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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 11 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.55% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

DR Congo vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Portugal
2100 436,320,913 8,977,781
2099 433,372,904 8,983,042
2098 430,335,169 8,987,129
2097 427,231,271 8,992,549
2096 424,043,303 8,998,689
2095 420,759,430 9,006,394
2094 417,384,609 9,011,158
2093 413,946,692 9,016,023
2092 410,440,733 9,021,257
2091 406,841,757 9,025,345
2090 403,166,901 9,029,722
2089 399,411,004 9,034,399
2088 395,583,655 9,039,122
2087 391,688,383 9,045,400
2086 387,713,874 9,050,153
2085 383,678,330 9,055,552
2084 379,568,054 9,062,369
2083 375,402,379 9,068,714
2082 371,195,818 9,077,003
2081 366,948,626 9,087,394
2080 362,644,227 9,098,423
2079 358,295,825 9,111,057
2078 353,888,897 9,125,056
2077 349,435,210 9,140,039
2076 344,932,895 9,158,661
2075 340,403,800 9,178,289
2074 335,826,108 9,201,245
2073 331,220,816 9,225,478
2072 326,568,298 9,248,867
2071 321,892,514 9,275,782
2070 317,165,418 9,304,137
2069 312,409,702 9,334,425
2068 307,625,941 9,367,211
2067 302,820,577 9,399,389
2066 297,989,401 9,432,609
2065 293,137,514 9,466,860
2064 288,267,282 9,503,941
2063 283,369,365 9,540,829
2062 278,452,605 9,578,098
2061 273,517,380 9,614,549
2060 268,572,331 9,652,893
2059 263,620,905 9,691,151
2058 258,672,397 9,731,557
2057 253,733,756 9,769,285
2056 248,796,045 9,807,403
2055 243,861,631 9,847,280
2054 238,931,249 9,885,446
2053 234,016,357 9,924,814
2052 229,117,369 9,963,090
2051 224,240,788 9,999,372
2050 219,397,034 10,035,796
2049 214,588,560 10,072,922
2048 209,814,694 10,106,403
2047 205,079,870 10,140,325
2046 200,379,842 10,173,871
2045 195,731,078 10,206,046
2044 191,124,003 10,237,224
2043 186,569,843 10,268,090
2042 182,068,630 10,296,167
2041 177,617,360 10,322,968
2040 173,224,822 10,351,965
2039 168,878,834 10,379,824
2038 164,583,465 10,405,843
2037 160,347,349 10,430,143
2036 156,129,049 10,454,779
2035 151,953,443 10,478,501
2034 147,811,138 10,502,828
2033 143,712,496 10,525,638
2032 139,669,159 10,548,736
2031 135,660,570 10,569,489
2030 131,710,378 10,588,717
2029 127,818,130 10,609,556
2028 123,980,695 10,631,437
2027 120,212,011 10,649,916
2026 116,505,117 10,667,081
2025 112,854,120 10,683,692
2024 109,276,265 10,694,681
2023 105,789,731 10,578,174
2022 102,396,968 10,434,332
2021 99,148,932 10,361,831
2020 95,989,998 10,297,081
2019 92,947,442 10,286,263
2018 90,047,644 10,283,822
2017 87,083,398 10,300,300
2016 83,956,415 10,325,452
2015 81,035,531 10,358,076
2014 78,403,242 10,401,062
2013 75,789,395 10,457,295
2012 73,254,618 10,514,844
2011 70,849,311 10,557,560
2010 68,563,038 10,573,100
2009 66,412,044 10,568,247
2008 64,390,664 10,558,177
2007 62,477,752 10,542,964
2006 60,615,908 10,522,288
2005 58,775,724 10,503,330
2004 56,997,741 10,483,861
2003 55,343,867 10,458,821
2002 53,750,524 10,419,631
2001 52,132,646 10,362,722
2000 50,507,442 10,289,898
1999 48,912,971 10,217,828
1998 47,297,600 10,160,196
1997 46,029,902 10,108,977
1996 45,296,124 10,063,945
1995 44,433,704 10,026,176
1994 42,626,876 9,991,525
1993 40,656,336 9,964,675
1992 39,228,910 9,952,494
1991 37,925,817 9,960,235
1990 36,684,063 9,983,218
1989 35,486,866 10,005,000
1988 34,382,752 10,019,610
1987 33,298,904 10,030,031
