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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 5,484,367 people in Ireland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 5,562,212 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 21.3 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.49% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.07% for Ireland.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +1.5% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.56M (30.2% growth).

DR Congo vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Ireland
2100 436,237,219 5,500,499
2099 433,289,774 5,525,011
2098 430,252,622 5,548,986
2097 427,149,320 5,572,279
2096 423,961,963 5,595,064
2095 420,678,721 5,615,877
2094 417,304,547 5,636,027
2093 413,867,290 5,655,870
2092 410,362,003 5,675,151
2091 406,763,717 5,694,092
2090 403,089,566 5,713,009
2089 399,334,389 5,730,546
2088 395,507,774 5,747,238
2087 391,613,249 5,762,650
2086 387,639,503 5,776,705
2085 383,604,733 5,791,049
2084 379,495,246 5,805,074
2083 375,330,369 5,818,867
2082 371,124,615 5,831,653
2081 366,878,238 5,842,944
2080 362,574,665 5,855,351
2079 358,227,097 5,870,572
2078 353,821,014 5,885,866
2077 349,368,182 5,901,647
2076 344,866,731 5,917,991
2075 340,338,504 5,934,408
2074 335,761,691 5,951,970
2073 331,157,281 5,969,385
2072 326,505,656 5,986,721
2071 321,830,769 6,003,888
2070 317,104,580 6,021,481
2069 312,349,776 6,038,378
2068 307,566,932 6,054,840
2067 302,762,490 6,070,805
2066 297,932,241 6,086,691
2065 293,081,284 6,101,966
2064 288,211,987 6,116,867
2063 283,315,009 6,129,790
2062 278,399,192 6,141,729
2061 273,464,914 6,154,062
2060 268,520,814 6,167,032
2059 263,570,338 6,179,602
2058 258,622,778 6,189,124
2057 253,685,085 6,196,781
2056 248,748,321 6,199,786
2055 243,814,854 6,204,376
2054 238,885,417 6,205,225
2053 233,971,468 6,205,444
2052 229,073,420 6,203,350
2051 224,197,775 6,200,637
2050 219,354,949 6,195,469
2049 214,547,398 6,187,289
2048 209,774,448 6,175,872
2047 205,040,532 6,163,776
2046 200,341,405 6,150,911
2045 195,693,533 6,134,927
2044 191,087,342 6,116,643
2043 186,534,055 6,097,627
2042 182,033,706 6,076,713
2041 177,583,290 6,052,462
2040 173,191,594 6,027,054
2039 168,846,440 6,002,204
2038 164,551,895 5,974,917
2037 160,316,591 5,946,606
2036 156,099,100 5,918,275
2035 151,924,296 5,889,854
2034 147,782,785 5,858,952
2033 143,684,929 5,826,337
2032 139,642,368 5,791,225
2031 135,634,548 5,754,845
2030 131,685,113 5,717,377
2029 127,793,612 5,676,731
2028 123,956,913 5,632,552
2027 120,188,952 5,585,925
2026 116,482,769 5,537,167
2025 112,832,473 5,484,367
2024 109,276,265 5,395,790
2023 105,789,731 5,311,538
2022 102,396,968 5,212,836
2021 99,148,932 5,110,585
2020 95,989,998 5,039,747
2019 92,947,442 4,976,456
2018 90,047,644 4,898,022
2017 87,083,398 4,827,445
2016 83,956,415 4,762,722
2015 81,035,531 4,701,957
2014 78,403,242 4,657,740
2013 75,789,395 4,623,816
2012 73,254,618 4,599,533
2011 70,849,311 4,580,084
2010 68,563,038 4,560,155
2009 66,412,044 4,535,375
2008 64,390,664 4,489,544
2007 62,477,752 4,398,942
2006 60,615,908 4,273,591
2005 58,775,724 4,159,914
2004 56,997,741 4,070,262
2003 55,343,867 3,996,521
2002 53,750,524 3,931,947
2001 52,132,646 3,866,243
2000 50,507,442 3,805,174
1999 48,912,971 3,754,786
1998 47,297,600 3,712,696
1997 46,029,902 3,674,171
1996 45,296,124 3,637,510
1995 44,433,704 3,608,841
1994 42,626,876 3,590,386
1993 40,656,336 3,576,261
1992 39,228,910 3,558,430
1991 37,925,817 3,534,235
1990 36,684,063 3,513,974
1989 35,486,866 3,511,009
1988 34,382,752 3,524,949
1987 33,298,904 3,540,057
1986 32,265,196 3,539,690
1985 31,264,816 3,538,082
1984 30,245,081 3,532,423
1983 29,250,963 3,510,600
1982 28,338,190 3,485,800
1981 27,500,515 3,453,000
1980 26,711,099 3,412,800
1979 25,886,782 3,373,750
1978 24,992,689 3,329,100
1977 24,229,061 3,282,200
1976 23,624,031 3,238,050
1975 23,021,101 3,189,550
1974 22,418,878 3,137,500
1973 21,827,665 3,085,950
1972 21,251,160 3,036,850
1971 20,695,569 2,992,050
1970 20,137,436 2,957,250
1969 19,570,445 2,932,650
1968 19,012,189 2,915,550
1967 18,462,782 2,902,450
1966 17,931,929 2,888,800
1965 17,427,802 2,877,300
1964 16,955,327 2,866,550
1963 16,507,599 2,852,650
1962 16,075,724 2,836,050
1961 15,662,374 2,824,400
1960 15,264,846 2,828,600

