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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 2.07 times bigger than the DR Congo's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 4.37% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

DR Congo vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Nigeria
2100 436,237,219 481,640,156
2099 433,289,774 481,456,918
2098 430,252,622 481,181,892
2097 427,149,320 480,838,161
2096 423,961,963 480,422,467
2095 420,678,721 479,938,579
2094 417,304,547 479,395,022
2093 413,867,290 478,769,369
2092 410,362,003 478,059,864
2091 406,763,717 477,236,907
2090 403,089,566 476,329,495
2089 399,334,389 475,326,347
2088 395,507,774 474,231,442
2087 391,613,249 473,035,563
2086 387,639,503 471,732,001
2085 383,604,733 470,328,175
2084 379,495,246 468,806,172
2083 375,330,369 467,187,453
2082 371,124,615 465,472,417
2081 366,878,238 463,643,190
2080 362,574,665 461,705,493
2079 358,227,097 459,644,523
2078 353,821,014 457,477,264
2077 349,368,182 455,218,871
2076 344,866,731 452,849,991
2075 340,338,504 450,367,356
2074 335,761,691 447,789,885
2073 331,157,281 445,117,028
2072 326,505,656 442,340,440
2071 321,830,769 439,464,323
2070 317,104,580 436,505,329
2069 312,349,776 433,437,998
2068 307,566,932 430,286,232
2067 302,762,490 427,032,499
2066 297,932,241 423,702,640
2065 293,081,284 420,285,359
2064 288,211,987 416,778,394
2063 283,315,009 413,198,800
2062 278,399,192 409,551,159
2061 273,464,914 405,827,482
2060 268,520,814 402,041,765
2059 263,570,338 398,197,311
2058 258,622,778 394,284,767
2057 253,685,085 390,311,065
2056 248,748,321 386,267,580
2055 243,814,854 382,162,992
2054 238,885,417 378,000,511
2053 233,971,468 373,769,779
2052 229,073,420 369,472,476
2051 224,197,775 365,120,741
2050 219,354,949 360,706,317
2049 214,547,398 356,243,287
2048 209,774,448 351,724,743
2047 205,040,532 347,142,279
2046 200,341,405 342,505,549
2045 195,693,533 337,807,869
2044 191,087,342 333,050,132
2043 186,534,055 328,230,652
2042 182,033,706 323,363,366
2041 177,583,290 318,443,989
2040 173,191,594 313,468,061
2039 168,846,440 308,450,008
2038 164,551,895 303,399,842
2037 160,316,591 298,327,800
2036 156,099,100 293,227,654
2035 151,924,296 288,115,630
2034 147,782,785 282,995,818
2033 143,684,929 277,875,880
2032 139,642,368 272,747,599
2031 135,634,548 267,645,657
2030 131,685,113 262,562,767
2029 127,793,612 257,484,616
2028 123,956,913 252,445,821
2027 120,188,952 247,437,680
2026 116,482,769 242,458,365
2025 112,832,473 237,527,782
2024 109,276,265 232,679,478
2023 105,789,731 227,882,945
2022 102,396,968 223,150,896
2021 99,148,932 218,529,286
2020 95,989,998 213,996,181
2019 92,947,442 209,485,641
2018 90,047,644 204,938,755
2017 87,083,398 200,254,579
2016 83,956,415 195,443,700
2015 81,035,531 190,671,878
2014 78,403,242 185,896,915
2013 75,789,395 181,049,443
2012 73,254,618 176,200,625
2011 70,849,311 171,379,598
2010 68,563,038 166,642,886
2009 66,412,044 162,049,464
2008 64,390,664 157,595,014
2007 62,477,752 153,267,261
2006 60,615,908 149,077,334
2005 58,775,724 145,017,253
2004 56,997,741 141,057,045
2003 55,343,867 137,202,644
2002 53,750,524 133,471,989
2001 52,132,646 129,862,595
2000 50,507,442 126,382,494
1999 48,912,971 123,047,320
