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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 58,915,656 people in Italy in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 58,708,169 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 2.02 times bigger than Italy's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Italy is the 26th.
  • The countries together account for 2.13% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.71% for Italy.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.7M (0.53% growth).

DR Congo vs Italy: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Italy
2100 436,237,219 35,295,729
2099 433,289,774 35,533,045
2098 430,252,622 35,764,971
2097 427,149,320 36,003,567
2096 423,961,963 36,240,310
2095 420,678,721 36,477,183
2094 417,304,547 36,710,370
2093 413,867,290 36,941,728
2092 410,362,003 37,181,889
2091 406,763,717 37,416,123
2090 403,089,566 37,654,289
2089 399,334,389 37,896,069
2088 395,507,774 38,134,560
2087 391,613,249 38,375,540
2086 387,639,503 38,612,968
2085 383,604,733 38,857,421
2084 379,495,246 39,105,783
2083 375,330,369 39,352,795
2082 371,124,615 39,608,119
2081 366,878,238 39,866,527
2080 362,574,665 40,130,426
2079 358,227,097 40,403,049
2078 353,821,014 40,680,460
2077 349,368,182 40,962,463
2076 344,866,731 41,254,005
2075 340,338,504 41,558,635
2074 335,761,691 41,883,296
2073 331,157,281 42,216,283
2072 326,505,656 42,564,739
2071 321,830,769 42,921,274
2070 317,104,580 43,295,245
2069 312,349,776 43,679,714
2068 307,566,932 44,073,736
2067 302,762,490 44,471,480
2066 297,932,241 44,883,154
2065 293,081,284 45,309,461
2064 288,211,987 45,741,985
2063 283,315,009 46,180,658
2062 278,399,192 46,633,125
2061 273,464,914 47,088,290
2060 268,520,814 47,542,648
2059 263,570,338 47,998,659
2058 258,622,778 48,452,892
2057 253,685,085 48,899,246
2056 248,748,321 49,344,799
2055 243,814,854 49,776,680
2054 238,885,417 50,197,999
2053 233,971,468 50,613,632
2052 229,073,420 51,012,772
2051 224,197,775 51,404,003
2050 219,354,949 51,791,523
2049 214,547,398 52,164,254
2048 209,774,448 52,522,170
2047 205,040,532 52,876,346
2046 200,341,405 53,212,697
2045 195,693,533 53,541,344
2044 191,087,342 53,856,790
2043 186,534,055 54,176,580
2042 182,033,706 54,477,632
2041 177,583,290 54,765,213
2040 173,191,594 55,052,803
2039 168,846,440 55,342,225
2038 164,551,895 55,619,470
2037 160,316,591 55,895,913
2036 156,099,100 56,164,408
2035 151,924,296 56,435,468
2034 147,782,785 56,703,168
2033 143,684,929 56,963,528
2032 139,642,368 57,220,334
2031 135,634,548 57,487,786
2030 131,685,113 57,749,232
2029 127,793,612 57,994,812
2028 123,956,913 58,236,078
2027 120,188,952 58,477,957
2026 116,482,769 58,708,169
2025 112,832,473 58,915,656
2024 109,276,265 58,952,704
2023 105,789,731 58,984,216
2022 102,396,968 59,013,667
2021 99,148,932 59,133,173
2020 95,989,998 59,438,851
2019 92,947,442 59,729,081
2018 90,047,644 59,877,221
2017 87,083,398 60,002,252
2016 83,956,415 60,115,223
2015 81,035,531 60,229,605
2014 78,403,242 60,320,707
2013 75,789,395 60,311,613
2012 73,254,618 60,191,247
2011 70,849,311 60,026,841
2010 68,563,038 59,819,407
2009 66,412,044 59,555,454
2008 64,390,664 59,211,181
2007 62,477,752 58,756,247
2006 60,615,908 58,399,861
2005 58,775,724 58,166,682
2004 56,997,741 57,828,179
2003 55,343,867 57,399,184
2002 53,750,524 57,089,824
2001 52,132,646 56,976,981
2000 50,507,442 56,942,108
1999 48,912,971 56,916,317
1998 47,297,600 56,906,744
1997 46,029,902 56,890,372
1996 45,296,124 56,860,281
1995 44,433,704 56,844,303
1994 42,626,876 56,843,400
1993 40,656,336 56,831,821
1992 39,228,910 56,797,087
1991 37,925,817 56,758,521
1990 36,684,063 56,719,240
1989 35,486,866 56,671,781
1988 34,382,752 56,629,288
1987 33,298,904 56,601,931
1986 32,265,196 56,596,155
1985 31,264,816 56,593,071
1984 30,245,081 56,576,718
1983 29,250,963 56,564,074
1982 28,338,190 56,543,548
1981 27,500,515 56,501,675
1980 26,711,099 56,433,883
1979 25,886,782 56,317,749
1978 24,992,689 56,155,143
1977 24,229,061 55,955,411
1976 23,624,031 55,718,260
1975 23,021,101 55,441,001
1974 22,418,878 55,110,868
1973 21,827,665 54,751,406
1972 21,251,160 54,381,345
1971 20,695,569 54,073,490
1970 20,137,436 53,821,850
1969 19,570,445 53,537,950
1968 19,012,189 53,235,750
1967 18,462,782 52,900,500
1966 17,931,929 52,519,000
1965 17,427,802 52,112,350
1964 16,955,327 51,675,350
1963 16,507,599 51,252,000
1962 16,075,724 50,879,450
1961 15,662,374 50,536,350
1960 15,264,846 50,199,700

