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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 35,064,272 people in Ghana in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 36,032,857 in Ghana.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 3.29 times bigger than Ghana's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Ghana is the 46th.
  • The countries together account for 1.86% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.43% for Ghana.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +2.05% in Ghana.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Ghana has grown from 23M to 36M (56.4% growth).

DR Congo vs Ghana: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Ghana
2100 436,237,219 68,117,614
2099 433,289,774 68,008,028
2098 430,252,622 67,888,410
2097 427,149,320 67,759,128
2096 423,961,963 67,625,262
2095 420,678,721 67,481,344
2094 417,304,547 67,325,992
2093 413,867,290 67,162,890
2092 410,362,003 66,991,846
2091 406,763,717 66,804,098
2090 403,089,566 66,605,276
2089 399,334,389 66,395,029
2088 395,507,774 66,173,453
2087 391,613,249 65,937,323
2086 387,639,503 65,699,827
2085 383,604,733 65,451,666
2084 379,495,246 65,196,037
2083 375,330,369 64,922,457
2082 371,124,615 64,638,242
2081 366,878,238 64,342,209
2080 362,574,665 64,034,249
2079 358,227,097 63,717,528
2078 353,821,014 63,384,648
2077 349,368,182 63,046,955
2076 344,866,731 62,699,375
2075 340,338,504 62,337,964
2074 335,761,691 61,974,725
2073 331,157,281 61,604,458
2072 326,505,656 61,227,111
2071 321,830,769 60,835,024
2070 317,104,580 60,442,399
2069 312,349,776 60,041,679
2068 307,566,932 59,627,097
2067 302,762,490 59,203,373
2066 297,932,241 58,774,846
2065 293,081,284 58,341,378
2064 288,211,987 57,893,305
2063 283,315,009 57,439,982
2062 278,399,192 56,974,922
2061 273,464,914 56,500,340
2060 268,520,814 56,019,906
2059 263,570,338 55,529,609
2058 258,622,778 55,031,460
2057 253,685,085 54,524,491
2056 248,748,321 54,007,205
2055 243,814,854 53,481,428
2054 238,885,417 52,949,003
2053 233,971,468 52,407,089
2052 229,073,420 51,859,418
2051 224,197,775 51,300,839
2050 219,354,949 50,730,296
2049 214,547,398 50,153,221
2048 209,774,448 49,567,895
2047 205,040,532 48,972,414
2046 200,341,405 48,373,367
2045 195,693,533 47,766,811
2044 191,087,342 47,154,486
2043 186,534,055 46,538,892
2042 182,033,706 45,916,531
2041 177,583,290 45,291,657
2040 173,191,594 44,660,573
2039 168,846,440 44,029,228
2038 164,551,895 43,393,321
2037 160,316,591 42,752,045
2036 156,099,100 42,112,269
2035 151,924,296 41,470,624
2034 147,782,785 40,823,789
2033 143,684,929 40,176,026
2032 139,642,368 39,532,216
2031 135,634,548 38,892,407
2030 131,685,113 38,251,174
2029 127,793,612 37,616,078
2028 123,956,913 36,978,847
2027 120,188,952 36,342,429
2026 116,482,769 35,705,894
2025 112,832,473 35,064,272
2024 109,276,265 34,427,414
2023 105,789,731 33,787,914
2022 102,396,968 33,149,152
2021 99,148,932 32,518,665
2020 95,989,998 31,887,809
2019 92,947,442 31,258,945
2018 90,047,644 30,637,585
2017 87,083,398 30,008,354
2016 83,956,415 29,356,742
2015 81,035,531 28,696,068
2014 78,403,242 28,041,592
2013 75,789,395 27,386,193
2012 73,254,618 26,734,268
2011 70,849,311 26,095,088
2010 68,563,038 25,474,995
2009 66,412,044 24,862,664
2008 64,390,664 24,249,946
2007 62,477,752 23,642,279
2006 60,615,908 23,040,702
2005 58,775,724 22,449,438
2004 56,997,741 21,868,298
2003 55,343,867 21,296,705
2002 53,750,524 20,729,388
2001 52,132,646 20,167,069
2000 50,507,442 19,637,087
1999 48,912,971 19,149,864
1998 47,297,600 18,688,036
1997 46,029,902 18,238,958
1996 45,296,124 17,810,181
1995 44,433,704 17,399,017
1994 42,626,876 16,993,190
1993 40,656,336 16,589,519
1992 39,228,910 16,184,855
1991 37,925,817 15,787,496
1990 36,684,063 15,394,648
1989 35,486,866 15,006,813
1988 34,382,752 14,636,568
1987 33,298,904 14,289,108
1986 32,265,196 13,965,217
1985 31,264,816 13,661,229
1984 30,245,081 13,370,590
1983 29,250,963 13,029,836
1982 28,338,190 12,643,819
1981 27,500,515 12,281,712
1980 26,711,099 11,941,448
1979 25,886,782 11,597,255
1978 24,992,689 11,248,450
1977 24,229,061 10,911,871
1976 23,624,031 10,594,913
1975 23,021,101 10,294,308
1974 22,418,878 10,000,523
1973 21,827,665 9,714,617
1972 21,251,160 9,438,187
1971 20,695,569 9,176,264
1970 20,137,436 8,925,813
1969 19,570,445 8,690,383
1968 19,012,189 8,475,729
1967 18,462,782 8,271,913
1966 17,931,929 8,074,521
1965 17,427,802 7,882,606
1964 16,955,327 7,695,739
1963 16,507,599 7,514,714
1962 16,075,724 7,337,375
1961 15,662,374 7,162,667
1960 15,264,846 6,961,215

