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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 21.9 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 1.48% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

DR Congo vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo New Zealand
2100 436,320,913 5,918,837
2099 433,372,904 5,923,132
2098 430,335,169 5,927,206
2097 427,231,271 5,930,263
2096 424,043,303 5,932,907
2095 420,759,430 5,934,847
2094 417,384,609 5,936,183
2093 413,946,692 5,938,804
2092 410,440,733 5,939,085
2091 406,841,757 5,940,665
2090 403,166,901 5,941,752
2089 399,411,004 5,944,871
2088 395,583,655 5,945,635
2087 391,688,383 5,948,586
2086 387,713,874 5,951,745
2085 383,678,330 5,955,275
2084 379,568,054 5,959,115
2083 375,402,379 5,963,613
2082 371,195,818 5,966,943
2081 366,948,626 5,968,511
2080 362,644,227 5,971,082
2079 358,295,825 5,972,331
2078 353,888,897 5,972,928
2077 349,435,210 5,971,804
2076 344,932,895 5,971,386
2075 340,403,800 5,970,985
2074 335,826,108 5,969,834
2073 331,220,816 5,968,506
2072 326,568,298 5,964,548
2071 321,892,514 5,964,493
2070 317,165,418 5,963,811
2069 312,409,702 5,962,551
2068 307,625,941 5,960,918
2067 302,820,577 5,958,438
2066 297,989,401 5,954,539
2065 293,137,514 5,950,378
2064 288,267,282 5,946,851
2063 283,369,365 5,944,910
2062 278,452,605 5,940,838
2061 273,517,380 5,939,601
2060 268,572,331 5,936,094
2059 263,620,905 5,931,426
2058 258,672,397 5,925,816
2057 253,733,756 5,919,823
2056 248,796,045 5,913,287
2055 243,861,631 5,904,352
2054 238,931,249 5,894,795
2053 234,016,357 5,884,875
2052 229,117,369 5,876,162
2051 224,240,788 5,864,176
2050 219,397,034 5,852,896
2049 214,588,560 5,844,165
2048 209,814,694 5,833,178
2047 205,079,870 5,822,035
2046 200,379,842 5,809,860
2045 195,731,078 5,795,785
2044 191,124,003 5,780,884
2043 186,569,843 5,764,579
2042 182,068,630 5,746,528
2041 177,617,360 5,727,253
2040 173,224,822 5,708,874
2039 168,878,834 5,690,018
2038 164,583,465 5,669,959
2037 160,347,349 5,650,253
2036 156,129,049 5,630,126
2035 151,953,443 5,609,155
2034 147,811,138 5,588,315
2033 143,712,496 5,565,507
2032 139,669,159 5,542,488
2031 135,660,570 5,517,391
2030 131,710,378 5,491,320
2029 127,818,130 5,462,926
2028 123,980,695 5,432,752
2027 120,212,011 5,399,898
2026 116,505,117 5,364,771
2025 112,854,120 5,327,462
2024 109,276,265 5,287,500
2023 105,789,731 5,200,000
2022 102,396,968 5,081,700
2021 99,148,932 5,084,600
2020 95,989,998 5,072,400
2019 92,947,442 4,970,300
2018 90,047,644 4,900,600
2017 87,083,398 4,813,600
2016 83,956,415 4,714,100
2015 81,035,531 4,609,400
2014 78,403,242 4,516,500
2013 75,789,395 4,442,100
2012 73,254,618 4,408,100
2011 70,849,311 4,384,000
2010 68,563,038 4,350,700
2009 66,412,044 4,302,600
2008 64,390,664 4,259,800
2007 62,477,752 4,223,800
2006 60,615,908 4,184,600
2005 58,775,724 4,133,900
2004 56,997,741 4,087,500
2003 55,343,867 4,027,200
2002 53,750,524 3,948,500
2001 52,132,646 3,880,500
2000 50,507,442 3,857,700
1999 48,912,971 3,835,100
1998 47,297,600 3,815,000
1997 46,029,902 3,781,300
1996 45,296,124 3,732,000
1995 44,433,704 3,673,400
1994 42,626,876 3,620,000
1993 40,656,336 3,572,200
1992 39,228,910 3,531,700
1991 37,925,817 3,495,100
1990 36,684,063 3,329,800
1989 35,486,866 3,299,200
1988 34,382,752 3,283,400
