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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 4.5 times bigger than Mali's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 1.74% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

DR Congo vs Mali: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Mali
2100 436,237,219 80,362,778
2099 433,289,774 80,043,103
2098 430,252,622 79,704,143
2097 427,149,320 79,354,569
2096 423,961,963 78,987,874
2095 420,678,721 78,602,449
2094 417,304,547 78,192,601
2093 413,867,290 77,771,649
2092 410,362,003 77,337,997
2091 406,763,717 76,884,320
2090 403,089,566 76,409,599
2089 399,334,389 75,916,129
2088 395,507,774 75,405,009
2087 391,613,249 74,874,565
2086 387,639,503 74,331,613
2085 383,604,733 73,769,979
2084 379,495,246 73,189,821
2083 375,330,369 72,588,675
2082 371,124,615 71,975,720
2081 366,878,238 71,340,622
2080 362,574,665 70,699,377
2079 358,227,097 70,036,857
2078 353,821,014 69,359,523
2077 349,368,182 68,668,133
2076 344,866,731 67,965,034
2075 340,338,504 67,249,105
2074 335,761,691 66,516,075
2073 331,157,281 65,768,739
2072 326,505,656 65,009,716
2071 321,830,769 64,232,600
2070 317,104,580 63,450,597
2069 312,349,776 62,657,123
2068 307,566,932 61,850,168
2067 302,762,490 61,035,806
2066 297,932,241 60,215,831
2065 293,081,284 59,394,005
2064 288,211,987 58,560,766
2063 283,315,009 57,720,905
2062 278,399,192 56,873,801
2061 273,464,914 56,020,633
2060 268,520,814 55,160,220
2059 263,570,338 54,298,509
2058 258,622,778 53,431,783
2057 253,685,085 52,559,686
2056 248,748,321 51,686,173
2055 243,814,854 50,807,502
2054 238,885,417 49,930,546
2053 233,971,468 49,048,457
2052 229,073,420 48,161,836
2051 224,197,775 47,275,159
2050 219,354,949 46,385,854
2049 214,547,398 45,500,920
2048 209,774,448 44,612,126
2047 205,040,532 43,725,546
2046 200,341,405 42,836,054
2045 195,693,533 41,946,522
2044 191,087,342 41,057,406
2043 186,534,055 40,168,481
2042 182,033,706 39,281,666
2041 177,583,290 38,402,142
2040 173,191,594 37,521,801
2039 168,846,440 36,648,491
2038 164,551,895 35,768,661
2037 160,316,591 34,898,973
2036 156,099,100 34,032,460
2035 151,924,296 33,174,985
2034 147,782,785 32,324,451
2033 143,684,929 31,482,783
2032 139,642,368 30,652,485
2031 135,634,548 29,830,213
2030 131,685,113 29,025,640
2029 127,793,612 28,232,427
2028 123,956,913 27,453,124
2027 120,188,952 26,687,226
2026 116,482,769 25,937,442
2025 112,832,473 25,198,821
2024 109,276,265 24,478,595
2023 105,789,731 23,769,127
2022 102,396,968 23,072,640
2021 99,148,932 22,388,630
2020 95,989,998 21,713,836
2019 92,947,442 21,068,405
2018 90,047,644 20,442,030
2017 87,083,398 19,813,011
2016 83,956,415 19,191,289
2015 81,035,531 18,593,022
2014 78,403,242 18,020,267
2013 75,789,395 17,459,615
2012 73,254,618 16,957,033
2011 70,849,311 16,469,049
2010 68,563,038 15,945,198
2009 66,412,044 15,435,539
2008 64,390,664 14,940,782
2007 62,477,752 14,457,775
2006 60,615,908 13,990,139
2005 58,775,724 13,538,647
2004 56,997,741 13,102,409
2003 55,343,867 12,684,955
2002 53,750,524 12,288,050
2001 52,132,646 11,912,158
2000 50,507,442 11,559,290
1999 48,912,971 11,227,415
1998 47,297,600 10,919,573
1997 46,029,902 10,646,495
1996 45,296,124 10,407,278
1995 44,433,704 10,185,365
1994 42,626,876 9,967,031
1993 40,656,336 9,754,786
1992 39,228,910 9,553,540
1991 37,925,817 9,362,888
1990 36,684,063 9,178,830
1989 35,486,866 8,999,938
1988 34,382,752 8,833,996
1987 33,298,904 8,681,164
1986 32,265,196 8,531,277
1985 31,264,816 8,374,663
1984 30,245,081 8,208,599
1983 29,250,963 8,034,400
1982 28,338,190 7,860,194
1981 27,500,515 7,692,766
1980 26,711,099 7,530,515
1979 25,886,782 7,375,266
1978 24,992,689 7,229,651
1977 24,229,061 7,090,979
1976 23,624,031 6,960,979
1975 23,021,101 6,837,261
1974 22,418,878 6,715,436
1973 21,827,665 6,597,106
1972 21,251,160 6,483,726
1971 20,695,569 6,377,944
1970 20,137,436 6,276,472
1969 19,570,445 6,177,704
1968 19,012,189 6,082,979
1967 18,462,782 5,990,906
1966 17,931,929 5,902,204
1965 17,427,802 5,815,487
1964 16,955,327 5,730,125
1963 16,507,599 5,646,605
1962 16,075,724 5,563,917
1961 15,662,374 5,482,283
1960 15,264,846 5,402,550

