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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 122,704,252 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 1.04 times bigger than the DR Congo's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 2.9% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

DR Congo vs Japan: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Japan
2100 436,237,219 76,995,942
2099 433,289,774 77,380,486
2098 430,252,622 77,759,557
2097 427,149,320 78,135,569
2096 423,961,963 78,515,892
2095 420,678,721 78,892,606
2094 417,304,547 79,267,768
2093 413,867,290 79,645,584
2092 410,362,003 80,025,578
2091 406,763,717 80,401,222
2090 403,089,566 80,778,500
2089 399,334,389 81,158,413
2088 395,507,774 81,539,639
2087 391,613,249 81,926,401
2086 387,639,503 82,322,612
2085 383,604,733 82,727,738
2084 379,495,246 83,141,354
2083 375,330,369 83,562,394
2082 371,124,615 83,998,809
2081 366,878,238 84,447,888
2080 362,574,665 84,918,455
2079 358,227,097 85,406,042
2078 353,821,014 85,916,840
2077 349,368,182 86,453,316
2076 344,866,731 87,012,155
2075 340,338,504 87,597,053
2074 335,761,691 88,209,803
2073 331,157,281 88,854,316
2072 326,505,656 89,519,055
2071 321,830,769 90,204,314
2070 317,104,580 90,919,143
2069 312,349,776 91,645,589
2068 307,566,932 92,388,299
2067 302,762,490 93,133,993
2066 297,932,241 93,889,902
2065 293,081,284 94,654,259
2064 288,211,987 95,412,429
2063 283,315,009 96,169,244
2062 278,399,192 96,924,236
2061 273,464,914 97,675,525
2060 268,520,814 98,422,553
2059 263,570,338 99,166,038
2058 258,622,778 99,890,950
2057 253,685,085 100,607,740
2056 248,748,321 101,318,164
2055 243,814,854 102,012,184
2054 238,885,417 102,706,063
2053 233,971,468 103,381,833
2052 229,073,420 104,059,800
2051 224,197,775 104,729,745
2050 219,354,949 105,400,477
2049 214,547,398 106,076,354
2048 209,774,448 106,754,699
2047 205,040,532 107,442,881
2046 200,341,405 108,139,155
2045 195,693,533 108,844,934
2044 191,087,342 109,553,441
2043 186,534,055 110,269,851
2042 182,033,706 110,992,599
2041 177,583,290 111,729,216
2040 173,191,594 112,463,507
2039 168,846,440 113,200,859
2038 164,551,895 113,940,856
2037 160,316,591 114,687,611
2036 156,099,100 115,436,359
2035 151,924,296 116,187,949
2034 147,782,785 116,936,734
2033 143,684,929 117,678,572
2032 139,642,368 118,419,247
2031 135,634,548 119,153,646
2030 131,685,113 119,882,512
2029 127,793,612 120,600,781
2028 123,956,913 121,314,239
2027 120,188,952 122,015,984
2026 116,482,769 122,704,252
2025 112,832,473 123,366,734
2024 109,276,265 123,975,371
2023 105,789,731 124,516,650
2022 102,396,968 125,124,989
2021 99,148,932 125,681,593
2020 95,989,998 126,261,000
2019 92,947,442 126,633,000
2018 90,047,644 126,811,000
2017 87,083,398 126,972,000
2016 83,956,415 127,076,000
2015 81,035,531 127,141,000
2014 78,403,242 127,276,000
2013 75,789,395 127,445,000
2012 73,254,618 127,629,000
2011 70,849,311 127,833,000
2010 68,563,038 128,070,000
2009 66,412,044 128,047,000
2008 64,390,664 128,063,000
2007 62,477,752 128,001,000
2006 60,615,908 127,854,000
2005 58,775,724 127,773,000
2004 56,997,741 127,761,000
2003 55,343,867 127,718,000
2002 53,750,524 127,445,000
2001 52,132,646 127,149,000
2000 50,507,442 126,843,000
1999 48,912,971 126,631,000
1998 47,297,600 126,400,000
1997 46,029,902 126,057,000
1996 45,296,124 125,757,000
1995 44,433,704 125,472,000
1994 42,626,876 125,178,000
1993 40,656,336 124,829,000
1992 39,228,910 124,425,000
1991 37,925,817 123,964,000
1990 36,684,063 123,478,000
1989 35,486,866 123,069,000
1988 34,382,752 122,578,000
1987 33,298,904 122,069,000
