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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 68,720,337 people in France in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 68,871,753 in France.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 1.72 times bigger than France's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th 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 +3.36% per year vs +0.32% in France.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while France has grown from 63.6M to 68.9M (8.25% growth).

DR Congo vs France: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo France
2100 436,237,219 70,675,442
2099 433,289,774 70,692,029
2098 430,252,622 70,701,942
2097 427,149,320 70,707,028
2096 423,961,963 70,713,643
2095 420,678,721 70,707,277
2094 417,304,547 70,691,394
2093 413,867,290 70,665,663
2092 410,362,003 70,643,058
2091 406,763,717 70,615,655
2090 403,089,566 70,582,877
2089 399,334,389 70,549,228
2088 395,507,774 70,510,136
2087 391,613,249 70,470,494
2086 387,639,503 70,427,922
2085 383,604,733 70,390,427
2084 379,495,246 70,348,036
2083 375,330,369 70,296,271
2082 371,124,615 70,255,426
2081 366,878,238 70,210,373
2080 362,574,665 70,169,003
2079 358,227,097 70,127,568
2078 353,821,014 70,087,269
2077 349,368,182 70,045,257
2076 344,866,731 70,001,871
2075 340,338,504 69,959,255
2074 335,761,691 69,924,120
2073 331,157,281 69,892,712
2072 326,505,656 69,866,697
2071 321,830,769 69,838,818
2070 317,104,580 69,826,471
2069 312,349,776 69,816,539
2068 307,566,932 69,818,570
2067 302,762,490 69,826,386
2066 297,932,241 69,835,591
2065 293,081,284 69,856,319
2064 288,211,987 69,880,666
2063 283,315,009 69,910,009
2062 278,399,192 69,948,667
2061 273,464,914 69,988,307
2060 268,520,814 70,030,670
2059 263,570,338 70,076,337
2058 258,622,778 70,119,195
2057 253,685,085 70,164,701
2056 248,748,321 70,208,938
2055 243,814,854 70,258,544
2054 238,885,417 70,298,466
2053 233,971,468 70,332,664
2052 229,073,420 70,357,980
2051 224,197,775 70,383,190
2050 219,354,949 70,398,057
2049 214,547,398 70,407,335
2048 209,774,448 70,406,135
2047 205,040,532 70,394,515
2046 200,341,405 70,376,409
2045 195,693,533 70,345,569
2044 191,087,342 70,306,509
2043 186,534,055 70,260,348
2042 182,033,706 70,199,353
2041 177,583,290 70,133,877
2040 173,191,594 70,067,958
2039 168,846,440 69,998,706
2038 164,551,895 69,920,456
2037 160,316,591 69,831,930
2036 156,099,100 69,743,406
2035 151,924,296 69,651,629
2034 147,782,785 69,558,099
2033 143,684,929 69,468,319
2032 139,642,368 69,377,856
2031 135,634,548 69,288,525
2030 131,685,113 69,197,981
2029 127,793,612 69,104,114
2028 123,956,913 69,012,886
2027 120,188,952 68,917,613
2026 116,482,769 68,823,318
2025 112,832,473 68,720,337
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while France's population increased by 2,147,649 people (a 3.22% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th 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 85.3% to 219,354,949 people with a rank change from 14th to 8th. The population of France will increase by 2.22% to 70,398,057 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 3.25% 0.25%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/france | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while France's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

DR Congo France
Current population
118386491
68871753
Population rank 14/197 23/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.83%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
3.12 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
47.4 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
48.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +462
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +168,684
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 149/197
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 3,547,217 -26,968 20,566 90,527
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 34,186 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/france | 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 France 53.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,101,184 people) and 46.6% is from migration (a gain of 961,908 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 573K
Mbandaka 470K
France
City Population
Paris 2.1M
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 (1960–2025, 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/france | 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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