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/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Italy gained 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Italy's population decreased by 1,407,054 people (a 2.34% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Italy was ranked 23rd in 2006 and ranked 26th 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 Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,791,523 people and rank change from 26th to 40th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.3M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Italy
2100 0.68% -0.67%
2099 0.71% -0.65%
2098 0.73% -0.66%
2097 0.75% -0.65%
2096 0.78% -0.65%
2095 0.81% -0.64%
2094 0.83% -0.63%
2093 0.85% -0.65%
2092 0.88% -0.63%
2091 0.91% -0.63%
2090 0.94% -0.64%
2089 0.97% -0.63%
2088 0.99% -0.63%
2087 1.03% -0.61%
2086 1.05% -0.63%
2085 1.08% -0.64%
2084 1.11% -0.63%
2083 1.13% -0.64%
2082 1.16% -0.65%
2081 1.19% -0.66%
2080 1.21% -0.67%
2079 1.25% -0.68%
2078 1.27% -0.69%
2077 1.31% -0.71%
2076 1.33% -0.73%
2075 1.36% -0.78%
2074 1.39% -0.79%
2073 1.42% -0.82%
2072 1.45% -0.83%
2071 1.49% -0.86%
2070 1.52% -0.88%
2069 1.56% -0.89%
2068 1.59% -0.89%
2067 1.62% -0.92%
2066 1.66% -0.94%
2065 1.69% -0.95%
2064 1.73% -0.95%
2063 1.77% -0.97%
2062 1.8% -0.97%
2061 1.84% -0.96%
2060 1.88% -0.95%
2059 1.91% -0.94%
2058 1.95% -0.91%
2057 1.98% -0.9%
2056 2.02% -0.87%
2055 2.06% -0.84%
2054 2.1% -0.82%
2053 2.14% -0.78%
2052 2.17% -0.76%
2051 2.21% -0.75%
2050 2.24% -0.71%
2049 2.28% -0.68%
2048 2.31% -0.67%
2047 2.35% -0.63%
2046 2.38% -0.61%
2045 2.41% -0.59%
2044 2.44% -0.59%
2043 2.47% -0.55%
2042 2.51% -0.53%
2041 2.54% -0.52%
2040 2.57% -0.52%
2039 2.61% -0.5%
2038 2.64% -0.49%
2037 2.7% -0.48%
2036 2.75% -0.48%
2035 2.8% -0.47%
2034 2.85% -0.46%
2033 2.89% -0.45%
2032 2.95% -0.47%
2031 3% -0.45%
2030 3.05% -0.42%
2029 3.1% -0.41%
2028 3.14% -0.41%
2027 3.18% -0.39%
2026 3.24% -0.35%
2025 3.25% -0.06%
2024 3.3% -0.05%
2023 3.31% -0.05%
2022 3.28% -0.2%
2021 3.29% -0.51%
2020 3.27% -0.49%
2019 3.22% -0.25%
2018 3.4% -0.21%
2017 3.72% -0.19%
2016 3.6% -0.19%
2015 3.36% -0.15%
2014 3.45% 0.02%
2013 3.46% 0.2%
2012 3.39% 0.27%
2011 3.33% 0.35%
2010 3.24% 0.44%
2009 3.14% 0.58%
2008 3.06% 0.77%
2007 3.07% 0.61%
2006 3.13% 0.4%
2005 3.12% 0.59%
2004 2.99% 0.75%
2003 2.96% 0.54%
2002 3.1% 0.2%
2001 3.22% 0.06%
2000 3.26% 0.05%
1999 3.42% 0.02%
1998 2.75% 0.03%
1997 1.62% 0.05%
1996 1.94% 0.03%
1995 4.24% 0.002%
1994 4.85% 0.02%
1993 3.64% 0.06%
1992 3.44% 0.07%
1991 3.38% 0.07%
1990 3.37% 0.08%
1989 3.21% 0.08%
1988 3.25% 0.05%
1987 3.2% 0.01%
1986 3.2% 0.005%
1985 3.37% 0.03%
1984 3.4% 0.02%
1983 3.22% 0.04%
1982 3.05% 0.07%
1981 2.96% 0.12%
1980 3.18% 0.21%
1979 3.58% 0.29%
1978 3.15% 0.36%
1977 2.56% 0.43%
1976 2.62% 0.5%
1975 2.69% 0.6%
1974 2.71% 0.66%
1973 2.71% 0.68%
1972 2.68% 0.57%
1971 2.77% 0.47%
1970 2.9% 0.53%
1969 2.94% 0.57%
1968 2.98% 0.63%
1967 2.96% 0.73%
1966 2.89% 0.78%
1965 2.79% 0.85%
1964 2.71% 0.83%
1963 2.69% 0.73%
1962 2.64% 0.68%
1961 2.6% 0.67%

