Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 143,533,851 people in Russia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 141,906,741 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 1.21 times bigger than the DR Congo's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Russia is the 9th.
  • The countries together account for 3.13% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 1.71% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs -0.02% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Russia has declined from 143M to 142M (0.8% decline).

DR Congo vs Russia: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Russia
2100 436,320,913 124,983,377
2099 433,372,904 125,086,144
2098 430,335,169 125,186,329
2097 427,231,271 125,264,415
2096 424,043,303 125,354,177
2095 420,759,430 125,422,006
2094 417,384,609 125,474,373
2093 413,946,692 125,529,632
2092 410,440,733 125,604,261
2091 406,841,757 125,652,742
2090 403,166,901 125,707,894
2089 399,411,004 125,760,026
2088 395,583,655 125,810,124
2087 391,688,383 125,858,116
2086 387,713,874 125,926,035
2085 383,678,330 126,001,913
2084 379,568,054 126,076,414
2083 375,402,379 126,151,046
2082 371,195,818 126,234,371
2081 366,948,626 126,317,768
2080 362,644,227 126,414,511
2079 358,295,825 126,534,688
2078 353,888,897 126,674,591
2077 349,435,210 126,830,956
2076 344,932,895 126,982,766
2075 340,403,800 127,165,304
2074 335,826,108 127,362,143
2073 331,220,816 127,576,856
2072 326,568,298 127,802,632
2071 321,892,514 128,080,998
2070 317,165,418 128,353,977
2069 312,409,702 128,642,208
2068 307,625,941 128,920,237
2067 302,820,577 129,203,483
2066 297,989,401 129,511,983
2065 293,137,514 129,842,007
2064 288,267,282 130,177,089
2063 283,369,365 130,522,107
2062 278,452,605 130,851,664
2061 273,517,380 131,200,160
2060 268,572,331 131,526,812
2059 263,620,905 131,884,461
2058 258,672,397 132,247,211
2057 253,733,756 132,584,941
2056 248,796,045 132,925,501
2055 243,861,631 133,271,436
2054 238,931,249 133,595,068
2053 234,016,357 133,914,243
2052 229,117,369 134,180,223
2051 224,240,788 134,443,510
2050 219,397,034 134,687,487
2049 214,588,560 134,909,323
2048 209,814,694 135,117,641
2047 205,079,870 135,311,492
2046 200,379,842 135,482,008
2045 195,731,078 135,664,379
2044 191,124,003 135,863,165
2043 186,569,843 136,085,277
2042 182,068,630 136,307,658
2041 177,617,360 136,557,818
2040 173,224,822 136,821,807
2039 168,878,834 137,122,219
2038 164,583,465 137,433,644
2037 160,347,349 137,770,811
2036 156,129,049 138,118,955
2035 151,953,443 138,478,809
2034 147,811,138 138,852,689
2033 143,712,496 139,237,595
2032 139,669,159 139,635,142
2031 135,660,570 140,058,187
2030 131,710,378 140,453,528
2029 127,818,130 140,840,370
2028 123,980,695 141,214,141
2027 120,212,011 141,580,416
2026 116,505,117 141,906,741
2025 112,854,120 142,772,403
2024 109,276,265 143,533,851
2023 105,789,731 143,826,130
2022 102,396,968 144,236,933
2021 99,148,932 144,746,762
2020 95,989,998 145,245,148
2019 92,947,442 145,453,291
2018 90,047,644 145,398,106
2017 87,083,398 145,293,260
2016 83,956,415 145,015,460
2015 81,035,531 144,640,716
2014 78,403,242 144,237,223
2013 75,789,395 143,805,638
2012 73,254,618 143,378,447
2011 70,849,311 143,018,195
2010 68,563,038 142,849,468
2009 66,412,044 142,785,348
2008 64,390,664 142,742,366
2007 62,477,752 142,805,114
2006 60,615,908 143,049,637
2005 58,775,724 143,518,814
2004 56,997,741 144,067,316
2003 55,343,867 144,648,618
2002 53,750,524 145,306,497
2001 52,132,646 145,976,482
2000 50,507,442 146,596,869
1999 48,912,971 147,214,776
1998 47,297,600 147,670,784
1997 46,029,902 147,915,361
1996 45,296,124 148,160,129
1995 44,433,704 148,375,787
1994 42,626,876 148,407,912
1993 40,656,336 148,458,777
1992 39,228,910 148,538,197
1991 37,925,817 148,394,216
1990 36,684,063 147,969,406
1989 35,486,866 147,721,000
1988 34,382,752 146,857,000
1987 33,298,904 145,908,000
1986 32,265,196 144,894,000
1985 31,264,816 143,858,000
1984 30,245,081 142,745,000
1983 29,250,963 141,668,000
1982 28,338,190 140,823,000
1981 27,500,515 139,941,000
1980 26,711,099 139,010,000
1979 25,886,782 138,027,000
1978 24,992,689 137,060,000
1977 24,229,061 136,100,000
1976 23,624,031 135,147,000
1975 23,021,101 134,200,000
1974 22,418,878 133,432,000
1973 21,827,665 132,669,000
1972 21,251,160 131,909,000
1971 20,695,569 131,155,000
1970 20,137,436 130,404,000
1969 19,570,445 129,664,000
1968 19,012,189 128,928,000
1967 18,462,782 128,196,000
1966 17,931,929 127,468,000
1965 17,427,802 126,745,000
1964 16,955,327 125,345,000
1963 16,507,599 123,960,000
1962 16,075,724 122,591,000
1961 15,662,374 121,236,000
1960 15,264,846 119,897,000

