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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 10.7 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 1.55% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

DR Congo vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Papua New Guinea
2100 436,320,913 18,802,138
2099 433,372,904 18,790,040
2098 430,335,169 18,776,265
2097 427,231,271 18,758,897
2096 424,043,303 18,737,707
2095 420,759,430 18,714,219
2094 417,384,609 18,687,257
2093 413,946,692 18,658,233
2092 410,440,733 18,625,772
2091 406,841,757 18,590,001
2090 403,166,901 18,549,501
2089 399,411,004 18,510,463
2088 395,583,655 18,468,827
2087 391,688,383 18,424,378
2086 387,713,874 18,376,043
2085 383,678,330 18,325,641
2084 379,568,054 18,274,394
2083 375,402,379 18,218,709
2082 371,195,818 18,163,177
2081 366,948,626 18,104,285
2080 362,644,227 18,039,008
2079 358,295,825 17,975,778
2078 353,888,897 17,908,670
2077 349,435,210 17,840,781
2076 344,932,895 17,771,791
2075 340,403,800 17,699,428
2074 335,826,108 17,625,044
2073 331,220,816 17,548,128
2072 326,568,298 17,466,649
2071 321,892,514 17,381,598
2070 317,165,418 17,295,105
2069 312,409,702 17,205,503
2068 307,625,941 17,112,154
2067 302,820,577 17,015,090
2066 297,989,401 16,915,436
2065 293,137,514 16,812,946
2064 288,267,282 16,708,669
2063 283,369,365 16,604,296
2062 278,452,605 16,497,292
2061 273,517,380 16,386,905
2060 268,572,331 16,270,535
2059 263,620,905 16,152,614
2058 258,672,397 16,032,684
2057 253,733,756 15,909,649
2056 248,796,045 15,784,519
2055 243,861,631 15,656,542
2054 238,931,249 15,523,143
2053 234,016,357 15,389,244
2052 229,117,369 15,250,715
2051 224,240,788 15,110,389
2050 219,397,034 14,968,530
2049 214,588,560 14,821,865
2048 209,814,694 14,673,459
2047 205,079,870 14,522,926
2046 200,379,842 14,370,120
2045 195,731,078 14,213,585
2044 191,124,003 14,056,036
2043 186,569,843 13,897,765
2042 182,068,630 13,738,690
2041 177,617,360 13,577,382
2040 173,224,822 13,413,396
2039 168,878,834 13,247,486
2038 164,583,465 13,079,352
2037 160,347,349 12,909,735
2036 156,129,049 12,738,223
2035 151,953,443 12,566,543
2034 147,811,138 12,392,476
2033 143,712,496 12,218,246
2032 139,669,159 12,042,345
2031 135,660,570 11,865,316
2030 131,710,378 11,685,599
2029 127,818,130 11,504,890
2028 123,980,695 11,322,573
2027 120,212,011 11,138,409
2026 116,505,117 10,952,454
2025 112,854,120 10,765,048
2024 109,276,265 10,576,502
2023 105,789,731 10,389,635
2022 102,396,968 10,203,169
2021 99,148,932 10,012,896
2020 95,989,998 9,815,746
2019 92,947,442 9,609,010
2018 90,047,644 9,394,513
2017 87,083,398 9,178,714
2016 83,956,415 8,961,718
2015 81,035,531 8,743,246
2014 78,403,242 8,523,441
2013 75,789,395 8,302,698
2012 73,254,618 8,081,390
2011 70,849,311 7,859,346
2010 68,563,038 7,633,523
2009 66,412,044 7,406,438
2008 64,390,664 7,183,002
2007 62,477,752 6,963,345
2006 60,615,908 6,747,720
2005 58,775,724 6,535,905
2004 56,997,741 6,328,041
2003 55,343,867 6,123,997
2002 53,750,524 5,924,003
2001 52,132,646 5,728,435
2000 50,507,442 5,537,064
1999 48,912,971 5,349,333
1998 47,297,600 5,166,390
1997 46,029,902 4,987,883
1996 45,296,124 4,813,361
1995 44,433,704 4,644,278
1994 42,626,876 4,480,208
1993 40,656,336 4,320,872
1992 39,228,910 4,166,699
1991 37,925,817 4,021,837
1990 36,684,063 3,896,481
