The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- The DR Congo's population is 478 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 1.43% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).
DR Congo vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
DR Congo
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 436,237,219 | 538,656 |
| 2099 | 433,289,774 | 537,257 |
| 2098 | 430,252,622 | 535,715 |
| 2097 | 427,149,320 | 534,052 |
| 2096 | 423,961,963 | 532,281 |
| 2095 | 420,678,721 | 530,505 |
| 2094 | 417,304,547 | 528,585 |
| 2093 | 413,867,290 | 526,572 |
| 2092 | 410,362,003 | 524,436 |
| 2091 | 406,763,717 | 522,255 |
| 2090 | 403,089,566 | 519,929 |
| 2089 | 399,334,389 | 517,542 |
| 2088 | 395,507,774 | 515,028 |
| 2087 | 391,613,249 | 512,499 |
| 2086 | 387,639,503 | 509,949 |
| 2085 | 383,604,733 | 507,271 |
| 2084 | 379,495,246 | 504,516 |
| 2083 | 375,330,369 | 501,611 |
| 2082 | 371,124,615 | 498,655 |
| 2081 | 366,878,238 | 495,622 |
| 2080 | 362,574,665 | 492,416 |
| 2079 | 358,227,097 | 489,178 |
| 2078 | 353,821,014 | 485,864 |
| 2077 | 349,368,182 | 482,385 |
| 2076 | 344,866,731 | 478,877 |
| 2075 | 340,338,504 | 475,315 |
| 2074 | 335,761,691 | 471,700 |
| 2073 | 331,157,281 | 468,051 |
| 2072 | 326,505,656 | 464,286 |
| 2071 | 321,830,769 | 460,447 |
| 2070 | 317,104,580 | 456,490 |
| 2069 | 312,349,776 | 452,388 |
| 2068 | 307,566,932 | 448,306 |
| 2067 | 302,762,490 | 444,092 |
| 2066 | 297,932,241 | 439,773 |
| 2065 | 293,081,284 | 435,502 |
| 2064 | 288,211,987 | 431,068 |
| 2063 | 283,315,009 | 426,645 |
| 2062 | 278,399,192 | 422,127 |
| 2061 | 273,464,914 | 417,629 |
| 2060 | 268,520,814 | 413,061 |
| 2059 | 263,570,338 | 408,522 |
| 2058 | 258,622,778 | 403,970 |
| 2057 | 253,685,085 | 399,359 |
| 2056 | 248,748,321 | 394,790 |
| 2055 | 243,814,854 | 390,100 |
| 2054 | 238,885,417 | 385,416 |
| 2053 | 233,971,468 | 380,685 |
| 2052 | 229,073,420 | 375,964 |
| 2051 | 224,197,775 | 371,143 |
| 2050 | 219,354,949 | 366,347 |
| 2049 | 214,547,398 | 361,542 |
| 2048 | 209,774,448 | 356,694 |
| 2047 | 205,040,532 | 351,813 |
| 2046 | 200,341,405 | 346,841 |
| 2045 | 195,693,533 | 341,791 |
| 2044 | 191,087,342 | 336,747 |
| 2043 | 186,534,055 | 331,669 |
| 2042 | 182,033,706 | 326,608 |
| 2041 | 177,583,290 | 321,551 |
| 2040 | 173,191,594 | 316,415 |
| 2039 | 168,846,440 | 311,237 |
| 2038 | 164,551,895 | 306,029 |
| 2037 | 160,316,591 | 300,834 |
| 2036 | 156,099,100 | 295,584 |
| 2035 | 151,924,296 | 290,361 |
| 2034 | 147,782,785 | 285,145 |
| 2033 | 143,684,929 | 279,952 |
| 2032 | 139,642,368 | 274,798 |
| 2031 | 135,634,548 | 269,704 |
| 2030 | 131,685,113 | 264,687 |
| 2029 | 127,793,612 | 259,670 |
| 2028 | 123,956,913 | 254,717 |
| 2027 | 120,188,952 | 249,827 |
| 2026 | 116,482,769 | 245,033 |
| 2025 | 112,832,473 | 240,254 |
| 2024 | 109,276,265 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 105,789,731 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 102,396,968 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 99,148,932 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 95,989,998 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 92,947,442 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 90,047,644 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 87,083,398 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 83,956,415 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 81,035,531 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 78,403,242 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 75,789,395 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 73,254,618 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 70,849,311 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 68,563,038 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 66,412,044 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 64,390,664 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 62,477,752 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 60,615,908 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 58,775,724 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 56,997,741 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 55,343,867 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 53,750,524 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 52,132,646 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 50,507,442 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 48,912,971 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 47,297,600 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 46,029,902 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 45,296,124 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 44,433,704 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 42,626,876 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 40,656,336 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 39,228,910 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 37,925,817 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 36,684,063 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 35,486,866 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 34,382,752 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 33,298,904 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 32,265,196 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 31,264,816 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 30,245,081 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 29,250,963 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 28,338,190 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 27,500,515 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 26,711,099 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 25,886,782 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 24,992,689 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 24,229,061 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 23,624,031 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 23,021,101 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 22,418,878 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 21,827,665 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 21,251,160 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 20,695,569 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 20,137,436 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 19,570,445 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 19,012,189 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 18,462,782 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 17,931,929 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 17,427,802 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 16,955,327 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 16,507,599 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 16,075,724 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 15,662,374 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 15,264,846 | 68,012 |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).
