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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 4.41 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 1.74% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

DR Congo vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo North Korea
2100 436,320,913 19,604,631
2099 433,372,904 19,733,548
2098 430,335,169 19,862,949
2097 427,231,271 19,993,288
2096 424,043,303 20,124,518
2095 420,759,430 20,256,401
2094 417,384,609 20,388,156
2093 413,946,692 20,520,253
2092 410,440,733 20,652,961
2091 406,841,757 20,785,785
2090 403,166,901 20,918,305
2089 399,411,004 21,050,580
2088 395,583,655 21,182,325
2087 391,688,383 21,314,047
2086 387,713,874 21,445,329
2085 383,678,330 21,575,835
2084 379,568,054 21,705,777
2083 375,402,379 21,835,029
2082 371,195,818 21,964,199
2081 366,948,626 22,092,862
2080 362,644,227 22,220,948
2079 358,295,825 22,348,577
2078 353,888,897 22,475,755
2077 349,435,210 22,602,817
2076 344,932,895 22,729,499
2075 340,403,800 22,856,369
2074 335,826,108 22,983,784
2073 331,220,816 23,111,441
2072 326,568,298 23,239,261
2071 321,892,514 23,367,583
2070 317,165,418 23,496,136
2069 312,409,702 23,625,538
2068 307,625,941 23,755,136
2067 302,820,577 23,884,879
2066 297,989,401 24,015,027
2065 293,137,514 24,144,985
2064 288,267,282 24,274,257
2063 283,369,365 24,402,439
2062 278,452,605 24,529,941
2061 273,517,380 24,656,350
2060 268,572,331 24,780,911
2059 263,620,905 24,903,037
2058 258,672,397 25,023,260
2057 253,733,756 25,140,523
2056 248,796,045 25,255,342
2055 243,861,631 25,366,397
2054 238,931,249 25,474,292
2053 234,016,357 25,578,870
2052 229,117,369 25,679,963
2051 224,240,788 25,777,639
2050 219,397,034 25,871,673
2049 214,588,560 25,962,167
2048 209,814,694 26,048,593
2047 205,079,870 26,131,429
2046 200,379,842 26,210,487
2045 195,731,078 26,286,208
2044 191,124,003 26,358,331
2043 186,569,843 26,427,062
2042 182,068,630 26,491,482
2041 177,617,360 26,552,564
2040 173,224,822 26,609,557
2039 168,878,834 26,661,815
2038 164,583,465 26,708,400
2037 160,347,349 26,749,134
2036 156,129,049 26,783,304
2035 151,953,443 26,810,026
2034 147,811,138 26,828,912
2033 143,712,496 26,839,229
2032 139,669,159 26,840,944
2031 135,660,570 26,832,957
2030 131,710,378 26,814,812
2029 127,818,130 26,787,117
2028 123,980,695 26,749,227
2027 120,212,011 26,701,444
2026 116,505,117 26,643,460
2025 112,854,120 26,575,953
2024 109,276,265 26,498,823
2023 105,789,731 26,418,204
2022 102,396,968 26,328,845
2021 99,148,932 26,232,534
2020 95,989,998 26,136,312
2019 92,947,442 26,037,632
2018 90,047,644 25,931,147
2017 87,083,398 25,817,709
2016 83,956,415 25,698,326
2015 81,035,531 25,575,350
2014 78,403,242 25,451,262
2013 75,789,395 25,329,451
2012 73,254,618 25,211,728
2011 70,849,311 25,097,874
2010 68,563,038 24,987,258
2009 66,412,044 24,878,332
2008 64,390,664 24,764,618
2007 62,477,752 24,646,383
2006 60,615,908 24,524,507
2005 58,775,724 24,396,433
2004 56,997,741 24,254,943
2003 55,343,867 24,090,380
2002 53,750,524 23,943,973
2001 52,132,646 23,815,358
2000 50,507,442 23,665,910
1999 48,912,971 23,497,599
1998 47,297,600 23,311,564
1997 46,029,902 23,110,830
1996 45,296,124 22,895,746
1995 44,433,704 22,669,304
1994 42,626,876 22,393,975
1993 40,656,336 22,073,352
1992 39,228,910 21,750,911
