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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 1,847,785 people in Latvia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 1,826,986 in Latvia.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 64.8 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Latvia is the 149th.
  • The countries together account for 1.45% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.02% for Latvia.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs -0.69% in Latvia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Latvia has declined from 2.22M to 1.83M (17.6% decline).

DR Congo vs Latvia: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Latvia
2100 436,237,219 922,007
2099 433,289,774 931,466
2098 430,252,622 940,927
2097 427,149,320 950,258
2096 423,961,963 959,655
2095 420,678,721 968,997
2094 417,304,547 978,324
2093 413,867,290 987,606
2092 410,362,003 996,982
2091 406,763,717 1,006,431
2090 403,089,566 1,015,921
2089 399,334,389 1,025,435
2088 395,507,774 1,035,083
2087 391,613,249 1,044,938
2086 387,639,503 1,054,879
2085 383,604,733 1,064,880
2084 379,495,246 1,075,183
2083 375,330,369 1,085,772
2082 371,124,615 1,096,487
2081 366,878,238 1,107,392
2080 362,574,665 1,118,511
2079 358,227,097 1,129,885
2078 353,821,014 1,141,268
2077 349,368,182 1,152,706
2076 344,866,731 1,164,352
2075 340,338,504 1,176,176
2074 335,761,691 1,188,082
2073 331,157,281 1,199,974
2072 326,505,656 1,211,961
2071 321,830,769 1,224,298
2070 317,104,580 1,236,755
2069 312,349,776 1,249,300
2068 307,566,932 1,262,278
2067 302,762,490 1,275,443
2066 297,932,241 1,288,533
2065 293,081,284 1,302,103
2064 288,211,987 1,315,729
2063 283,315,009 1,329,295
2062 278,399,192 1,342,898
2061 273,464,914 1,356,597
2060 268,520,814 1,370,646
2059 263,570,338 1,384,579
2058 258,622,778 1,398,610
2057 253,685,085 1,412,764
2056 248,748,321 1,426,866
2055 243,814,854 1,440,673
2054 238,885,417 1,454,475
2053 233,971,468 1,468,103
2052 229,073,420 1,481,591
2051 224,197,775 1,494,244
2050 219,354,949 1,506,958
2049 214,547,398 1,519,679
2048 209,774,448 1,532,326
2047 205,040,532 1,544,855
2046 200,341,405 1,557,274
2045 195,693,533 1,570,010
2044 191,087,342 1,582,416
2043 186,534,055 1,594,893
2042 182,033,706 1,607,225
2041 177,583,290 1,620,006
2040 173,191,594 1,632,650
2039 168,846,440 1,645,713
2038 164,551,895 1,658,653
2037 160,316,591 1,671,596
2036 156,099,100 1,684,899
2035 151,924,296 1,698,177
2034 147,782,785 1,711,808
2033 143,684,929 1,725,938
2032 139,642,368 1,740,330
2031 135,634,548 1,754,642
2030 131,685,113 1,769,574
2029 127,793,612 1,784,112
2028 123,956,913 1,798,494
2027 120,188,952 1,812,843
2026 116,482,769 1,826,986
2025 112,832,473 1,847,785
2024 109,276,265 1,866,124
2023 105,789,731 1,883,710
2022 102,396,968 1,879,383
2021 99,148,932 1,884,490
2020 95,989,998 1,900,449
2019 92,947,442 1,913,822
2018 90,047,644 1,927,174
2017 87,083,398 1,942,248
2016 83,956,415 1,959,537
2015 81,035,531 1,977,527
2014 78,403,242 1,993,782
2013 75,789,395 2,012,647
2012 73,254,618 2,034,319
2011 70,849,311 2,059,709
2010 68,563,038 2,097,555
2009 66,412,044 2,141,669
2008 64,390,664 2,177,322
2007 62,477,752 2,200,325
2006 60,615,908 2,218,357
2005 58,775,724 2,238,799
2004 56,997,741 2,263,122
2003 55,343,867 2,287,955
2002 53,750,524 2,310,173
2001 52,132,646 2,337,170
2000 50,507,442 2,367,550
1999 48,912,971 2,390,482
1998 47,297,600 2,410,019
1997 46,029,902 2,432,851
1996 45,296,124 2,457,222
1995 44,433,704 2,485,056
1994 42,626,876 2,520,742
1993 40,656,336 2,563,290
1992 39,228,910 2,614,338
1991 37,925,817 2,650,581
1990 36,684,063 2,663,151
1989 35,486,866 2,666,955
1988 34,382,752 2,653,434
1987 33,298,904 2,626,583
1986 32,265,196 2,599,892
1985 31,264,816 2,578,873
1984 30,245,081 2,562,047
1983 29,250,963 2,546,011
1982 28,338,190 2,531,080
1981 27,500,515 2,519,421
1980 26,711,099 2,511,701
1979 25,886,782 2,505,953
1978 24,992,689 2,497,921
1977 24,229,061 2,485,073
1976 23,624,031 2,470,989
1975 23,021,101 2,456,130
1974 22,418,878 2,437,186
1973 21,827,665 2,415,819
1972 21,251,160 2,395,674
1971 20,695,569 2,376,389
1970 20,137,436 2,359,164
1969 19,570,445 2,343,173
1968 19,012,189 2,323,619
1967 18,462,782 2,301,220
1966 17,931,929 2,283,217
1965 17,427,802 2,265,919
1964 16,955,327 2,240,623
1963 16,507,599 2,210,919
1962 16,075,724 2,181,586
1961 15,662,374 2,152,681
1960 15,264,846 2,120,979

