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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 57,532,493 people in Kenya in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 59,218,766 in Kenya.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 2 times bigger than Kenya's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Kenya is the 25th.
  • The countries together account for 2.14% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.71% for Kenya.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +2.04% in Kenya.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Kenya has grown from 36.9M to 59.2M (60.5% growth).

DR Congo vs Kenya: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Kenya
2100 436,237,219 105,223,316
2099 433,289,774 105,242,590
2098 430,252,622 105,242,641
2097 427,149,320 105,236,101
2096 423,961,963 105,205,242
2095 420,678,721 105,160,786
2094 417,304,547 105,103,544
2093 413,867,290 105,032,088
2092 410,362,003 104,940,218
2091 406,763,717 104,832,015
2090 403,089,566 104,703,358
2089 399,334,389 104,558,519
2088 395,507,774 104,399,468
2087 391,613,249 104,228,800
2086 387,639,503 104,041,464
2085 383,604,733 103,840,241
2084 379,495,246 103,625,624
2083 375,330,369 103,392,537
2082 371,124,615 103,144,028
2081 366,878,238 102,874,777
2080 362,574,665 102,580,506
2079 358,227,097 102,272,538
2078 353,821,014 101,946,897
2077 349,368,182 101,598,847
2076 344,866,731 101,225,562
2075 340,338,504 100,835,197
2074 335,761,691 100,422,464
2073 331,157,281 99,987,171
2072 326,505,656 99,519,193
2071 321,830,769 99,028,293
2070 317,104,580 98,515,267
2069 312,349,776 97,978,409
2068 307,566,932 97,414,394
2067 302,762,490 96,829,083
2066 297,932,241 96,216,770
2065 293,081,284 95,585,451
2064 288,211,987 94,929,481
2063 283,315,009 94,252,826
2062 278,399,192 93,548,321
2061 273,464,914 92,824,672
2060 268,520,814 92,085,725
2059 263,570,338 91,330,716
2058 258,622,778 90,557,051
2057 253,685,085 89,770,421
2056 248,748,321 88,981,572
2055 243,814,854 88,179,741
2054 238,885,417 87,367,666
2053 233,971,468 86,540,071
2052 229,073,420 85,698,312
2051 224,197,775 84,838,589
2050 219,354,949 83,964,839
2049 214,547,398 83,078,796
2048 209,774,448 82,179,525
2047 205,040,532 81,263,371
2046 200,341,405 80,329,258
2045 195,693,533 79,378,234
2044 191,087,342 78,403,097
2043 186,534,055 77,407,646
2042 182,033,706 76,389,004
2041 177,583,290 75,353,221
2040 173,191,594 74,297,998
2039 168,846,440 73,230,696
2038 164,551,895 72,143,698
2037 160,316,591 71,048,729
2036 156,099,100 69,939,553
2035 151,924,296 68,821,441
2034 147,782,785 67,695,500
2033 143,684,929 66,560,141
2032 139,642,368 65,422,172
2031 135,634,548 64,280,471
2030 131,685,113 63,144,611
2029 127,793,612 62,012,629
2028 123,956,913 60,885,488
2027 120,188,952 59,761,684
2026 116,482,769 58,645,347
2025 112,832,473 57,532,493
2024 109,276,265 56,432,944
2023 105,789,731 55,339,003
2022 102,396,968 54,252,461
2021 99,148,932 53,219,166
2020 95,989,998 52,217,334
2019 92,947,442 51,202,827
2018 90,047,644 50,207,107
2017 87,083,398 49,197,766
2016 83,956,415 48,139,687
2015 81,035,531 47,088,526
2014 78,403,242 46,051,440
2013 75,789,395 44,986,791
2012 73,254,618 43,888,303
2011 70,849,311 42,758,461
2010 68,563,038 41,598,567
2009 66,412,044 40,408,891
2008 64,390,664 39,206,351
2007 62,477,752 38,036,349
2006 60,615,908 36,904,008
2005 58,775,724 35,796,484
2004 56,997,741 34,713,455
2003 55,343,867 33,652,223
2002 53,750,524 32,629,808
2001 52,132,646 31,619,170
2000 50,507,442 30,642,890
1999 48,912,971 29,733,408
1998 47,297,600 28,888,057
1997 46,029,902 28,101,768
1996 45,296,124 27,344,211
1995 44,433,704 26,601,751
1994 42,626,876 25,857,130
1993 40,656,336 25,117,188
1992 39,228,910 24,382,460
1991 37,925,817 23,646,514
1990 36,684,063 22,892,651
1989 35,486,866 22,118,434
1988 34,382,752 21,356,219
1987 33,298,904 20,616,096
1986 32,265,196 19,901,646
1985 31,264,816 19,201,768
1984 30,245,081 18,514,906
1983 29,250,963 17,846,374
1982 28,338,190 17,206,175
1981 27,500,515 16,601,507
1980 26,711,099 16,018,459
1979 25,886,782 15,460,666
1978 24,992,689 14,934,126
1977 24,229,061 14,428,819
1976 23,624,031 13,957,623
1975 23,021,101 13,511,671
1974 22,418,878 13,070,078
1973 21,827,665 12,634,835
1972 21,251,160 12,206,060
1971 20,695,569 11,788,904
1970 20,137,436 11,368,791
1969 19,570,445 10,939,695
1968 19,012,189 10,518,823
1967 18,462,782 10,111,057
1966 17,931,929 9,717,816
1965 17,427,802 9,338,078
1964 16,955,327 8,973,535
1963 16,507,599 8,627,971
1962 16,075,724 8,299,308
1961 15,662,374 7,987,770
1960 15,264,846 7,695,307

