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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 17,663 people in Palau in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 17,620 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 6,719 times bigger than Palau's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
  • The countries together account for 1.42% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.0002% for Palau.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs -0.03% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10.1% decline).

DR Congo vs Palau: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Palau
2100 436,237,219 11,146
2099 433,289,774 11,210
2098 430,252,622 11,275
2097 427,149,320 11,346
2096 423,961,963 11,411
2095 420,678,721 11,479
2094 417,304,547 11,543
2093 413,867,290 11,610
2092 410,362,003 11,676
2091 406,763,717 11,747
2090 403,089,566 11,823
2089 399,334,389 11,901
2088 395,507,774 11,962
2087 391,613,249 12,034
2086 387,639,503 12,103
2085 383,604,733 12,165
2084 379,495,246 12,245
2083 375,330,369 12,310
2082 371,124,615 12,376
2081 366,878,238 12,451
2080 362,574,665 12,531
2079 358,227,097 12,602
2078 353,821,014 12,674
2077 349,368,182 12,751
2076 344,866,731 12,831
2075 340,338,504 12,907
2074 335,761,691 13,000
2073 331,157,281 13,084
2072 326,505,656 13,154
2071 321,830,769 13,245
2070 317,104,580 13,332
2069 312,349,776 13,424
2068 307,566,932 13,518
2067 302,762,490 13,614
2066 297,932,241 13,716
2065 293,081,284 13,811
2064 288,211,987 13,913
2063 283,315,009 14,018
2062 278,399,192 14,129
2061 273,464,914 14,244
2060 268,520,814 14,350
2059 263,570,338 14,471
2058 258,622,778 14,581
2057 253,685,085 14,710
2056 248,748,321 14,830
2055 243,814,854 14,954
2054 238,885,417 15,077
2053 233,971,468 15,198
2052 229,073,420 15,324
2051 224,197,775 15,445
2050 219,354,949 15,554
2049 214,547,398 15,674
2048 209,774,448 15,789
2047 205,040,532 15,904
2046 200,341,405 16,015
2045 195,693,533 16,123
2044 191,087,342 16,237
2043 186,534,055 16,331
2042 182,033,706 16,437
2041 177,583,290 16,541
2040 173,191,594 16,623
2039 168,846,440 16,719
2038 164,551,895 16,797
2037 160,316,591 16,886
2036 156,099,100 16,955
2035 151,924,296 17,033
2034 147,782,785 17,109
2033 143,684,929 17,181
2032 139,642,368 17,241
2031 135,634,548 17,321
2030 131,685,113 17,389
2029 127,793,612 17,448
2028 123,956,913 17,518
2027 120,188,952 17,567
2026 116,482,769 17,620
2025 112,832,473 17,663
2024 109,276,265 17,695
2023 105,789,731 17,727
2022 102,396,968 17,759
2021 99,148,932 17,783
2020 95,989,998 17,792
2019 92,947,442 17,798
2018 90,047,644 17,814
2017 87,083,398 17,812
2016 83,956,415 17,797
2015 81,035,531 17,770
2014 78,403,242 17,715
2013 75,789,395 17,648
2012 73,254,618 17,765
2011 70,849,311 18,078
2010 68,563,038 18,396
2009 66,412,044 18,709
2008 64,390,664 19,009
2007 62,477,752 19,302
2006 60,615,908 19,593
2005 58,775,724 19,819
2004 56,997,741 19,820
2003 55,343,867 19,659
2002 53,750,524 19,503
2001 52,132,646 19,352
2000 50,507,442 19,178
1999 48,912,971 18,901
1998 47,297,600 18,524
1997 46,029,902 18,108
1996 45,296,124 17,654
1995 44,433,704 17,195
1994 42,626,876 16,770
1993 40,656,336 16,372
1992 39,228,910 15,989
1991 37,925,817 15,614
1990 36,684,063 15,259
1989 35,486,866 14,945
1988 34,382,752 14,645
1987 33,298,904 14,334
1986 32,265,196 14,024
1985 31,264,816 13,688
1984 30,245,081 13,337
1983 29,250,963 13,006
1982 28,338,190 12,694
1981 27,500,515 12,402
1980 26,711,099 12,271
1979 25,886,782 12,337
1978 24,992,689 12,440
1977 24,229,061 12,525
1976 23,624,031 12,598
1975 23,021,101 12,655
1974 22,418,878 12,687
1973 21,827,665 12,552
1972 21,251,160 12,194
1971 20,695,569 11,759
1970 20,137,436 11,368
1969 19,570,445 11,159
1968 19,012,189 11,080
1967 18,462,782 10,988
1966 17,931,929 10,805
1965 17,427,802 10,547
1964 16,955,327 10,292
1963 16,507,599 10,037
1962 16,075,724 9,793
1961 15,662,374 9,555
1960 15,264,846 9,328

