Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 2.43 times bigger than Iraq's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 2% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

DR Congo vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Iraq
2100 436,320,913 101,632,594
2099 433,372,904 101,421,266
2098 430,335,169 101,212,536
2097 427,231,271 100,980,835
2096 424,043,303 100,724,441
2095 420,759,430 100,464,590
2094 417,384,609 100,194,041
2093 413,946,692 99,876,174
2092 410,440,733 99,532,041
2091 406,841,757 99,203,830
2090 403,166,901 98,886,956
2089 399,411,004 98,513,025
2088 395,583,655 98,144,039
2087 391,688,383 97,767,537
2086 387,713,874 97,325,026
2085 383,678,330 96,873,007
2084 379,568,054 96,448,602
2083 375,402,379 95,991,166
2082 371,195,818 95,509,663
2081 366,948,626 95,009,326
2080 362,644,227 94,507,216
2079 358,295,825 93,960,228
2078 353,888,897 93,417,384
2077 349,435,210 92,903,983
2076 344,932,895 92,359,592
2075 340,403,800 91,825,254
2074 335,826,108 91,229,266
2073 331,220,816 90,571,021
2072 326,568,298 89,918,374
2071 321,892,514 89,265,548
2070 317,165,418 88,596,492
2069 312,409,702 87,909,474
2068 307,625,941 87,220,494
2067 302,820,577 86,513,996
2066 297,989,401 85,734,530
2065 293,137,514 84,971,898
2064 288,267,282 84,191,350
2063 283,369,365 83,387,951
2062 278,452,605 82,604,577
2061 273,517,380 81,800,637
2060 268,572,331 80,951,008
2059 263,620,905 80,141,868
2058 258,672,397 79,319,543
2057 253,733,756 78,477,339
2056 248,796,045 77,609,202
2055 243,861,631 76,739,924
2054 238,931,249 75,857,125
2053 234,016,357 74,952,948
2052 229,117,369 74,072,580
2051 224,240,788 73,150,234
2050 219,397,034 72,235,938
2049 214,588,560 71,272,122
2048 209,814,694 70,316,860
2047 205,079,870 69,347,823
2046 200,379,842 68,400,664
2045 195,731,078 67,435,953
2044 191,124,003 66,447,309
2043 186,569,843 65,453,565
2042 182,068,630 64,433,831
2041 177,617,360 63,408,709
2040 173,224,822 62,360,117
2039 168,878,834 61,289,355
2038 164,583,465 60,253,073
2037 160,347,349 59,221,658
2036 156,129,049 58,155,990
2035 151,953,443 57,127,999
2034 147,811,138 56,087,695
2033 143,712,496 55,051,140
2032 139,669,159 54,002,289
2031 135,660,570 52,991,443
2030 131,710,378 51,986,773
2029 127,818,130 50,982,563
2028 123,980,695 50,001,133
2027 120,212,011 49,014,822
2026 116,505,117 48,020,334
2025 112,854,120 47,020,527
2024 109,276,265 46,042,015
2023 105,789,731 45,074,049
2022 102,396,968 44,070,551
2021 99,148,932 43,071,211
2020 95,989,998 42,116,605
2019 92,947,442 41,192,171
2018 90,047,644 40,265,624
2017 87,083,398 39,337,353
2016 83,956,415 38,469,627
2015 81,035,531 37,560,535
2014 78,403,242 36,550,059
2013 75,789,395 35,281,989
2012 73,254,618 33,654,842
2011 70,849,311 32,161,424
2010 68,563,038 31,045,366
2009 66,412,044 30,058,206
2008 64,390,664 28,971,036
2007 62,477,752 28,391,607
2006 60,615,908 28,616,515
2005 58,775,724 28,407,448
2004 56,997,741 27,577,878
2003 55,343,867 26,802,659
2002 53,750,524 26,006,559
2001 52,132,646 25,197,840
2000 50,507,442 24,424,056
1999 48,912,971 23,636,527
1998 47,297,600 22,884,399
1997 46,029,902 22,176,593
1996 45,296,124 21,501,321
1995 44,433,704 20,825,860
1994 42,626,876 20,139,807
1993 40,656,336 19,201,195
1992 39,228,910 18,300,845
1991 37,925,817 17,767,253
