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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 7.86 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 1.61% 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 +3.36% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

DR Congo vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Rwanda
2100 436,237,219 33,113,283
2099 433,289,774 33,008,545
2098 430,252,622 32,927,982
2097 427,149,320 32,853,307
2096 423,961,963 32,768,037
2095 420,678,721 32,635,508
2094 417,304,547 32,550,001
2093 413,867,290 32,416,870
2092 410,362,003 32,294,333
2091 406,763,717 32,191,262
2090 403,089,566 32,088,747
2089 399,334,389 31,892,591
2088 395,507,774 31,746,789
2087 391,613,249 31,553,150
2086 387,639,503 31,399,004
2085 383,604,733 31,254,597
2084 379,495,246 31,112,448
2083 375,330,369 30,937,106
2082 371,124,615 30,752,861
2081 366,878,238 30,576,992
2080 362,574,665 30,386,351
2079 358,227,097 30,195,560
2078 353,821,014 30,016,688
2077 349,368,182 29,819,259
2076 344,866,731 29,645,610
2075 340,338,504 29,441,964
2074 335,761,691 29,243,980
2073 331,157,281 29,025,977
2072 326,505,656 28,798,822
2071 321,830,769 28,578,302
2070 317,104,580 28,334,300
2069 312,349,776 28,121,174
2068 307,566,932 27,872,383
2067 302,762,490 27,609,059
2066 297,932,241 27,372,823
2065 293,081,284 27,101,698
2064 288,211,987 26,838,144
2063 283,315,009 26,559,838
2062 278,399,192 26,312,631
2061 273,464,914 26,001,660
2060 268,520,814 25,729,037
2059 263,570,338 25,453,407
2058 258,622,778 25,121,995
2057 253,685,085 24,853,512
2056 248,748,321 24,582,198
2055 243,814,854 24,281,895
2054 238,885,417 23,991,958
2053 233,971,468 23,705,290
2052 229,073,420 23,421,032
2051 224,197,775 23,113,700
2050 219,354,949 22,814,556
2049 214,547,398 22,498,806
2048 209,774,448 22,171,841
2047 205,040,532 21,848,486
2046 200,341,405 21,554,082
2045 195,693,533 21,228,573
2044 191,087,342 20,915,810
2043 186,534,055 20,548,490
2042 182,033,706 20,214,283
2041 177,583,290 19,845,021
2040 173,191,594 19,475,227
2039 168,846,440 19,108,842
2038 164,551,895 18,773,398
2037 160,316,591 18,433,422
2036 156,099,100 18,128,058
2035 151,924,296 17,765,049
2034 147,782,785 17,432,165
2033 143,684,929 17,100,072
2032 139,642,368 16,822,053
2031 135,634,548 16,495,903
2030 131,685,113 16,178,061
2029 127,793,612 15,868,812
2028 123,956,913 15,554,713
2027 120,188,952 15,217,275
2026 116,482,769 14,898,118
2025 112,832,473 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th 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 85.3% to 219,354,949 people with a rank change from 14th to 8th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 3.25% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Rwanda
Current population
118386491
15062056
Population rank 14/197 77/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.18%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
1.69 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
1.31 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +857
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 40/197
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 3,547,217 -26,968 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 573K
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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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