Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 56,432,944 people in Kenya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 58,955,623 in Kenya.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 1.99 times bigger than Kenya's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Kenya is the 25th.
  • The countries together account for 2.13% 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 +3.38% per year vs +2.08% in Kenya.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Kenya has grown from 36.9M to 59M (59.8% growth).

DR Congo vs Kenya: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Kenya
2100 436,320,913 105,238,162
2099 433,372,904 105,257,438
2098 430,335,169 105,257,489
2097 427,231,271 105,250,948
2096 424,043,303 105,220,085
2095 420,759,430 105,175,623
2094 417,384,609 105,118,372
2093 413,946,692 105,046,907
2092 410,440,733 104,955,024
2091 406,841,757 104,846,805
2090 403,166,901 104,718,130
2089 399,411,004 104,573,271
2088 395,583,655 104,414,197
2087 391,688,383 104,243,505
2086 387,713,874 104,056,143
2085 383,678,330 103,854,891
2084 379,568,054 103,640,244
2083 375,402,379 103,407,124
2082 371,195,818 103,158,580
2081 366,948,626 102,889,291
2080 362,644,227 102,594,978
2079 358,295,825 102,286,967
2078 353,888,897 101,961,280
2077 349,435,210 101,613,181
2076 344,932,895 101,239,843
2075 340,403,800 100,849,423
2074 335,826,108 100,436,632
2073 331,220,816 100,001,277
2072 326,568,298 99,533,234
2071 321,892,514 99,042,264
2070 317,165,418 98,529,166
2069 312,409,702 97,992,232
2068 307,625,941 97,428,138
2067 302,820,577 96,842,744
2066 297,989,401 96,230,345
2065 293,137,514 95,598,937
2064 288,267,282 94,942,874
2063 283,369,365 94,266,124
2062 278,452,605 93,561,519
2061 273,517,380 92,837,768
2060 268,572,331 92,098,717
2059 263,620,905 91,343,602
2058 258,672,397 90,569,828
2057 253,733,756 89,783,087
2056 248,796,045 88,994,126
2055 243,861,631 88,192,182
2054 238,931,249 87,379,992
2053 234,016,357 86,552,281
2052 229,117,369 85,710,403
2051 224,240,788 84,850,558
2050 219,397,034 83,976,685
2049 214,588,560 83,090,517
2048 209,814,694 82,191,119
2047 205,079,870 81,274,836
2046 200,379,842 80,340,592
2045 195,731,078 79,389,433
2044 191,124,003 78,414,158
2043 186,569,843 77,418,567
2042 182,068,630 76,399,781
2041 177,617,360 75,363,853
2040 173,224,822 74,308,480
2039 168,878,834 73,241,028
2038 164,583,465 72,153,876
2037 160,347,349 71,058,753
2036 156,129,049 69,949,421
2035 151,953,443 68,831,151
2034 147,811,138 67,705,051
2033 143,712,496 66,569,532
2032 139,669,159 65,431,402
2031 135,660,570 64,289,540
2030 131,710,378 63,153,520
2029 127,818,130 62,021,378
2028 123,980,695 60,894,078
2027 120,212,011 59,770,115
2026 116,505,117 58,653,621
2025 112,854,120 57,540,609
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Kenya's population increased by 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th 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 86.7% to 219,397,034 people with a rank change from 15th to 8th. The population of Kenya will increase by 42.4% to 83,976,685 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 3.27% 1.96%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Kenya's population grew by 1.98%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Kenya
Current population
117507801
58955623
Population rank 15/197 25/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.71%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
28.8 seconds
One birth every
7.22 seconds
21 seconds
One death every
35 seconds
1.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +2,997
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +1,093,941
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.98%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 53/197
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 - -26,968 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/kenya | 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 Kenya 95.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,892,362 people) and 4.67% is from migration (a loss of 533,876 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 480K
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 (1960–2024, 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/kenya | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.