1998 47,297,600 119,846,254
1997 46,029,902 116,754,792
1996 45,296,124 113,754,779
1995 44,433,704 110,819,428
1994 42,626,876 107,935,714
1993 40,656,336 105,122,069
1992 39,228,910 102,372,770
1991 37,925,817 99,720,162
1990 36,684,063 97,120,925
1989 35,486,866 94,531,014
1988 34,382,752 92,020,090
1987 33,298,904 89,591,716
1986 32,265,196 87,235,953
1985 31,264,816 84,897,973
1984 30,245,081 82,526,443
1983 29,250,963 80,438,260
1982 28,338,190 78,378,701
1981 27,500,515 76,068,103
1980 26,711,099 73,764,641
1979 25,886,782 71,498,242
1978 24,992,689 69,326,532
1977 24,229,061 67,234,590
1976 23,624,031 65,258,009
1975 23,021,101 63,410,815
1974 22,418,878 61,679,144
1973 21,827,665 60,082,139
1972 21,251,160 58,601,748
1971 20,695,569 57,214,684
1970 20,137,436 55,893,838
1969 19,570,445 54,631,914
1968 19,012,189 53,432,783
1967 18,462,782 52,293,065
1966 17,931,929 51,188,234
1965 17,427,802 50,086,764
1964 16,955,327 49,012,016
1963 16,507,599 47,973,575
1962 16,075,724 46,965,292
1961 15,662,374 45,989,310
1960 15,264,846 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Nigeria
2100 0.68% 0.04%
2099 0.71% 0.06%
2098 0.73% 0.07%
2097 0.75% 0.09%
2096 0.78% 0.1%
2095 0.81% 0.11%
2094 0.83% 0.13%
2093 0.85% 0.15%
2092 0.88% 0.17%
2091 0.91% 0.19%
2090 0.94% 0.21%
2089 0.97% 0.23%
2088 0.99% 0.25%
2087 1.03% 0.28%
2086 1.05% 0.3%
2085 1.08% 0.32%
2084 1.11% 0.35%
2083 1.13% 0.37%
2082 1.16% 0.39%
2081 1.19% 0.42%
2080 1.21% 0.45%
2079 1.25% 0.47%
2078 1.27% 0.5%
2077 1.31% 0.52%
2076 1.33% 0.55%
2075 1.36% 0.58%
2074 1.39% 0.6%
2073 1.42% 0.63%
2072 1.45% 0.65%
2071 1.49% 0.68%
2070 1.52% 0.71%
2069 1.56% 0.73%
2068 1.59% 0.76%
2067 1.62% 0.79%
2066 1.66% 0.81%
2065 1.69% 0.84%
2064 1.73% 0.87%
2063 1.77% 0.89%
2062 1.8% 0.92%
2061 1.84% 0.94%
2060 1.88% 0.97%
2059 1.91% 0.99%
2058 1.95% 1.02%
2057 1.98% 1.05%
2056 2.02% 1.07%
2055 2.06% 1.1%
2054 2.1% 1.13%
2053 2.14% 1.16%
2052 2.17% 1.19%
2051 2.21% 1.22%
2050 2.24% 1.25%
2049 2.28% 1.28%
2048 2.31% 1.32%
2047 2.35% 1.35%
2046 2.38% 1.39%
2045 2.41% 1.43%
2044 2.44% 1.47%
2043 2.47% 1.51%
2042 2.51% 1.54%
2041 2.54% 1.59%
2040 2.57% 1.63%
2039 2.61% 1.66%
2038 2.64% 1.7%
2037 2.7% 1.74%
2036 2.75% 1.77%
2035 2.8% 1.81%
2034 2.85% 1.84%
2033 2.89% 1.88%
2032 2.95% 1.91%
2031 3% 1.94%
2030 3.05% 1.97%
2029 3.1% 2%
2028 3.14% 2.02%
2027 3.18% 2.05%
2026 3.24% 2.08%
2025 3.25% 2.08%
2024 3.3% 2.1%
2023 3.31% 2.12%
2022 3.28% 2.11%
2021 3.29% 2.12%
2020 3.27% 2.15%
2019 3.22% 2.22%
2018 3.4% 2.34%
2017 3.72% 2.46%
2016 3.6% 2.5%
2015 3.36% 2.57%
2014 3.45% 2.68%
2013 3.46% 2.75%
2012 3.39% 2.81%
2011 3.33% 2.84%
2010 3.24% 2.83%
2009 3.14% 2.83%
2008 3.06% 2.82%
2007 3.07% 2.81%
2006 3.13% 2.8%
2005 3.12% 2.81%
2004 2.99% 2.81%
2003 2.96% 2.8%
2002 3.1% 2.78%
2001 3.22% 2.75%
2000 3.26% 2.71%
1999 3.42% 2.67%
1998 2.75% 2.65%
1997 1.62% 2.64%
1996 1.94% 2.65%
1995 4.24% 2.67%
1994 4.85% 2.68%
1993 3.64% 2.69%
1992 3.44% 2.66%
1991 3.38% 2.68%
1990 3.37% 2.74%
1989 3.21% 2.73%
1988 3.25% 2.71%
1987 3.2% 2.7%
1986 3.2% 2.75%
1985 3.37% 2.87%
1984 3.4% 2.6%
1983 3.22% 2.63%
1982 3.05% 3.04%
1981 2.96% 3.12%
1980 3.18% 3.17%
1979 3.58% 3.13%
1978 3.15% 3.11%
1977 2.56% 3.03%
1976 2.62% 2.91%
1975 2.69% 2.81%
1974 2.71% 2.66%
1973 2.71% 2.53%
1972 2.68% 2.42%
1971 2.77% 2.36%
