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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 7.85 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 1.6% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

DR Congo vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Rwanda
2100 436,320,913 33,092,520
2099 433,372,904 32,987,847
2098 430,335,169 32,907,335
2097 427,231,271 32,832,706
2096 424,043,303 32,747,490
2095 420,759,430 32,615,044
2094 417,384,609 32,529,590
2093 413,946,692 32,396,544
2092 410,440,733 32,274,083
2091 406,841,757 32,171,077
2090 403,166,901 32,068,626
2089 399,411,004 31,872,593
2088 395,583,655 31,726,882
2087 391,688,383 31,533,364
2086 387,713,874 31,379,315
2085 383,678,330 31,235,000
2084 379,568,054 31,092,940
2083 375,402,379 30,917,707
2082 371,195,818 30,733,578
2081 366,948,626 30,557,819
2080 362,644,227 30,367,298
2079 358,295,825 30,176,627
2078 353,888,897 29,997,866
2077 349,435,210 29,800,561
2076 344,932,895 29,627,021
2075 340,403,800 29,423,503
2074 335,826,108 29,225,643
2073 331,220,816 29,007,777
2072 326,568,298 28,780,763
2071 321,892,514 28,560,382
2070 317,165,418 28,316,533
2069 312,409,702 28,103,541
2068 307,625,941 27,854,906
2067 302,820,577 27,591,747
2066 297,989,401 27,355,659
2065 293,137,514 27,084,704
2064 288,267,282 26,821,315
2063 283,369,365 26,543,184
2062 278,452,605 26,296,132
2061 273,517,380 25,985,356
2060 268,572,331 25,712,904
2059 263,620,905 25,437,446
2058 258,672,397 25,106,242
2057 253,733,756 24,837,928
2056 248,796,045 24,566,784
2055 243,861,631 24,266,669
2054 238,931,249 23,976,914
2053 234,016,357 23,690,426
2052 229,117,369 23,406,346
2051 224,240,788 23,099,207
2050 219,397,034 22,800,250
2049 214,588,560 22,484,698
2048 209,814,694 22,157,938
2047 205,079,870 21,834,786
2046 200,379,842 21,540,566
2045 195,731,078 21,215,262
2044 191,124,003 20,902,695
2043 186,569,843 20,535,605
2042 182,068,630 20,201,608
2041 177,617,360 19,832,577
2040 173,224,822 19,463,015
2039 168,878,834 19,096,860
2038 164,583,465 18,761,626
2037 160,347,349 18,421,864
2036 156,129,049 18,116,691
2035 151,953,443 17,753,910
2034 147,811,138 17,421,234
2033 143,712,496 17,089,349
2032 139,669,159 16,811,505
2031 135,660,570 16,485,559
2030 131,710,378 16,167,916
2029 127,818,130 15,858,862
2028 123,980,695 15,544,959
2027 120,212,011 15,207,733
2026 116,505,117 14,888,776
2025 112,854,120 14,560,205
2024 109,276,265 14,256,567
2023 105,789,731 13,954,471
2022 102,396,968 13,651,030
2021 99,148,932 13,355,260
2020 95,989,998 13,065,837
2019 92,947,442 12,776,103
2018 90,047,644 12,487,996
2017 87,083,398 12,202,060
2016 83,956,415 11,919,183
2015 81,035,531 11,640,022
2014 78,403,242 11,364,757
2013 75,789,395 11,093,340
2012 73,254,618 10,829,901
2011 70,849,311 10,573,733
2010 68,563,038 10,317,553
2009 66,412,044 10,060,432
2008 64,390,664 9,804,269
2007 62,477,752 9,549,933
2006 60,615,908 9,299,246
2005 58,775,724 9,054,528
2004 56,997,741 8,816,844
2003 55,343,867 8,586,875
2002 53,750,524 8,400,180
2001 52,132,646 8,287,094
2000 50,507,442 8,213,931
1999 48,912,971 8,147,912
1998 47,297,600 8,081,681
1997 46,029,902 7,755,238
1996 45,296,124 6,708,764
1995 44,433,704 5,674,118
1994 42,626,876 6,792,352
1993 40,656,336 7,981,132
1992 39,228,910 7,683,266
1991 37,925,817 7,526,966
1990 36,684,063 7,375,307