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/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th 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 Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Mali
2100 0.68% 0.4%
2099 0.71% 0.43%
2098 0.73% 0.44%
2097 0.75% 0.46%
2096 0.78% 0.49%
2095 0.81% 0.52%
2094 0.83% 0.54%
2093 0.85% 0.56%
2092 0.88% 0.59%
2091 0.91% 0.62%
2090 0.94% 0.65%
2089 0.97% 0.68%
2088 0.99% 0.71%
2087 1.03% 0.73%
2086 1.05% 0.76%
2085 1.08% 0.79%
2084 1.11% 0.83%
2083 1.13% 0.85%
2082 1.16% 0.89%
2081 1.19% 0.91%
2080 1.21% 0.95%
2079 1.25% 0.98%
2078 1.27% 1.01%
2077 1.31% 1.03%
2076 1.33% 1.06%
2075 1.36% 1.1%
2074 1.39% 1.14%
2073 1.42% 1.17%
2072 1.45% 1.21%
2071 1.49% 1.23%
2070 1.52% 1.27%
2069 1.56% 1.3%
2068 1.59% 1.33%
2067 1.62% 1.36%
2066 1.66% 1.38%
2065 1.69% 1.42%
2064 1.73% 1.46%
2063 1.77% 1.49%
2062 1.8% 1.52%
2061 1.84% 1.56%
2060 1.88% 1.59%
2059 1.91% 1.62%
2058 1.95% 1.66%
2057 1.98% 1.69%
2056 2.02% 1.73%
2055 2.06% 1.76%
2054 2.1% 1.8%
2053 2.14% 1.84%
2052 2.17% 1.88%
2051 2.21% 1.92%
2050 2.24% 1.94%
2049 2.28% 1.99%
2048 2.31% 2.03%
2047 2.35% 2.08%
2046 2.38% 2.12%
2045 2.41% 2.17%
2044 2.44% 2.21%
2043 2.47% 2.26%
2042 2.51% 2.29%
2041 2.54% 2.35%
2040 2.57% 2.38%
2039 2.61% 2.46%
2038 2.64% 2.49%
2037 2.7% 2.55%
2036 2.75% 2.58%
2035 2.8% 2.63%
2034 2.85% 2.67%
2033 2.89% 2.71%
2032 2.95% 2.76%
2031 3% 2.77%
2030 3.05% 2.81%
2029 3.1% 2.84%
2028 3.14% 2.87%
2027 3.18% 2.89%
2026 3.24% 2.93%
2025 3.25% 2.94%
2024 3.3% 2.98%
2023 3.31% 3.02%
2022 3.28% 3.06%
2021 3.29% 3.11%
2020 3.27% 3.06%
2019 3.22% 3.06%
2018 3.4% 3.17%
2017 3.72% 3.24%
2016 3.6% 3.22%
2015 3.36% 3.18%
2014 3.45% 3.21%
2013 3.46% 2.96%
2012 3.39% 2.96%
2011 3.33% 3.29%
2010 3.24% 3.3%
2009 3.14% 3.31%
2008 3.06% 3.34%
2007 3.07% 3.34%
2006 3.13% 3.33%
2005 3.12% 3.33%
2004 2.99% 3.29%
2003 2.96% 3.23%
2002 3.1% 3.16%
2001 3.22% 3.05%
2000 3.26% 2.96%
1999 3.42% 2.82%
1998 2.75% 2.56%
1997 1.62% 2.3%
1996 1.94% 2.18%
1995 4.24% 2.19%
1994 4.85% 2.18%
1993 3.64% 2.11%
1992 3.44% 2.04%
1991 3.38% 2.01%
1990 3.37% 1.99%
1989 3.21% 1.88%
1988 3.25% 1.76%
1987 3.2% 1.76%
1986 3.2% 1.87%
1985 3.37% 2.02%
1984 3.4% 2.17%
1983 3.22% 2.22%
1982 3.05% 2.18%
1981 2.96% 2.15%
1980 3.18% 2.1%
1979 3.58% 2.01%
1978 3.15% 1.96%
1977 2.56% 1.87%
1976 2.62% 1.81%
1975 2.69% 1.81%
1974 2.71% 1.79%
1973 2.71% 1.75%
1972 2.68% 1.66%
1971 2.77% 1.62%
1970 2.9% 1.6%
1969 2.94% 1.56%
1968 2.98% 1.54%
1967 2.96% 1.5%
1966 2.89% 1.49%
1965 2.79% 1.49%
1964 2.71% 1.48%
1963 2.69% 1.49%
1962 2.64% 1.49%
1961 2.6% 1.48%