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/palau | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 177 people (a 0.99% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,554 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.1K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Palau
2100 0.68% -0.57%
2099 0.71% -0.58%
2098 0.73% -0.62%
2097 0.75% -0.57%
2096 0.78% -0.59%
2095 0.81% -0.55%
2094 0.83% -0.58%
2093 0.85% -0.56%
2092 0.88% -0.6%
2091 0.91% -0.65%
2090 0.94% -0.65%
2089 0.97% -0.51%
2088 0.99% -0.6%
2087 1.03% -0.57%
2086 1.05% -0.51%
2085 1.08% -0.65%
2084 1.11% -0.53%
2083 1.13% -0.53%
2082 1.16% -0.6%
2081 1.19% -0.64%
2080 1.21% -0.56%
2079 1.25% -0.58%
2078 1.27% -0.6%
2077 1.31% -0.62%
2076 1.33% -0.59%
2075 1.36% -0.71%
2074 1.39% -0.64%
2073 1.42% -0.53%
2072 1.45% -0.69%
2071 1.49% -0.65%
2070 1.52% -0.68%
2069 1.56% -0.7%
2068 1.59% -0.7%
2067 1.62% -0.74%
2066 1.66% -0.69%
2065 1.69% -0.73%
2064 1.73% -0.75%
2063 1.77% -0.78%
2062 1.8% -0.81%
2061 1.84% -0.74%
2060 1.88% -0.84%
2059 1.91% -0.75%
2058 1.95% -0.88%
2057 1.98% -0.81%
2056 2.02% -0.83%
2055 2.06% -0.81%
2054 2.1% -0.8%
2053 2.14% -0.82%
2052 2.17% -0.78%
2051 2.21% -0.7%
2050 2.24% -0.76%
2049 2.28% -0.73%
2048 2.31% -0.72%
2047 2.35% -0.7%
2046 2.38% -0.67%
2045 2.41% -0.7%
2044 2.44% -0.57%
2043 2.47% -0.64%
2042 2.51% -0.63%
2041 2.54% -0.49%
2040 2.57% -0.57%
2039 2.61% -0.46%
2038 2.64% -0.53%
2037 2.7% -0.41%
2036 2.75% -0.46%
2035 2.8% -0.44%
2034 2.85% -0.42%
2033 2.89% -0.35%
2032 2.95% -0.46%
2031 3% -0.39%
2030 3.05% -0.34%
2029 3.1% -0.4%
2028 3.14% -0.28%
2027 3.18% -0.3%
2026 3.24% -0.24%
2025 3.25% -0.18%
2024 3.3% -0.18%
2023 3.31% -0.18%
2022 3.28% -0.13%
2021 3.29% -0.05%
2020 3.27% -0.03%
2019 3.22% -0.09%
2018 3.4% 0.01%
2017 3.72% 0.08%
2016 3.6% 0.15%
2015 3.36% 0.31%
2014 3.45% 0.38%
2013 3.46% -0.66%
2012 3.39% -1.73%
2011 3.33% -1.73%
2010 3.24% -1.67%
2009 3.14% -1.58%
2008 3.06% -1.52%
2007 3.07% -1.49%
2006 3.13% -1.14%
2005 3.12% -0.005%
2004 2.99% 0.82%
2003 2.96% 0.8%
2002 3.1% 0.78%
2001 3.22% 0.91%
2000 3.26% 1.47%
1999 3.42% 2.04%
1998 2.75% 2.3%
1997 1.62% 2.57%
1996 1.94% 2.67%
1995 4.24% 2.53%
1994 4.85% 2.43%
1993 3.64% 2.4%
1992 3.44% 2.4%
1991 3.38% 2.33%
1990 3.37% 2.1%
1989 3.21% 2.05%
1988 3.25% 2.17%
1987 3.2% 2.21%
1986 3.2% 2.45%
1985 3.37% 2.63%
1984 3.4% 2.54%
1983 3.22% 2.46%
1982 3.05% 2.35%
1981 2.96% 1.07%
1980 3.18% -0.53%
1979 3.58% -0.83%
1978 3.15% -0.68%
1977 2.56% -0.58%
1976 2.62% -0.45%
1975 2.69% -0.25%
1974 2.71% 1.08%
1973 2.71% 2.94%
1972 2.68% 3.7%
1971 2.77% 3.44%
1970 2.9% 1.87%
1969 2.94% 0.71%
1968 2.98% 0.84%
1967 2.96% 1.69%
1966 2.89% 2.45%
1965 2.79% 2.48%
1964 2.71% 2.54%
1963 2.69% 2.49%
1962 2.64% 2.49%
1961 2.6% 2.43%