1987 33,298,904 3,274,400
1986 32,265,196 3,246,300
1985 31,264,816 3,247,100
1984 30,245,081 3,227,100
1983 29,250,963 3,199,300
1982 28,338,190 3,156,100
1981 27,500,515 3,124,900
1980 26,711,099 3,112,900
1979 25,886,782 3,109,000
1978 24,992,689 3,121,200
1977 24,229,061 3,120,200
1976 23,624,031 3,110,500
1975 23,021,101 3,083,100
1974 22,418,878 3,023,700
1973 21,827,665 2,961,300
1972 21,251,160 2,903,900
1971 20,695,569 2,853,000
1970 20,137,436 2,810,700
1969 19,570,445 2,772,800
1968 19,012,189 2,748,100
1967 18,462,782 2,724,100
1966 17,931,929 2,675,900
1965 17,427,802 2,628,400
1964 16,955,327 2,585,400
1963 16,507,599 2,531,800
1962 16,075,724 2,482,000
1961 15,662,374 2,419,700
1960 15,264,846 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo New Zealand
2100 0.68% -0.07%
2099 0.71% -0.07%
2098 0.73% -0.05%
2097 0.75% -0.04%
2096 0.78% -0.03%
2095 0.81% -0.02%
2094 0.83% -0.04%
2093 0.85% -0.005%
2092 0.88% -0.03%
2091 0.91% -0.02%
2090 0.94% -0.05%
2089 0.97% -0.01%
2088 0.99% -0.05%
2087 1.03% -0.05%
2086 1.05% -0.06%
2085 1.08% -0.06%
2084 1.11% -0.08%
2083 1.13% -0.06%
2082 1.16% -0.03%
2081 1.19% -0.04%
2080 1.21% -0.02%
2079 1.25% -0.01%
2078 1.27% 0.02%
2077 1.31% 0.007%
2076 1.33% 0.007%
2075 1.36% 0.02%
2074 1.39% 0.02%
2073 1.42% 0.07%
2072 1.45% 0.001%
2071 1.49% 0.01%
2070 1.52% 0.02%
2069 1.56% 0.03%
2068 1.59% 0.04%
2067 1.62% 0.07%
2066 1.66% 0.07%
2065 1.69% 0.06%
2064 1.73% 0.03%
2063 1.77% 0.07%
2062 1.8% 0.02%
2061 1.84% 0.06%
2060 1.88% 0.08%
2059 1.91% 0.09%
2058 1.95% 0.1%
2057 1.98% 0.11%
2056 2.02% 0.15%
2055 2.06% 0.16%
2054 2.1% 0.17%
2053 2.14% 0.15%
2052 2.17% 0.2%
2051 2.21% 0.19%
2050 2.24% 0.15%
2049 2.28% 0.19%
2048 2.31% 0.19%
2047 2.35% 0.21%
2046 2.38% 0.24%
2045 2.41% 0.26%
2044 2.44% 0.28%
2043 2.47% 0.31%
2042 2.51% 0.34%
2041 2.54% 0.32%
2040 2.57% 0.33%
2039 2.61% 0.35%
2038 2.64% 0.35%
2037 2.7% 0.36%
2036 2.75% 0.37%
2035 2.8% 0.37%
2034 2.85% 0.41%
2033 2.89% 0.42%
2032 2.95% 0.45%
2031 3% 0.47%
2030 3.05% 0.52%
2029 3.1% 0.56%
2028 3.14% 0.61%
2027 3.18% 0.65%
2026 3.24% 0.7%
2025 3.27% 0.76%
2024 3.3% 1.68%
2023 3.31% 2.33%
2022 3.28% -0.06%
2021 3.29% 0.24%
2020 3.27% 2.05%
2019 3.22% 1.42%
2018 3.4% 1.81%
2017 3.72% 2.11%
2016 3.6% 2.27%
2015 3.36% 2.06%
2014 3.45% 1.67%
2013 3.46% 0.77%
2012 3.39% 0.55%
2011 3.33% 0.77%
2010 3.24% 1.12%
2009 3.14% 1%
2008 3.06% 0.85%
2007 3.07% 0.94%
2006 3.13% 1.23%
2005 3.12% 1.14%
2004 2.99% 1.5%
2003 2.96% 1.99%
2002 3.1% 1.75%
2001 3.22% 0.59%
2000 3.26% 0.59%
1999 3.42% 0.53%
1998 2.75% 0.89%
1997 1.62% 1.32%
1996 1.94% 1.6%
1995 4.24% 1.48%
1994 4.85% 1.34%
1993 3.64% 1.15%
1992 3.44% 1.05%
1991 3.38% 4.96%
1990 3.37% 0.93%
1989 3.21% 0.48%
1988 3.25% 0.27%
1987 3.2% 0.87%
1986 3.2% -0.02%
1985 3.37% 0.62%
1984 3.4% 0.87%
1983 3.22% 1.37%
1982 3.05% 1%
1981 2.96% 0.39%
1980 3.18% 0.13%
1979 3.58% -0.39%
1978 3.15% 0.03%
1977 2.56% 0.31%
1976 2.62% 0.89%
1975 2.69% 1.96%
1974 2.71% 2.11%
1973 2.71% 1.98%
1972 2.68% 1.78%
1971 2.77% 1.5%
1970 2.9% 1.37%
1969 2.94% 0.9%
1968 2.98% 0.88%
1967 2.96% 1.8%
1966 2.89% 1.81%
1965 2.79% 1.66%
1964 2.71% 2.12%
1963 2.69% 2.01%
1962 2.64% 2.57%
1961 2.6% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

DR Congo New Zealand
Current population
117507801
5374272
