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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 58,952,704 people in Italy in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 58,562,681 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 2.01 times bigger than Italy's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Italy is the 26th.
  • The countries together account for 2.12% 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 +3.38% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.6M (0.28% growth).

DR Congo vs Italy: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Italy
2100 436,320,913 35,208,261
2099 433,372,904 35,444,989
2098 430,335,169 35,676,340
2097 427,231,271 35,914,345
2096 424,043,303 36,150,501
2095 420,759,430 36,386,787
2094 417,384,609 36,619,396
2093 413,946,692 36,850,181
2092 410,440,733 37,089,746
2091 406,841,757 37,323,400
2090 403,166,901 37,560,976
2089 399,411,004 37,802,157
2088 395,583,655 38,040,056
2087 391,688,383 38,280,439
2086 387,713,874 38,517,279
2085 383,678,330 38,761,126
2084 379,568,054 39,008,873
2083 375,402,379 39,255,273
2082 371,195,818 39,509,964
2081 366,948,626 39,767,732
2080 362,644,227 40,030,977
2079 358,295,825 40,302,924
2078 353,888,897 40,579,648
2077 349,435,210 40,860,952
2076 344,932,895 41,151,772
2075 340,403,800 41,455,646
2074 335,826,108 41,779,503
2073 331,220,816 42,111,664
2072 326,568,298 42,459,257
2071 321,892,514 42,814,908
2070 317,165,418 43,187,953
2069 312,409,702 43,571,469
2068 307,625,941 43,964,515
2067 302,820,577 44,361,273
2066 297,989,401 44,771,926
2065 293,137,514 45,197,177
2064 288,267,282 45,628,630
2063 283,369,365 46,066,216
2062 278,452,605 46,517,561
2061 273,517,380 46,971,598
2060 268,572,331 47,424,830
2059 263,620,905 47,879,711
2058 258,672,397 48,332,818
2057 253,733,756 48,778,066
2056 248,796,045 49,222,515
2055 243,861,631 49,653,326
2054 238,931,249 50,073,600
2053 234,016,357 50,488,203
2052 229,117,369 50,886,354
2051 224,240,788 51,276,616
2050 219,397,034 51,663,176
2049 214,588,560 52,034,983
2048 209,814,694 52,392,012
2047 205,079,870 52,745,310
2046 200,379,842 53,080,828
2045 195,731,078 53,408,660
2044 191,124,003 53,723,325
2043 186,569,843 54,042,322
2042 182,068,630 54,342,628
2041 177,617,360 54,629,496
2040 173,224,822 54,916,374
2039 168,878,834 55,205,078
2038 164,583,465 55,481,637
2037 160,347,349 55,757,394
2036 156,129,049 56,025,224
2035 151,953,443 56,295,613
2034 147,811,138 56,562,648
2033 143,712,496 56,822,364
2032 139,669,159 57,078,534
2031 135,660,570 57,345,322
2030 131,710,378 57,606,120
2029 127,818,130 57,851,091
2028 123,980,695 58,091,760
2027 120,212,011 58,333,039
2026 116,505,117 58,562,681
2025 112,854,120 58,769,653
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 60,148,658
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Italy's population decreased by 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th 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 86.7% to 219,397,034 people with a rank change from 15th to 8th. The population of Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,663,176 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 35.2M 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 3.27% -0.31%
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% -0.7%
2018 3.4% 0.24%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/italy | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Italy's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Italy
Current population
117507801
58562681
Population rank 15/197 26/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.71%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
16.7 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
1.39 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
47.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,552 -86
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 -31,512
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 170/197
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 - -26,968 - 95,246
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -283,125 150,189
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 -192,475 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/italy | 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 Italy 68.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 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 480K
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 (1960–2024, 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/italy | 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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