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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 5.13 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 1.7% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

DR Congo vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Malawi
2100 436,237,219 59,773,923
2099 433,289,774 59,515,624
2098 430,252,622 59,263,165
2097 427,149,320 59,015,654
2096 423,961,963 58,749,288
2095 420,678,721 58,495,699
2094 417,304,547 58,227,933
2093 413,867,290 57,954,358
2092 410,362,003 57,660,371
2091 406,763,717 57,364,786
2090 403,089,566 57,048,240
2089 399,334,389 56,727,243
2088 395,507,774 56,385,237
2087 391,613,249 56,041,651
2086 387,639,503 55,694,983
2085 383,604,733 55,336,839
2084 379,495,246 54,985,304
2083 375,330,369 54,593,349
2082 371,124,615 54,194,853
2081 366,878,238 53,783,781
2080 362,574,665 53,361,334
2079 358,227,097 52,936,889
2078 353,821,014 52,510,645
2077 349,368,182 52,052,767
2076 344,866,731 51,589,339
2075 340,338,504 51,130,762
2074 335,761,691 50,673,499
2073 331,157,281 50,218,991
2072 326,505,656 49,759,232
2071 321,830,769 49,276,570
2070 317,104,580 48,787,471
2069 312,349,776 48,291,287
2068 307,566,932 47,782,059
2067 302,762,490 47,267,335
2066 297,932,241 46,741,998
2065 293,081,284 46,218,226
2064 288,211,987 45,692,044
2063 283,315,009 45,169,634
2062 278,399,192 44,629,192
2061 273,464,914 44,067,259
2060 268,520,814 43,499,372
2059 263,570,338 42,907,491
2058 258,622,778 42,335,782
2057 253,685,085 41,753,105
2056 248,748,321 41,175,330
2055 243,814,854 40,576,247
2054 238,885,417 39,986,120
2053 233,971,468 39,369,178
2052 229,073,420 38,758,577
2051 224,197,775 38,145,141
2050 219,354,949 37,537,814
2049 214,547,398 36,928,354
2048 209,774,448 36,332,040
2047 205,040,532 35,717,466
2046 200,341,405 35,099,651
2045 195,693,533 34,484,520
2044 191,087,342 33,855,018
2043 186,534,055 33,240,675
2042 182,033,706 32,629,513
2041 177,583,290 32,012,581
2040 173,191,594 31,395,572
2039 168,846,440 30,775,878
2038 164,551,895 30,160,239
2037 160,316,591 29,521,489
2036 156,099,100 28,890,318
2035 151,924,296 28,261,909
2034 147,782,785 27,637,439
2033 143,684,929 27,012,311
2032 139,642,368 26,398,409
2031 135,634,548 25,790,366
2030 131,685,113 25,176,420
2029 127,793,612 24,561,210
2028 123,956,913 23,962,931
2027 120,188,952 23,369,575
2026 116,482,769 22,786,713
2025 112,832,473 22,216,120
2024 109,276,265 21,655,286
2023 105,789,731 21,104,482
2022 102,396,968 20,568,728
2021 99,148,932 20,047,258
2020 95,989,998 19,533,888
2019 92,947,442 19,025,752
2018 90,047,644 18,528,081
2017 87,083,398 18,039,715
2016 83,956,415 17,557,739
2015 81,035,531 17,085,587
2014 78,403,242 16,621,538
2013 75,789,395 16,161,816
2012 73,254,618 15,709,577
2011 70,849,311 15,265,022
2010 68,563,038 14,826,463
2009 66,412,044 14,395,788
2008 64,390,664 13,976,417
2007 62,477,752 13,576,343
2006 60,615,908 13,198,701
2005 58,775,724 12,840,031
2004 56,997,741 12,500,737
2003 55,343,867 12,181,574
2002 53,750,524 11,880,440
2001 52,132,646 11,593,058
2000 50,507,442 11,315,942
1999 48,912,971 11,047,804
1998 47,297,600 10,792,876
1997 46,029,902 10,562,035
1996 45,296,124 10,352,228
1995 44,433,704 10,150,117
1994 42,626,876 10,164,894
1993 40,656,336 10,284,024
1992 39,228,910 10,135,079
1991 37,925,817 9,844,227
1990 36,684,063 9,545,852
1989 35,486,866 9,176,220
1988 34,382,752 8,753,262
1987 33,298,904 8,293,174
1986 32,265,196 7,906,480
1985 31,264,816 7,620,508
1984 30,245,081 7,332,810
1983 29,250,963 7,051,709
1982 28,338,190 6,778,879
1981 27,500,515 6,516,454
1980 26,711,099 6,265,529
1979 25,886,782 6,028,749
1978 24,992,689 5,810,132
1977 24,229,061 5,614,983
1976 23,624,031 5,443,384
1975 23,021,101 5,287,367
1974 22,418,878 5,141,337
1973 21,827,665 5,003,938
1972 21,251,160 4,874,475
1971 20,695,569 4,751,434
1970 20,137,436 4,633,944
1969 19,570,445 4,521,184
1968 19,012,189 4,411,054
1967 18,462,782 4,303,012
1966 17,931,929 4,197,926
1965 17,427,802 4,096,157
1964 16,955,327 3,997,305
1963 16,507,599 3,900,506
1962 16,075,724 3,806,307
1961 15,662,374 3,715,534
1960 15,264,846 3,628,134