1990 36,684,063 17,581,206
1989 35,486,866 17,364,542
1988 34,382,752 16,908,819
1987 33,298,904 16,521,049
1986 32,265,196 16,074,145
1985 31,264,816 15,683,430
1984 30,245,081 15,310,733
1983 29,250,963 14,840,555
1982 28,338,190 14,406,083
1981 27,500,515 14,006,381
1980 26,711,099 13,591,992
1979 25,886,782 13,170,365
1978 24,992,689 12,753,355
1977 24,229,061 12,331,046
1976 23,624,031 11,927,651
1975 23,021,101 11,543,639
1974 22,418,878 11,167,761
1973 21,827,665 10,795,869
1972 21,251,160 10,430,164
1971 20,695,569 10,077,809
1970 20,137,436 9,735,611
1969 19,570,445 9,403,356
1968 19,012,189 9,085,016
1967 18,462,782 8,778,869
1966 17,931,929 8,485,104
1965 17,427,802 8,202,140
1964 16,955,327 7,929,566
1963 16,507,599 7,667,928
1962 16,075,724 7,413,875
1961 15,662,374 7,194,553
1960 15,264,846 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Iraq
2100 0.68% 0.21%
2099 0.71% 0.21%
2098 0.73% 0.23%
2097 0.75% 0.25%
2096 0.78% 0.26%
2095 0.81% 0.27%
2094 0.83% 0.32%
2093 0.85% 0.35%
2092 0.88% 0.33%
2091 0.91% 0.32%
2090 0.94% 0.38%
2089 0.97% 0.38%
2088 0.99% 0.39%
2087 1.03% 0.45%
2086 1.05% 0.47%
2085 1.08% 0.44%
2084 1.11% 0.48%
2083 1.13% 0.5%
2082 1.16% 0.53%
2081 1.19% 0.53%
2080 1.21% 0.58%
2079 1.25% 0.58%
2078 1.27% 0.55%
2077 1.31% 0.59%
2076 1.33% 0.58%
2075 1.36% 0.65%
2074 1.39% 0.73%
2073 1.42% 0.73%
2072 1.45% 0.73%
2071 1.49% 0.76%
2070 1.52% 0.78%
2069 1.56% 0.79%
2068 1.59% 0.82%
2067 1.62% 0.91%
2066 1.66% 0.9%
2065 1.69% 0.93%
2064 1.73% 0.96%
2063 1.77% 0.95%
2062 1.8% 0.98%
2061 1.84% 1.05%
2060 1.88% 1.01%
2059 1.91% 1.04%
2058 1.95% 1.07%
2057 1.98% 1.12%
2056 2.02% 1.13%
2055 2.06% 1.16%
2054 2.1% 1.21%
2053 2.14% 1.19%
2052 2.17% 1.26%
2051 2.21% 1.27%
2050 2.24% 1.35%
2049 2.28% 1.36%
2048 2.31% 1.4%
2047 2.35% 1.38%
2046 2.38% 1.43%
2045 2.41% 1.49%
2044 2.44% 1.52%
2043 2.47% 1.58%
2042 2.51% 1.62%
2041 2.54% 1.68%
2040 2.57% 1.75%
2039 2.61% 1.72%
2038 2.64% 1.74%
2037 2.7% 1.83%
2036 2.75% 1.8%
2035 2.8% 1.85%
2034 2.85% 1.88%
2033 2.89% 1.94%
2032 2.95% 1.91%
2031 3% 1.93%
2030 3.05% 1.97%
2029 3.1% 1.96%
2028 3.14% 2.01%
2027 3.18% 2.07%
2026 3.24% 2.13%
2025 3.27% 2.13%
2024 3.3% 2.15%
2023 3.31% 2.28%
2022 3.28% 2.32%
2021 3.29% 2.27%
2020 3.27% 2.24%
2019 3.22% 2.3%
2018 3.4% 2.36%
2017 3.72% 2.26%
2016 3.6% 2.42%
2015 3.36% 2.76%
2014 3.45% 3.59%
2013 3.46% 4.83%
2012 3.39% 4.64%
2011 3.33% 3.59%
2010 3.24% 3.28%
2009 3.14% 3.75%
2008 3.06% 2.04%
2007 3.07% -0.79%
2006 3.13% 0.74%
2005 3.12% 3.01%
2004 2.99% 2.89%
2003 2.96% 3.06%
2002 3.1% 3.21%
2001 3.22% 3.17%
2000 3.26% 3.33%
1999 3.42% 3.29%
1998 2.75% 3.19%
1997 1.62% 3.14%
1996 1.94% 3.24%
1995 4.24% 3.41%
1994 4.85% 4.89%
1993 3.64% 4.92%
1992 3.44% 3%
1991 3.38% 1.06%
1990 3.37% 1.25%
1989 3.21% 2.7%
1988 3.25% 2.35%
1987 3.2% 2.78%
1986 3.2% 2.49%
1985 3.37% 2.43%
1984 3.4% 3.17%
1983 3.22% 3.02%
1982 3.05% 2.85%
1981 2.96% 3.05%
1980 3.18% 3.2%
1979 3.58% 3.27%
1978 3.15% 3.42%
1977 2.56% 3.38%
1976 2.62% 3.33%
1975 2.69% 3.37%
1974 2.71% 3.44%
1973 2.71% 3.51%
1972 2.68% 3.5%
1971 2.77% 3.51%
1970 2.9% 3.53%
1969 2.94% 3.5%
1968 2.98% 3.49%
1967 2.96% 3.46%
1966 2.89% 3.45%
1965 2.79% 3.44%
1964 2.71% 3.41%
1963 2.69% 3.43%
1962 2.64% 3.05%
1961 2.6% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Iraq
Current population
117507801
48289334