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/latvia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Latvia lost 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Latvia's population decreased by 132,551 people (a 6.76% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Latvia was ranked 140th in 2006 and ranked 149th 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 Latvia will decrease by 17.5% to 1,506,958 people and rank change from 149th to 155th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Latvia's population already peaked in 1989 at 2.67M people and is projected to decrease to 922K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Latvia
2100 0.68% -1.02%
2099 0.71% -1.01%
2098 0.73% -0.98%
2097 0.75% -0.98%
2096 0.78% -0.96%
2095 0.81% -0.95%
2094 0.83% -0.94%
2093 0.85% -0.94%
2092 0.88% -0.94%
2091 0.91% -0.93%
2090 0.94% -0.93%
2089 0.97% -0.93%
2088 0.99% -0.94%
2087 1.03% -0.94%
2086 1.05% -0.94%
2085 1.08% -0.96%
2084 1.11% -0.98%
2083 1.13% -0.98%
2082 1.16% -0.98%
2081 1.19% -0.99%
2080 1.21% -1.01%
2079 1.25% -1%
2078 1.27% -0.99%
2077 1.31% -1%
2076 1.33% -1.01%
2075 1.36% -1%
2074 1.39% -0.99%
2073 1.42% -0.99%
2072 1.45% -1.01%
2071 1.49% -1.01%
2070 1.52% -1%
2069 1.56% -1.03%
2068 1.59% -1.03%
2067 1.62% -1.02%
2066 1.66% -1.04%
2065 1.69% -1.04%
2064 1.73% -1.02%
2063 1.77% -1.01%
2062 1.8% -1.01%
2061 1.84% -1.03%
2060 1.88% -1.01%
2059 1.91% -1%
2058 1.95% -1%
2057 1.98% -0.99%
2056 2.02% -0.96%
2055 2.06% -0.95%
2054 2.1% -0.93%
2053 2.14% -0.91%
2052 2.17% -0.85%
2051 2.21% -0.84%
2050 2.24% -0.84%
2049 2.28% -0.83%
2048 2.31% -0.81%
2047 2.35% -0.8%
2046 2.38% -0.81%
2045 2.41% -0.78%
2044 2.44% -0.78%
2043 2.47% -0.77%
2042 2.51% -0.79%
2041 2.54% -0.77%
2040 2.57% -0.79%
2039 2.61% -0.78%
2038 2.64% -0.77%
2037 2.7% -0.79%
2036 2.75% -0.78%
2035 2.8% -0.8%
2034 2.85% -0.82%
2033 2.89% -0.83%
2032 2.95% -0.82%
2031 3% -0.84%
2030 3.05% -0.81%
2029 3.1% -0.8%
2028 3.14% -0.79%
2027 3.18% -0.77%
2026 3.24% -1.13%
2025 3.25% -0.98%
2024 3.3% -0.93%
2023 3.31% 0.23%
2022 3.28% -0.27%
2021 3.29% -0.84%
2020 3.27% -0.7%
2019 3.22% -0.69%
2018 3.4% -0.78%
2017 3.72% -0.88%
2016 3.6% -0.91%
2015 3.36% -0.82%
2014 3.45% -0.94%
2013 3.46% -1.07%
2012 3.39% -1.23%
2011 3.33% -1.8%
2010 3.24% -2.06%
2009 3.14% -1.64%
2008 3.06% -1.05%
2007 3.07% -0.81%
2006 3.13% -0.91%
2005 3.12% -1.07%
2004 2.99% -1.09%
2003 2.96% -0.96%
2002 3.1% -1.16%
2001 3.22% -1.28%
2000 3.26% -0.96%
1999 3.42% -0.81%
1998 2.75% -0.94%
1997 1.62% -0.99%
1996 1.94% -1.12%
1995 4.24% -1.42%
1994 4.85% -1.66%
1993 3.64% -1.95%
1992 3.44% -1.37%
1991 3.38% -0.47%
1990 3.37% -0.14%
1989 3.21% 0.51%
1988 3.25% 1.02%
1987 3.2% 1.03%
1986 3.2% 0.82%
1985 3.37% 0.66%
1984 3.4% 0.63%
1983 3.22% 0.59%
1982 3.05% 0.46%
1981 2.96% 0.31%
1980 3.18% 0.23%
1979 3.58% 0.32%
1978 3.15% 0.52%
1977 2.56% 0.57%
1976 2.62% 0.6%
1975 2.69% 0.78%
1974 2.71% 0.88%
1973 2.71% 0.84%
1972 2.68% 0.81%
1971 2.77% 0.73%
1970 2.9% 0.68%
1969 2.94% 0.84%
1968 2.98% 0.97%
1967 2.96% 0.79%
1966 2.89% 0.76%
1965 2.79% 1.13%
1964 2.71% 1.34%
1963 2.69% 1.34%
1962 2.64% 1.34%
1961 2.6% 1.49%

