1981 748,371 54,656 1,018,838 628,135
1980 724,111 51,685 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 691,773 181,028 987,203 -711,455
1978 646,411 268,974 943,388 -210,991
1977 638,242 -26,355 929,381 -527,133
1976 624,147 -25,965 899,577 -36,125
1975 608,655 -972 801,425 -42,540
1974 593,539 3,216 777,306 -4,232
1973 578,280 7,414 807,535 347
1972 564,495 2,840 779,808 -3,375
1971 549,343 -5,497 787,047 -14,510
1970 533,300 39,116 760,821 8,589
1969 514,800 46,778 736,428 7,258
1968 497,682 57,274 715,602 9,992
1967 479,552 64,307 695,283 14,437
1966 463,397 54,443 616,281 9,160
1965 429,002 61,397 642,359 16,348
1964 406,334 48,207 618,667 10,749
1963 398,972 41,960 590,998 9,418
1962 383,406 39,431 563,650 8,960
1961 368,207 35,654 538,518 6,938
1960 363,517 27,673 511,694 1,696

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/ethiopia | 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 Ethiopia 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

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
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/ethiopia | CC BY

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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)

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