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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 36,435,861 people in Poland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 36,007,074 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 3.29 times bigger than Poland's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Poland is the 47th.
  • The countries together account for 1.86% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.43% for Poland.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs -0.38% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 36M (5.6% decline).

DR Congo vs Poland: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Poland
2100 436,237,219 18,452,579
2099 433,289,774 18,644,857
2098 430,252,622 18,838,707
2097 427,149,320 19,033,962
2096 423,961,963 19,231,896
2095 420,678,721 19,431,204
2094 417,304,547 19,634,214
2093 413,867,290 19,840,304
2092 410,362,003 20,049,969
2091 406,763,717 20,263,764
2090 403,089,566 20,482,150
2089 399,334,389 20,705,051
2088 395,507,774 20,933,750
2087 391,613,249 21,167,790
2086 387,639,503 21,407,163
2085 383,604,733 21,652,018
2084 379,495,246 21,902,736
2083 375,330,369 22,159,983
2082 371,124,615 22,423,109
2081 366,878,238 22,691,495
2080 362,574,665 22,964,515
2079 358,227,097 23,242,960
2078 353,821,014 23,524,184
2077 349,368,182 23,811,918
2076 344,866,731 24,102,012
2075 340,338,504 24,395,355
2074 335,761,691 24,691,719
2073 331,157,281 24,990,908
2072 326,505,656 25,290,453
2071 321,830,769 25,590,102
2070 317,104,580 25,889,034
2069 312,349,776 26,187,633
2068 307,566,932 26,485,171
2067 302,762,490 26,780,961
2066 297,932,241 27,074,124
2065 293,081,284 27,364,039
2064 288,211,987 27,650,950
2063 283,315,009 27,934,132
2062 278,399,192 28,212,240
2061 273,464,914 28,487,283
2060 268,520,814 28,757,525
2059 263,570,338 29,025,705
2058 258,622,778 29,288,751
2057 253,685,085 29,548,996
2056 248,748,321 29,806,770
2055 243,814,854 30,060,951
2054 238,885,417 30,311,416
2053 233,971,468 30,559,065
2052 229,073,420 30,801,964
2051 224,197,775 31,043,690
2050 219,354,949 31,281,762
2049 214,547,398 31,516,893
2048 209,774,448 31,748,736
2047 205,040,532 31,978,608
2046 200,341,405 32,205,877
2045 195,693,533 32,431,013
2044 191,087,342 32,653,012
2043 186,534,055 32,873,136
2042 182,033,706 33,090,733
2041 177,583,290 33,303,578
2040 173,191,594 33,514,705
2039 168,846,440 33,722,530
2038 164,551,895 33,926,660
2037 160,316,591 34,126,585
2036 156,099,100 34,323,967
2035 151,924,296 34,515,669
2034 147,782,785 34,704,048
2033 143,684,929 34,887,791
2032 139,642,368 35,067,502
2031 135,634,548 35,242,658
2030 131,685,113 35,410,392
2029 127,793,612 35,572,635
2028 123,956,913 35,725,650
2027 120,188,952 35,870,384
2026 116,482,769 36,007,074
2025 112,832,473 36,435,861
2024 109,276,265 36,559,233
2023 105,789,731 36,687,353
2022 102,396,968 36,821,749
2021 99,148,932 36,981,559
2020 95,989,998 37,515,748
2019 92,947,442 37,965,475
2018 90,047,644 37,974,750
2017 87,083,398 37,974,826
2016 83,956,415 37,970,087
2015 81,035,531 37,986,412
2014 78,403,242 38,011,735
2013 75,789,395 38,040,196
2012 73,254,618 38,063,164
2011 70,849,311 38,063,255
2010 68,563,038 38,042,794
2009 66,412,044 38,151,603
2008 64,390,664 38,125,759
2007 62,477,752 38,120,560
2006 60,615,908 38,141,267
2005 58,775,724 38,165,445
2004 56,997,741 38,182,222
2003 55,343,867 38,204,570
2002 53,750,524 38,230,364
2001 52,132,646 38,248,076
2000 50,507,442 38,258,629
1999 48,912,971 38,660,271
1998 47,297,600 38,663,481
1997 46,029,902 38,649,660
1996 45,296,124 38,624,370
1995 44,433,704 38,594,998
1994 42,626,876 38,542,652
1993 40,656,336 38,461,408
1992 39,228,910 38,363,667
1991 37,925,817 38,246,193
1990 36,684,063 38,110,782
1989 35,486,866 37,961,529
1988 34,382,752 37,824,487
1987 33,298,904 37,668,045
1986 32,265,196 37,456,119
1985 31,264,816 37,201,885
1984 30,245,081 36,904,134
1983 29,250,963 36,571,808
1982 28,338,190 36,230,481
1981 27,500,515 35,898,587
1980 26,711,099 35,574,150
1979 25,886,782 35,247,217
1978 24,992,689 34,965,600
1977 24,229,061 34,689,050
1976 23,624,031 34,356,300
1975 23,021,101 34,015,199
1974 22,418,878 33,678,899
1973 21,827,665 33,357,200
1972 21,251,160 33,055,650
1971 20,695,569 32,783,500
1970 20,137,436 32,664,300
1969 19,570,445 32,548,300
1968 19,012,189 32,294,655
1967 18,462,782 31,987,155
1966 17,931,929 31,681,000
1965 17,427,802 31,444,950
1964 16,955,327 31,139,450
1963 16,507,599 30,712,000
1962 16,075,724 30,308,500
1961 15,662,374 29,964,000
1960 15,264,846 29,637,450