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/ireland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Ireland gained 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and ranked 122nd 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 Ireland will increase by 11.4% to 6,195,469 people and rank change from 122nd to 118th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 6.21M people in 2053 for Ireland.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Ireland
2100 0.68% -0.44%
2099 0.71% -0.43%
2098 0.73% -0.42%
2097 0.75% -0.41%
2096 0.78% -0.37%
2095 0.81% -0.36%
2094 0.83% -0.35%
2093 0.85% -0.34%
2092 0.88% -0.33%
2091 0.91% -0.33%
2090 0.94% -0.31%
2089 0.97% -0.29%
2088 0.99% -0.27%
2087 1.03% -0.24%
2086 1.05% -0.25%
2085 1.08% -0.24%
2084 1.11% -0.24%
2083 1.13% -0.22%
2082 1.16% -0.19%
2081 1.19% -0.21%
2080 1.21% -0.26%
2079 1.25% -0.26%
2078 1.27% -0.27%
2077 1.31% -0.28%
2076 1.33% -0.28%
2075 1.36% -0.3%
2074 1.39% -0.29%
2073 1.42% -0.29%
2072 1.45% -0.29%
2071 1.49% -0.29%
2070 1.52% -0.28%
2069 1.56% -0.27%
2068 1.59% -0.26%
2067 1.62% -0.26%
2066 1.66% -0.25%
2065 1.69% -0.24%
2064 1.73% -0.21%
2063 1.77% -0.19%
2062 1.8% -0.2%
2061 1.84% -0.21%
2060 1.88% -0.2%
2059 1.91% -0.15%
2058 1.95% -0.12%
2057 1.98% -0.05%
2056 2.02% -0.07%
2055 2.06% -0.01%
2054 2.1% -0.004%
2053 2.14% 0.03%
2052 2.17% 0.04%
2051 2.21% 0.08%
2050 2.24% 0.13%
2049 2.28% 0.18%
2048 2.31% 0.2%
2047 2.35% 0.21%
2046 2.38% 0.26%
2045 2.41% 0.3%
2044 2.44% 0.31%
2043 2.47% 0.34%
2042 2.51% 0.4%
2041 2.54% 0.42%
2040 2.57% 0.41%
2039 2.61% 0.46%
2038 2.64% 0.48%
2037 2.7% 0.48%
2036 2.75% 0.48%
2035 2.8% 0.53%
2034 2.85% 0.56%
2033 2.89% 0.61%
2032 2.95% 0.63%
2031 3% 0.66%
2030 3.05% 0.72%
2029 3.1% 0.78%
2028 3.14% 0.83%
2027 3.18% 0.88%
2026 3.24% 0.96%
2025 3.25% 1.64%
2024 3.3% 1.59%
2023 3.31% 1.89%
2022 3.28% 2%
2021 3.29% 1.41%
2020 3.27% 1.27%
2019 3.22% 1.6%
2018 3.4% 1.46%
2017 3.72% 1.36%
2016 3.6% 1.29%
2015 3.36% 0.95%
2014 3.45% 0.73%
2013 3.46% 0.53%
2012 3.39% 0.42%
2011 3.33% 0.44%
2010 3.24% 0.55%
2009 3.14% 1.02%
2008 3.06% 2.06%
2007 3.07% 2.93%
2006 3.13% 2.73%
2005 3.12% 2.2%
2004 2.99% 1.85%
2003 2.96% 1.64%
2002 3.1% 1.7%
2001 3.22% 1.6%
2000 3.26% 1.34%
1999 3.42% 1.13%
1998 2.75% 1.05%
1997 1.62% 1.01%
1996 1.94% 0.79%
1995 4.24% 0.51%
1994 4.85% 0.39%
1993 3.64% 0.5%
1992 3.44% 0.68%
1991 3.38% 0.58%
1990 3.37% 0.08%
1989 3.21% -0.4%
1988 3.25% -0.43%
1987 3.2% 0.01%
1986 3.2% 0.05%
1985 3.37% 0.16%
1984 3.4% 0.62%
1983 3.22% 0.71%
1982 3.05% 0.95%
1981 2.96% 1.18%
1980 3.18% 1.16%
1979 3.58% 1.34%
1978 3.15% 1.43%
1977 2.56% 1.36%
1976 2.62% 1.52%
1975 2.69% 1.66%
1974 2.71% 1.67%
1973 2.71% 1.62%
1972 2.68% 1.5%
1971 2.77% 1.18%
1970 2.9% 0.84%
1969 2.94% 0.59%
1968 2.98% 0.45%
1967 2.96% 0.47%
1966 2.89% 0.4%
1965 2.79% 0.38%
1964 2.71% 0.49%
1963 2.69% 0.59%
1962 2.64% 0.41%
1961 2.6% -0.15%