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/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Kenya gained 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Kenya's population increased by 11,079,079 people (a 23% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Kenya was ranked 33rd in 2006 and ranked 25th 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 Kenya will increase by 41.8% to 83,964,839 people and rank change from 25th to 22nd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 105M people in 2098 for Kenya.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Kenya
2100 0.68% -0.02%
2099 0.71% -0%
2098 0.73% 0.006%
2097 0.75% 0.03%
2096 0.78% 0.04%
2095 0.81% 0.05%
2094 0.83% 0.07%
2093 0.85% 0.09%
2092 0.88% 0.1%
2091 0.91% 0.12%
2090 0.94% 0.14%
2089 0.97% 0.15%
2088 0.99% 0.16%
2087 1.03% 0.18%
2086 1.05% 0.19%
2085 1.08% 0.21%
2084 1.11% 0.23%
2083 1.13% 0.24%
2082 1.16% 0.26%
2081 1.19% 0.29%
2080 1.21% 0.3%
2079 1.25% 0.32%
2078 1.27% 0.34%
2077 1.31% 0.37%
2076 1.33% 0.39%
2075 1.36% 0.41%
2074 1.39% 0.44%
2073 1.42% 0.47%
2072 1.45% 0.5%
2071 1.49% 0.52%
2070 1.52% 0.55%
2069 1.56% 0.58%
2068 1.59% 0.6%
2067 1.62% 0.64%
2066 1.66% 0.66%
2065 1.69% 0.69%
2064 1.73% 0.72%
2063 1.77% 0.75%
2062 1.8% 0.78%
2061 1.84% 0.8%
2060 1.88% 0.83%
2059 1.91% 0.85%
2058 1.95% 0.88%
2057 1.98% 0.89%
2056 2.02% 0.91%
2055 2.06% 0.93%
2054 2.1% 0.96%
2053 2.14% 0.98%
2052 2.17% 1.01%
2051 2.21% 1.04%
2050 2.24% 1.07%
2049 2.28% 1.09%
2048 2.31% 1.13%
2047 2.35% 1.16%
2046 2.38% 1.2%
2045 2.41% 1.24%
2044 2.44% 1.29%
2043 2.47% 1.33%
2042 2.51% 1.37%
2041 2.54% 1.42%
2040 2.57% 1.46%
2039 2.61% 1.51%
2038 2.64% 1.54%
2037 2.7% 1.59%
2036 2.75% 1.62%
2035 2.8% 1.66%
2034 2.85% 1.71%
2033 2.89% 1.74%
2032 2.95% 1.78%
2031 3% 1.8%
2030 3.05% 1.83%
2029 3.1% 1.85%
2028 3.14% 1.88%
2027 3.18% 1.9%
2026 3.24% 1.93%
2025 3.25% 1.95%
2024 3.3% 1.98%
2023 3.31% 2%
2022 3.28% 1.94%
2021 3.29% 1.92%
2020 3.27% 1.98%
2019 3.22% 1.98%
2018 3.4% 2.05%
2017 3.72% 2.2%
2016 3.6% 2.23%
2015 3.36% 2.25%
2014 3.45% 2.37%
2013 3.46% 2.5%
2012 3.39% 2.64%
2011 3.33% 2.79%
2010 3.24% 2.94%
2009 3.14% 3.07%
2008 3.06% 3.08%
2007 3.07% 3.07%
2006 3.13% 3.09%
2005 3.12% 3.12%
2004 2.99% 3.15%
2003 2.96% 3.13%
2002 3.1% 3.2%
2001 3.22% 3.19%
2000 3.26% 3.06%
1999 3.42% 2.93%
1998 2.75% 2.8%
1997 1.62% 2.77%
1996 1.94% 2.79%
1995 4.24% 2.88%
1994 4.85% 2.95%
1993 3.64% 3.01%
1992 3.44% 3.11%
1991 3.38% 3.29%
1990 3.37% 3.5%
1989 3.21% 3.57%
1988 3.25% 3.59%
1987 3.2% 3.59%
1986 3.2% 3.64%
1985 3.37% 3.71%
1984 3.4% 3.75%
1983 3.22% 3.72%
1982 3.05% 3.64%
1981 2.96% 3.64%
1980 3.18% 3.61%
1979 3.58% 3.53%
1978 3.15% 3.5%
1977 2.56% 3.38%
1976 2.62% 3.3%
1975 2.69% 3.38%
1974 2.71% 3.44%
1973 2.71% 3.51%
1972 2.68% 3.54%
1971 2.77% 3.7%
1970 2.9% 3.92%
1969 2.94% 4%
1968 2.98% 4.03%
1967 2.96% 4.05%
1966 2.89% 4.07%
1965 2.79% 4.06%
1964 2.71% 4.01%
1963 2.69% 3.96%
1962 2.64% 3.9%
1961 2.6% 3.8%