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/ghana | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Ghana gained 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Ghana's population increased by 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Ghana was ranked 48th in 2006 and ranked 46th 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 Ghana will increase by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people and rank change from 46th to 43rd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 68.1M people in 2100 for Ghana.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Ghana
2100 0.68% 0.16%
2099 0.71% 0.18%
2098 0.73% 0.19%
2097 0.75% 0.2%
2096 0.78% 0.21%
2095 0.81% 0.23%
2094 0.83% 0.24%
2093 0.85% 0.26%
2092 0.88% 0.28%
2091 0.91% 0.3%
2090 0.94% 0.32%
2089 0.97% 0.33%
2088 0.99% 0.36%
2087 1.03% 0.36%
2086 1.05% 0.38%
2085 1.08% 0.39%
2084 1.11% 0.42%
2083 1.13% 0.44%
2082 1.16% 0.46%
2081 1.19% 0.48%
2080 1.21% 0.5%
2079 1.25% 0.53%
2078 1.27% 0.54%
2077 1.31% 0.55%
2076 1.33% 0.58%
2075 1.36% 0.59%
2074 1.39% 0.6%
2073 1.42% 0.62%
2072 1.45% 0.64%
2071 1.49% 0.65%
2070 1.52% 0.67%
2069 1.56% 0.7%
2068 1.59% 0.72%
2067 1.62% 0.73%
2066 1.66% 0.74%
2065 1.69% 0.77%
2064 1.73% 0.79%
2063 1.77% 0.82%
2062 1.8% 0.84%
2061 1.84% 0.86%
2060 1.88% 0.88%
2059 1.91% 0.91%
2058 1.95% 0.93%
2057 1.98% 0.96%
2056 2.02% 0.98%
2055 2.06% 1.01%
2054 2.1% 1.03%
2053 2.14% 1.06%
2052 2.17% 1.09%
2051 2.21% 1.12%
2050 2.24% 1.15%
2049 2.28% 1.18%
2048 2.31% 1.22%
2047 2.35% 1.24%
2046 2.38% 1.27%
2045 2.41% 1.3%
2044 2.44% 1.32%
2043 2.47% 1.36%
2042 2.51% 1.38%
2041 2.54% 1.41%
2040 2.57% 1.43%
2039 2.61% 1.47%
2038 2.64% 1.5%
2037 2.7% 1.52%
2036 2.75% 1.55%
2035 2.8% 1.58%
2034 2.85% 1.61%
2033 2.89% 1.63%
2032 2.95% 1.65%
2031 3% 1.68%
2030 3.05% 1.69%
2029 3.1% 1.72%
2028 3.14% 1.75%
2027 3.18% 1.78%
2026 3.24% 1.83%
2025 3.25% 1.85%
2024 3.3% 1.89%
2023 3.31% 1.93%
2022 3.28% 1.94%
2021 3.29% 1.98%
2020 3.27% 2.01%
2019 3.22% 2.03%
2018 3.4% 2.1%
2017 3.72% 2.22%
2016 3.6% 2.3%
2015 3.36% 2.33%
2014 3.45% 2.39%
2013 3.46% 2.44%
2012 3.39% 2.45%
2011 3.33% 2.43%
2010 3.24% 2.46%
2009 3.14% 2.53%
2008 3.06% 2.57%
2007 3.07% 2.61%
2006 3.13% 2.63%
2005 3.12% 2.66%
2004 2.99% 2.68%
2003 2.96% 2.74%
2002 3.1% 2.79%
2001 3.22% 2.7%
2000 3.26% 2.54%
1999 3.42% 2.47%
1998 2.75% 2.46%
1997 1.62% 2.41%
1996 1.94% 2.36%
1995 4.24% 2.39%
1994 4.85% 2.43%
1993 3.64% 2.5%
1992 3.44% 2.52%
1991 3.38% 2.55%
1990 3.37% 2.58%
1989 3.21% 2.53%
1988 3.25% 2.43%
1987 3.2% 2.32%
1986 3.2% 2.23%
1985 3.37% 2.17%
1984 3.4% 2.62%
1983 3.22% 3.05%
1982 3.05% 2.95%
1981 2.96% 2.85%
1980 3.18% 2.97%
1979 3.58% 3.1%
1978 3.15% 3.08%
1977 2.56% 2.99%
1976 2.62% 2.92%
1975 2.69% 2.94%
1974 2.71% 2.94%
1973 2.71% 2.93%
1972 2.68% 2.85%
1971 2.77% 2.81%
1970 2.9% 2.71%
1969 2.94% 2.53%
1968 2.98% 2.46%
1967 2.96% 2.44%
1966 2.89% 2.43%
1965 2.79% 2.43%
1964 2.71% 2.41%
1963 2.69% 2.42%
1962 2.64% 2.44%
1961 2.6% 2.89%