1986 32,265,196 121,482,000
1985 31,264,816 120,837,000
1984 30,245,081 120,083,000
1983 29,250,963 119,307,000
1982 28,338,190 118,480,000
1981 27,500,515 117,661,000
1980 26,711,099 116,807,000
1979 25,886,782 115,890,000
1978 24,992,689 114,913,000
1977 24,229,061 113,872,000
1976 23,624,031 112,775,000
1975 23,021,101 111,573,000
1974 22,418,878 110,162,000
1973 21,827,665 108,707,000
1972 21,251,160 107,188,000
1971 20,695,569 105,697,000
1970 20,137,436 103,403,000
1969 19,570,445 102,219,000
1968 19,012,189 101,011,000
1967 18,462,782 99,879,000
1966 17,931,929 98,851,000
1965 17,427,802 97,952,000
1964 16,955,327 96,903,000
1963 16,507,599 95,900,000
1962 16,075,724 94,933,000
1961 15,662,374 94,055,000
1960 15,264,846 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Japan
2100 0.68% -0.5%
2099 0.71% -0.49%
2098 0.73% -0.48%
2097 0.75% -0.48%
2096 0.78% -0.48%
2095 0.81% -0.47%
2094 0.83% -0.47%
2093 0.85% -0.47%
2092 0.88% -0.47%
2091 0.91% -0.47%
2090 0.94% -0.47%
2089 0.97% -0.47%
2088 0.99% -0.47%
2087 1.03% -0.48%
2086 1.05% -0.49%
2085 1.08% -0.5%
2084 1.11% -0.5%
2083 1.13% -0.52%
2082 1.16% -0.53%
2081 1.19% -0.55%
2080 1.21% -0.57%
2079 1.25% -0.59%
2078 1.27% -0.62%
2077 1.31% -0.64%
2076 1.33% -0.67%
2075 1.36% -0.69%
2074 1.39% -0.73%
2073 1.42% -0.74%
2072 1.45% -0.76%
2071 1.49% -0.79%
2070 1.52% -0.79%
2069 1.56% -0.8%
2068 1.59% -0.8%
2067 1.62% -0.81%
2066 1.66% -0.81%
2065 1.69% -0.79%
2064 1.73% -0.79%
2063 1.77% -0.78%
2062 1.8% -0.77%
2061 1.84% -0.76%
2060 1.88% -0.75%
2059 1.91% -0.73%
2058 1.95% -0.71%
2057 1.98% -0.7%
2056 2.02% -0.68%
2055 2.06% -0.68%
2054 2.1% -0.65%
2053 2.14% -0.65%
2052 2.17% -0.64%
2051 2.21% -0.64%
2050 2.24% -0.64%
2049 2.28% -0.64%
2048 2.31% -0.64%
2047 2.35% -0.64%
2046 2.38% -0.65%
2045 2.41% -0.65%
2044 2.44% -0.65%
2043 2.47% -0.65%
2042 2.51% -0.66%
2041 2.54% -0.65%
2040 2.57% -0.65%
2039 2.61% -0.65%
2038 2.64% -0.65%
2037 2.7% -0.65%
2036 2.75% -0.65%
2035 2.8% -0.64%
2034 2.85% -0.63%
2033 2.89% -0.63%
2032 2.95% -0.62%
2031 3% -0.61%
2030 3.05% -0.6%
2029 3.1% -0.59%
2028 3.14% -0.58%
2027 3.18% -0.56%
2026 3.24% -0.54%
2025 3.25% -0.49%
2024 3.3% -0.43%
2023 3.31% -0.49%
2022 3.28% -0.44%
2021 3.29% -0.46%
2020 3.27% -0.29%
2019 3.22% -0.14%
2018 3.4% -0.13%
2017 3.72% -0.08%
2016 3.6% -0.05%
2015 3.36% -0.11%
2014 3.45% -0.13%
2013 3.46% -0.14%
2012 3.39% -0.16%
2011 3.33% -0.19%
2010 3.24% 0.02%
2009 3.14% -0.01%
2008 3.06% 0.05%
2007 3.07% 0.11%
2006 3.13% 0.06%
2005 3.12% 0.009%
2004 2.99% 0.03%
2003 2.96% 0.21%
2002 3.1% 0.23%
2001 3.22% 0.24%
2000 3.26% 0.17%
1999 3.42% 0.18%
1998 2.75% 0.27%
1997 1.62% 0.24%
1996 1.94% 0.23%
1995 4.24% 0.23%
1994 4.85% 0.28%
1993 3.64% 0.32%
1992 3.44% 0.37%
1991 3.38% 0.39%
1990 3.37% 0.33%
1989 3.21% 0.4%
1988 3.25% 0.42%
1987 3.2% 0.48%
1986 3.2% 0.53%
1985 3.37% 0.63%
1984 3.4% 0.65%
1983 3.22% 0.7%
1982 3.05% 0.7%
1981 2.96% 0.73%
1980 3.18% 0.79%
1979 3.58% 0.85%
1978 3.15% 0.91%
1977 2.56% 0.97%
1976 2.62% 1.08%
1975 2.69% 1.28%
1974 2.71% 1.34%
1973 2.71% 1.42%
1972 2.68% 1.41%
1971 2.77% 2.22%
1970 2.9% 1.16%
1969 2.94% 1.2%
1968 2.98% 1.13%
1967 2.96% 1.04%
1966 2.89% 0.92%
1965 2.79% 1.08%
1964 2.71% 1.05%
1963 2.69% 1.02%
1962 2.64% 0.93%
1961 2.6% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Japan
Current population
118386491
122704252
Population rank 14/197 12/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 1.48%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
52 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
44.6 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,743 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 183/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +140,579
