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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 68,551,653 people in France in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 68,788,006 in France.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 1.71 times bigger than France's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while France is the 23rd.
  • The countries together account for 2.25% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.83% for France.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +0.35% in France.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while France has grown from 63.6M to 68.8M (8.12% growth).

DR Congo vs France: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo France
2100 436,320,913 70,613,012
2099 433,372,904 70,629,584
2098 430,335,169 70,639,488
2097 427,231,271 70,644,570
2096 424,043,303 70,651,179
2095 420,759,430 70,644,818
2094 417,384,609 70,628,949
2093 413,946,692 70,603,242
2092 410,440,733 70,580,656
2091 406,841,757 70,553,277
2090 403,166,901 70,520,528
2089 399,411,004 70,486,909
2088 395,583,655 70,447,851
2087 391,688,383 70,408,245
2086 387,713,874 70,365,710
2085 383,678,330 70,328,248
2084 379,568,054 70,285,895
2083 375,402,379 70,234,175
2082 371,195,818 70,193,367
2081 366,948,626 70,148,354
2080 362,644,227 70,107,021
2079 358,295,825 70,065,621
2078 353,888,897 70,025,358
2077 349,435,210 69,983,383
2076 344,932,895 69,940,036
2075 340,403,800 69,897,457
2074 335,826,108 69,862,353
2073 331,220,816 69,830,973
2072 326,568,298 69,804,981
2071 321,892,514 69,777,127
2070 317,165,418 69,764,791
2069 312,409,702 69,754,867
2068 307,625,941 69,756,896
2067 302,820,577 69,764,705
2066 297,989,401 69,773,902
2065 293,137,514 69,794,612
2064 288,267,282 69,818,938
2063 283,369,365 69,848,255
2062 278,452,605 69,886,879
2061 273,517,380 69,926,483
2060 268,572,331 69,968,809
2059 263,620,905 70,014,435
2058 258,672,397 70,057,256
2057 253,733,756 70,102,722
2056 248,796,045 70,146,920
2055 243,861,631 70,196,482
2054 238,931,249 70,236,369
2053 234,016,357 70,270,537
2052 229,117,369 70,295,830
2051 224,240,788 70,321,018
2050 219,397,034 70,335,872
2049 214,588,560 70,345,142
2048 209,814,694 70,343,943
2047 205,079,870 70,332,332
2046 200,379,842 70,314,243
2045 195,731,078 70,283,430
2044 191,124,003 70,244,405
2043 186,569,843 70,198,284
2042 182,068,630 70,137,343
2041 177,617,360 70,071,925
2040 173,224,822 70,006,064
2039 168,878,834 69,936,874
2038 164,583,465 69,858,693
2037 160,347,349 69,770,244
2036 156,129,049 69,681,800
2035 151,953,443 69,590,103
2034 147,811,138 69,496,656
2033 143,712,496 69,406,955
2032 139,669,159 69,316,572
2031 135,660,570 69,227,320
2030 131,710,378 69,136,856
2029 127,818,130 69,043,072
2028 123,980,695 68,951,924
2027 120,212,011 68,856,735
2026 116,505,117 68,762,523
2025 112,854,120 68,659,633
2024 109,276,265 68,551,653
2023 105,789,731 68,372,286
2022 102,396,968 68,184,457
2021 99,148,932 67,842,811
2020 95,989,998 67,601,110
2019 92,947,442 67,382,061
2018 90,047,644 67,158,348
2017 87,083,398 66,918,020
2016 83,956,415 66,724,104
2015 81,035,531 66,548,272
2014 78,403,242 66,312,067
2013 75,789,395 65,997,932
2012 73,254,618 65,657,659
2011 70,849,311 65,340,830
2010 68,563,038 65,026,211
2009 66,412,044 64,706,436
2008 64,390,664 64,375,116
2007 62,477,752 64,016,890
2006 60,615,908 63,622,342
2005 58,775,724 63,180,854
2004 56,997,741 62,707,588
2003 55,343,867 62,249,855
2002 53,750,524 61,812,142
2001 52,132,646 61,364,377
2000 50,507,442 60,918,661
1999 48,912,971 60,501,986
1998 47,297,600 60,190,684
1997 46,029,902 59,968,066
1996 45,296,124 59,754,504
1995 44,433,704 59,541,294
1994 42,626,876 59,324,863
1993 40,656,336 59,103,094
1992 39,228,910 58,846,584
1991 37,925,817 58,554,242
1990 36,684,063 58,261,012
1989 35,486,866 57,943,062
1988 34,382,752 57,598,186
1987 33,298,904 57,266,167
1986 32,265,196 56,956,002
1985 31,264,816 56,665,619
1984 30,245,081 56,383,085
1983 29,250,963 56,108,330
1982 28,338,190 55,806,789
1981 27,500,515 55,603,353
1980 26,711,099 55,274,184
1979 25,886,782 54,979,851
1978 24,992,689 54,734,030
1977 24,229,061 54,486,467
1976 23,624,031 54,232,383
1975 23,021,101 54,002,853
1974 22,418,878 53,746,571
1973 21,827,665 53,392,161
1972 21,251,160 52,962,356
1971 20,695,569 52,499,553
1970 20,137,436 52,007,169
1969 19,570,445 51,536,014
1968 19,012,189 51,112,980
1967 18,462,782 50,722,791
1966 17,931,929 50,311,637
1965 17,427,802 49,877,725
1964 16,955,327 49,401,492
1963 16,507,599 48,877,567
1962 16,075,724 48,389,516
1961 15,662,374 47,905,982
1960 15,264,846 47,412,964

