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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 19,020,271 people in Romania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 18,912,567 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 6.26 times bigger than Romania's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 1.65% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs -0.41% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.9M (10.8% decline).

DR Congo vs Romania: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Romania
2100 436,237,219 10,843,503
2099 433,289,774 10,927,951
2098 430,252,622 11,011,822
2097 427,149,320 11,095,182
2096 423,961,963 11,178,195
2095 420,678,721 11,261,202
2094 417,304,547 11,343,358
2093 413,867,290 11,426,736
2092 410,362,003 11,509,522
2091 406,763,717 11,591,897
2090 403,089,566 11,675,686
2089 399,334,389 11,759,143
2088 395,507,774 11,842,733
2087 391,613,249 11,926,699
2086 387,639,503 12,013,212
2085 383,604,733 12,099,742
2084 379,495,246 12,187,794
2083 375,330,369 12,277,402
2082 371,124,615 12,367,518
2081 366,878,238 12,460,785
2080 362,574,665 12,556,104
2079 358,227,097 12,652,446
2078 353,821,014 12,750,395
2077 349,368,182 12,849,896
2076 344,866,731 12,950,914
2075 340,338,504 13,053,551
2074 335,761,691 13,158,624
2073 331,157,281 13,264,931
2072 326,505,656 13,375,162
2071 321,830,769 13,488,051
2070 317,104,580 13,603,287
2069 312,349,776 13,721,187
2068 307,566,932 13,840,530
2067 302,762,490 13,963,377
2066 297,932,241 14,088,938
2065 293,081,284 14,218,608
2064 288,211,987 14,349,029
2063 283,315,009 14,480,312
2062 278,399,192 14,613,788
2061 273,464,914 14,747,178
2060 268,520,814 14,879,235
2059 263,570,338 15,011,161
2058 258,622,778 15,141,670
2057 253,685,085 15,271,230
2056 248,748,321 15,400,030
2055 243,814,854 15,527,331
2054 238,885,417 15,651,338
2053 233,971,468 15,773,422
2052 229,073,420 15,896,118
2051 224,197,775 16,016,719
2050 219,354,949 16,135,745
2049 214,547,398 16,255,638
2048 209,774,448 16,375,139
2047 205,040,532 16,494,633
2046 200,341,405 16,612,186
2045 195,693,533 16,730,009
2044 191,087,342 16,848,827
2043 186,534,055 16,966,857
2042 182,033,706 17,084,359
2041 177,583,290 17,203,640
2040 173,191,594 17,320,952
2039 168,846,440 17,438,042
2038 164,551,895 17,556,386
2037 160,316,591 17,673,500
2036 156,099,100 17,790,613
2035 151,924,296 17,906,949
2034 147,782,785 18,020,973
2033 143,684,929 18,134,889
2032 139,642,368 18,247,275
2031 135,634,548 18,359,750
2030 131,685,113 18,471,446
2029 127,793,612 18,583,513
2028 123,956,913 18,693,807
2027 120,188,952 18,803,518
2026 116,482,769 18,912,567
2025 112,832,473 19,020,271
2024 109,276,265 19,051,804
2023 105,789,731 19,061,062
2022 102,396,968 19,048,502
2021 99,148,932 19,122,059
2020 95,989,998 19,265,250
2019 92,947,442 19,371,648
2018 90,047,644 19,473,970
2017 87,083,398 19,588,715
2016 83,956,415 19,702,267
2015 81,035,531 19,815,616
2014 78,403,242 19,908,979
2013 75,789,395 19,983,693
2012 73,254,618 20,058,035
2011 70,849,311 20,147,528
2010 68,563,038 20,246,871
2009 66,412,044 20,367,487
2008 64,390,664 20,537,875
2007 62,477,752 20,882,982
2006 60,615,908 21,193,760
2005 58,775,724 21,319,685
2004 56,997,741 21,451,748
2003 55,343,867 21,574,326
2002 53,750,524 21,730,496
2001 52,132,646 22,131,970
2000 50,507,442 22,442,971
1999 48,912,971 22,472,040
1998 47,297,600 22,507,344
1997 46,029,902 22,553,978
1996 45,296,124 22,619,004
1995 44,433,704 22,684,270
1994 42,626,876 22,730,211
1993 40,656,336 22,763,280
1992 39,228,910 22,794,284
1991 37,925,817 23,001,155
1990 36,684,063 23,201,835
1989 35,486,866 23,161,458
1988 34,382,752 23,057,662
1987 33,298,904 22,949,430
1986 32,265,196 22,836,841
1985 31,264,816 22,732,999
