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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 2,759,988 people in the Gambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 2,902,554 in the Gambia.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 40.5 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while the Gambia is the 138th.
  • The countries together account for 1.45% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.04% for the Gambia.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +2.5% in the Gambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while the Gambia has grown from 1.72M to 2.9M (69.2% growth).

DR Congo vs Gambia: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Gambia
2100 436,320,913 5,767,668
2099 433,372,904 5,765,660
2098 430,335,169 5,762,971
2097 427,231,271 5,759,632
2096 424,043,303 5,755,430
2095 420,759,430 5,750,385
2094 417,384,609 5,744,540
2093 413,946,692 5,737,026
2092 410,440,733 5,728,594
2091 406,841,757 5,719,408
2090 403,166,901 5,708,875
2089 399,411,004 5,697,140
2088 395,583,655 5,684,094
2087 391,688,383 5,669,958
2086 387,713,874 5,655,091
2085 383,678,330 5,638,646
2084 379,568,054 5,621,067
2083 375,402,379 5,602,456
2082 371,195,818 5,582,581
2081 366,948,626 5,561,294
2080 362,644,227 5,538,819
2079 358,295,825 5,515,086
2078 353,888,897 5,489,750
2077 349,435,210 5,463,305
2076 344,932,895 5,435,859
2075 340,403,800 5,406,946
2074 335,826,108 5,376,718
2073 331,220,816 5,345,328
2072 326,568,298 5,313,201
2071 321,892,514 5,279,975
2070 317,165,418 5,245,200
2069 312,409,702 5,209,379
2068 307,625,941 5,172,146
2067 302,820,577 5,134,037
2066 297,989,401 5,094,458
2065 293,137,514 5,053,246
2064 288,267,282 5,011,122
2063 283,369,365 4,968,038
2062 278,452,605 4,923,683
2061 273,517,380 4,877,966
2060 268,572,331 4,831,631
2059 263,620,905 4,784,535
2058 258,672,397 4,736,846
2057 253,733,756 4,688,039
2056 248,796,045 4,638,482
2055 243,861,631 4,588,184
2054 238,931,249 4,536,562
2053 234,016,357 4,484,692
2052 229,117,369 4,431,827
2051 224,240,788 4,378,133
2050 219,397,034 4,323,657
2049 214,588,560 4,268,536
2048 209,814,694 4,212,677
2047 205,079,870 4,155,975
2046 200,379,842 4,098,930
2045 195,731,078 4,041,218
2044 191,124,003 3,982,976
2043 186,569,843 3,924,126
2042 182,068,630 3,864,662
2041 177,617,360 3,805,317
2040 173,224,822 3,745,312
2039 168,878,834 3,685,048
2038 164,583,465 3,624,271
2037 160,347,349 3,563,745
2036 156,129,049 3,502,991
2035 151,953,443 3,442,074
2034 147,811,138 3,381,008
2033 143,712,496 3,319,646
2032 139,669,159 3,258,080
2031 135,660,570 3,196,605
2030 131,710,378 3,134,968
2029 127,818,130 3,072,981
2028 123,980,695 3,010,624
2027 120,212,011 2,948,246
2026 116,505,117 2,885,613
2025 112,854,120 2,822,861
2024 109,276,265 2,759,988
2023 105,789,731 2,697,845
2022 102,396,968 2,636,470
2021 99,148,932 2,576,010
2020 95,989,998 2,515,733
2019 92,947,442 2,456,844
2018 90,047,644 2,399,632
2017 87,083,398 2,342,189
2016 83,956,415 2,283,769
2015 81,035,531 2,224,529
2014 78,403,242 2,164,528
2013 75,789,395 2,103,820
2012 73,254,618 2,043,094
2011 70,849,311 1,983,784
2010 68,563,038 1,926,630
2009 66,412,044 1,871,422
2008 64,390,664 1,817,852
2007 62,477,752 1,765,774
2006 60,615,908 1,715,275
2005 58,775,724 1,667,037
2004 56,997,741 1,621,312
2003 55,343,867 1,577,611
2002 53,750,524 1,535,691
2001 52,132,646 1,495,011
2000 50,507,442 1,455,084
1999 48,912,971 1,415,779
1998 47,297,600 1,376,987
1997 46,029,902 1,338,889
1996 45,296,124 1,301,410
1995 44,433,704 1,264,313
1994 42,626,876 1,227,226
1993 40,656,336 1,188,365
1992 39,228,910 1,145,582
1991 37,925,817 1,099,959
1990 36,684,063 1,054,696
1989 35,486,866 1,011,357
1988 34,382,752 970,160
1987 33,298,904 931,091
1986 32,265,196 894,019
1985 31,264,816 858,874
1984 30,245,081 825,631
1983 29,250,963 794,525
1982 28,338,190 765,753
1981 27,500,515 739,125
1980 26,711,099 713,913
1979 25,886,782 689,781
1978 24,992,689 667,103
1977 24,229,061 645,770
1976 23,624,031 625,667
1975 23,021,101 606,821
1974 22,418,878 589,085
1973 21,827,665 571,991
1972 21,251,160 555,370
1971 20,695,569 539,388
1970 20,137,436 524,105
1969 19,570,445 509,440
1968 19,012,189 495,269
1967 18,462,782 481,588
1966 17,931,929 468,516
1965 17,427,802 455,952
1964 16,955,327 443,687
1963 16,507,599 431,757
1962 16,075,724 420,163
1961 15,662,374 408,930
1960 15,264,846 398,060

