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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 49 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.45% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

DR Congo vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Lesotho
2100 436,320,913 3,280,784
2099 433,372,904 3,286,697
2098 430,335,169 3,292,498
2097 427,231,271 3,298,102
2096 424,043,303 3,303,027
2095 420,759,430 3,307,947
2094 417,384,609 3,312,002
2093 413,946,692 3,315,757
2092 410,440,733 3,319,661
2091 406,841,757 3,322,573
2090 403,166,901 3,324,769
2089 399,411,004 3,326,847
2088 395,583,655 3,328,480
2087 391,688,383 3,329,964
2086 387,713,874 3,330,456
2085 383,678,330 3,331,259
2084 379,568,054 3,331,485
2083 375,402,379 3,331,492
2082 371,195,818 3,331,234
2081 366,948,626 3,330,412
2080 362,644,227 3,329,267
2079 358,295,825 3,327,166
2078 353,888,897 3,324,646
2077 349,435,210 3,321,422
2076 344,932,895 3,317,850
2075 340,403,800 3,314,237
2074 335,826,108 3,309,174
2073 331,220,816 3,303,860
2072 326,568,298 3,298,181
2071 321,892,514 3,291,492
2070 317,165,418 3,283,654
2069 312,409,702 3,275,244
2068 307,625,941 3,266,152
2067 302,820,577 3,256,626
2066 297,989,401 3,246,903
2065 293,137,514 3,237,153
2064 288,267,282 3,226,489
2063 283,369,365 3,215,103
2062 278,452,605 3,202,287
2061 273,517,380 3,188,933
2060 268,572,331 3,174,998
2059 263,620,905 3,160,204
2058 258,672,397 3,145,053
2057 253,733,756 3,129,261
2056 248,796,045 3,113,129
2055 243,861,631 3,095,904
2054 238,931,249 3,078,567
2053 234,016,357 3,060,152
2052 229,117,369 3,040,649
2051 224,240,788 3,020,109
2050 219,397,034 2,999,457
2049 214,588,560 2,978,037
2048 209,814,694 2,955,727
2047 205,079,870 2,932,688
2046 200,379,842 2,909,307
2045 195,731,078 2,885,537
2044 191,124,003 2,861,372
2043 186,569,843 2,836,777
2042 182,068,630 2,811,663
2041 177,617,360 2,786,147
2040 173,224,822 2,760,391
2039 168,878,834 2,734,400
2038 164,583,465 2,708,216
2037 160,347,349 2,681,863
2036 156,129,049 2,654,755
2035 151,953,443 2,627,701
2034 147,811,138 2,600,880
2033 143,712,496 2,574,065
2032 139,669,159 2,547,344
2031 135,660,570 2,520,831
2030 131,710,378 2,494,646
2029 127,818,130 2,468,268
2028 123,980,695 2,441,871
2027 120,212,011 2,415,830
2026 116,505,117 2,389,516
2025 112,854,120 2,363,516
2024 109,276,265 2,337,423
2023 105,789,731 2,311,472
2022 102,396,968 2,286,110
2021 99,148,932 2,261,542
2020 95,989,998 2,235,727
2019 92,947,442 2,209,405
2018 90,047,644 2,183,603
2017 87,083,398 2,157,110
2016 83,956,415 2,130,422
2015 81,035,531 2,104,611
2014 78,403,242 2,080,089
2013 75,789,395 2,056,504
2012 73,254,618 2,034,354
2011 70,849,311 2,014,009
2010 68,563,038 1,996,251
2009 66,412,044 1,980,883
2008 64,390,664 1,966,541
2007 62,477,752 1,953,268
2006 60,615,908 1,945,063
2005 58,775,724 1,953,076
2004 56,997,741 1,971,129
2003 55,343,867 1,985,059
2002 53,750,524 1,994,679
2001 52,132,646 2,000,853
2000 50,507,442 2,003,913
1999 48,912,971 2,003,234
1998 47,297,600 1,998,049
1997 46,029,902 1,988,130
1996 45,296,124 1,972,418
1995 44,433,704 1,951,437
1994 42,626,876 1,927,707
1993 40,656,336 1,901,793
1992 39,228,910 1,873,274
1991 37,925,817 1,842,379
1990 36,684,063 1,809,696
1989 35,486,866 1,775,436
1988 34,382,752 1,739,841
