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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 7,769,819 people in Laos in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 8,004,838 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 14.7 times bigger than Laos'.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.51% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.1% for Laos.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +1.48% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8M (34.2% growth).

DR Congo vs Laos: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Laos
2100 436,320,913 9,342,607
2099 433,372,904 9,389,481
2098 430,335,169 9,435,427
2097 427,231,271 9,480,219
2096 424,043,303 9,524,052
2095 420,759,430 9,567,045
2094 417,384,609 9,609,471
2093 413,946,692 9,651,065
2092 410,440,733 9,691,590
2091 406,841,757 9,731,446
2090 403,166,901 9,770,116
2089 399,411,004 9,807,690
2088 395,583,655 9,844,143
2087 391,688,383 9,879,110
2086 387,713,874 9,912,903
2085 383,678,330 9,945,223
2084 379,568,054 9,975,614
2083 375,402,379 10,005,023
2082 371,195,818 10,032,558
2081 366,948,626 10,058,731
2080 362,644,227 10,083,222
2079 358,295,825 10,106,703
2078 353,888,897 10,128,372
2077 349,435,210 10,148,533
2076 344,932,895 10,165,829
2075 340,403,800 10,182,062
2074 335,826,108 10,196,505
2073 331,220,816 10,208,837
2072 326,568,298 10,218,581
2071 321,892,514 10,225,726
2070 317,165,418 10,231,909
2069 312,409,702 10,235,317
2068 307,625,941 10,235,668
2067 302,820,577 10,233,930
2066 297,989,401 10,228,744
2065 293,137,514 10,222,027
2064 288,267,282 10,212,674
2063 283,369,365 10,200,753
2062 278,452,605 10,186,526
2061 273,517,380 10,169,161
2060 268,572,331 10,149,107
2059 263,620,905 10,126,671
2058 258,672,397 10,100,989
2057 253,733,756 10,072,578
2056 248,796,045 10,041,736
2055 243,861,631 10,008,916
2054 238,931,249 9,972,602
2053 234,016,357 9,933,363
2052 229,117,369 9,891,383
2051 224,240,788 9,846,656
2050 219,397,034 9,799,766
2049 214,588,560 9,750,669
2048 209,814,694 9,697,931
2047 205,079,870 9,643,484
2046 200,379,842 9,586,249
2045 195,731,078 9,527,029
2044 191,124,003 9,465,046
2043 186,569,843 9,401,665
2042 182,068,630 9,334,890
2041 177,617,360 9,266,149
2040 173,224,822 9,195,755
2039 168,878,834 9,122,969
2038 164,583,465 9,046,689
2037 160,347,349 8,968,700
2036 156,129,049 8,888,903
2035 151,953,443 8,807,373
2034 147,811,138 8,723,937
2033 143,712,496 8,638,238
2032 139,669,159 8,550,017
2031 135,660,570 8,459,669
2030 131,710,378 8,367,305
2029 127,818,130 8,273,173
2028 123,980,695 8,176,811
2027 120,212,011 8,078,122
2026 116,505,117 7,977,666
2025 112,854,120 7,874,813
2024 109,276,265 7,769,819
2023 105,789,731 7,664,993
2022 102,396,968 7,559,007
2021 99,148,932 7,453,194
2020 95,989,998 7,346,533
2019 92,947,442 7,237,636
2018 90,047,644 7,128,045
2017 87,083,398 7,018,147
2016 83,956,415 6,908,802
2015 81,035,531 6,801,645
2014 78,403,242 6,703,172
2013 75,789,395 6,611,385
2012 73,254,618 6,518,978
2011 70,849,311 6,426,590
2010 68,563,038 6,334,194
2009 66,412,044 6,241,642
2008 64,390,664 6,148,969
2007 62,477,752 6,056,236
2006 60,615,908 5,963,200
2005 58,775,724 5,869,523
2004 56,997,741 5,781,626
2003 55,343,867 5,697,945
2002 53,750,524 5,610,889
2001 52,132,646 5,521,482
2000 50,507,442 5,431,212
1999 48,912,971 5,340,784
1998 47,297,600 5,248,266
1997 46,029,902 5,152,011
1996 45,296,124 5,045,678
1995 44,433,704 4,929,409
1994 42,626,876 4,809,220
1993 40,656,336 4,685,060
1992 39,228,910 4,559,646
1991 37,925,817 4,435,118
1990 36,684,063 4,311,955
1989 35,486,866 4,190,974
1988 34,382,752 4,072,601
1987 33,298,904 3,957,612
1986 32,265,196 3,846,715
1985 31,264,816 3,739,985
1984 30,245,081 3,637,843
1983 29,250,963 3,541,001
1982 28,338,190 3,450,026
1981 27,500,515 3,366,631
1980 26,711,099 3,292,573
1979 25,886,782 3,228,202
1978 24,992,689 3,171,740
1977 24,229,061 3,118,923
1976 23,624,031 3,064,876
1975 23,021,101 3,005,521
1974 22,418,878 2,939,761
1973 21,827,665 2,870,573
1972 21,251,160 2,801,660
1971 20,695,569 2,734,628
1970 20,137,436 2,669,702
1969 19,570,445 2,606,959
1968 19,012,189 2,546,377
1967 18,462,782 2,487,715
1966 17,931,929 2,431,084
1965 17,427,802 2,376,200
1964 16,955,327 2,322,826
1963 16,507,599 2,271,061
1962 16,075,724 2,219,910
1961 15,662,374 2,169,796
1960 15,264,846 2,121,514