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/kenya | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Kenya's population grew by 1.95%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Kenya
Current population
118386491
59218766
Population rank 14/197 25/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.71%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
28.8 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
20.7 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
1.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +3,012
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +1,099,549
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +1.95%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 51/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -27,330
Net migration rank 159/196 160/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 992,536
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 61/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 136/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Kenya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Kenya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -27,330
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 1,116,695 -19,781
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 1,100,970 -10,003
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 1,092,102 -10,003
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 1,037,082 -52,552
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 1,036,253 -17,111
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 1,071,777 -61,949
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 1,097,075 -115,436
2017 2,883,245 176,290 1,105,769 -68,702
2016 2,753,687 440,748 1,108,801 -29,728
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 1,119,200 -95,977
2014 2,580,251 36,966 1,123,333 -72,415
2013 2,489,378 121,097 1,136,006 -57,634
2012 2,405,462 53,668 1,161,548 -42,928
2011 2,310,679 40,891 1,185,863 -44,795
2010 2,212,255 8,823 1,199,786 -21,069
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 1,193,598 7,096
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 1,174,818 29,612
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 1,147,063 -11,495
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 1,113,357 15,767
2005 1,800,300 20,384 1,080,446 5,501
2004 1,731,022 4,260 1,048,590 31,525
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 1,018,182 24,175
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 992,044 10,431
2001 1,594,999 26,523 963,721 55,052
2000 1,549,518 79,340 928,357 5,407
1999 1,450,318 109,761 898,484 -13,257
1998 1,375,130 295,560 875,511 -70,023
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 847,493 -80,443
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 827,326 -79,276
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 812,391 -75,506
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 792,702 -40,367
1993 1,209,242 240,176 788,579 -61,054
1992 1,152,781 252,666 785,018 -43,085
1991 1,114,033 86,721 790,030 -60,087
1990 1,063,508 219,270 789,087 -11,338
1989 1,027,238 84,415 795,622 -24,949
1988 995,278 101,314 785,652 -31,894
1987 959,875 111,220 775,124 -48,633
1986 925,334 70,988 755,606 -53,183
1985 885,670 118,791 732,739 -35,400
1984 844,956 190,045 709,639 -33,253
1983 807,122 146,095 684,587 -23,905
1982 774,823 97,495 663,109 -43,382
1981 748,371 54,656 642,379 -52,761
1980 724,111 51,685 616,390 -39,920
1979 691,773 181,028 595,390 -56,280
1978 646,411 268,974 574,695 -60,718
1977 638,242 -26,355 554,124 -57,493
1976 624,147 -25,965 536,740 -90,990
1975 608,655 -972 517,579 -71,421
1974 593,539 3,216 500,008 -62,973
1973 578,280 7,414 485,556 -52,102
1972 564,495 2,840 472,557 -48,466
1971 549,343 -5,497 459,897 -49,671
1970 533,300 39,116 443,065 -13,064
1969 514,800 46,778 427,819 369
1968 497,682 57,274 411,948 1,611
1967 479,552 64,307 396,920 5,060
1966 463,397 54,443 382,891 1,616
1965 429,002 61,397 366,444 8,524
1964 406,334 48,207 349,322 4,788
1963 398,972 41,960 332,763 4,246
1962 383,406 39,431 315,797 4,521
1961 368,207 35,654 298,463 4,296
1960 363,517 27,673 280,032 2,134

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/kenya | 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 Kenya 95.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,885,724 people) and 4.23% is from migration (a loss of 481,242 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 992,536 people or 1.8% in Kenya.

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
Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
Meru 42.7K

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/kenya | 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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