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/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st 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 Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Malawi
2100 0.68% 0.43%
2099 0.71% 0.43%
2098 0.73% 0.42%
2097 0.75% 0.45%
2096 0.78% 0.43%
2095 0.81% 0.46%
2094 0.83% 0.47%
2093 0.85% 0.51%
2092 0.88% 0.52%
2091 0.91% 0.55%
2090 0.94% 0.57%
2089 0.97% 0.61%
2088 0.99% 0.61%
2087 1.03% 0.62%
2086 1.05% 0.65%
2085 1.08% 0.64%
2084 1.11% 0.72%
2083 1.13% 0.74%
2082 1.16% 0.76%
2081 1.19% 0.79%
2080 1.21% 0.8%
2079 1.25% 0.81%
2078 1.27% 0.88%
2077 1.31% 0.9%
2076 1.33% 0.9%
2075 1.36% 0.9%
2074 1.39% 0.91%
2073 1.42% 0.92%
2072 1.45% 0.98%
2071 1.49% 1%
2070 1.52% 1.03%
2069 1.56% 1.07%
2068 1.59% 1.09%
2067 1.62% 1.12%
2066 1.66% 1.13%
2065 1.69% 1.15%
2064 1.73% 1.16%
2063 1.77% 1.21%
2062 1.8% 1.28%
2061 1.84% 1.31%
2060 1.88% 1.38%
2059 1.91% 1.35%
2058 1.95% 1.4%
2057 1.98% 1.4%
2056 2.02% 1.48%
2055 2.06% 1.48%
2054 2.1% 1.57%
2053 2.14% 1.58%
2052 2.17% 1.61%
2051 2.21% 1.62%
2050 2.24% 1.65%
2049 2.28% 1.64%
2048 2.31% 1.72%
2047 2.35% 1.76%
2046 2.38% 1.78%
2045 2.41% 1.86%
2044 2.44% 1.85%
2043 2.47% 1.87%
2042 2.51% 1.93%
2041 2.54% 1.97%
2040 2.57% 2.01%
2039 2.61% 2.04%
2038 2.64% 2.16%
2037 2.7% 2.18%
2036 2.75% 2.22%
2035 2.8% 2.26%
2034 2.85% 2.31%
2033 2.89% 2.33%
2032 2.95% 2.36%
2031 3% 2.44%
2030 3.05% 2.5%
2029 3.1% 2.5%
2028 3.14% 2.54%
2027 3.18% 2.56%
2026 3.24% 2.57%
2025 3.25% 2.59%
2024 3.3% 2.61%
2023 3.31% 2.6%
2022 3.28% 2.6%
2021 3.29% 2.63%
2020 3.27% 2.67%
2019 3.22% 2.69%
2018 3.4% 2.71%
2017 3.72% 2.75%
2016 3.6% 2.76%
2015 3.36% 2.79%
2014 3.45% 2.84%
2013 3.46% 2.88%
2012 3.39% 2.91%
2011 3.33% 2.96%
2010 3.24% 2.99%
2009 3.14% 3%
2008 3.06% 2.95%
2007 3.07% 2.86%
2006 3.13% 2.79%
2005 3.12% 2.71%
2004 2.99% 2.62%
2003 2.96% 2.53%
2002 3.1% 2.48%
2001 3.22% 2.45%
2000 3.26% 2.43%
1999 3.42% 2.36%
1998 2.75% 2.19%
1997 1.62% 2.03%
1996 1.94% 1.99%
1995 4.24% -0.15%
1994 4.85% -1.16%
1993 3.64% 1.47%
1992 3.44% 2.95%
1991 3.38% 3.13%
1990 3.37% 4.03%
1989 3.21% 4.83%
1988 3.25% 5.55%
1987 3.2% 4.89%
1986 3.2% 3.75%
1985 3.37% 3.92%
1984 3.4% 3.99%
1983 3.22% 4.02%
1982 3.05% 4.03%
1981 2.96% 4%
1980 3.18% 3.93%
1979 3.58% 3.76%
1978 3.15% 3.48%
1977 2.56% 3.15%
1976 2.62% 2.95%
1975 2.69% 2.84%
1974 2.71% 2.75%
1973 2.71% 2.66%
1972 2.68% 2.59%
1971 2.77% 2.54%
1970 2.9% 2.49%
1969 2.94% 2.5%
1968 2.98% 2.51%
1967 2.96% 2.5%
1966 2.89% 2.48%
1965 2.79% 2.47%
1964 2.71% 2.48%
1963 2.69% 2.47%
1962 2.64% 2.44%
1961 2.6% 2.41%