1991 37,925,817 21,428,638
1990 36,684,063 21,112,137
1989 35,486,866 20,804,367
1988 34,382,752 20,503,161
1987 33,298,904 20,205,483
1986 32,265,196 19,910,855
1985 31,264,816 19,620,388
1984 30,245,081 19,335,043
1983 29,250,963 19,054,034
1982 28,338,190 18,776,357
1981 27,500,515 18,501,295
1980 26,711,099 18,236,786
1979 25,886,782 17,983,470
1978 24,992,689 17,735,995
1977 24,229,061 17,492,798
1976 23,624,031 17,243,450
1975 23,021,101 16,971,055
1974 22,418,878 16,673,121
1973 21,827,665 16,350,367
1972 21,251,160 15,975,069
1971 20,695,569 15,572,457
1970 20,137,436 15,172,775
1969 19,570,445 14,767,615
1968 19,012,189 14,365,596
1967 18,462,782 13,958,350
1966 17,931,929 13,569,094
1965 17,427,802 13,219,369
1964 16,955,327 12,889,770
1963 16,507,599 12,567,057
1962 16,075,724 12,262,882
1961 15,662,374 11,990,713
1960 15,264,846 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo North Korea
2100 0.68% -0.65%
2099 0.71% -0.65%
2098 0.73% -0.65%
2097 0.75% -0.65%
2096 0.78% -0.65%
2095 0.81% -0.65%
2094 0.83% -0.64%
2093 0.85% -0.64%
2092 0.88% -0.64%
2091 0.91% -0.63%
2090 0.94% -0.63%
2089 0.97% -0.62%
2088 0.99% -0.62%
2087 1.03% -0.61%
2086 1.05% -0.6%
2085 1.08% -0.6%
2084 1.11% -0.59%
2083 1.13% -0.59%
2082 1.16% -0.58%
2081 1.19% -0.58%
2080 1.21% -0.57%
2079 1.25% -0.57%
2078 1.27% -0.56%
2077 1.31% -0.56%
2076 1.33% -0.56%
2075 1.36% -0.55%
2074 1.39% -0.55%
2073 1.42% -0.55%
2072 1.45% -0.55%
2071 1.49% -0.55%
2070 1.52% -0.55%
2069 1.56% -0.55%
2068 1.59% -0.54%
2067 1.62% -0.54%
2066 1.66% -0.54%
2065 1.69% -0.53%
2064 1.73% -0.53%
2063 1.77% -0.52%
2062 1.8% -0.51%
2061 1.84% -0.5%
2060 1.88% -0.49%
2059 1.91% -0.48%
2058 1.95% -0.47%
2057 1.98% -0.45%
2056 2.02% -0.44%
2055 2.06% -0.42%
2054 2.1% -0.41%
2053 2.14% -0.39%
2052 2.17% -0.38%
2051 2.21% -0.36%
2050 2.24% -0.35%
2049 2.28% -0.33%
2048 2.31% -0.32%
2047 2.35% -0.3%
2046 2.38% -0.29%
2045 2.41% -0.27%
2044 2.44% -0.26%
2043 2.47% -0.24%
2042 2.51% -0.23%
2041 2.54% -0.21%
2040 2.57% -0.2%
2039 2.61% -0.17%
2038 2.64% -0.15%
2037 2.7% -0.13%
2036 2.75% -0.1%
2035 2.8% -0.07%
2034 2.85% -0.04%
2033 2.89% -0.006%
2032 2.95% 0.03%
2031 3% 0.07%
2030 3.05% 0.1%
2029 3.1% 0.14%
2028 3.14% 0.18%
2027 3.18% 0.22%
2026 3.24% 0.25%
2025 3.27% 0.29%
2024 3.3% 0.31%
2023 3.31% 0.34%
2022 3.28% 0.37%
2021 3.29% 0.37%
2020 3.27% 0.38%
2019 3.22% 0.41%
2018 3.4% 0.44%
2017 3.72% 0.46%
2016 3.6% 0.48%
2015 3.36% 0.49%
2014 3.45% 0.48%
2013 3.46% 0.47%
2012 3.39% 0.45%
2011 3.33% 0.44%
2010 3.24% 0.44%
2009 3.14% 0.46%
2008 3.06% 0.48%
2007 3.07% 0.5%
2006 3.13% 0.52%
2005 3.12% 0.58%
2004 2.99% 0.68%
2003 2.96% 0.61%
2002 3.1% 0.54%
2001 3.22% 0.63%
2000 3.26% 0.72%
1999 3.42% 0.8%
1998 2.75% 0.87%
1997 1.62% 0.94%
1996 1.94% 1%
1995 4.24% 1.23%
1994 4.85% 1.45%
1993 3.64% 1.48%
1992 3.44% 1.5%
1991 3.38% 1.5%
1990 3.37% 1.48%
1989 3.21% 1.47%
1988 3.25% 1.47%
1987 3.2% 1.48%
1986 3.2% 1.48%
1985 3.37% 1.48%
1984 3.4% 1.47%
1983 3.22% 1.48%
1982 3.05% 1.49%
1981 2.96% 1.45%
1980 3.18% 1.41%
1979 3.58% 1.4%
1978 3.15% 1.39%
1977 2.56% 1.45%
1976 2.62% 1.61%
1975 2.69% 1.79%
1974 2.71% 1.97%
1973 2.71% 2.35%
1972 2.68% 2.59%
1971 2.77% 2.63%
1970 2.9% 2.74%
1969 2.94% 2.8%
1968 2.98% 2.92%
1967 2.96% 2.87%
1966 2.89% 2.65%
1965 2.79% 2.56%
1964 2.71% 2.57%
1963 2.69% 2.48%
1962 2.64% 2.27%