Population rank 15/197 124/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.06%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
6.01 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
9.31 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +240
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 65/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +17,403
Net migration rank 159/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 17,403
2024 - -26,968 - 18,766
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 18,876 21,404
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 20,123 21,404
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 23,644 -14,944
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 24,905 42,124
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 25,299 69,770
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 24,797 59,139
2017 2,883,245 176,290 26,282 68,349
2016 2,753,687 440,748 28,237 75,512
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 29,408 70,870
2014 2,580,251 36,966 26,196 57,974
2013 2,489,378 121,097 29,096 26,385
2012 2,405,462 53,668 31,077 -1,015
2011 2,310,679 40,891 31,302 -2,196
2010 2,212,255 8,823 35,458 6,722
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 33,560 12,700
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 35,143 4,804
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 35,480 3,053
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 30,924 14,542
2005 1,800,300 20,384 30,674 19,212
2004 1,731,022 4,260 29,634 24,521
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 28,150 42,456
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 25,941 48,195
2001 1,594,999 26,523 27,939 17,793
2000 1,549,518 79,340 29,897 -6,604
1999 1,450,318 109,761 28,916 -7,634
1998 1,375,130 295,560 29,146 -1,387
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 30,137 12,040
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 28,997 25,169
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 29,828 26,743
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 30,372 20,420
1993 1,209,242 240,176 31,685 12,638
1992 1,152,781 252,666 32,067 6,460
1991 1,114,033 86,721 33,518 31,156
1990 1,063,508 219,270 33,298 70,432
1989 1,027,238 84,415 30,749 -8,818
1988 995,278 101,314 29,846 -17,005
1987 959,875 111,220 27,603 -7,631
1986 925,334 70,988 25,549 -10,234
1985 885,670 118,791 24,126 -13,462
1984 844,956 190,045 26,043 -901
1983 807,122 146,095 24,315 11,464
1982 774,823 97,495 24,207 7,982
1981 748,371 54,656 25,374 -7,606
1980 724,111 51,685 23,658 -15,423
1979 691,773 181,028 26,675 -26,694
1978 646,411 268,974 26,156 -28,783
1977 638,242 -26,355 28,020 -22,697
1976 624,147 -25,965 29,456 -9,138
1975 608,655 -972 31,355 13,196
1974 593,539 3,216 33,896 27,580
1973 578,280 7,414 35,239 28,261
1972 564,495 2,840 38,244 17,779
1971 549,343 -5,497 40,000 7,547
1970 533,300 39,116 37,101 4,511
1969 514,800 46,778 38,098 -5,212
1968 497,682 57,274 37,594 -11,853
1967 479,552 64,307 37,974 -2,289
1966 463,397 54,443 36,151 9,161
1965 429,002 61,397 36,982 9,245
1964 406,334 48,207 39,375 9,806
1963 398,972 41,960 42,027 10,226
1962 383,406 39,431 42,865 12,697
1961 368,207 35,654 43,482 10,689
1960 363,517 27,673 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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