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/malawi | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Malawi
Current population
118386491
23086106
Population rank 14/197 61/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.28%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
56.4 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
46.8 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 23/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 -5,628
Net migration rank 159/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -5,628
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 559,811 -1,507
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 549,096 -5,811
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 533,450 -5,231
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 517,400 -2,666
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 514,659 -2,655
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 506,104 -1,837
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 494,348 -3,267
2017 2,883,245 176,290 484,655 982
2016 2,753,687 440,748 474,779 3,505
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 472,484 -6,471
2014 2,580,251 36,966 472,418 -10,317
2013 2,489,378 121,097 470,293 -12,934
2012 2,405,462 53,668 460,684 -13,561
2011 2,310,679 40,891 454,149 -12,170
2010 2,212,255 8,823 444,468 -9,327
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 434,811 -8,590
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 421,781 -9,264
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 410,290 -22,680
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 397,123 -29,450
2005 1,800,300 20,384 381,130 -31,462
2004 1,731,022 4,260 361,133 -32,221
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 341,133 -31,729
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 322,863 -30,013
2001 1,594,999 26,523 310,833 -28,933
2000 1,549,518 79,340 300,439 -28,098
1999 1,450,318 109,761 295,629 -31,686
1998 1,375,130 295,560 285,407 -39,491
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 277,433 -61,646
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 270,048 -66,212
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 266,745 -66,366
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 275,439 -505,365
1993 1,209,242 240,176 276,538 -284,867
1992 1,152,781 252,666 269,066 37,142
1991 1,114,033 86,721 260,193 15,291
1990 1,063,508 219,270 250,159 71,111
1989 1,027,238 84,415 237,967 180,031
1988 995,278 101,314 226,911 201,011
1987 959,875 111,220 220,566 271,693
1986 925,334 70,988 218,519 62,615
1985 885,670 118,791 216,179 74,625
1984 844,956 190,045 212,146 72,435
1983 807,122 146,095 209,422 68,197
1982 774,823 97,495 205,386 62,661
1981 748,371 54,656 199,436 57,376
1980 724,111 51,685 192,746 52,294
1979 691,773 181,028 182,123 46,388
1978 646,411 268,974 172,503 36,225
1977 638,242 -26,355 161,930 19,638
1976 624,147 -25,965 153,422 8,206
1975 608,655 -972 145,254 5,162
1974 593,539 3,216 137,819 3,833
1973 578,280 7,414 131,529 1,623
1972 564,495 2,840 125,728 48
1971 549,343 -5,497 121,015 -710
1970 533,300 39,116 116,822 -2,147
1969 514,800 46,778 113,120 -2,266
1968 497,682 57,274 110,329 -924
1967 479,552 64,307 106,668 0
1966 463,397 54,443 103,512 0
1965 429,002 61,397 100,040 0
1964 406,334 48,207 97,658 0
1963 398,972 41,960 95,933 0
1962 383,406 39,431 92,463 0
1961 368,207 35,654 89,091 0
1960 363,517 27,673 85,718 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

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
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

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/malawi | 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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