Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 7,873,046 people in Laos in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 8,027,464 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 14.7 times bigger than Laos'.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.52% 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 +3.36% per year vs +1.47% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8.03M (34.6% growth).

DR Congo vs Laos: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Laos
2100 436,237,219 9,340,510
2099 433,289,774 9,387,374
2098 430,252,622 9,433,309
2097 427,149,320 9,478,091
2096 423,961,963 9,521,914
2095 420,678,721 9,564,898
2094 417,304,547 9,607,314
2093 413,867,290 9,648,899
2092 410,362,003 9,689,414
2091 406,763,717 9,729,262
2090 403,089,566 9,767,923
2089 399,334,389 9,805,489
2088 395,507,774 9,841,933
2087 391,613,249 9,876,893
2086 387,639,503 9,910,678
2085 383,604,733 9,942,991
2084 379,495,246 9,973,375
2083 375,330,369 10,002,778
2082 371,124,615 10,030,306
2081 366,878,238 10,056,473
2080 362,574,665 10,080,959
2079 358,227,097 10,104,434
2078 353,821,014 10,126,099
2077 349,368,182 10,146,255
2076 344,866,731 10,163,547
2075 340,338,504 10,179,776
2074 335,761,691 10,194,216
2073 331,157,281 10,206,546
2072 326,505,656 10,216,287
2071 321,830,769 10,223,430
2070 317,104,580 10,229,612
2069 312,349,776 10,233,020
2068 307,566,932 10,233,371
2067 302,762,490 10,231,633
2066 297,932,241 10,226,448
2065 293,081,284 10,219,732
2064 288,211,987 10,210,382
2063 283,315,009 10,198,463
2062 278,399,192 10,184,239
2061 273,464,914 10,166,878
2060 268,520,814 10,146,829
2059 263,570,338 10,124,398
2058 258,622,778 10,098,721
2057 253,685,085 10,070,317
2056 248,748,321 10,039,482
2055 243,814,854 10,006,669
2054 238,885,417 9,970,363
2053 233,971,468 9,931,133
2052 229,073,420 9,889,162
2051 224,197,775 9,844,445
2050 219,354,949 9,797,566
2049 214,547,398 9,748,481
2048 209,774,448 9,695,755
2047 205,040,532 9,641,319
2046 200,341,405 9,584,097
2045 195,693,533 9,524,890
2044 191,087,342 9,462,921
2043 186,534,055 9,399,555
2042 182,033,706 9,332,795
2041 177,583,290 9,264,069
2040 173,191,594 9,193,691
2039 168,846,440 9,120,921
2038 164,551,895 9,044,658
2037 160,316,591 8,966,687
2036 156,099,100 8,886,908
2035 151,924,296 8,805,396
2034 147,782,785 8,721,979
2033 143,684,929 8,636,299
2032 139,642,368 8,548,097
2031 135,634,548 8,457,770
2030 131,685,113 8,365,427
2029 127,793,612 8,271,316
2028 123,956,913 8,174,975
2027 120,188,952 8,076,308
2026 116,482,769 7,975,876
2025 112,832,473 7,873,046
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Laos' population increased by 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Laos was ranked 104th 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 85.3% to 219,354,949 people with a rank change from 14th to 8th. The population of Laos will increase by 22.1% to 9,797,566 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 3.25% 1.33%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Laos' population grew by 1.33%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Laos
Current population
118386491
8027464
Population rank 14/197 103/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.1%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
5.11 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
3.23 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
10.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +283
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +103,227
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +1.33%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 76/197
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 3,547,217 -26,968 114,574 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/laos | 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 Laos 91.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,179,484 people) and 8.27% is from migration (a loss of 106,302 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 573K
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 (1960–2025, 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/laos | 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 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.