1984 30,245,081 22,640,547
1983 29,250,963 22,560,478
1982 28,338,190 22,475,741
1981 27,500,515 22,353,070
1980 26,711,099 22,207,282
1979 25,886,782 22,090,488
1978 24,992,689 21,951,464
1977 24,229,061 21,756,096
1976 23,624,031 21,551,634
1975 23,021,101 21,293,583
1974 22,418,878 21,029,429
1973 21,827,665 20,835,681
1972 21,251,160 20,657,957
1971 20,695,569 20,461,567
1970 20,137,436 20,250,398
1969 19,570,445 20,009,141
1968 19,012,189 19,799,831
1967 18,462,782 19,534,242
1966 17,931,929 19,215,450
1965 17,427,802 19,031,576
1964 16,955,327 18,919,126
1963 16,507,599 18,797,850
1962 16,075,724 18,676,550
1961 15,662,374 18,555,250
1960 15,264,846 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 789,700 people (a 4.01% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,135,745 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Romania
2100 0.68% -0.77%
2099 0.71% -0.76%
2098 0.73% -0.75%
2097 0.75% -0.74%
2096 0.78% -0.74%
2095 0.81% -0.72%
2094 0.83% -0.73%
2093 0.85% -0.72%
2092 0.88% -0.71%
2091 0.91% -0.72%
2090 0.94% -0.71%
2089 0.97% -0.71%
2088 0.99% -0.7%
2087 1.03% -0.72%
2086 1.05% -0.72%
2085 1.08% -0.72%
2084 1.11% -0.73%
2083 1.13% -0.73%
2082 1.16% -0.75%
2081 1.19% -0.76%
2080 1.21% -0.76%
2079 1.25% -0.77%
2078 1.27% -0.77%
2077 1.31% -0.78%
2076 1.33% -0.79%
2075 1.36% -0.8%
2074 1.39% -0.8%
2073 1.42% -0.82%
2072 1.45% -0.84%
2071 1.49% -0.85%
2070 1.52% -0.86%
2069 1.56% -0.86%
2068 1.59% -0.88%
2067 1.62% -0.89%
2066 1.66% -0.91%
2065 1.69% -0.91%
2064 1.73% -0.91%
2063 1.77% -0.91%
2062 1.8% -0.9%
2061 1.84% -0.89%
2060 1.88% -0.88%
2059 1.91% -0.86%
2058 1.95% -0.85%
2057 1.98% -0.84%
2056 2.02% -0.82%
2055 2.06% -0.79%
2054 2.1% -0.77%
2053 2.14% -0.77%
2052 2.17% -0.75%
2051 2.21% -0.74%
2050 2.24% -0.74%
2049 2.28% -0.73%
2048 2.31% -0.72%
2047 2.35% -0.71%
2046 2.38% -0.7%
2045 2.41% -0.71%
2044 2.44% -0.7%
2043 2.47% -0.69%
2042 2.51% -0.69%
2041 2.54% -0.68%
2040 2.57% -0.67%
2039 2.61% -0.67%
2038 2.64% -0.66%
2037 2.7% -0.66%
2036 2.75% -0.65%
2035 2.8% -0.63%
2034 2.85% -0.63%
2033 2.89% -0.62%
2032 2.95% -0.61%
2031 3% -0.6%
2030 3.05% -0.6%
2029 3.1% -0.59%
2028 3.14% -0.58%
2027 3.18% -0.58%
2026 3.24% -0.57%
2025 3.25% -0.17%
2024 3.3% -0.05%
2023 3.31% 0.07%
2022 3.28% -0.38%
2021 3.29% -0.74%
2020 3.27% -0.55%
2019 3.22% -0.53%
2018 3.4% -0.59%
2017 3.72% -0.58%
2016 3.6% -0.57%
2015 3.36% -0.47%
2014 3.45% -0.37%
2013 3.46% -0.37%
2012 3.39% -0.44%
2011 3.33% -0.49%
2010 3.24% -0.59%
2009 3.14% -0.83%
2008 3.06% -1.65%
2007 3.07% -1.47%
2006 3.13% -0.59%
2005 3.12% -0.62%
2004 2.99% -0.57%
2003 2.96% -0.72%
2002 3.1% -1.81%
2001 3.22% -1.39%
2000 3.26% -0.13%
1999 3.42% -0.16%
1998 2.75% -0.21%
1997 1.62% -0.29%
1996 1.94% -0.29%
1995 4.24% -0.2%
1994 4.85% -0.15%
1993 3.64% -0.14%
1992 3.44% -0.9%
1991 3.38% -0.86%
1990 3.37% 0.17%
1989 3.21% 0.45%
1988 3.25% 0.47%
1987 3.2% 0.49%
1986 3.2% 0.46%
1985 3.37% 0.41%
1984 3.4% 0.35%
1983 3.22% 0.38%
1982 3.05% 0.55%
1981 2.96% 0.66%
1980 3.18% 0.53%
1979 3.58% 0.63%
1978 3.15% 0.9%
1977 2.56% 0.95%
1976 2.62% 1.21%
1975 2.69% 1.26%
1974 2.71% 0.93%
1973 2.71% 0.86%
1972 2.68% 0.96%
1971 2.77% 1.04%
1970 2.9% 1.21%
1969 2.94% 1.06%
1968 2.98% 1.36%
1967 2.96% 1.66%
1966 2.89% 0.97%
1965 2.79% 0.59%
1964 2.71% 0.65%
1963 2.69% 0.65%
1962 2.64% 0.65%
1961 2.6% 0.81%

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/romania | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Romania's population declined by 0.17%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Romania
Current population
118386491
18912567
Population rank 14/197 70/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.23%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
16.7 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