1970 2.9% 2.31%
1969 2.94% 2.24%
1968 2.98% 2.18%
1967 2.96% 2.16%
1966 2.89% 2.2%
1965 2.79% 2.19%
1964 2.71% 2.16%
1963 2.69% 2.15%
1962 2.64% 2.12%
1961 2.6% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Nigeria
Current population
118386491
245016045
Population rank 14/197 6/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 2.95%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
6.52 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
4.17 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 45/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -15,258
Net migration rank 159/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -15,258
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 2,883,245 176,290 4,706,183 78,685
2016 2,753,687 440,748 4,761,594 75,265
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 2,580,251 36,966 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 2,489,378 121,097 4,811,751 40,201
2012 2,405,462 53,668 4,774,508 71,138
2011 2,310,679 40,891 4,728,363 67,808
2010 2,212,255 8,823 4,629,173 47,966
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 1,800,300 20,384 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 1,731,022 4,260 3,877,376 46,370
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 3,751,120 33,857
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 3,606,814 69,594
2001 1,594,999 26,523 3,478,370 64,163
2000 1,549,518 79,340 3,343,196 74,535
1999 1,450,318 109,761 3,155,425 97,195
1998 1,375,130 295,560 3,003,946 145,575
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 2,936,500 96,885
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 2,882,205 84,448
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 2,830,771 73,243
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 2,735,198 128,134
1993 1,209,242 240,176 2,673,675 90,200
1992 1,152,781 252,666 2,596,173 138,412
1991 1,114,033 86,721 2,527,807 42,760
1990 1,063,508 219,270 2,491,928 135,959
1989 1,027,238 84,415 2,452,324 99,588
1988 995,278 101,314 2,376,419 93,510
1987 959,875 111,220 2,322,397 64,418
1986 925,334 70,988 2,295,003 29,682
1985 885,670 118,791 2,289,784 61,514
1984 844,956 190,045 2,278,060 113,758
1983 807,122 146,095 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 774,823 97,495 2,233,401 101,116
1981 748,371 54,656 2,179,884 106,723
1980 724,111 51,685 2,121,618 198,672
1979 691,773 181,028 2,074,807 137,721
1978 646,411 268,974 2,019,621 111,258
1977 638,242 -26,355 1,923,917 129,075
1976 624,147 -25,965 1,827,289 72,889
1975 608,655 -972 1,718,623 75,603
1974 593,539 3,216 1,624,813 44,281
1973 578,280 7,414 1,525,485 -618
1972 564,495 2,840 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 549,343 -5,497 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 533,300 39,116 1,295,507 7,953
1969 514,800 46,778 1,213,484 6,912
1968 497,682 57,274 1,168,254 9,615
1967 479,552 64,307 1,082,884 18,683
1966 463,397 54,443 1,095,582 12,513
1965 429,002 61,397 1,061,840 32,988
1964 406,334 48,207 1,028,272 26,411
1963 398,972 41,960 995,116 27,115
1962 383,406 39,431 966,452 27,906
1961 368,207 35,654 932,111 25,515
1960 363,517 27,673 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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