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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 91,567,738 people in Iran in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 93,468,444 in Iran.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 1.26 times bigger than Iran's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Iran is the 17th.
  • The countries together account for 2.55% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 1.13% for Iran.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +1.19% in Iran.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Iran has grown from 73.4M to 93.5M (27.4% growth).

DR Congo vs Iran: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Iran
2100 436,320,913 80,713,760
2099 433,372,904 81,246,718
2098 430,335,169 81,770,953
2097 427,231,271 82,295,714
2096 424,043,303 82,818,575
2095 420,759,430 83,338,446
2094 417,384,609 83,854,648
2093 413,946,692 84,371,569
2092 410,440,733 84,888,626
2091 406,841,757 85,410,099
2090 403,166,901 85,934,675
2089 399,411,004 86,466,409
2088 395,583,655 87,004,165
2087 391,688,383 87,549,685
2086 387,713,874 88,105,571
2085 383,678,330 88,668,329
2084 379,568,054 89,239,709
2083 375,402,379 89,817,194
2082 371,195,818 90,402,538
2081 366,948,626 90,995,822
2080 362,644,227 91,595,122
2079 358,295,825 92,196,842
2078 353,888,897 92,801,160
2077 349,435,210 93,405,954
2076 344,932,895 94,007,669
2075 340,403,800 94,606,607
2074 335,826,108 95,197,577
2073 331,220,816 95,783,994
2072 326,568,298 96,355,853
2071 321,892,514 96,915,335
2070 317,165,418 97,460,813
2069 312,409,702 97,988,897
2068 307,625,941 98,496,927
2067 302,820,577 98,978,509
2066 297,989,401 99,439,391
2065 293,137,514 99,877,457
2064 288,267,282 100,288,977
2063 283,369,365 100,668,199
2062 278,452,605 101,017,348
2061 273,517,380 101,332,810
2060 268,572,331 101,612,261
2059 263,620,905 101,858,931
2058 258,672,397 102,061,144
2057 253,733,756 102,228,085
2056 248,796,045 102,358,266
2055 243,861,631 102,449,092
2054 238,931,249 102,498,594
2053 234,016,357 102,508,245
2052 229,117,369 102,480,373
2051 224,240,788 102,417,847
2050 219,397,034 102,318,917
2049 214,588,560 102,189,816
2048 209,814,694 102,024,233
2047 205,079,870 101,832,213
2046 200,379,842 101,613,554
2045 195,731,078 101,371,784
2044 191,124,003 101,104,998
2043 186,569,843 100,818,045
2042 182,068,630 100,512,032
2041 177,617,360 100,188,214
2040 173,224,822 99,849,875
2039 168,878,834 99,501,869
2038 164,583,465 99,137,385
2037 160,347,349 98,759,167
2036 156,129,049 98,366,612
2035 151,953,443 97,963,082
2034 147,811,138 97,546,148
2033 143,712,496 97,118,106
2032 139,669,159 96,671,440
2031 135,660,570 96,204,118
2030 131,710,378 95,718,604
2029 127,818,130 95,195,996
2028 123,980,695 94,623,034
2027 120,212,011 93,987,260
2026 116,505,117 93,276,075
2025 112,854,120 92,478,162
2024 109,276,265 91,567,738
2023 105,789,731 90,608,707
2022 102,396,968 89,524,246
2021 99,148,932 88,455,488
2020 95,989,998 87,723,443
2019 92,947,442 87,051,648
2018 90,047,644 86,117,998
2017 87,083,398 85,026,754
2016 83,956,415 83,812,228
2015 81,035,531 82,619,362
2014 78,403,242 81,502,045
2013 75,789,395 80,414,686
2012 73,254,618 79,370,580
2011 70,849,311 78,383,598
2010 68,563,038 77,420,842
2009 66,412,044 76,457,825
2008 64,390,664 75,514,204
2007 62,477,752 74,602,648
2006 60,615,908 73,392,747
2005 58,775,724 71,828,455
2004 56,997,741 70,256,316
2003 55,343,867 68,769,340
2002 53,750,524 68,011,317
2001 52,132,646 67,452,005
2000 50,507,442 66,418,659
1999 48,912,971 65,445,391
1998 47,297,600 64,519,859
1997 46,029,902 63,639,638
1996 45,296,124 62,881,300
1995 44,433,704 62,205,567
1994 42,626,876 61,520,598
1993 40,656,336 61,403,543
1992 39,228,910 61,184,983
1991 37,925,817 59,986,931
1990 36,684,063 58,380,092
1989 35,486,866 56,704,914
1988 34,382,752 55,072,694
1987 33,298,904 53,323,493
1986 32,265,196 51,446,045
1985 31,264,816 49,582,289
1984 30,245,081 47,793,998
1983 29,250,963 46,029,535
1982 28,338,190 44,272,141
1981 27,500,515 41,989,312
1980 26,711,099 39,842,324
1979 25,886,782 38,424,952
1978 24,992,689 37,126,535
1977 24,229,061 35,933,181
1976 23,624,031 34,837,271
1975 23,021,101 33,802,973
1974 22,418,878 32,796,463
1973 21,827,665 31,839,838
1972 21,251,160 30,921,179
1971 20,695,569 30,029,071
1970 20,137,436 29,145,100
1969 19,570,445 28,273,482
1968 19,012,189 27,437,391
1967 18,462,782 26,628,432
1966 17,931,929 25,829,270
1965 17,427,802 25,036,978
1964 16,955,327 24,262,859
1963 16,507,599 23,519,005
1962 16,075,724 22,807,907
1961 15,662,374 22,125,726
1960 15,264,846 21,470,434