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/mali | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Mali
Current population
118386491
26322576
Population rank 14/197 58/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.32%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
43.9 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
32.6 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 14/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
11 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -48,019
Net migration rank 159/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -48,019
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 759,375 -46,880
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 746,398 -39,953
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 726,465 -39,951
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 703,674 -22,210
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 683,053 -14,962
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 667,110 -44,373
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 670,723 -40,710
2017 2,883,245 176,290 661,973 -33,942
2016 2,753,687 440,748 645,652 -30,251
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 630,006 -48,872
2014 2,580,251 36,966 614,419 -50,068
2013 2,489,378 121,097 597,887 -40,951
2012 2,405,462 53,668 588,748 -140,507
2011 2,310,679 40,891 570,899 -43,160
2010 2,212,255 8,823 554,447 -34,483
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 533,730 -34,383
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 514,665 -24,509
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 495,800 -19,945
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 477,665 -18,247
2005 1,800,300 20,384 460,964 -17,413
2004 1,731,022 4,260 439,717 -10,796
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 417,766 -11,768
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 396,732 -8,914
2001 1,594,999 26,523 376,472 -12,507
2000 1,549,518 79,340 359,159 -17,395
1999 1,450,318 109,761 343,705 -21,702
1998 1,375,130 295,560 323,940 -30,255
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 308,429 -55,978
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 293,953 -67,974
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 285,598 -67,763
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 282,356 -63,533
1993 1,209,242 240,176 274,480 -68,816
1992 1,152,781 252,666 267,605 -70,789
1991 1,114,033 86,721 261,656 -77,172
1990 1,063,508 219,270 252,308 -68,668
1989 1,027,238 84,415 249,929 -75,771
1988 995,278 101,314 245,682 -87,952
1987 959,875 111,220 238,871 -90,940
1986 925,334 70,988 233,799 -81,970
1985 885,670 118,791 224,734 -63,347
1984 844,956 190,045 218,078 -47,331
1983 807,122 146,095 211,795 -34,132
1982 774,823 97,495 204,892 -34,140
1981 748,371 54,656 198,227 -34,130
1980 724,111 51,685 190,560 -30,156
1979 691,773 181,028 182,449 -32,353
1978 646,411 268,974 172,652 -31,520
1977 638,242 -26,355 165,071 -28,853
1976 624,147 -25,965 157,778 -33,999
1975 608,655 -972 150,222 -26,572
1974 593,539 3,216 142,448 -22,449
1973 578,280 7,414 135,801 -19,137
1972 564,495 2,840 129,687 -19,594
1971 549,343 -5,497 123,591 -22,127
1970 533,300 39,116 118,952 -17,479
1969 514,800 46,778 114,361 -18,302
1968 497,682 57,274 111,403 -18,015
1967 479,552 64,307 107,650 -16,900
1966 463,397 54,443 103,684 -17,032
1965 429,002 61,397 100,451 -13,662
1964 406,334 48,207 97,166 -13,226
1963 398,972 41,960 95,055 -11,951
1962 383,406 39,431 93,101 -10,821
1961 368,207 35,654 91,115 -10,139
1960 363,517 27,673 88,802 -10,314

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/mali | 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 Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

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
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 226K
Segou 131K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

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/mali | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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