1987 33,298,904 1,703,390
1986 32,265,196 1,666,138
1985 31,264,816 1,624,379
1984 30,245,081 1,578,986
1983 29,250,963 1,534,413
1982 28,338,190 1,490,732
1981 27,500,515 1,448,069
1980 26,711,099 1,406,521
1979 25,886,782 1,366,169
1978 24,992,689 1,327,240
1977 24,229,061 1,289,967
1976 23,624,031 1,253,214
1975 23,021,101 1,213,643
1974 22,418,878 1,172,420
1973 21,827,665 1,132,697
1972 21,251,160 1,094,063
1971 20,695,569 1,056,246
1970 20,137,436 1,019,273
1969 19,570,445 983,202
1968 19,012,189 948,105
1967 18,462,782 913,982
1966 17,931,929 881,870
1965 17,427,802 854,090
1964 16,955,327 829,437
1963 16,507,599 805,373
1962 16,075,724 781,814
1961 15,662,374 758,824
1960 15,264,846 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Lesotho
2100 0.68% -0.18%
2099 0.71% -0.18%
2098 0.73% -0.17%
2097 0.75% -0.15%
2096 0.78% -0.15%
2095 0.81% -0.12%
2094 0.83% -0.11%
2093 0.85% -0.12%
2092 0.88% -0.09%
2091 0.91% -0.07%
2090 0.94% -0.06%
2089 0.97% -0.05%
2088 0.99% -0.04%
2087 1.03% -0.01%
2086 1.05% -0.02%
2085 1.08% -0.007%
2084 1.11% -0%
2083 1.13% 0.008%
2082 1.16% 0.02%
2081 1.19% 0.03%
2080 1.21% 0.06%
2079 1.25% 0.08%
2078 1.27% 0.1%
2077 1.31% 0.11%
2076 1.33% 0.11%
2075 1.36% 0.15%
2074 1.39% 0.16%
2073 1.42% 0.17%
2072 1.45% 0.2%
2071 1.49% 0.24%
2070 1.52% 0.26%
2069 1.56% 0.28%
2068 1.59% 0.29%
2067 1.62% 0.3%
2066 1.66% 0.3%
2065 1.69% 0.33%
2064 1.73% 0.35%
2063 1.77% 0.4%
2062 1.8% 0.42%
2061 1.84% 0.44%
2060 1.88% 0.47%
2059 1.91% 0.48%
2058 1.95% 0.5%
2057 1.98% 0.52%
2056 2.02% 0.56%
2055 2.06% 0.56%
2054 2.1% 0.6%
2053 2.14% 0.64%
2052 2.17% 0.68%
2051 2.21% 0.69%
2050 2.24% 0.72%
2049 2.28% 0.75%
2048 2.31% 0.79%
2047 2.35% 0.8%
2046 2.38% 0.82%
2045 2.41% 0.84%
2044 2.44% 0.87%
2043 2.47% 0.89%
2042 2.51% 0.92%
2041 2.54% 0.93%
2040 2.57% 0.95%
2039 2.61% 0.97%
2038 2.64% 0.98%
2037 2.7% 1.02%
2036 2.75% 1.03%
2035 2.8% 1.03%
2034 2.85% 1.04%
2033 2.89% 1.05%
2032 2.95% 1.05%
2031 3% 1.05%
2030 3.05% 1.07%
2029 3.1% 1.08%
2028 3.14% 1.08%
2027 3.18% 1.1%
2026 3.24% 1.1%
2025 3.27% 1.12%
2024 3.3% 1.12%
2023 3.31% 1.11%
2022 3.28% 1.09%
2021 3.29% 1.15%
2020 3.27% 1.19%
2019 3.22% 1.18%
2018 3.4% 1.23%
2017 3.72% 1.25%
2016 3.6% 1.23%
2015 3.36% 1.18%
2014 3.45% 1.15%
2013 3.46% 1.09%
2012 3.39% 1.01%
2011 3.33% 0.89%
2010 3.24% 0.78%
2009 3.14% 0.73%
2008 3.06% 0.68%
2007 3.07% 0.42%
2006 3.13% -0.41%
2005 3.12% -0.92%
2004 2.99% -0.7%
2003 2.96% -0.48%
2002 3.1% -0.31%
2001 3.22% -0.15%
2000 3.26% 0.03%
1999 3.42% 0.26%
1998 2.75% 0.5%
1997 1.62% 0.8%
1996 1.94% 1.08%
1995 4.24% 1.23%
1994 4.85% 1.36%
1993 3.64% 1.52%
1992 3.44% 1.68%
1991 3.38% 1.81%
1990 3.37% 1.93%
1989 3.21% 2.05%
1988 3.25% 2.14%
1987 3.2% 2.24%
1986 3.2% 2.57%
1985 3.37% 2.87%
1984 3.4% 2.9%
1983 3.22% 2.93%
1982 3.05% 2.95%
1981 2.96% 2.95%
1980 3.18% 2.95%
1979 3.58% 2.93%
1978 3.15% 2.89%
1977 2.56% 2.93%
1976 2.62% 3.26%
1975 2.69% 3.52%
1974 2.71% 3.51%
1973 2.71% 3.53%
1972 2.68% 3.58%
1971 2.77% 3.63%
1970 2.9% 3.67%
1969 2.94% 3.7%
1968 2.98% 3.73%
1967 2.96% 3.64%
1966 2.89% 3.25%
1965 2.79% 2.97%
1964 2.71% 2.99%
1963 2.69% 3.01%
1962 2.64% 3.03%
1961 2.6% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Lesotho
Current population
117507801
2396633
Population rank 15/197 143/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.03%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +71