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/poland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Poland lost 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Poland's population decreased by 1,963,013 people (a 5.17% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Poland was ranked 32nd in 2006 and ranked 47th 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 Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,281,762 people and rank change from 47th to 61st.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Poland's population already peaked in 1998 at 38.7M people and is projected to decrease to 18.5M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Poland
2100 0.68% -1.03%
2099 0.71% -1.03%
2098 0.73% -1.03%
2097 0.75% -1.03%
2096 0.78% -1.03%
2095 0.81% -1.03%
2094 0.83% -1.04%
2093 0.85% -1.05%
2092 0.88% -1.06%
2091 0.91% -1.07%
2090 0.94% -1.08%
2089 0.97% -1.09%
2088 0.99% -1.11%
2087 1.03% -1.12%
2086 1.05% -1.13%
2085 1.08% -1.14%
2084 1.11% -1.16%
2083 1.13% -1.17%
2082 1.16% -1.18%
2081 1.19% -1.19%
2080 1.21% -1.2%
2079 1.25% -1.2%
2078 1.27% -1.21%
2077 1.31% -1.2%
2076 1.33% -1.2%
2075 1.36% -1.2%
2074 1.39% -1.2%
2073 1.42% -1.18%
2072 1.45% -1.17%
2071 1.49% -1.15%
2070 1.52% -1.14%
2069 1.56% -1.12%
2068 1.59% -1.1%
2067 1.62% -1.08%
2066 1.66% -1.06%
2065 1.69% -1.04%
2064 1.73% -1.01%
2063 1.77% -0.99%
2062 1.8% -0.97%
2061 1.84% -0.94%
2060 1.88% -0.92%
2059 1.91% -0.9%
2058 1.95% -0.88%
2057 1.98% -0.86%
2056 2.02% -0.85%
2055 2.06% -0.83%
2054 2.1% -0.81%
2053 2.14% -0.79%
2052 2.17% -0.78%
2051 2.21% -0.76%
2050 2.24% -0.75%
2049 2.28% -0.73%
2048 2.31% -0.72%
2047 2.35% -0.71%
2046 2.38% -0.69%
2045 2.41% -0.68%
2044 2.44% -0.67%
2043 2.47% -0.66%
2042 2.51% -0.64%
2041 2.54% -0.63%
2040 2.57% -0.62%
2039 2.61% -0.6%
2038 2.64% -0.59%
2037 2.7% -0.58%
2036 2.75% -0.56%
2035 2.8% -0.54%
2034 2.85% -0.53%
2033 2.89% -0.51%
2032 2.95% -0.5%
2031 3% -0.47%
2030 3.05% -0.46%
2029 3.1% -0.43%
2028 3.14% -0.4%
2027 3.18% -0.38%
2026 3.24% -1.18%
2025 3.25% -0.34%
2024 3.3% -0.35%
2023 3.31% -0.36%
2022 3.28% -0.43%
2021 3.29% -1.42%
2020 3.27% -1.18%
2019 3.22% -0.02%
2018 3.4% -0%
2017 3.72% 0.01%
2016 3.6% -0.04%
2015 3.36% -0.07%
2014 3.45% -0.07%
2013 3.46% -0.06%
2012 3.39% -0%
2011 3.33% 0.05%
2010 3.24% -0.29%
2009 3.14% 0.07%
2008 3.06% 0.01%
2007 3.07% -0.05%
2006 3.13% -0.06%
2005 3.12% -0.04%
2004 2.99% -0.06%
2003 2.96% -0.07%
2002 3.1% -0.05%
2001 3.22% -0.03%
2000 3.26% -1.04%
1999 3.42% -0.008%
1998 2.75% 0.04%
1997 1.62% 0.07%
1996 1.94% 0.08%
1995 4.24% 0.14%
1994 4.85% 0.21%
1993 3.64% 0.25%
1992 3.44% 0.31%
1991 3.38% 0.36%
1990 3.37% 0.39%
1989 3.21% 0.36%
1988 3.25% 0.42%
1987 3.2% 0.57%
1986 3.2% 0.68%
1985 3.37% 0.81%
1984 3.4% 0.91%
1983 3.22% 0.94%
1982 3.05% 0.92%
1981 2.96% 0.91%
1980 3.18% 0.93%
1979 3.58% 0.81%
1978 3.15% 0.8%
1977 2.56% 0.97%
1976 2.62% 1%
1975 2.69% 1%
1974 2.71% 0.96%
1973 2.71% 0.91%
1972 2.68% 0.83%
1971 2.77% 0.36%
1970 2.9% 0.36%
1969 2.94% 0.79%
1968 2.98% 0.96%
1967 2.96% 0.97%
1966 2.89% 0.75%
1965 2.79% 0.98%
1964 2.71% 1.39%
1963 2.69% 1.33%
1962 2.64% 1.15%
1961 2.6% 1.1%