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/france | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while France gained 3,101,762 people (a 4.88% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while France's population increased by 2,063,902 people (a 3.09% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. France was ranked 20th in 2006 and ranked 23rd 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 France will increase by 2.25% to 70,335,872 people and rank change from 23rd to 30th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 70.7M people in 2096 for France.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo France
2100 0.68% -0.02%
2099 0.71% -0.01%
2098 0.73% -0.007%
2097 0.75% -0.009%
2096 0.78% 0.009%
2095 0.81% 0.02%
2094 0.83% 0.04%
2093 0.85% 0.03%
2092 0.88% 0.04%
2091 0.91% 0.05%
2090 0.94% 0.05%
2089 0.97% 0.06%
2088 0.99% 0.06%
2087 1.03% 0.06%
2086 1.05% 0.05%
2085 1.08% 0.06%
2084 1.11% 0.07%
2083 1.13% 0.06%
2082 1.16% 0.06%
2081 1.19% 0.06%
2080 1.21% 0.06%
2079 1.25% 0.06%
2078 1.27% 0.06%
2077 1.31% 0.06%
2076 1.33% 0.06%
2075 1.36% 0.05%
2074 1.39% 0.04%
2073 1.42% 0.04%
2072 1.45% 0.04%
2071 1.49% 0.02%
2070 1.52% 0.01%
2069 1.56% -0.003%
2068 1.59% -0.01%
2067 1.62% -0.01%
2066 1.66% -0.03%
2065 1.69% -0.03%
2064 1.73% -0.04%
2063 1.77% -0.06%
2062 1.8% -0.06%
2061 1.84% -0.06%
2060 1.88% -0.07%
2059 1.91% -0.06%
2058 1.95% -0.06%
2057 1.98% -0.06%
2056 2.02% -0.07%
2055 2.06% -0.06%
2054 2.1% -0.05%
2053 2.14% -0.04%
2052 2.17% -0.04%
2051 2.21% -0.02%
2050 2.24% -0.01%
2049 2.28% 0.002%
2048 2.31% 0.02%
2047 2.35% 0.03%
2046 2.38% 0.04%
2045 2.41% 0.06%
2044 2.44% 0.07%
2043 2.47% 0.09%
2042 2.51% 0.09%
2041 2.54% 0.09%
2040 2.57% 0.1%
2039 2.61% 0.11%
2038 2.64% 0.13%
2037 2.7% 0.13%
2036 2.75% 0.13%
2035 2.8% 0.13%
2034 2.85% 0.13%
2033 2.89% 0.13%
2032 2.95% 0.13%
2031 3% 0.13%
2030 3.05% 0.14%
2029 3.1% 0.13%
2028 3.14% 0.14%
2027 3.18% 0.14%
2026 3.24% 0.15%
2025 3.27% 0.16%
2024 3.3% 0.26%
2023 3.31% 0.28%
2022 3.28% 0.5%
2021 3.29% 0.36%
2020 3.27% 0.33%
2019 3.22% 0.33%
2018 3.4% 0.36%
2017 3.72% 0.29%
2016 3.6% 0.26%
2015 3.36% 0.36%
2014 3.45% 0.48%
2013 3.46% 0.52%
2012 3.39% 0.48%
2011 3.33% 0.48%
2010 3.24% 0.49%
2009 3.14% 0.51%
2008 3.06% 0.56%
2007 3.07% 0.62%
2006 3.13% 0.7%
2005 3.12% 0.75%
2004 2.99% 0.74%
2003 2.96% 0.71%
2002 3.1% 0.73%
2001 3.22% 0.73%
2000 3.26% 0.69%
1999 3.42% 0.52%
1998 2.75% 0.37%
1997 1.62% 0.36%
1996 1.94% 0.36%
1995 4.24% 0.36%
1994 4.85% 0.38%
1993 3.64% 0.44%
1992 3.44% 0.5%
1991 3.38% 0.5%
1990 3.37% 0.55%
1989 3.21% 0.6%
1988 3.25% 0.58%
1987 3.2% 0.54%
1986 3.2% 0.51%
1985 3.37% 0.5%
1984 3.4% 0.49%
1983 3.22% 0.54%
1982 3.05% 0.37%
1981 2.96% 0.6%
1980 3.18% 0.54%
1979 3.58% 0.45%
1978 3.15% 0.45%
1977 2.56% 0.47%
1976 2.62% 0.43%
1975 2.69% 0.48%
1974 2.71% 0.66%
1973 2.71% 0.81%
1972 2.68% 0.88%
1971 2.77% 0.95%
1970 2.9% 0.91%
1969 2.94% 0.83%
1968 2.98% 0.77%
1967 2.96% 0.82%
1966 2.89% 0.87%
1965 2.79% 0.96%
1964 2.71% 1.07%
1963 2.69% 1.01%
1962 2.64% 1.01%
1961 2.6% 1.04%