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/italy | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Italy's population declined by 0.06%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Italy
Current population
118386491
58708169
Population rank 14/197 26/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.71%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
14.2 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
1.42 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
48.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,743 -102
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 -37,048
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% -0.06%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 162/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
6.99 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +75,448
Net migration rank 159/196 19/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 6,553,671
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 12/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 11%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 59/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Italy
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Italy
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 75,448
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 -277,077 95,246
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -294,922 150,189
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -318,674 231,228
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 -301,579 157,327
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -338,801 85,281
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 -215,025 46,634
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 -197,595 83,686
2017 2,883,245 176,290 -192,007 95,147
2016 2,753,687 440,748 -138,265 84,568
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 -162,620 39,389
2014 2,580,251 36,966 -96,513 52,679
2013 2,489,378 121,097 -90,468 158,090
2012 2,405,462 53,668 -78,248 252,524
2011 2,310,679 40,891 -48,021 198,544
2010 2,212,255 8,823 -23,928 274,387
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 -17,866 283,676
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 -11,842 422,534
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 -5,876 495,092
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 0 215,995
2005 1,800,300 20,384 -17,450 258,702
2004 1,731,022 4,260 11,566 417,970
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 -40,179 478,578
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 -22,836 223,861
2001 1,594,999 26,523 -11,396 48,903
2000 1,549,518 79,340 -17,082 56,065
1999 1,450,318 109,761 -22,766 54,405
1998 1,375,130 295,560 -39,835 67,985
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 -22,756 50,539
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 -22,744 53,450
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 -34,107 -460,287
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 -17,053 502,750
1993 1,209,242 240,176 0 24,321
1992 1,152,781 252,666 22,718 51,747
1991 1,114,033 86,721 11,352 19,721
1990 1,063,508 219,270 22,688 35,317
1989 1,027,238 84,415 28,336 19,540
1988 995,278 101,314 33,977 18,553
1987 959,875 111,220 16,980 7,825
1986 925,334 70,988 11,319 -6,206
1985 885,670 118,791 28,297 6,911
1984 844,956 190,045 50,919 203
1983 807,122 146,095 33,939 -3,733
1982 774,823 97,495 79,161 -24,223
1981 748,371 54,656 73,452 7,182
1980 724,111 51,685 84,650 295,642
1979 691,773 181,028 129,531 42,637
1978 646,411 268,974 168,465 43,932
1977 638,242 -26,355 190,248 42,246
1976 624,147 -25,965 228,445 40,885
1975 608,655 -972 271,660 43,051
1974 593,539 3,216 336,176 42,487
1973 578,280 7,414 328,508 41,631
1972 564,495 2,840 364,355 43,182
1971 549,343 -5,497 383,922 -58,627
1970 533,300 39,116 376,753 -62,216
1969 514,800 46,778 390,827 -45,346
1968 497,682 57,274 399,268 -50,149
1967 479,552 64,307 439,074 -37,992
1966 463,397 54,443 488,427 -35,352
1965 429,002 61,397 474,222 -36,267
1964 406,334 48,207 527,089 -27,368
1963 398,972 41,960 440,767 -28,198
1962 383,406 39,431 427,387 -25,840
1961 368,207 35,654 459,880 -129,761
1960 363,517 27,673 426,697 -140,765

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/italy | 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 Italy 69.5% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,436,565 people) and 30.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,068,695 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 6,553,671 people or 11% in Italy.

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
Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K

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/italy | 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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