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/gambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while the Gambia gained 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while the Gambia's population increased by 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. The Gambia was ranked 146th in 2006 and ranked 138th 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 the Gambia will increase by 49% to 4,323,657 people and rank change from 138th to 132nd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 5.77M people in 2100 for the Gambia.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Gambia
2100 0.68% 0.03%
2099 0.71% 0.05%
2098 0.73% 0.06%
2097 0.75% 0.07%
2096 0.78% 0.09%
2095 0.81% 0.1%
2094 0.83% 0.13%
2093 0.85% 0.15%
2092 0.88% 0.16%
2091 0.91% 0.18%
2090 0.94% 0.21%
2089 0.97% 0.23%
2088 0.99% 0.25%
2087 1.03% 0.26%
2086 1.05% 0.29%
2085 1.08% 0.31%
2084 1.11% 0.33%
2083 1.13% 0.36%
2082 1.16% 0.38%
2081 1.19% 0.41%
2080 1.21% 0.43%
2079 1.25% 0.46%
2078 1.27% 0.48%
2077 1.31% 0.5%
2076 1.33% 0.53%
2075 1.36% 0.56%
2074 1.39% 0.59%
2073 1.42% 0.6%
2072 1.45% 0.63%
2071 1.49% 0.66%
2070 1.52% 0.69%
2069 1.56% 0.72%
2068 1.59% 0.74%
2067 1.62% 0.78%
2066 1.66% 0.82%
2065 1.69% 0.84%
2064 1.73% 0.87%
2063 1.77% 0.9%
2062 1.8% 0.94%
2061 1.84% 0.96%
2060 1.88% 0.98%
2059 1.91% 1.01%
2058 1.95% 1.04%
2057 1.98% 1.07%
2056 2.02% 1.1%
2055 2.06% 1.14%
2054 2.1% 1.16%
2053 2.14% 1.19%
2052 2.17% 1.23%
2051 2.21% 1.26%
2050 2.24% 1.29%
2049 2.28% 1.33%
2048 2.31% 1.36%
2047 2.35% 1.39%
2046 2.38% 1.43%
2045 2.41% 1.46%
2044 2.44% 1.5%
2043 2.47% 1.54%
2042 2.51% 1.56%
2041 2.54% 1.6%
2040 2.57% 1.64%
2039 2.61% 1.68%
2038 2.64% 1.7%
2037 2.7% 1.73%
2036 2.75% 1.77%
2035 2.8% 1.81%
2034 2.85% 1.85%
2033 2.89% 1.89%
2032 2.95% 1.92%
2031 3% 1.97%
2030 3.05% 2.02%
2029 3.1% 2.07%
2028 3.14% 2.12%
2027 3.18% 2.17%
2026 3.24% 2.22%
2025 3.27% 2.28%
2024 3.3% 2.3%
2023 3.31% 2.33%
2022 3.28% 2.35%
2021 3.29% 2.4%
2020 3.27% 2.4%
2019 3.22% 2.38%
2018 3.4% 2.45%
2017 3.72% 2.56%
2016 3.6% 2.66%
2015 3.36% 2.77%
2014 3.45% 2.89%
2013 3.46% 2.97%
2012 3.39% 2.99%
2011 3.33% 2.97%
2010 3.24% 2.95%
2009 3.14% 2.95%
2008 3.06% 2.95%
2007 3.07% 2.94%
2006 3.13% 2.89%
2005 3.12% 2.82%
2004 2.99% 2.77%
2003 2.96% 2.73%
2002 3.1% 2.72%
2001 3.22% 2.74%
2000 3.26% 2.78%
1999 3.42% 2.82%
1998 2.75% 2.85%
1997 1.62% 2.88%
1996 1.94% 2.93%
1995 4.24% 3.02%
1994 4.85% 3.27%
1993 3.64% 3.73%
1992 3.44% 4.15%
1991 3.38% 4.29%
1990 3.37% 4.29%
1989 3.21% 4.25%
1988 3.25% 4.2%
1987 3.2% 4.15%
1986 3.2% 4.09%
1985 3.37% 4.03%
1984 3.4% 3.92%
1983 3.22% 3.76%
1982 3.05% 3.6%
1981 2.96% 3.53%
1980 3.18% 3.5%
1979 3.58% 3.4%
1978 3.15% 3.3%
1977 2.56% 3.21%
1976 2.62% 3.11%
1975 2.69% 3.01%
1974 2.71% 2.99%
1973 2.71% 2.99%
1972 2.68% 2.96%
1971 2.77% 2.92%
1970 2.9% 2.88%
1969 2.94% 2.86%
1968 2.98% 2.84%
1967 2.96% 2.79%
1966 2.89% 2.76%
1965 2.79% 2.76%
1964 2.71% 2.76%
1963 2.69% 2.76%
1962 2.64% 2.75%
1961 2.6% 2.73%