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/france | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while France's population grew by 0.26%.

Live population counters

DR Congo France
Current population
117507801
68788006
Population rank 15/197 23/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.83%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
2.93 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
46.6 seconds
One death every
35 seconds
50.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +491
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +179,367
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +0.26%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 152/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
5.75 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +91,737
Net migration rank 159/196 18/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 9,186,757
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 5/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 13.8%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 49/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
France
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo France
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 91,737
2024 - -26,968 - 90,527
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 47,860 91,862
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 54,547 179,377
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 74,627 131,465
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 67,602 145,593
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 141,503 71,972
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 147,749 132,925
2017 2,883,245 176,290 160,604 102,984
2016 2,753,687 440,748 193,500 15,548
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 206,300 -345
2014 2,580,251 36,966 265,248 52,342
2013 2,489,378 121,097 244,192 116,297
2012 2,405,462 53,668 256,065 103,287
2011 2,310,679 40,891 280,966 70,178
2010 2,212,255 8,823 286,116 52,644
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 278,238 58,032
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 283,250 79,528
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 288,076 91,973
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 305,387 132,512
2005 1,800,300 20,384 271,677 191,417
2004 1,731,022 4,260 282,185 200,629
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 230,325 195,616
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 253,430 191,373
2001 1,594,999 26,523 263,867 179,476
2000 1,549,518 79,340 268,042 171,637
1999 1,450,318 109,761 229,907 169,448
1998 1,375,130 295,560 222,705 20,216
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 215,885 -15,255
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 221,092 -21,463
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 220,303 -17,128
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 201,704 -4,232
1993 1,209,242 240,176 224,592 16,892
1992 1,152,781 252,666 229,502 61,964
1991 1,114,033 86,721 234,216 35,201
1990 1,063,508 219,270 238,870 43,323
1989 1,027,238 84,415 243,361 82,052
1988 995,278 101,314 247,672 69,935
1987 959,875 111,220 251,971 59,890
1986 925,334 70,988 250,606 51,642
1985 885,670 118,791 249,328 66,149
1984 844,956 190,045 248,086 76,175
1983 807,122 146,095 235,655 88,166
1982 774,823 97,495 234,389 81,084
1981 748,371 54,656 222,414 69,365
1980 724,111 51,685 210,042 54,718
1979 691,773 181,028 208,923 34,295
1978 646,411 268,974 213,462 18,692
1977 638,242 -26,355 217,946 44,918
1976 624,147 -25,965 227,776 59,515
1975 608,655 -972 248,413 16,139
1974 593,539 3,216 268,733 26,203
1973 578,280 7,414 282,979 103,910
1972 564,495 2,840 296,589 101,223
1971 549,343 -5,497 309,747 144,321
1970 533,300 39,116 322,444 182,941
1969 514,800 46,778 329,831 160,403
1968 497,682 57,274 337,346 113,115
1967 479,552 64,307 339,843 63,018
1966 463,397 54,443 352,181 96,097
1965 429,002 61,397 354,132 82,879
1964 406,334 48,207 360,631 163,039
1963 398,972 41,960 361,694 190,925
1962 383,406 39,431 358,082 141,634
1961 368,207 35,654 354,504 128,618
1960 363,517 27,673 346,115 143,032

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/france | 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 France 59.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,359,540 people) and 40.5% is from migration (a gain of 923,723 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 9,186,757 people or 13.8% in France.

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
France
City Population
Paris 2.11M
Marseille 886K
Lyon 519K
Toulouse 515K
Nice 358K
Nantes 328K
Montpellier 310K
Strasbourg 294K
Bordeaux 268K
Lille 238K

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/france | 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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