1986 32,265,196 10,032,734
1985 31,264,816 10,023,613
1984 30,245,081 9,996,232
1983 29,250,963 9,957,865
1982 28,338,190 9,911,771
1981 27,500,515 9,851,362
1980 26,711,099 9,766,312
1979 25,886,782 9,661,265
1978 24,992,689 9,558,250
1977 24,229,061 9,455,675
1976 23,624,031 9,355,810
1975 23,021,101 9,093,470
1974 22,418,878 8,754,365
1973 21,827,665 8,633,100
1972 21,251,160 8,630,430
1971 20,695,569 8,643,756
1970 20,137,436 8,680,431
1969 19,570,445 8,757,705
1968 19,012,189 8,836,650
1967 18,462,782 8,874,520
1966 17,931,929 8,930,990
1965 17,427,802 8,998,595
1964 16,955,327 9,035,365
1963 16,507,599 9,030,355
1962 16,075,724 8,993,985
1961 15,662,374 8,929,316
1960 15,264,846 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Portugal
2100 0.68% -0.06%
2099 0.71% -0.05%
2098 0.73% -0.06%
2097 0.75% -0.07%
2096 0.78% -0.09%
2095 0.81% -0.05%
2094 0.83% -0.05%
2093 0.85% -0.06%
2092 0.88% -0.05%
2091 0.91% -0.05%
2090 0.94% -0.05%
2089 0.97% -0.05%
2088 0.99% -0.07%
2087 1.03% -0.05%
2086 1.05% -0.06%
2085 1.08% -0.08%
2084 1.11% -0.07%
2083 1.13% -0.09%
2082 1.16% -0.11%
2081 1.19% -0.12%
2080 1.21% -0.14%
2079 1.25% -0.15%
2078 1.27% -0.16%
2077 1.31% -0.2%
2076 1.33% -0.21%
2075 1.36% -0.25%
2074 1.39% -0.26%
2073 1.42% -0.25%
2072 1.45% -0.29%
2071 1.49% -0.3%
2070 1.52% -0.32%
2069 1.56% -0.35%
2068 1.59% -0.34%
2067 1.62% -0.35%
2066 1.66% -0.36%
2065 1.69% -0.39%
2064 1.73% -0.39%
2063 1.77% -0.39%
2062 1.8% -0.38%
2061 1.84% -0.4%
2060 1.88% -0.39%
2059 1.91% -0.42%
2058 1.95% -0.39%
2057 1.98% -0.39%
2056 2.02% -0.4%
2055 2.06% -0.39%
2054 2.1% -0.4%
2053 2.14% -0.38%
2052 2.17% -0.36%
2051 2.21% -0.36%
2050 2.24% -0.37%
2049 2.28% -0.33%
2048 2.31% -0.33%
2047 2.35% -0.33%
2046 2.38% -0.32%
2045 2.41% -0.3%
2044 2.44% -0.3%
2043 2.47% -0.27%
2042 2.51% -0.26%
2041 2.54% -0.28%
2040 2.57% -0.27%
2039 2.61% -0.25%
2038 2.64% -0.23%
2037 2.7% -0.24%
2036 2.75% -0.23%
2035 2.8% -0.23%
2034 2.85% -0.22%
2033 2.89% -0.22%
2032 2.95% -0.2%
2031 3% -0.18%
2030 3.05% -0.2%
2029 3.1% -0.21%
2028 3.14% -0.17%
2027 3.18% -0.16%
2026 3.24% -0.16%
2025 3.27% -0.1%
2024 3.3% 1.1%
2023 3.31% 1.38%
2022 3.28% 0.7%
2021 3.29% 0.63%
2020 3.27% 0.11%
2019 3.22% 0.02%
2018 3.4% -0.16%
2017 3.72% -0.24%
2016 3.6% -0.31%
2015 3.36% -0.41%
2014 3.45% -0.54%
2013 3.46% -0.55%
2012 3.39% -0.4%
2011 3.33% -0.15%
2010 3.24% 0.05%
2009 3.14% 0.1%
2008 3.06% 0.14%
2007 3.07% 0.2%
2006 3.13% 0.18%
2005 3.12% 0.19%
2004 2.99% 0.24%
2003 2.96% 0.38%
2002 3.1% 0.55%
2001 3.22% 0.71%
2000 3.26% 0.71%
1999 3.42% 0.57%
1998 2.75% 0.51%
1997 1.62% 0.45%
1996 1.94% 0.38%
1995 4.24% 0.35%
1994 4.85% 0.27%
1993 3.64% 0.12%
1992 3.44% -0.08%
1991 3.38% -0.23%
1990 3.37% -0.22%
1989 3.21% -0.15%
1988 3.25% -0.1%
1987 3.2% -0.03%
1986 3.2% 0.09%
1985 3.37% 0.27%
1984 3.4% 0.39%
1983 3.22% 0.47%
1982 3.05% 0.61%
1981 2.96% 0.87%
1980 3.18% 1.09%
1979 3.58% 1.08%
1978 3.15% 1.08%
1977 2.56% 1.07%
1976 2.62% 2.88%
1975 2.69% 3.87%
1974 2.71% 1.4%
1973 2.71% 0.03%
1972 2.68% -0.15%
1971 2.77% -0.42%
1970 2.9% -0.88%
1969 2.94% -0.89%
1968 2.98% -0.43%
1967 2.96% -0.63%
1966 2.89% -0.75%
1965 2.79% -0.41%
1964 2.71% 0.06%
1963 2.69% 0.4%
1962 2.64% 0.72%
1961 2.6% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Portugal
Current population
117507801
10667081
Population rank 15/197 92/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.13%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