Population rank 15/197 33/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.58%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
32.6 seconds
One birth every
7.22 seconds
27.2 seconds
One death every
35 seconds
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 46/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 -1,064
Net migration rank 159/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -1,064
2024 - -26,968 - -17,735
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 973,420 -5,710
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 962,501 76,821
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 941,924 17,474
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 919,953 29,858
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 942,972 -43,919
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 938,310 15,775
2017 2,883,245 176,290 924,507 -21,998
2016 2,753,687 440,748 946,968 -113,980
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 2,580,251 36,966 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 2,489,378 121,097 1,026,036 474,379
2012 2,405,462 53,668 999,987 753,907
2011 2,310,679 40,891 971,082 261,880
2010 2,212,255 8,823 906,369 92,779
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 855,096 120,092
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 802,382 396,792
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 784,119 -824,428
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 1,800,300 20,384 776,603 51,019
2004 1,731,022 4,260 761,563 69,948
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 746,159 -27,236
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 739,419 133,839
2001 1,594,999 26,523 729,704 14,451
2000 1,549,518 79,340 715,771 87,624
1999 1,450,318 109,761 702,170 69,491
1998 1,375,130 295,560 684,152 48,446
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 667,582 15,429
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 652,866 14,652
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 642,977 40,424
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 634,344 54,355
1993 1,209,242 240,176 606,700 581,818
1992 1,152,781 252,666 591,886 20,292
1991 1,114,033 86,721 550,146 -95,155
1990 1,063,508 219,270 518,575 -601,469
1989 1,027,238 84,415 496,852 19,392
1988 995,278 101,314 476,778 -81,562
1987 959,875 111,220 488,742 -108,426
1986 925,334 70,988 474,348 39,136
1985 885,670 118,791 467,445 -199,505
1984 844,956 190,045 455,740 21,709
1983 807,122 146,095 439,800 23,115
1982 774,823 97,495 428,336 -22,302
1981 748,371 54,656 416,998 -23,640
1980 724,111 51,685 419,653 15,757
1979 691,773 181,028 428,458 -20,617
1978 646,411 268,974 418,756 7,434
1977 638,242 -26,355 410,229 8,204
1976 624,147 -25,965 402,260 -13,915
1975 608,655 -972 385,916 -6,237
1974 593,539 3,216 376,197 -4,090
1973 578,280 7,414 373,191 -1,507
1972 564,495 2,840 362,334 -2,600
1971 549,343 -5,497 351,464 -6,479
1970 533,300 39,116 338,030 1,377
1969 514,800 46,778 324,792 312
1968 497,682 57,274 310,644 928
1967 479,552 64,307 298,192 2,531
1966 463,397 54,443 285,507 1,298
1965 429,002 61,397 274,551 4,555
1964 406,334 48,207 262,825 3,224
1963 398,972 41,960 254,046 3,197
1962 383,406 39,431 247,520 3,343
1961 368,207 35,654 184,792 2,981
1960 363,517 27,673 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.