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/iran | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Iran gained 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Iran's population increased by 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Iran was ranked 17th in 2006 and still ranked 17th 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 Iran will increase by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people and rank change from 17th to 18th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 103M people in 2053 for Iran.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Iran
2100 0.68% -0.66%
2099 0.71% -0.64%
2098 0.73% -0.64%
2097 0.75% -0.63%
2096 0.78% -0.62%
2095 0.81% -0.62%
2094 0.83% -0.61%
2093 0.85% -0.61%
2092 0.88% -0.61%
2091 0.91% -0.61%
2090 0.94% -0.61%
2089 0.97% -0.62%
2088 0.99% -0.62%
2087 1.03% -0.63%
2086 1.05% -0.63%
2085 1.08% -0.64%
2084 1.11% -0.64%
2083 1.13% -0.65%
2082 1.16% -0.65%
2081 1.19% -0.65%
2080 1.21% -0.65%
2079 1.25% -0.65%
2078 1.27% -0.65%
2077 1.31% -0.64%
2076 1.33% -0.63%
2075 1.36% -0.62%
2074 1.39% -0.61%
2073 1.42% -0.59%
2072 1.45% -0.58%
2071 1.49% -0.56%
2070 1.52% -0.54%
2069 1.56% -0.52%
2068 1.59% -0.49%
2067 1.62% -0.46%
2066 1.66% -0.44%
2065 1.69% -0.41%
2064 1.73% -0.38%
2063 1.77% -0.35%
2062 1.8% -0.31%
2061 1.84% -0.28%
2060 1.88% -0.24%
2059 1.91% -0.2%
2058 1.95% -0.16%
2057 1.98% -0.13%
2056 2.02% -0.09%
2055 2.06% -0.05%
2054 2.1% -0.009%
2053 2.14% 0.03%
2052 2.17% 0.06%
2051 2.21% 0.1%
2050 2.24% 0.13%
2049 2.28% 0.16%
2048 2.31% 0.19%
2047 2.35% 0.22%
2046 2.38% 0.24%
2045 2.41% 0.26%
2044 2.44% 0.28%
2043 2.47% 0.3%
2042 2.51% 0.32%
2041 2.54% 0.34%
2040 2.57% 0.35%
2039 2.61% 0.37%
2038 2.64% 0.38%
2037 2.7% 0.4%
2036 2.75% 0.41%
2035 2.8% 0.43%
2034 2.85% 0.44%
2033 2.89% 0.46%
2032 2.95% 0.49%
2031 3% 0.51%
2030 3.05% 0.55%
2029 3.1% 0.61%
2028 3.14% 0.68%
2027 3.18% 0.76%
2026 3.24% 0.86%
2025 3.27% 0.99%
2024 3.3% 1.06%
2023 3.31% 1.21%
2022 3.28% 1.21%
2021 3.29% 0.83%
2020 3.27% 0.77%
2019 3.22% 1.08%
2018 3.4% 1.28%
2017 3.72% 1.45%
2016 3.6% 1.44%
2015 3.36% 1.37%
2014 3.45% 1.35%
2013 3.46% 1.32%
2012 3.39% 1.26%
2011 3.33% 1.24%
2010 3.24% 1.26%
2009 3.14% 1.25%
2008 3.06% 1.22%
2007 3.07% 1.65%
2006 3.13% 2.18%
2005 3.12% 2.24%
2004 2.99% 2.16%
2003 2.96% 1.11%
2002 3.1% 0.83%
2001 3.22% 1.56%
2000 3.26% 1.49%
1999 3.42% 1.43%
1998 2.75% 1.38%
1997 1.62% 1.21%
1996 1.94% 1.09%
1995 4.24% 1.11%
1994 4.85% 0.19%
1993 3.64% 0.36%
1992 3.44% 2%
1991 3.38% 2.75%
1990 3.37% 2.95%
1989 3.21% 2.96%
1988 3.25% 3.28%
1987 3.2% 3.65%
1986 3.2% 3.76%
1985 3.37% 3.74%
1984 3.4% 3.83%
1983 3.22% 3.97%
1982 3.05% 5.44%
1981 2.96% 5.39%
1980 3.18% 3.69%
1979 3.58% 3.5%
1978 3.15% 3.32%
1977 2.56% 3.15%
1976 2.62% 3.06%
1975 2.69% 3.07%
1974 2.71% 3%
1973 2.71% 2.97%
1972 2.68% 2.97%
1971 2.77% 3.03%
1970 2.9% 3.08%
1969 2.94% 3.05%
1968 2.98% 3.04%
1967 2.96% 3.09%
1966 2.89% 3.16%
1965 2.79% 3.19%
1964 2.71% 3.16%
1963 2.69% 3.12%
1962 2.64% 3.08%
1961 2.6% 3.05%