4.51 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
6.13 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +319
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 94/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
32 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +16,472
Net migration rank 159/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 16,472
2024 - -26,968 - 20,648
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -32,792 29,102
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -40,694 68,696
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 -45,592 69,606
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -39,129 54,076
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 -24,687 63,031
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 -25,709 22,495
2017 2,883,245 176,290 -23,691 13,979
2016 2,753,687 440,748 -23,749 -775
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 -23,823 -3,209
2014 2,580,251 36,966 -22,882 -26,447
2013 2,489,378 121,097 -24,052 -36,342
2012 2,405,462 53,668 -17,875 -37,083
2011 2,310,679 40,891 -5,279 -31,513
2010 2,212,255 8,823 -4,230 -5,627
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 -5,284 14,532
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 0 9,478
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 -1,055 21,064
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 3,156 16,754
2005 1,800,300 20,384 2,101 15,537
2004 1,731,022 4,260 7,339 13,928
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 4,184 24,740
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 8,335 42,169
2001 1,594,999 26,523 8,290 55,565
2000 1,549,518 79,340 15,435 60,586
1999 1,450,318 109,761 8,175 49,572
1998 1,375,130 295,560 7,112 40,931
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 8,087 36,922
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 4,026 32,640
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 4,011 26,971
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 9,991 20,761
1993 1,209,242 240,176 7,972 8,561
1992 1,152,781 252,666 13,933 -11,847
1991 1,114,033 86,721 12,948 -37,914
1990 1,063,508 219,270 13,976 -34,855
1989 1,027,238 84,415 22,011 -30,615
1988 995,278 101,314 24,047 -26,595
1987 959,875 111,220 28,084 -23,142
1986 925,334 70,988 31,102 -20,000
1985 885,670 118,791 33,077 -19,183
1984 844,956 190,045 45,983 -16,658
1983 807,122 146,095 47,798 -16,568
1982 774,823 97,495 58,479 -15,006
1981 748,371 54,656 56,152 -7,938
1980 724,111 51,685 63,481 29,881
1979 691,773 181,028 67,628 32,434
1978 646,411 268,974 70,731 34,345
1977 638,242 -26,355 84,156 37,779
1976 624,147 -25,965 85,138 40,490
1975 608,655 -972 81,841 42,262
1974 593,539 3,216 74,412 41,254
1973 578,280 7,414 76,835 39,748
1972 564,495 2,840 83,715 39,058
1971 549,343 -5,497 82,980 48,944
1970 533,300 39,116 87,672 -191,862
1969 514,800 46,778 89,329 -161,114
1968 497,682 57,274 100,737 -145,200
1967 479,552 64,307 106,495 -136,232
1966 463,397 54,443 107,171 -129,233
1965 429,002 61,397 115,182 -123,855
1964 406,334 48,207 120,170 -118,763
1963 398,972 41,960 113,783 -116,874
1962 383,406 39,431 123,217 -113,947
1961 368,207 35,654 117,867 -112,768
1960 363,517 27,673 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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