Net migration rank 159/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 140,579
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 -942,213 153,357
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -871,617 175,003
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -825,825 175,003
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 -640,976 -34,996
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -542,923 42,001
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 -531,858 318,190
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 -456,520 320,601
2017 2,883,245 176,290 -406,310 322,564
2016 2,753,687 440,748 -343,106 314,732
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 -292,424 168,896
2014 2,580,251 36,966 -267,279 58,109
2013 2,489,378 121,097 -242,146 66,449
2012 2,405,462 53,668 -229,733 67,904
2011 2,310,679 40,891 -204,533 97,720
2010 2,212,255 8,823 -128,070 131,860
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 -76,828 125,450
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 -51,225 142,605
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 -25,600 138,024
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 12,785 130,065
2005 1,800,300 20,384 -25,554 113,017
2004 1,731,022 4,260 76,656 69,014
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 114,946 74,875
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 178,423 60,864
2001 1,594,999 26,523 203,438 59,563
2000 1,549,518 79,340 228,317 23,468
1999 1,450,318 109,761 202,610 56,901
1998 1,375,130 295,560 265,440 45,912
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 277,325 43,366
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 314,392 25,030
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 276,039 87,714
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 363,017 154,214
1993 1,209,242 240,176 312,073 168,836
1992 1,152,781 252,666 360,833 170,878
1991 1,114,033 86,721 396,685 161,331
1990 1,063,508 219,270 407,478 124,582
1989 1,027,238 84,415 467,662 31,202
1988 995,278 101,314 527,085 51,154
1987 959,875 111,220 598,138 28,001
1986 925,334 70,988 631,706 27,987
1985 885,670 118,791 676,687 -141,323
1984 844,956 190,045 756,523 -273,686
1983 807,122 146,095 775,495 -269,755
1982 774,823 97,495 805,664 -288,550
1981 748,371 54,656 811,861 -278,525
1980 724,111 51,685 864,372 -92,314
1979 691,773 181,028 950,298 -57,692
1978 646,411 268,974 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 638,242 -26,355 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 624,147 -25,965 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 608,655 -972 1,204,989 107
1974 593,539 3,216 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 578,280 7,414 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 564,495 2,840 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 549,343 -5,497 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 533,300 39,116 1,230,496 33,731
1969 514,800 46,778 1,195,962 49,447
1968 497,682 57,274 1,191,930 43,593
1967 479,552 64,307 1,258,475 29,632
1966 463,397 54,443 682,072 68,934
1965 429,002 61,397 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 406,334 48,207 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 398,972 41,960 987,770 -100,742
1962 383,406 39,431 901,864 -57,075
1961 368,207 35,654 893,522 -58,882
1960 363,517 27,673 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/japan | 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 Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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