1989 35,486,866 7,184,706
1988 34,382,752 6,968,071
1987 33,298,904 6,749,493
1986 32,265,196 6,531,881
1985 31,264,816 6,317,228
1984 30,245,081 6,107,627
1983 29,250,963 5,905,311
1982 28,338,190 5,711,549
1981 27,500,515 5,527,230
1980 26,711,099 5,353,259
1979 25,886,782 5,189,541
1978 24,992,689 5,035,171
1977 24,229,061 4,888,240
1976 23,624,031 4,745,954
1975 23,021,101 4,607,728
1974 22,418,878 4,474,228
1973 21,827,665 4,345,047
1972 21,251,160 4,220,335
1971 20,695,569 4,100,044
1970 20,137,436 3,980,669
1969 19,570,445 3,861,271
1968 19,012,189 3,744,010
1967 18,462,782 3,629,577
1966 17,931,929 3,521,626
1965 17,427,802 3,423,210
1964 16,955,327 3,334,834
1963 16,507,599 3,258,890
1962 16,075,724 3,186,025
1961 15,662,374 3,106,779
1960 15,264,846 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Rwanda
2100 0.68% 0.32%
2099 0.71% 0.24%
2098 0.73% 0.23%
2097 0.75% 0.26%
2096 0.78% 0.41%
2095 0.81% 0.26%
2094 0.83% 0.41%
2093 0.85% 0.38%
2092 0.88% 0.32%
2091 0.91% 0.32%
2090 0.94% 0.62%
2089 0.97% 0.46%
2088 0.99% 0.61%
2087 1.03% 0.49%
2086 1.05% 0.46%
2085 1.08% 0.46%
2084 1.11% 0.57%
2083 1.13% 0.6%
2082 1.16% 0.58%
2081 1.19% 0.63%
2080 1.21% 0.63%
2079 1.25% 0.6%
2078 1.27% 0.66%
2077 1.31% 0.59%
2076 1.33% 0.69%
2075 1.36% 0.68%
2074 1.39% 0.75%
2073 1.42% 0.79%
2072 1.45% 0.77%
2071 1.49% 0.86%
2070 1.52% 0.76%
2069 1.56% 0.89%
2068 1.59% 0.95%
2067 1.62% 0.86%
2066 1.66% 1%
2065 1.69% 0.98%
2064 1.73% 1.05%
2063 1.77% 0.94%
2062 1.8% 1.2%
2061 1.84% 1.06%
2060 1.88% 1.08%
2059 1.91% 1.32%
2058 1.95% 1.08%
2057 1.98% 1.1%
2056 2.02% 1.24%
2055 2.06% 1.21%
2054 2.1% 1.21%
2053 2.14% 1.21%
2052 2.17% 1.33%
2051 2.21% 1.31%
2050 2.24% 1.4%
2049 2.28% 1.47%
2048 2.31% 1.48%
2047 2.35% 1.37%
2046 2.38% 1.53%
2045 2.41% 1.5%
2044 2.44% 1.79%
2043 2.47% 1.65%
2042 2.51% 1.86%
2041 2.54% 1.9%
2040 2.57% 1.92%
2039 2.61% 1.79%
2038 2.64% 1.84%
2037 2.7% 1.68%
2036 2.75% 2.04%
2035 2.8% 1.91%
2034 2.85% 1.94%
2033 2.89% 1.65%
2032 2.95% 1.98%
2031 3% 1.96%
2030 3.05% 1.95%
2029 3.1% 2.02%
2028 3.14% 2.22%
2027 3.18% 2.14%
2026 3.24% 2.26%
2025 3.27% 2.13%
2024 3.3% 2.16%
2023 3.31% 2.22%
2022 3.28% 2.21%
2021 3.29% 2.22%
2020 3.27% 2.27%
2019 3.22% 2.31%
2018 3.4% 2.34%
2017 3.72% 2.37%
2016 3.6% 2.4%
2015 3.36% 2.42%
2014 3.45% 2.45%
2013 3.46% 2.43%
2012 3.39% 2.42%
2011 3.33% 2.48%
2010 3.24% 2.56%
2009 3.14% 2.61%
2008 3.06% 2.66%
2007 3.07% 2.7%
2006 3.13% 2.7%
2005 3.12% 2.7%
2004 2.99% 2.68%
2003 2.96% 2.22%
2002 3.1% 1.36%
2001 3.22% 0.89%
2000 3.26% 0.81%
1999 3.42% 0.82%
1998 2.75% 4.21%
1997 1.62% 15.6%
1996 1.94% 18.2%
1995 4.24% -16.5%
1994 4.85% -14.9%
1993 3.64% 3.88%
1992 3.44% 2.08%
1991 3.38% 2.06%
1990 3.37% 2.65%
1989 3.21% 3.11%
1988 3.25% 3.24%
1987 3.2% 3.33%
1986 3.2% 3.4%
1985 3.37% 3.43%
1984 3.4% 3.43%
1983 3.22% 3.39%
1982 3.05% 3.33%
1981 2.96% 3.25%
1980 3.18% 3.15%
1979 3.58% 3.07%
1978 3.15% 3.01%
1977 2.56% 3%
1976 2.62% 3%
1975 2.69% 2.98%
1974 2.71% 2.97%
1973 2.71% 2.96%
1972 2.68% 2.93%
1971 2.77% 3%
1970 2.9% 3.09%
1969 2.94% 3.13%
1968 2.98% 3.15%
1967 2.96% 3.07%
1966 2.89% 2.87%
1965 2.79% 2.65%
1964 2.71% 2.33%
1963 2.69% 2.29%
1962 2.64% 2.55%
1961 2.6% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Rwanda
Current population
117507801
14975051
Population rank 15/197 77/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.18%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