The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th 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 Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
DR Congo
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 0.68% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | 0.71% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | 0.73% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | 0.75% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | 0.78% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | 0.81% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | 0.83% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | 0.85% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | 0.88% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | 0.91% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | 0.94% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | 0.97% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | 0.99% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | 1.03% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | 1.05% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | 1.08% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | 1.11% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | 1.13% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | 1.16% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | 1.19% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | 1.21% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | 1.25% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | 1.27% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | 1.31% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | 1.33% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | 1.36% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | 1.39% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | 1.42% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | 1.45% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | 1.49% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | 1.52% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | 1.56% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | 1.59% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | 1.62% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | 1.66% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | 1.69% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | 1.73% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | 1.77% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | 1.8% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | 1.84% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | 1.88% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | 1.91% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | 1.95% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | 1.98% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | 2.02% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | 2.06% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | 2.1% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | 2.14% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | 2.17% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | 2.21% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | 2.24% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | 2.28% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | 2.31% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | 2.35% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | 2.38% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | 2.41% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | 2.44% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | 2.47% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | 2.51% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | 2.54% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | 2.57% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | 2.61% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | 2.64% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | 2.7% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | 2.75% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | 2.8% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | 2.85% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | 2.89% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | 2.95% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | 3% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | 3.05% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | 3.1% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | 3.14% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | 3.18% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | 3.24% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | 3.25% | 2% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | 3.31% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | 3.28% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | 3.29% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | 3.27% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | 3.22% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | 3.72% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | 3.36% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | 3.45% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | 3.46% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | 3.39% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | 3.33% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | 3.24% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | 3.14% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | 3.06% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | 3.07% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | 3.13% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | 3.12% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 2.99% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | 2.96% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | 3.22% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 3.26% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 3.42% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 2.75% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 1.62% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 1.94% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 4.24% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 4.85% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 3.64% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 3.44% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 3.38% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 3.37% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 3.21% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 3.25% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 3.2% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 3.2% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 3.37% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 3.4% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 3.22% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 3.05% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 2.96% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 3.18% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 3.58% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 3.15% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 2.56% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 2.62% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 2.69% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 2.71% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 2.71% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 2.68% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 2.77% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 2.9% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 2.94% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 2.98% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 2.96% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 2.89% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 2.79% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 2.71% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 2.69% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 2.64% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 2.6% | 1.02% |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.
Live population counters
|
DR Congo
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
118386491
|
247495
|
| Population rank | 14/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 1.42% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
8.89 seconds
|
1.86 hours
|
| One birth every |
7.06 seconds
|
1.32 hours
|
| One death every |
34.3 seconds
|
6.73 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +9,743 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | +3,556,208 | +4,718 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +3.25% | +2% |
| Population growth rate rank | 10/197 | 50/197 |
| One migration net change every |
19.3 minutes
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -27,309 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 159/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,085,090 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 57/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 1% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 152/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DR Congo
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -27,309 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | 3,547,217 | -26,968 | 5,315 | -604 |
| 2023 | 3,467,787 | -14,992 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | 3,347,664 | -14,991 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | 3,227,992 | -64,639 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 3,156,152 | -1,633 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3,075,538 | -144,920 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 2,993,184 | -124,246 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 2,883,245 | 176,290 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 2,753,687 | 440,748 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 2,665,016 | -17,711 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 2,580,251 | 36,966 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 2,489,378 | 121,097 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 2,405,462 | 53,668 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 2,310,679 | 40,891 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 2,212,255 | 8,823 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 2,126,912 | -46,009 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 2,044,210 | -82,339 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 1,963,738 | -99,742 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 1,889,398 | -29,715 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 1,800,300 | 20,384 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 1,731,022 | 4,260 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 1,679,188 | -106,731 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 1,631,597 | -17,358 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 1,594,999 | 26,523 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 1,549,518 | 79,340 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 1,450,318 | 109,761 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 1,375,130 | 295,560 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 1,392,037 | -527,356 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 1,380,490 | -777,833 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 1,395,440 | -273,434 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 1,259,539 | 1,232,105 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 1,209,242 | 240,176 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 1,152,781 | 252,666 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 1,114,033 | 86,721 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 1,063,508 | 219,270 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 1,027,238 | 84,415 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 995,278 | 101,314 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 959,875 | 111,220 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 925,334 | 70,988 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 885,670 | 118,791 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 844,956 | 190,045 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 807,122 | 146,095 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 774,823 | 97,495 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 748,371 | 54,656 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 724,111 | 51,685 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 691,773 | 181,028 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 646,411 | 268,974 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 638,242 | -26,355 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 624,147 | -25,965 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 608,655 | -972 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 593,539 | 3,216 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 578,280 | 7,414 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 564,495 | 2,840 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 549,343 | -5,497 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 533,300 | 39,116 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 514,800 | 46,778 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 497,682 | 57,274 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 479,552 | 64,307 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 463,397 | 54,443 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 429,002 | 61,397 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 406,334 | 48,207 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 398,972 | 41,960 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 383,406 | 39,431 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 368,207 | 35,654 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 363,517 | 27,673 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe 81.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,756 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 11,424 people).
As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between the DR Congo and Sao Tome and Principe
|
DR Congo
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 62.4 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 21.9 years | 25.2 years |
| Median age | 16.9 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.6:50.4 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 5.98 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 133.1 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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