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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 6.24 times bigger than Romania's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th 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 +3.38% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

DR Congo vs Romania: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Romania
2100 436,320,913 10,801,385
2099 433,372,904 10,885,505
2098 430,335,169 10,969,050
2097 427,231,271 11,052,086
2096 424,043,303 11,134,776
2095 420,759,430 11,217,462
2094 417,384,609 11,299,298
2093 413,946,692 11,382,352
2092 410,440,733 11,464,817
2091 406,841,757 11,546,872
2090 403,166,901 11,630,335
2089 399,411,004 11,713,468
2088 395,583,655 11,796,733
2087 391,688,383 11,880,373
2086 387,713,874 11,966,550
2085 383,678,330 12,052,744
2084 379,568,054 12,140,454
2083 375,402,379 12,229,714
2082 371,195,818 12,319,480
2081 366,948,626 12,412,385
2080 362,644,227 12,507,333
2079 358,295,825 12,603,302
2078 353,888,897 12,700,870
2077 349,435,210 12,799,985
2076 344,932,895 12,900,610
2075 340,403,800 13,002,848
2074 335,826,108 13,107,513
2073 331,220,816 13,213,407
2072 326,568,298 13,323,211
2071 321,892,514 13,435,661
2070 317,165,418 13,550,449
2069 312,409,702 13,667,892
2068 307,625,941 13,786,771
2067 302,820,577 13,909,141
2066 297,989,401 14,034,214
2065 293,137,514 14,163,381
2064 288,267,282 14,293,294
2063 283,369,365 14,424,068
2062 278,452,605 14,557,025
2061 273,517,380 14,689,897
2060 268,572,331 14,821,441
2059 263,620,905 14,952,855
2058 258,672,397 15,082,857
2057 253,733,756 15,211,914
2056 248,796,045 15,340,213
2055 243,861,631 15,467,019
2054 238,931,249 15,590,545
2053 234,016,357 15,712,155
2052 229,117,369 15,834,374
2051 224,240,788 15,954,507
2050 219,397,034 16,073,070
2049 214,588,560 16,192,498
2048 209,814,694 16,311,535
2047 205,079,870 16,430,565
2046 200,379,842 16,547,661
2045 195,731,078 16,665,026
2044 191,124,003 16,783,383
2043 186,569,843 16,900,955
2042 182,068,630 17,018,000
2041 177,617,360 17,136,818
2040 173,224,822 17,253,674
2039 168,878,834 17,370,310
2038 164,583,465 17,488,193
2037 160,347,349 17,604,853
2036 156,129,049 17,721,511
2035 151,953,443 17,837,396
2034 147,811,138 17,950,976
2033 143,712,496 18,064,449
2032 139,669,159 18,176,399
2031 135,660,570 18,288,437
2030 131,710,378 18,399,699
2029 127,818,130 18,511,331
2028 123,980,695 18,621,197
2027 120,212,011 18,730,482
2026 116,505,117 18,839,108
2025 112,854,120 18,946,392
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th 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 86.7% to 219,397,034 people with a rank change from 15th to 8th. The population of Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 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 3.27% -0.55%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Romania
Current population
117507801
18839108
Population rank 15/197 70/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.23%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
56.8 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
3.45 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 -25
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 169/197
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 - -26,968 - -28,466
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -89,587 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 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 480K
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 (1960–2024, 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/romania | 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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