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/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Russia gained 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Russia's population decreased by 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Russia was ranked 9th in 2006 and still ranked 9th 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 Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people and rank change from 9th to 14th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Russia's population already peaked in 1992 at 149M people and is projected to decrease to 125M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Russia
2100 0.68% -0.08%
2099 0.71% -0.08%
2098 0.73% -0.06%
2097 0.75% -0.07%
2096 0.78% -0.05%
2095 0.81% -0.04%
2094 0.83% -0.04%
2093 0.85% -0.06%
2092 0.88% -0.04%
2091 0.91% -0.04%
2090 0.94% -0.04%
2089 0.97% -0.04%
2088 0.99% -0.04%
2087 1.03% -0.05%
2086 1.05% -0.06%
2085 1.08% -0.06%
2084 1.11% -0.06%
2083 1.13% -0.07%
2082 1.16% -0.07%
2081 1.19% -0.08%
2080 1.21% -0.09%
2079 1.25% -0.11%
2078 1.27% -0.12%
2077 1.31% -0.12%
2076 1.33% -0.14%
2075 1.36% -0.15%
2074 1.39% -0.17%
2073 1.42% -0.18%
2072 1.45% -0.22%
2071 1.49% -0.21%
2070 1.52% -0.22%
2069 1.56% -0.22%
2068 1.59% -0.22%
2067 1.62% -0.24%
2066 1.66% -0.25%
2065 1.69% -0.26%
2064 1.73% -0.26%
2063 1.77% -0.25%
2062 1.8% -0.27%
2061 1.84% -0.25%
2060 1.88% -0.27%
2059 1.91% -0.27%
2058 1.95% -0.25%
2057 1.98% -0.26%
2056 2.02% -0.26%
2055 2.06% -0.24%
2054 2.1% -0.24%
2053 2.14% -0.2%
2052 2.17% -0.2%
2051 2.21% -0.18%
2050 2.24% -0.16%
2049 2.28% -0.15%
2048 2.31% -0.14%
2047 2.35% -0.13%
2046 2.38% -0.13%
2045 2.41% -0.15%
2044 2.44% -0.16%
2043 2.47% -0.16%
2042 2.51% -0.18%
2041 2.54% -0.19%
2040 2.57% -0.22%
2039 2.61% -0.23%
2038 2.64% -0.24%
2037 2.7% -0.25%
2036 2.75% -0.26%
2035 2.8% -0.27%
2034 2.85% -0.28%
2033 2.89% -0.28%
2032 2.95% -0.3%
2031 3% -0.28%
2030 3.05% -0.27%
2029 3.1% -0.26%
2028 3.14% -0.26%
2027 3.18% -0.23%
2026 3.24% -0.61%
2025 3.27% -0.53%
2024 3.3% -0.2%
2023 3.31% -0.28%
2022 3.28% -0.35%
2021 3.29% -0.34%
2020 3.27% -0.14%
2019 3.22% 0.04%
2018 3.4% 0.07%
2017 3.72% 0.19%
2016 3.6% 0.26%
2015 3.36% 0.28%
2014 3.45% 0.3%
2013 3.46% 0.3%
2012 3.39% 0.25%
2011 3.33% 0.12%
2010 3.24% 0.04%
2009 3.14% 0.03%
2008 3.06% -0.04%
2007 3.07% -0.17%
2006 3.13% -0.33%
2005 3.12% -0.38%
2004 2.99% -0.4%
2003 2.96% -0.45%
2002 3.1% -0.46%
2001 3.22% -0.42%
2000 3.26% -0.42%
1999 3.42% -0.31%
1998 2.75% -0.17%
1997 1.62% -0.17%
1996 1.94% -0.15%
1995 4.24% -0.02%
1994 4.85% -0.03%
1993 3.64% -0.05%
1992 3.44% 0.1%
1991 3.38% 0.29%
1990 3.37% 0.17%
1989 3.21% 0.59%
1988 3.25% 0.65%
1987 3.2% 0.7%
1986 3.2% 0.72%
1985 3.37% 0.78%
1984 3.4% 0.76%
1983 3.22% 0.6%
1982 3.05% 0.63%
1981 2.96% 0.67%
1980 3.18% 0.71%
1979 3.58% 0.71%
1978 3.15% 0.71%
1977 2.56% 0.71%
1976 2.62% 0.71%
1975 2.69% 0.58%
1974 2.71% 0.58%
1973 2.71% 0.58%
1972 2.68% 0.57%
1971 2.77% 0.58%
1970 2.9% 0.57%
1969 2.94% 0.57%
1968 2.98% 0.57%
1967 2.96% 0.57%
1966 2.89% 0.57%
1965 2.79% 1.12%
1964 2.71% 1.12%
1963 2.69% 1.12%
1962 2.64% 1.12%
1961 2.6% 1.12%