1989 35,486,866 3,796,078
1988 34,382,752 3,711,880
1987 33,298,904 3,632,543
1986 32,265,196 3,554,793
1985 31,264,816 3,478,936
1984 30,245,081 3,405,198
1983 29,250,963 3,333,633
1982 28,338,190 3,264,291
1981 27,500,515 3,197,019
1980 26,711,099 3,131,512
1979 25,886,782 3,067,341
1978 24,992,689 3,003,714
1977 24,229,061 2,940,327
1976 23,624,031 2,877,327
1975 23,021,101 2,814,820
1974 22,418,878 2,752,671
1973 21,827,665 2,690,629
1972 21,251,160 2,628,432
1971 20,695,569 2,566,421
1970 20,137,436 2,505,628
1969 19,570,445 2,446,927
1968 19,012,189 2,390,803
1967 18,462,782 2,337,532
1966 17,931,929 2,285,774
1965 17,427,802 2,235,820
1964 16,955,327 2,188,325
1963 16,507,599 2,141,376
1962 16,075,724 2,093,919
1961 15,662,374 2,046,127
1960 15,264,846 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Papua New Guinea
2100 0.68% 0.06%
2099 0.71% 0.07%
2098 0.73% 0.09%
2097 0.75% 0.11%
2096 0.78% 0.13%
2095 0.81% 0.14%
2094 0.83% 0.16%
2093 0.85% 0.17%
2092 0.88% 0.19%
2091 0.91% 0.22%
2090 0.94% 0.21%
2089 0.97% 0.23%
2088 0.99% 0.24%
2087 1.03% 0.26%
2086 1.05% 0.28%
2085 1.08% 0.28%
2084 1.11% 0.31%
2083 1.13% 0.31%
2082 1.16% 0.33%
2081 1.19% 0.36%
2080 1.21% 0.35%
2079 1.25% 0.37%
2078 1.27% 0.38%
2077 1.31% 0.39%
2076 1.33% 0.41%
2075 1.36% 0.42%
2074 1.39% 0.44%
2073 1.42% 0.47%
2072 1.45% 0.49%
2071 1.49% 0.5%
2070 1.52% 0.52%
2069 1.56% 0.55%
2068 1.59% 0.57%
2067 1.62% 0.59%
2066 1.66% 0.61%
2065 1.69% 0.62%
2064 1.73% 0.63%
2063 1.77% 0.65%
2062 1.8% 0.67%
2061 1.84% 0.72%
2060 1.88% 0.73%
2059 1.91% 0.75%
2058 1.95% 0.77%
2057 1.98% 0.79%
2056 2.02% 0.82%
2055 2.06% 0.86%
2054 2.1% 0.87%
2053 2.14% 0.91%
2052 2.17% 0.93%
2051 2.21% 0.95%
2050 2.24% 0.99%
2049 2.28% 1.01%
2048 2.31% 1.04%
2047 2.35% 1.06%
2046 2.38% 1.1%
2045 2.41% 1.12%
2044 2.44% 1.14%
2043 2.47% 1.16%
2042 2.51% 1.19%
2041 2.54% 1.22%
2040 2.57% 1.25%
2039 2.61% 1.29%
2038 2.64% 1.31%
2037 2.7% 1.35%
2036 2.75% 1.37%
2035 2.8% 1.4%
2034 2.85% 1.43%
2033 2.89% 1.46%
2032 2.95% 1.49%
2031 3% 1.54%
2030 3.05% 1.57%
2029 3.1% 1.61%
2028 3.14% 1.65%
2027 3.18% 1.7%
2026 3.24% 1.74%
2025 3.27% 1.78%
2024 3.3% 1.8%
2023 3.31% 1.83%
2022 3.28% 1.9%
2021 3.29% 2.01%
2020 3.27% 2.15%
2019 3.22% 2.28%
2018 3.4% 2.35%
2017 3.72% 2.42%
2016 3.6% 2.5%
2015 3.36% 2.58%
2014 3.45% 2.66%
2013 3.46% 2.74%
2012 3.39% 2.83%
2011 3.33% 2.96%
2010 3.24% 3.07%
2009 3.14% 3.11%
2008 3.06% 3.15%
2007 3.07% 3.2%
2006 3.13% 3.24%
2005 3.12% 3.28%
2004 2.99% 3.33%
2003 2.96% 3.38%
2002 3.1% 3.41%
2001 3.22% 3.46%
2000 3.26% 3.51%
1999 3.42% 3.54%
1998 2.75% 3.58%
1997 1.62% 3.63%
1996 1.94% 3.64%
1995 4.24% 3.66%
1994 4.85% 3.69%
1993 3.64% 3.7%
1992 3.44% 3.6%
1991 3.38% 3.22%
1990 3.37% 2.64%
1989 3.21% 2.27%
1988 3.25% 2.18%
1987 3.2% 2.19%
1986 3.2% 2.18%
1985 3.37% 2.17%
1984 3.4% 2.15%
1983 3.22% 2.12%
1982 3.05% 2.1%
1981 2.96% 2.09%
1980 3.18% 2.09%
1979 3.58% 2.12%
1978 3.15% 2.16%
1977 2.56% 2.19%
1976 2.62% 2.22%
1975 2.69% 2.26%
1974 2.71% 2.31%
1973 2.71% 2.37%
1972 2.68% 2.42%
1971 2.77% 2.43%
1970 2.9% 2.4%
1969 2.94% 2.35%
1968 2.98% 2.28%
1967 2.96% 2.26%
1966 2.89% 2.23%
1965 2.79% 2.17%
1964 2.71% 2.19%
1963 2.69% 2.27%
1962 2.64% 2.34%
1961 2.6% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Papua New Guinea
Current population
117507801
11002753
Population rank 15/197 89/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.13%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
