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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 13 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 1.53% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

DR Congo vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Sierra Leone
2100 436,237,219 16,107,087
2099 433,289,774 16,121,940
2098 430,252,622 16,135,035
2097 427,149,320 16,149,905
2096 423,961,963 16,160,672
2095 420,678,721 16,169,304
2094 417,304,547 16,168,902
2093 413,867,290 16,173,609
2092 410,362,003 16,170,778
2091 406,763,717 16,163,901
2090 403,089,566 16,154,165
2089 399,334,389 16,142,526
2088 395,507,774 16,128,775
2087 391,613,249 16,112,585
2086 387,639,503 16,085,549
2085 383,604,733 16,064,212
2084 379,495,246 16,040,563
2083 375,330,369 16,006,923
2082 371,124,615 15,970,872
2081 366,878,238 15,930,880
2080 362,574,665 15,892,665
2079 358,227,097 15,850,728
2078 353,821,014 15,801,450
2077 349,368,182 15,750,408
2076 344,866,731 15,695,310
2075 340,338,504 15,635,345
2074 335,761,691 15,580,279
2073 331,157,281 15,512,655
2072 326,505,656 15,442,481
2071 321,830,769 15,370,747
2070 317,104,580 15,293,426
2069 312,349,776 15,212,664
2068 307,566,932 15,124,069
2067 302,762,490 15,028,190
2066 297,932,241 14,931,295
2065 293,081,284 14,833,794
2064 288,211,987 14,736,872
2063 283,315,009 14,638,180
2062 278,399,192 14,525,736
2061 273,464,914 14,420,068
2060 268,520,814 14,307,451
2059 263,570,338 14,194,972
2058 258,622,778 14,077,124
2057 253,685,085 13,957,197
2056 248,748,321 13,832,494
2055 243,814,854 13,702,508
2054 238,885,417 13,576,231
2053 233,971,468 13,440,929
2052 229,073,420 13,299,910
2051 224,197,775 13,152,910
2050 219,354,949 13,006,688
2049 214,547,398 12,863,637
2048 209,774,448 12,712,671
2047 205,040,532 12,566,944
2046 200,341,405 12,411,042
2045 195,693,533 12,254,651
2044 191,087,342 12,088,895
2043 186,534,055 11,928,393
2042 182,033,706 11,767,372
2041 177,583,290 11,599,942
2040 173,191,594 11,428,331
2039 168,846,440 11,259,845
2038 164,551,895 11,097,180
2037 160,316,591 10,928,754
2036 156,099,100 10,757,928
2035 151,924,296 10,582,918
2034 147,782,785 10,411,088
2033 143,684,929 10,238,503
2032 139,642,368 10,059,929
2031 135,634,548 9,881,109
2030 131,685,113 9,705,485
2029 127,793,612 9,529,493
2028 123,956,913 9,358,412
2027 120,188,952 9,177,288
2026 116,482,769 8,998,902
2025 112,832,473 8,819,794
2024 109,276,265 8,642,022
2023 105,789,731 8,460,512
2022 102,396,968 8,276,807
2021 99,148,932 8,094,602
2020 95,989,998 7,912,558
2019 92,947,442 7,731,991
2018 90,047,644 7,554,563
2017 87,083,398 7,379,299
2016 83,956,415 7,205,328
2015 81,035,531 7,037,655
2014 78,403,242 6,876,385
2013 75,789,395 6,714,051
2012 73,254,618 6,551,080
2011 70,849,311 6,387,251
2010 68,563,038 6,222,714
2009 66,412,044 6,055,646
2008 64,390,664 5,894,722
2007 62,477,752 5,749,352
2006 60,615,908 5,624,466
2005 58,775,724 5,501,712
2004 56,997,741 5,355,717
2003 55,343,867 5,177,687