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/poland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Poland's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Poland
Current population
118386491
36007074
Population rank 14/197 47/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.43%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
4.27 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
2.08 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
1.28 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 -338
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 -123,372
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 179/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.59 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -330,820
Net migration rank 159/196 191/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 1,739,901
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 41/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 4.5%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 97/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Poland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Poland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -330,820
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 -157,205 -238,062
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -135,743 -7,824
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -143,605 967,744
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 -184,907 2,251
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -120,050 3,920
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 -34,169 7,696
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 -26,582 -223
2017 2,883,245 176,290 0 -21,535
2016 2,753,687 440,748 -3,797 -5,675
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 -26,590 3,887
2014 2,580,251 36,966 0 5,525
2013 2,489,378 121,097 -19,020 12,402
2012 2,405,462 53,668 0 4,635
2011 2,310,679 40,891 11,419 45,951
2010 2,212,255 8,823 38,043 119,623
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 30,521 -8,283
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 34,313 -42,288
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 11,436 -51,235
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 3,814 -68,882
2005 1,800,300 20,384 -3,817 -41,942
2004 1,731,022 4,260 -7,637 -38,216
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 -15,281 -19,039
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 -3,823 -16,462
2001 1,594,999 26,523 3,825 -16,648
2000 1,549,518 79,340 11,478 -15,921
1999 1,450,318 109,761 0 -53,035
1998 1,375,130 295,560 19,332 -39,509
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 34,785 -44,230
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 42,487 -45,349
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 46,314 -52,989
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 96,357 -41,845
1993 1,209,242 240,176 103,846 -48,805
1992 1,152,781 252,666 118,928 -46,893
1991 1,114,033 86,721 141,511 -55,342
1990 1,063,508 219,270 160,066 -50,339
1989 1,027,238 84,415 182,215 -49,192
1988 995,278 101,314 215,599 -101,671
1987 959,875 111,220 226,008 -32,310
1986 925,334 70,988 258,448 -22,520
1985 885,670 118,791 297,615 -27,277
1984 844,956 190,045 332,137 -18,402
1983 807,122 146,095 373,032 -26,724
1982 774,823 97,495 369,551 -34,980
1981 748,371 54,656 351,806 -16,155
1980 724,111 51,685 348,627 -42,420
1979 691,773 181,028 366,571 -22,162
1978 646,411 268,974 339,166 -62,936
1977 638,242 -26,355 353,828 -33,496
1976 624,147 -25,965 367,612 -25,716
1975 608,655 -972 350,356 -31,346
1974 593,539 3,216 346,893 -18,273
1973 578,280 7,414 320,229 -29,335
1972 564,495 2,840 314,028 -15,004
1971 549,343 -5,497 278,660 -31,767
1970 533,300 39,116 280,913 -66,859
1969 514,800 46,778 270,151 -26,744
1968 497,682 57,274 280,963 -11,905
1967 479,552 64,307 275,089 -25,479
1966 463,397 54,443 297,801 -17,158
1965 429,002 61,397 314,450 -21,658
1964 406,334 48,207 326,965 -23,273
1963 398,972 41,960 359,330 -13,770
1962 383,406 39,431 360,671 -31,021
1961 368,207 35,654 398,521 -20,044
1960 363,517 27,673 444,562 -6,306

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/poland | 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 Poland 53.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 832,648 people) and 46.1% is from migration (a gain of 712,179 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 1,739,901 people or 4.5% in Poland.

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
Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K

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/poland | 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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