2.81 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
2.06 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +512
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 59/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change -27,309 -284
Net migration rank 159/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -284
2024 - -26,968 - -707
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 187,637 -787
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 186,861 -787
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 183,766 10,703
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 189,130 10,703
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 190,662 22,978
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 190,662 24,684
2017 2,883,245 176,290 189,715 26,513
2016 2,753,687 440,748 189,281 28,473
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 188,600 30,580
2014 2,580,251 36,966 187,592 32,840
2013 2,489,378 121,097 185,790 35,280
2012 2,405,462 53,668 183,658 37,893
2011 2,310,679 40,891 181,842 40,690
2010 2,212,255 8,823 178,998 50,106
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 175,421 49,647
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 172,823 48,985
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 169,306 48,203
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 166,540 47,191
2005 1,800,300 20,384 163,888 46,014
2004 1,731,022 4,260 161,023 44,811
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 158,611 43,639
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 155,091 42,657
2001 1,594,999 26,523 151,431 41,962
2000 1,549,518 79,340 147,496 41,855
1999 1,450,318 109,761 143,592 42,519
1998 1,375,130 295,560 136,677 43,091
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 134,458 42,787
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 129,802 41,994
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 125,410 40,962
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 122,113 39,669
1993 1,209,242 240,176 118,668 38,220
1992 1,152,781 252,666 114,818 36,622
1991 1,114,033 86,721 111,453 26,830
1990 1,063,508 219,270 110,033 2,398
1989 1,027,238 84,415 108,199 -19,824
1988 995,278 101,314 106,256 -26,232
1987 959,875 111,220 104,367 -25,720
1986 925,334 70,988 102,346 -25,495
1985 885,670 118,791 100,333 -25,470
1984 844,956 190,045 98,103 -25,487
1983 807,122 146,095 95,982 -25,465
1982 774,823 97,495 93,522 -25,355
1981 748,371 54,656 91,767 -25,383
1980 724,111 51,685 90,266 -25,638
1979 691,773 181,028 89,330 -25,618
1978 646,411 268,974 88,747 -25,208
1977 638,242 -26,355 87,954 -24,722
1976 624,147 -25,965 86,965 -24,198
1975 608,655 -972 85,809 -23,562
1974 593,539 3,216 84,829 -22,771
1973 578,280 7,414 83,821 -21,803
1972 564,495 2,840 82,672 -20,303
1971 549,343 -5,497 80,599 -18,945
1970 533,300 39,116 78,712 -18,773
1969 514,800 46,778 76,454 -18,994
1968 497,682 57,274 73,983 -19,188
1967 479,552 64,307 71,519 -19,767
1966 463,397 54,443 69,206 -17,454
1965 429,002 61,397 66,693 -18,532
1964 406,334 48,207 64,558 -17,730
1963 398,972 41,960 62,260 -15,189
1962 383,406 39,431 59,974 -12,141
1961 368,207 35,654 58,151 -10,409
1960 363,517 27,673 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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