1.74 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
1.33 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +828
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 45/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 +6,282
Net migration rank 159/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 6,282
2024 - -26,968 - -15,582
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 312,762 -9,001
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 312,145 -9,001
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 309,895 -21,492
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 312,692 -22,251
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 313,525 -24,492
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 312,512 -25,323
2017 2,883,245 176,290 310,323 -25,634
2016 2,753,687 440,748 305,549 -24,474
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 299,114 -21,862
2014 2,580,251 36,966 292,779 -19,505
2013 2,489,378 121,097 286,331 -16,779
2012 2,405,462 53,668 282,584 -25,260
2011 2,310,679 40,891 282,922 -27,915
2010 2,212,255 8,823 286,848 -29,501
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 287,034 -30,128
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 287,334 -31,913
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 285,791 -32,537
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 282,149 -34,008
2005 1,800,300 20,384 275,121 -33,830
2004 1,731,022 4,260 265,273 -31,214
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 251,243 -25,355
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 239,036 -91,518
2001 1,594,999 26,523 230,845 -152,197
2000 1,549,518 79,340 221,276 -153,588
1999 1,450,318 109,761 210,518 -146,162
1998 1,375,130 295,560 197,185 -129,089
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 174,687 410,106
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 140,455 1,367,700
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 121,137 439,995
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 1,209,242 240,176 183,926 236,110
1992 1,152,781 252,666 188,025 -12,334
1991 1,114,033 86,721 196,431 -59,519
1990 1,063,508 219,270 207,895 -41,483
1989 1,027,238 84,415 217,632 -2,826
1988 995,278 101,314 223,759 -5,285
1987 959,875 111,220 225,744 -7,062
1986 925,334 70,988 225,526 -8,982
1985 885,670 118,791 223,794 -11,031
1984 844,956 190,045 219,337 -12,899
1983 807,122 146,095 212,750 -14,560
1982 774,823 97,495 205,147 -15,818
1981 748,371 54,656 195,769 -16,453
1980 724,111 51,685 184,988 -16,359
1979 691,773 181,028 174,477 -15,669
1978 646,411 268,974 163,779 -13,838
1977 638,242 -26,355 155,011 -11,084
1976 624,147 -25,965 147,665 -7,027
1975 608,655 -972 140,596 -4,791
1974 593,539 3,216 135,743 -4,535
1973 578,280 7,414 131,021 -3,862
1972 564,495 2,840 126,403 -4,156
1971 549,343 -5,497 122,567 -4,230
1970 533,300 39,116 119,273 1,149
1969 514,800 46,778 115,394 2,983
1968 497,682 57,274 111,422 4,728
1967 479,552 64,307 108,053 4,655
1966 463,397 54,443 105,128 -1,930
1965 429,002 61,397 103,422 -9,774
1964 406,334 48,207 102,562 -19,458
1963 398,972 41,960 94,296 -25,524
1962 383,406 39,431 102,548 -25,594
1961 368,207 35,654 102,051 -20,508
1960 363,517 27,673 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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