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/latvia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Latvia's population declined by 0.98%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Latvia
Current population
118386491
1826986
Population rank 14/197 149/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.02%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
28.7 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
40.8 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
19.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 -50
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 -18,339
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% -0.98%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 193/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.2 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 -7,330
Net migration rank 159/196 125/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 220,471
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 108/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 11.8%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 57/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Latvia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Latvia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -7,330
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 -13,809 -2,225
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -13,563 7,966
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -14,847 22,027
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 -17,337 -280
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -11,402 -3,147
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 -8,995 -3,416
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 -9,636 -4,972
2017 2,883,245 176,290 -7,963 -7,867
2016 2,753,687 440,748 -6,663 -12,327
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 -6,526 -10,826
2014 2,580,251 36,966 -6,779 -8,799
2013 2,489,378 121,097 -8,252 -14,386
2012 2,405,462 53,668 -9,154 -11,914
2011 2,310,679 40,891 -9,886 -20,202
2010 2,212,255 8,823 -10,278 -36,128
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 -7,924 -34,807
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 -6,531 -22,445
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 -9,021 -8,027
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 -10,204 -9,211
2005 1,800,300 20,384 -10,746 -11,134
2004 1,731,022 4,260 -11,542 -15,136
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 -11,439 -11,422
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 -12,475 -9,160
2001 1,594,999 26,523 -13,322 -18,634
2000 1,549,518 79,340 -11,838 -15,679
1999 1,450,318 109,761 -13,387 -3,229
1998 1,375,130 295,560 -15,906 -5,504
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 -14,841 -9,183
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 -14,498 -9,888
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 -17,396 -13,288
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 -17,645 -21,446
1993 1,209,242 240,176 -12,560 -32,914
1992 1,152,781 252,666 -3,660 -52,180
1991 1,114,033 86,721 0 -12,020
1990 1,063,508 219,270 2,929 -13,196
1989 1,027,238 84,415 6,401 -4,960
1988 995,278 101,314 9,022 15,784
1987 959,875 111,220 9,981 19,249
1986 925,334 70,988 10,660 13,972
1985 885,670 118,791 5,673 12,037
1984 844,956 190,045 7,430 8,847
1983 807,122 146,095 8,147 8,115
1982 774,823 97,495 6,327 8,116
1981 748,371 54,656 3,779 6,536
1980 724,111 51,685 3,265 3,099
1979 691,773 181,028 2,506 3,661
1978 646,411 268,974 2,997 7,399
1977 638,242 -26,355 3,480 11,992
1976 624,147 -25,965 4,200 8,870
1975 608,655 -972 4,913 12,166
1974 593,539 3,216 6,824 14,420
1973 578,280 7,414 6,040 15,997
1972 564,495 2,840 7,666 11,077
1971 549,343 -5,497 8,793 10,846
1970 533,300 39,116 7,785 12,494
1969 514,800 46,778 6,561 13,718
1968 497,682 57,274 7,668 13,465
1967 479,552 64,307 7,825 14,177
1966 463,397 54,443 8,677 13,465
1965 429,002 61,397 8,384 13,218
1964 406,334 48,207 12,100 13,010
1963 398,972 41,960 11,055 12,308
1962 383,406 39,431 11,562 12,344
1961 368,207 35,654 14,207 12,364
1960 363,517 27,673 14,211 11,420

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/latvia | 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 Latvia 88% is from natural causes (a loss of 110,741 people) and 12% is from migration (a loss of 15,067 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 220,471 people or 11.8% in Latvia.

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
Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K

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/latvia | 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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