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/gambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while the Gambia's population grew by 2.3%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Gambia
Current population
117507801
2902554
Population rank 15/197 138/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.04%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
8.46 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
6.4 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
31 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +170
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +62,143
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +2.3%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 37/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
2.94 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 -2,984
Net migration rank 159/196 107/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 236,137
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 107/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 8.6%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 72/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Gambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Gambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -2,984
2024 - -26,968 - -2,989
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 65,118 -3,000
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 63,634 -3,000
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 62,239 -1,949
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 62,209 -1,949
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 61,701 -4,186
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 60,854 -3,944
2017 2,883,245 176,290 61,665 -3,696
2016 2,753,687 440,748 62,358 -3,486
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 62,832 -3,224
2014 2,580,251 36,966 63,185 -2,793
2013 2,489,378 121,097 63,510 -2,476
2012 2,405,462 53,668 62,745 -2,332
2011 2,310,679 40,891 60,571 -2,360
2010 2,212,255 8,823 58,554 -2,456
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 56,575 -2,259
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 55,032 -2,204
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 53,653 -2,320
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 52,335 -2,666
2005 1,800,300 20,384 50,010 -3,209
2004 1,731,022 4,260 48,276 -3,636
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 46,473 -3,713
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 45,156 -4,067
2001 1,594,999 26,523 44,154 -3,882
2000 1,549,518 79,340 43,249 -3,670
1999 1,450,318 109,761 42,533 -3,493
1998 1,375,130 295,560 41,842 -3,291
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 40,742 -3,098
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 40,253 -2,948
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 39,681 -2,797
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 38,880 -1,586
1993 1,209,242 240,176 37,302 3,131
1992 1,152,781 252,666 35,951 9,182
1991 1,114,033 86,721 34,584 11,530
1990 1,063,508 219,270 33,163 11,242
1989 1,027,238 84,415 31,504 10,765
1988 995,278 101,314 29,938 10,187
1987 959,875 111,220 28,452 9,563
1986 925,334 70,988 27,195 8,934
1985 885,670 118,791 25,795 8,373
1984 844,956 190,045 24,586 7,733
1983 807,122 146,095 23,175 6,713
1982 774,823 97,495 21,894 5,757
1981 748,371 54,656 20,156 5,438
1980 724,111 51,685 19,566 5,268
1979 691,773 181,028 18,543 4,898
1978 646,411 268,974 17,424 4,493
1977 638,242 -26,355 16,773 3,969
1976 624,147 -25,965 16,032 3,436
1975 608,655 -972 15,256 2,979
1974 593,539 3,216 14,628 2,610
1973 578,280 7,414 14,046 2,907
1972 564,495 2,840 13,432 2,861
1971 549,343 -5,497 12,842 2,817
1970 533,300 39,116 12,128 2,777
1969 514,800 46,778 11,670 2,757
1968 497,682 57,274 11,215 2,705
1967 479,552 64,307 10,823 2,617
1966 463,397 54,443 10,422 2,272
1965 429,002 61,397 10,162 2,272
1964 406,334 48,207 9,825 2,272
1963 398,972 41,960 9,493 2,272
1962 383,406 39,431 9,150 2,272
1961 368,207 35,654 8,778 2,272
1960 363,517 27,673 8,420 2,272

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/gambia | 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 the Gambia 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 625,795 people) and 4.75% is from migration (a loss of 31,227 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 236,137 people or 8.6% in the Gambia.

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
Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K

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/gambia | 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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