3.68 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
2.16 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 -86
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 -31,533
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% -0.17%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 172/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -29,041
Net migration rank 159/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -29,041
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 -100,975 -28,466
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -83,869 -27,780
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -93,338 89,076
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 -141,504 -17,731
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -100,179 -13,202
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 -60,053 -27,909
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 -62,316 -33,018
2017 2,883,245 176,290 -50,930 -33,081
2016 2,753,687 440,748 -53,196 -33,073
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 -59,447 -35,751
2014 2,580,251 36,966 -55,745 -35,448
2013 2,489,378 121,097 -59,951 -34,910
2012 2,405,462 53,668 -54,157 -37,589
2011 2,310,679 40,891 -56,413 -102,769
2010 2,212,255 8,823 -46,567 -122,364
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 -34,625 -137,953
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 -30,806 -144,368
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 -37,590 -133,089
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 -38,148 -132,777
2005 1,800,300 20,384 -40,508 -131,176
2004 1,731,022 4,260 -42,904 -117,432
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 -56,093 -107,139
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 -58,673 -106,585
2001 1,594,999 26,523 -37,625 -91,154
2000 1,549,518 79,340 -22,443 -92,451
1999 1,450,318 109,761 -31,461 -82,590
1998 1,375,130 295,560 -33,761 -81,366
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 -42,853 -88,734
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 -56,548 -70,799
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 -36,295 -73,779
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 -18,184 -76,246
1993 1,209,242 240,176 -13,658 -73,475
1992 1,152,781 252,666 -4,559 -63,200
1991 1,114,033 86,721 25,301 -36,824
1990 1,063,508 219,270 69,605 -38,157
1989 1,027,238 84,415 122,756 -33,866
1988 995,278 101,314 126,817 -48,911
1987 959,875 111,220 128,517 -42,868
1986 925,334 70,988 134,737 -50,450
1985 885,670 118,791 111,392 -28,108
1984 844,956 190,045 117,731 -24,629
1983 807,122 146,095 87,986 3,093
1982 774,823 97,495 119,121 -4,725
1981 748,371 54,656 156,472 -20,870
1980 724,111 51,685 168,776 -16,668
1979 691,773 181,028 194,397 -29,600
1978 646,411 268,974 204,148 -31,427
1977 638,242 -26,355 215,385 -28,135
1976 624,147 -25,965 213,361 18,748
1975 608,655 -972 219,324 9,125
1974 593,539 3,216 235,530 6,725
1973 578,280 7,414 175,020 58,651
1972 564,495 2,840 198,316 61,920
1971 549,343 -5,497 206,662 74,473
1970 533,300 39,116 234,905 71,919
1969 514,800 46,778 264,120 74,851
1968 497,682 57,274 338,577 33,601
1967 479,552 64,307 347,709 37,282
1966 463,397 54,443 115,293 -25,458
1965 429,002 61,397 114,190 -60,430
1964 406,334 48,207 134,326 -59,500
1963 398,972 41,960 139,104 -58,076
1962 383,406 39,431 130,736 -56,152
1961 368,207 35,654 163,286 -54,642
1960 363,517 27,673 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/romania | 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 Romania 83.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 805,807 people) and 16.6% is from migration (a loss of 160,935 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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