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/iran | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Iran's population grew by 1.06%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Iran
Current population
117507801
93468444
Population rank 15/197 17/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 1.13%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
32.9 seconds
One birth every
7.22 seconds
26.9 seconds
One death every
35 seconds
1.24 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +2,627
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +959,031
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.06%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 98/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
4.51 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +116,786
Net migration rank 159/196 14/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 3,840,654
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 17/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 4.2%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 103/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Iran
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Iran
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 116,786
2024 - -26,968 - 190,156
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 750,150 262,044
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 753,525 403,190
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 645,725 334,967
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 663,978 -180,680
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 893,063 -32,794
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 1,035,052 -27,946
2017 2,883,245 176,290 1,140,549 34,849
2016 2,753,687 440,748 1,186,949 66,630
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 1,178,317 -46,239
2014 2,580,251 36,966 1,158,552 -56,042
2013 2,489,378 121,097 1,119,533 -47,322
2012 2,405,462 53,668 1,073,804 -57,823
2011 2,310,679 40,891 1,023,925 -65,924
2010 2,212,255 8,823 980,380 -12,849
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 958,322 211
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 940,983 -12,184
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 919,254 -24,950
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 884,529 640,932
2005 1,800,300 20,384 837,305 765,873
2004 1,731,022 4,260 801,203 739,996
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 732,600 700,222
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 752,205 -668,962
2001 1,594,999 26,523 743,658 291,692
2000 1,549,518 79,340 731,203 300,133
1999 1,450,318 109,761 723,237 191,988
1998 1,375,130 295,560 717,655 218,171
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 726,574 98,009
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 784,508 -92,435
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 879,648 -220,258
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 1,008,076 -297,487
1993 1,209,242 240,176 1,219,658 -1,696,091
1992 1,152,781 252,666 1,365,466 -451,945
1991 1,114,033 86,721 1,495,594 -13,059
1990 1,063,508 219,270 1,530,434 200,711
1989 1,027,238 84,415 1,609,739 9,460
1988 995,278 101,314 1,614,512 30,688
1987 959,875 111,220 1,639,644 213,524
1986 925,334 70,988 1,659,289 242,411
1985 885,670 118,791 1,661,750 163,999
1984 844,956 190,045 1,653,051 97,748
1983 807,122 146,095 1,573,612 204,544
1982 774,823 97,495 1,514,240 222,390
1981 748,371 54,656 1,376,830 1,452,169
1980 724,111 51,685 1,361,293 103,674
1979 691,773 181,028 1,294,306 75,451
1978 646,411 268,974 1,156,974 70,088
1977 638,242 -26,355 1,091,542 68,093
1976 624,147 -25,965 1,013,347 18,825
1975 608,655 -972 929,481 106,921
1974 593,539 3,216 873,369 103,252
1973 578,280 7,414 831,880 104,779
1972 564,495 2,840 804,043 96,614
1971 549,343 -5,497 805,830 77,717
1970 533,300 39,116 794,612 89,757
1969 514,800 46,778 780,660 78,196
1968 497,682 57,274 743,992 69,342
1967 479,552 64,307 727,276 77,313
1966 463,397 54,443 695,040 98,709
1965 429,002 61,397 663,029 127,808
1964 406,334 48,207 635,589 121,817
1963 398,972 41,960 620,126 110,190
1962 383,406 39,431 595,538 96,332
1961 368,207 35,654 594,674 77,811
1960 363,517 27,673 584,060 54,041

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/iran | 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 Iran 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 3,840,654 people or 4.2% in Iran.

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
Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K

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/iran | 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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