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/ireland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.64%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Ireland
Current population
118386491
5562212
Population rank 14/197 122/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.07%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
5.95 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
9.74 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +243
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +88,577
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +1.64%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 64/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +35,417
Net migration rank 159/196 27/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 1,216,237
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 23.1%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Ireland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Ireland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 35,417
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 18,885 39,059
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 19,652 43,873
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 19,287 93,535
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 26,064 27,419
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 23,687 15,746
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 28,365 29,663
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 29,878 33,387
2017 2,883,245 176,290 31,379 28,883
2016 2,753,687 440,748 33,339 18,967
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 35,265 13,376
2014 2,580,251 36,966 37,728 448
2013 2,489,378 121,097 39,302 -12,309
2012 2,405,462 53,668 42,775 -22,411
2011 2,310,679 40,891 45,801 -26,529
2010 2,212,255 8,823 47,426 -26,974
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 47,168 -18,524
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 46,691 18,979
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 43,109 76,465
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 36,752 94,513
2005 1,800,300 20,384 33,279 63,983
2004 1,731,022 4,260 33,376 49,102
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 32,372 32,220
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 31,062 34,286
2001 1,594,999 26,523 27,837 39,220
2000 1,549,518 79,340 23,592 31,298
1999 1,450,318 109,761 21,402 23,592
1998 1,375,130 295,560 22,277 16,615
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 21,311 17,425
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 18,915 9,959
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 16,601 10,019
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 17,234 -3,118
1993 1,209,242 240,176 17,166 -3,762
1992 1,152,781 252,666 20,283 1,335
1991 1,114,033 86,721 21,206 4,944
1990 1,063,508 219,270 21,787 -8,203
1989 1,027,238 84,415 20,012 -28,752
1988 995,278 101,314 22,912 -44,020
1987 959,875 111,220 26,904 -38,426
1986 925,334 70,988 27,963 -21,139
1985 885,670 118,791 29,013 -16,178
1984 844,956 190,045 31,791 -15,549
1983 807,122 146,095 34,053 -15,043
1982 774,823 97,495 38,344 -14,464
1981 748,371 54,656 39,364 -10,834
1980 724,111 51,685 40,612 -2,876
1979 691,773 181,028 38,798 1,486
1978 646,411 268,974 36,288 15,543
1977 638,242 -26,355 35,448 14,505
1976 624,147 -25,965 33,676 14,200
1975 608,655 -972 34,128 13,828
1974 593,539 3,216 34,199 13,482
1973 578,280 7,414 34,562 13,164
1972 564,495 2,840 34,316 12,858
1971 549,343 -5,497 35,606 5,851
1970 533,300 39,116 30,756 -8,892
1969 514,800 46,778 29,326 -10,250
1968 497,682 57,274 27,697 -11,132
1967 479,552 64,307 29,895 -11,708
1966 463,397 54,443 26,866 -11,858
1965 429,002 61,397 30,500 -14,016
1964 406,334 48,207 31,532 -15,640
1963 398,972 41,960 29,667 -16,615
1962 383,406 39,431 28,077 -17,438
1961 368,207 35,654 25,137 -22,237
1960 363,517 27,673 28,286 -38,492

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/ireland | 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 Ireland 43.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 265,801 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 343,908 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 1,216,237 people or 23.1% in Ireland.

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
Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K

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/ireland | 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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