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/laos | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Laos gained 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Laos' population increased by 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Laos was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 103rd 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 Laos will increase by 22.4% to 9,799,766 people and rank change from 103rd to 99th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 10.2M people in 2068 for Laos.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Laos
2100 0.68% -0.5%
2099 0.71% -0.49%
2098 0.73% -0.47%
2097 0.75% -0.46%
2096 0.78% -0.45%
2095 0.81% -0.44%
2094 0.83% -0.43%
2093 0.85% -0.42%
2092 0.88% -0.41%
2091 0.91% -0.4%
2090 0.94% -0.38%
2089 0.97% -0.37%
2088 0.99% -0.35%
2087 1.03% -0.34%
2086 1.05% -0.32%
2085 1.08% -0.3%
2084 1.11% -0.29%
2083 1.13% -0.27%
2082 1.16% -0.26%
2081 1.19% -0.24%
2080 1.21% -0.23%
2079 1.25% -0.21%
2078 1.27% -0.2%
2077 1.31% -0.17%
2076 1.33% -0.16%
2075 1.36% -0.14%
2074 1.39% -0.12%
2073 1.42% -0.1%
2072 1.45% -0.07%
2071 1.49% -0.06%
2070 1.52% -0.03%
2069 1.56% -0.003%
2068 1.59% 0.02%
2067 1.62% 0.05%
2066 1.66% 0.07%
2065 1.69% 0.09%
2064 1.73% 0.12%
2063 1.77% 0.14%
2062 1.8% 0.17%
2061 1.84% 0.2%
2060 1.88% 0.22%
2059 1.91% 0.25%
2058 1.95% 0.28%
2057 1.98% 0.31%
2056 2.02% 0.33%
2055 2.06% 0.36%
2054 2.1% 0.4%
2053 2.14% 0.42%
2052 2.17% 0.45%
2051 2.21% 0.48%
2050 2.24% 0.5%
2049 2.28% 0.54%
2048 2.31% 0.56%
2047 2.35% 0.6%
2046 2.38% 0.62%
2045 2.41% 0.65%
2044 2.44% 0.67%
2043 2.47% 0.72%
2042 2.51% 0.74%
2041 2.54% 0.77%
2040 2.57% 0.8%
2039 2.61% 0.84%
2038 2.64% 0.87%
2037 2.7% 0.9%
2036 2.75% 0.93%
2035 2.8% 0.96%
2034 2.85% 0.99%
2033 2.89% 1.03%
2032 2.95% 1.07%
2031 3% 1.1%
2030 3.05% 1.14%
2029 3.1% 1.18%
2028 3.14% 1.22%
2027 3.18% 1.26%
2026 3.24% 1.31%
2025 3.27% 1.35%
2024 3.3% 1.37%
2023 3.31% 1.4%
2022 3.28% 1.42%
2021 3.29% 1.45%
2020 3.27% 1.5%
2019 3.22% 1.54%
2018 3.4% 1.57%
2017 3.72% 1.58%
2016 3.6% 1.58%
2015 3.36% 1.47%
2014 3.45% 1.39%
2013 3.46% 1.42%
2012 3.39% 1.44%
2011 3.33% 1.46%
2010 3.24% 1.48%
2009 3.14% 1.51%
2008 3.06% 1.53%
2007 3.07% 1.56%
2006 3.13% 1.6%
2005 3.12% 1.52%
2004 2.99% 1.47%
2003 2.96% 1.55%
2002 3.1% 1.62%
2001 3.22% 1.66%
2000 3.26% 1.69%
1999 3.42% 1.76%
1998 2.75% 1.87%
1997 1.62% 2.11%
1996 1.94% 2.36%
1995 4.24% 2.5%
1994 4.85% 2.65%
1993 3.64% 2.75%
1992 3.44% 2.81%
1991 3.38% 2.86%
1990 3.37% 2.89%
1989 3.21% 2.91%
1988 3.25% 2.91%
1987 3.2% 2.88%
1986 3.2% 2.85%
1985 3.37% 2.81%
1984 3.4% 2.73%
1983 3.22% 2.64%
1982 3.05% 2.48%
1981 2.96% 2.25%
1980 3.18% 1.99%
1979 3.58% 1.78%
1978 3.15% 1.69%
1977 2.56% 1.76%
1976 2.62% 1.97%
1975 2.69% 2.24%
1974 2.71% 2.41%
1973 2.71% 2.46%
1972 2.68% 2.45%
1971 2.77% 2.43%
1970 2.9% 2.41%
1969 2.94% 2.38%
1968 2.98% 2.36%
1967 2.96% 2.33%
1966 2.89% 2.31%
1965 2.79% 2.3%
1964 2.71% 2.28%
1963 2.69% 2.3%
1962 2.64% 2.31%
1961 2.6% 2.28%