1961 2.6% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

DR Congo North Korea
Current population
117507801
26659144
Population rank 15/197 57/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.32%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
6.52 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +221
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 150/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 -2,787
Net migration rank 159/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -2,787
2024 - -26,968 - -2,473
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 86,203 -1,997
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 96,495 -1,997
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 99,710 -1,585
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 95,920 -1,585
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 106,208 -3,142
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 113,164 -3,225
2017 2,883,245 176,290 120,181 -3,224
2016 2,753,687 440,748 125,048 -3,222
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 127,365 -3,208
2014 2,580,251 36,966 127,078 -3,042
2013 2,489,378 121,097 122,519 -2,933
2012 2,405,462 53,668 118,773 -2,919
2011 2,310,679 40,891 114,798 -2,957
2010 2,212,255 8,823 112,443 -3,053
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 111,530 -3,058
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 122,015 -3,051
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 120,521 -3,021
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 129,171 -2,948
2005 1,800,300 20,384 132,765 -2,861
2004 1,731,022 4,260 155,838 -2,758
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 178,775 -2,717
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 119,504 -2,763
2001 1,594,999 26,523 143,321 -2,884
2000 1,549,518 79,340 161,591 -3,142
1999 1,450,318 109,761 181,613 -3,443
1998 1,375,130 295,560 197,589 -3,706
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 211,325 -3,745
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 226,095 -3,512
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 233,381 -3,094
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 320,861 -517
1993 1,209,242 240,176 320,880 0
1992 1,152,781 252,666 324,002 0
1991 1,114,033 86,721 320,551 0
1990 1,063,508 219,270 312,460 0
1989 1,027,238 84,415 303,078 0
1988 995,278 101,314 299,305 0
1987 959,875 111,220 296,030 0
1986 925,334 70,988 293,227 0
1985 885,670 118,791 287,714 0
1984 844,956 190,045 282,987 0
1983 807,122 146,095 279,046 0
1982 774,823 97,495 276,332 0
1981 748,371 54,656 273,800 0
1980 724,111 51,685 255,206 0
1979 691,773 181,028 251,409 0
1978 646,411 268,974 243,533 0
1977 638,242 -26,355 242,870 0
1976 624,147 -25,965 255,841 0
1975 608,655 -972 288,966 0
1974 593,539 3,216 306,902 0
1973 578,280 7,414 338,600 0
1972 564,495 2,840 411,997 0
1971 549,343 -5,497 393,220 0
1970 533,300 39,116 406,129 0
1969 514,800 46,778 404,189 0
1968 497,682 57,274 399,837 0
1967 479,552 64,307 414,632 0
1966 463,397 54,443 363,882 0
1965 429,002 61,397 335,587 0
1964 406,334 48,207 323,623 0
1963 398,972 41,960 321,805 0
1962 383,406 39,431 286,534 0
1961 368,207 35,654 257,788 0
1960 363,517 27,673 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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