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/palau | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Palau
Current population
118386491
17620
Population rank 14/197 194/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.0002%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
1.63 weeks
One birth every
7.06 seconds
1.93 days
One death every
34.3 seconds
1.76 days
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +0
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 -32
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 175/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
3.27 weeks
Annual migration change -27,309 -16
Net migration rank 159/196 78/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 5,212
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 184/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 29.5%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 19/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -16
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 -18 -14
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -10 -19
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -7 -20
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 -3 -21
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 8 0
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 23 -46
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 29 -35
2017 2,883,245 176,290 43 -33
2016 2,753,687 440,748 53 -35
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 55 -11
2014 2,580,251 36,966 73 -7
2013 2,489,378 121,097 88 -28
2012 2,405,462 53,668 86 -387
2011 2,310,679 40,891 83 -405
2010 2,212,255 8,823 81 -392
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 81 -382
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 79 -378
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 80 -372
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 79 -365
2005 1,800,300 20,384 80 -250
2004 1,731,022 4,260 83 79
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 86 71
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 88 67
2001 1,594,999 26,523 88 65
2000 1,549,518 79,340 85 120
1999 1,450,318 109,761 100 243
1998 1,375,130 295,560 116 280
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 140 297
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 166 312
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 186 258
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 195 211
1993 1,209,242 240,176 196 193
1992 1,152,781 252,666 183 193
1991 1,114,033 86,721 175 193
1990 1,063,508 219,270 181 156
1989 1,027,238 84,415 185 113
1988 995,278 101,314 183 126
1987 959,875 111,220 182 125
1986 925,334 70,988 182 135
1985 885,670 118,791 181 179
1984 844,956 190,045 181 157
1983 807,122 146,095 176 144
1982 774,823 97,495 170 132
1981 748,371 54,656 161 120
1980 724,111 51,685 165 -179
1979 691,773 181,028 176 -291
1978 646,411 268,974 193 -285
1977 638,242 -26,355 213 -292
1976 624,147 -25,965 236 -296
1975 608,655 -972 249 -296
1974 593,539 3,216 256 -282
1973 578,280 7,414 268 22
1972 564,495 2,840 280 147
1971 549,343 -5,497 287 156
1970 533,300 39,116 286 54
1969 514,800 46,778 283 -209
1968 497,682 57,274 275 -194
1967 479,552 64,307 266 -150
1966 463,397 54,443 268 -18
1965 429,002 61,397 275 -16
1964 406,334 48,207 284 -27
1963 398,972 41,960 291 -41
1962 383,406 39,431 296 -54
1961 368,207 35,654 298 -65
1960 363,517 27,673 296 -70

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/palau | 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 Palau 42.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 173 people) and 57.5% is from migration (a loss of 234 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.

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
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

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/palau | 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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