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 93/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 -5,192
Net migration rank 159/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -5,192
2024 - -26,968 - -5,107
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 31,115 -5,168
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 30,803 -6,023
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 27,806 -3,449
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 30,721 -3,449
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 32,279 -6,896
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 33,112 -6,892
2017 2,883,245 176,290 33,601 -6,850
2016 2,753,687 440,748 33,390 -6,766
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 32,087 -7,087
2014 2,580,251 36,966 30,922 -6,877
2013 2,489,378 121,097 29,789 -6,659
2012 2,405,462 53,668 27,592 -6,425
2011 2,310,679 40,891 25,647 -6,118
2010 2,212,255 8,823 21,877 -5,886
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 20,335 -5,599
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 19,349 -5,392
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 17,763 -5,179
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 15,234 -11,416
2005 1,800,300 20,384 15,831 -35,679
2004 1,731,022 4,260 17,271 -33,530
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 20,133 -31,723
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 22,274 -29,924
2001 1,594,999 26,523 23,190 -27,874
2000 1,549,518 79,340 24,786 -26,220
1999 1,450,318 109,761 27,393 -24,610
1998 1,375,130 295,560 30,889 -23,299
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 34,637 -22,396
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 36,228 -17,042
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 37,370 -14,588
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 38,629 -13,953
1993 1,209,242 240,176 40,505 -13,347
1992 1,152,781 252,666 42,579 -12,707
1991 1,114,033 86,721 44,026 -12,114
1990 1,063,508 219,270 45,060 -11,598
1989 1,027,238 84,415 46,264 -11,207
1988 995,278 101,314 47,158 -11,028
1987 959,875 111,220 47,718 -10,946
1986 925,334 70,988 45,232 -7,501
1985 885,670 118,791 44,575 1,222
1984 844,956 190,045 43,785 1,199
1983 807,122 146,095 42,899 1,253
1982 774,823 97,495 41,941 1,281
1981 748,371 54,656 40,808 1,307
1980 724,111 51,685 39,617 1,361
1979 691,773 181,028 38,440 1,285
1978 646,411 268,974 37,084 1,047
1977 638,242 -26,355 35,654 746
1976 624,147 -25,965 34,117 2,986
1975 608,655 -972 32,311 9,723
1974 593,539 3,216 30,444 9,972
1973 578,280 7,414 28,859 10,183
1972 564,495 2,840 27,841 10,386
1971 549,343 -5,497 26,838 10,563
1970 533,300 39,116 25,935 10,605
1969 514,800 46,778 25,137 10,465
1968 497,682 57,274 24,490 10,108
1967 479,552 64,307 23,911 9,734
1966 463,397 54,443 23,326 7,248
1965 429,002 61,397 22,755 2,239
1964 406,334 48,207 22,116 2,198
1963 398,972 41,960 21,585 2,220
1962 383,406 39,431 21,132 2,172
1961 368,207 35,654 20,581 2,100
1960 363,517 27,673 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

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/lesotho | 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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