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/russia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Russia's population declined by 0.2%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Russia
Current population
117507801
141906741
Population rank 15/197 9/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 1.71%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
1.8 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
25.5 seconds
One death every
35 seconds
18.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,552 -801
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 -292,279
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% -0.2%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 177/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
2.09 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -251,822
Net migration rank 159/196 187/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 7,605,774
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 10/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 5.3%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 91/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Russia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Russia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -251,822
2024 - -26,968 - -178,042
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -503,392 27,807
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -576,948 765,629
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 -1,027,702 314,112
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -697,177 334,094
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 -319,997 336,494
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 -232,637 339,972
2017 2,883,245 176,290 -130,764 396,619
2016 2,753,687 440,748 0 447,645
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 43,392 384,756
2014 2,580,251 36,966 28,848 264,698
2013 2,489,378 121,097 28,761 289,872
2012 2,405,462 53,668 0 285,977
2011 2,310,679 40,891 -128,716 309,377
2010 2,212,255 8,823 -242,844 307,555
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 -257,014 350,206
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 -356,856 360,840
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 -471,257 365,717
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 -686,638 308,370
2005 1,800,300 20,384 -846,761 263,541
2004 1,731,022 4,260 -792,370 261,519
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 -896,822 256,804
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 -944,492 1,358,944
2001 1,594,999 26,523 -963,445 259,614
2000 1,549,518 79,340 -967,540 550,401
1999 1,450,318 109,761 -927,453 375,468
1998 1,375,130 295,560 -694,053 528,135
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 -769,159 541,387
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 -785,248 587,171
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 -845,742 723,875
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 -920,129 1,271,417
1993 1,209,242 240,176 -757,140 507,229
1992 1,152,781 252,666 -222,808 -1,129,589
1991 1,114,033 86,721 103,876 125,505
1990 1,063,508 219,270 325,533 299,863
1989 1,027,238 84,415 576,112 89,400
1988 995,278 101,314 778,343 269,862
1987 959,875 111,220 977,583 275,611
1986 925,334 70,988 985,279 283,553
1985 885,670 118,791 762,447 280,614
1984 844,956 190,045 756,548 247,026
1983 807,122 146,095 906,676 200,159
1982 774,823 97,495 830,855 107,520
1981 748,371 54,656 713,700 36,686
1980 724,111 51,685 681,149 10,440
1979 691,773 181,028 690,135 -5,791
1978 646,411 268,974 812,766 108,882
1977 638,242 -26,355 832,932 122,316
1976 624,147 -25,965 852,237 113,851
1975 608,655 -972 843,850 80,069
1974 593,539 3,216 883,186 -51,759
1973 578,280 7,414 846,561 -107,568
1972 564,495 2,840 872,050 -111,168
1971 549,343 -5,497 854,999 -134,968
1970 533,300 39,116 785,554 -264,464
1969 514,800 46,778 753,088 -64,643
1968 497,682 57,274 787,621 -83,221
1967 479,552 64,307 854,554 -116,029
1966 463,397 54,443 989,279 -111,360
1965 429,002 61,397 1,059,335 -138,078
1964 406,334 48,207 1,233,520 -148,595
1963 398,972 41,960 1,436,077 -168,649
1962 383,406 39,431 1,573,701 -177,358
1961 368,207 35,654 1,810,538 -204,349
1960 363,517 27,673 1,962,834 -234,895

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/russia | 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 Russia 48.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 7,605,774 people or 5.3% in Russia.

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
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

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/russia | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.