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/ghana | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Ghana's population grew by 1.85%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Ghana
Current population
118386491
36032857
Population rank 14/197 46/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.43%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
49.7 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
35.3 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
2.18 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +1,745
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +636,858
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +1.85%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 57/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
30.9 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -17,079
Net migration rank 159/196 150/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 532,286
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 77/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 1.5%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 145/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Ghana
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Ghana
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -17,079
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 651,057 -13,114
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 651,094 -10,003
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 646,441 -10,003
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 635,805 -11,259
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 637,469 -291
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 642,403 -21,857
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 641,551 -19,375
2017 2,883,245 176,290 641,218 -4,913
2016 2,753,687 440,748 659,910 7,009
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 667,729 -13,306
2014 2,580,251 36,966 660,829 -6,312
2013 2,489,378 121,097 658,638 -2,377
2012 2,405,462 53,668 646,595 1,005
2011 2,310,679 40,891 631,501 -720
2010 2,212,255 8,823 613,133 -3,726
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 592,825 22,416
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 579,695 30,506
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 572,332 32,813
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 569,474 28,536
2005 1,800,300 20,384 563,234 21,272
2004 1,731,022 4,260 543,339 34,433
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 536,656 28,768
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 528,620 40,573
2001 1,594,999 26,523 519,382 36,050
2000 1,549,518 79,340 508,738 -4,206
1999 1,450,318 109,761 487,210 -17,304
1998 1,375,130 295,560 471,313 -17,564
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 459,822 -15,409
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 450,259 -37,113
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 451,748 -42,558
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 449,589 -47,120
1993 1,209,242 240,176 454,669 -49,792
1992 1,152,781 252,666 452,156 -47,736
1991 1,114,033 86,721 448,159 -57,878
1990 1,063,508 219,270 442,211 -46,789
1989 1,027,238 84,415 432,541 -52,293
1988 995,278 101,314 425,031 -64,810
1987 959,875 111,220 419,328 -84,648
1986 925,334 70,988 411,191 -98,099
1985 885,670 118,791 401,722 -106,855
1984 844,956 190,045 392,053 -105,655
1983 807,122 146,095 379,846 15,276
1982 774,823 97,495 369,061 7,863
1981 748,371 54,656 359,572 -12,296
1980 724,111 51,685 346,816 -13,564
1979 691,773 181,028 334,848 20,291
1978 646,411 268,974 324,428 18,041
1977 638,242 -26,355 315,429 15,243
1976 624,147 -25,965 305,769 -2,528
1975 608,655 -972 298,267 -292
1974 593,539 3,216 290,796 -1,197
1973 578,280 7,414 283,385 -1,168
1972 564,495 2,840 275,236 -4,589
1971 549,343 -5,497 265,442 -12,238
1970 533,300 39,116 257,938 -10,233
1969 514,800 46,778 251,925 -28,752
1968 497,682 57,274 242,821 -36,683
1967 479,552 64,307 237,156 -35,666
1966 463,397 54,443 231,440 -38,143
1965 429,002 61,397 229,061 -38,519
1964 406,334 48,207 226,685 -43,480
1963 398,972 41,960 225,367 -46,516
1962 383,406 39,431 223,842 -48,017
1961 368,207 35,654 222,372 -48,777
1960 363,517 27,673 217,134 12,181

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/ghana | 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 Ghana 98.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 532,286 people or 1.5% in Ghana.

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
Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K

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/ghana | 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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