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/laos | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Laos' population grew by 1.37%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Laos
Current population
117507801
8004838
Population rank 15/197 103/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.1%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
5.01 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
3.22 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +287
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +104,826
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.37%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 77/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
49.5 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -10,645
Net migration rank 159/196 134/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 51,446
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 149/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 166/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Laos
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Laos
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -10,645
2024 - -26,968 - -10,284
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 115,359 -10,003
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 116,620 -10,003
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 115,323 -10,305
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 118,609 -10,305
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 119,797 -10,305
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 119,986 -10,305
2017 2,883,245 176,290 120,515 -10,400
2016 2,753,687 440,748 119,978 -11,401
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 118,723 -12,991
2014 2,580,251 36,966 118,103 -26,881
2013 2,489,378 121,097 119,845 -27,492
2012 2,405,462 53,668 121,324 -28,871
2011 2,310,679 40,891 122,863 -30,538
2010 2,212,255 8,823 122,516 -30,046
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 122,174 -29,545
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 121,042 -28,318
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 119,980 -27,233
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 118,602 -25,286
2005 1,800,300 20,384 118,165 -24,138
2004 1,731,022 4,260 121,888 -40,120
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 122,158 -36,572
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 122,110 -33,595
2001 1,594,999 26,523 123,847 -33,552
2000 1,549,518 79,340 124,201 -33,965
1999 1,450,318 109,761 127,255 -36,632
1998 1,375,130 295,560 128,409 -33,997
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 130,388 -32,288
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 131,142 -16,574
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 132,241 -14,279
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 134,201 -11,782
1993 1,209,242 240,176 135,295 -9,390
1992 1,152,781 252,666 132,417 -7,502
1991 1,114,033 86,721 129,523 -5,390
1990 1,063,508 219,270 125,297 -3,100
1989 1,027,238 84,415 121,044 -1,272
1988 995,278 101,314 117,050 -80
1987 959,875 111,220 113,005 0
1986 925,334 70,988 109,266 -475
1985 885,670 118,791 106,047 -1,376
1984 844,956 190,045 102,318 -2,698
1983 807,122 146,095 98,178 -4,108
1982 774,823 97,495 94,058 -6,184
1981 748,371 54,656 89,963 -11,061
1980 724,111 51,685 86,548 -17,339
1979 691,773 181,028 82,852 -23,317
1978 646,411 268,974 80,604 -27,208
1977 638,242 -26,355 79,149 -26,908
1976 624,147 -25,965 77,575 -21,738
1975 608,655 -972 76,725 -13,858
1974 593,539 3,216 74,652 -6,000
1973 578,280 7,414 70,513 -774
1972 564,495 2,840 68,095 0
1971 549,343 -5,497 65,959 0
1970 533,300 39,116 63,896 0
1969 514,800 46,778 61,595 0
1968 497,682 57,274 59,567 0
1967 479,552 64,307 57,763 0
1966 463,397 54,443 55,494 0
1965 429,002 61,397 54,268 0
1964 406,334 48,207 52,482 0
1963 398,972 41,960 51,056 0
1962 383,406 39,431 51,244 0
1961 368,207 35,654 48,992 0
1960 363,517 27,673 47,575 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/laos | 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 Laos 90.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 51,446 people or 0.7% in Laos.

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
Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K

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/laos | 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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