2002 53,750,524 4,971,435
2001 52,132,646 4,692,716
2000 50,507,442 4,423,611
1999 48,912,971 4,318,043
1998 47,297,600 4,295,785
1997 46,029,902 4,253,716
1996 45,296,124 4,199,210
1995 44,433,704 4,179,179
1994 42,626,876 4,173,105
1993 40,656,336 4,157,130
1992 39,228,910 4,166,366
1991 37,925,817 4,246,267
1990 36,684,063 4,196,828
1989 35,486,866 4,034,037
1988 34,382,752 3,934,517
1987 33,298,904 3,829,718
1986 32,265,196 3,728,380
1985 31,264,816 3,638,438
1984 30,245,081 3,558,758
1983 29,250,963 3,481,646
1982 28,338,190 3,408,183
1981 27,500,515 3,338,940
1980 26,711,099 3,272,089
1979 25,886,782 3,207,499
1978 24,992,689 3,145,517
1977 24,229,061 3,085,354
1976 23,624,031 3,028,820
1975 23,021,101 2,974,657
1974 22,418,878 2,920,459
1973 21,827,665 2,866,955
1972 21,251,160 2,814,388
1971 20,695,569 2,763,222
1970 20,137,436 2,712,286
1969 19,570,445 2,661,365
1968 19,012,189 2,611,532
1967 18,462,782 2,562,384
1966 17,931,929 2,514,638
1965 17,427,802 2,468,666
1964 16,955,327 2,424,390
1963 16,507,599 2,382,258
1962 16,075,724 2,342,242
1961 15,662,374 2,304,227
1960 15,264,846 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Sierra Leone
2100 0.68% -0.09%
2099 0.71% -0.08%
2098 0.73% -0.09%
2097 0.75% -0.07%
2096 0.78% -0.05%
2095 0.81% 0.002%
2094 0.83% -0.03%
2093 0.85% 0.02%
2092 0.88% 0.04%
2091 0.91% 0.06%
2090 0.94% 0.07%
2089 0.97% 0.09%
2088 0.99% 0.1%
2087 1.03% 0.17%
2086 1.05% 0.13%
2085 1.08% 0.15%
2084 1.11% 0.21%
2083 1.13% 0.23%
2082 1.16% 0.25%
2081 1.19% 0.24%
2080 1.21% 0.26%
2079 1.25% 0.31%
2078 1.27% 0.32%
2077 1.31% 0.35%
2076 1.33% 0.38%
2075 1.36% 0.35%
2074 1.39% 0.44%
2073 1.42% 0.45%
2072 1.45% 0.47%
2071 1.49% 0.51%
2070 1.52% 0.53%
2069 1.56% 0.59%
2068 1.59% 0.64%
2067 1.62% 0.65%
2066 1.66% 0.66%
2065 1.69% 0.66%
2064 1.73% 0.67%
2063 1.77% 0.77%
2062 1.8% 0.73%
2061 1.84% 0.79%
2060 1.88% 0.79%
2059 1.91% 0.84%
2058 1.95% 0.86%
2057 1.98% 0.9%
2056 2.02% 0.95%
2055 2.06% 0.93%
2054 2.1% 1.01%
2053 2.14% 1.06%
2052 2.17% 1.12%
2051 2.21% 1.12%
2050 2.24% 1.11%
2049 2.28% 1.19%
2048 2.31% 1.16%
2047 2.35% 1.26%
2046 2.38% 1.28%
2045 2.41% 1.37%
2044 2.44% 1.35%
2043 2.47% 1.37%
2042 2.51% 1.44%
2041 2.54% 1.5%
2040 2.57% 1.5%
2039 2.61% 1.47%
2038 2.64% 1.54%
2037 2.7% 1.59%
2036 2.75% 1.65%
2035 2.8% 1.65%
2034 2.85% 1.69%
2033 2.89% 1.78%
2032 2.95% 1.81%
2031 3% 1.81%
2030 3.05% 1.85%
2029 3.1% 1.83%
2028 3.14% 1.97%
2027 3.18% 1.98%
2026 3.24% 2.03%
2025 3.25% 2.06%
2024 3.3% 2.15%
2023 3.31% 2.22%
2022 3.28% 2.25%
2021 3.29% 2.3%
2020 3.27% 2.34%
2019 3.22% 2.35%
2018 3.4% 2.38%
2017 3.72% 2.41%
2016 3.6% 2.38%
2015 3.36% 2.35%
2014 3.45% 2.42%
2013 3.46% 2.49%
2012 3.39% 2.56%
2011 3.33% 2.64%
2010 3.24% 2.76%
2009 3.14% 2.73%
2008 3.06% 2.53%
2007 3.07% 2.22%
2006 3.13% 2.23%
2005 3.12% 2.73%
2004 2.99% 3.44%
2003 2.96% 4.15%
2002 3.1% 5.94%
2001 3.22% 6.08%
2000 3.26% 2.44%
1999 3.42% 0.52%
1998 2.75% 0.99%
1997 1.62% 1.3%
1996 1.94% 0.48%
1995 4.24% 0.15%
1994 4.85% 0.38%
1993 3.64% -0.22%
1992 3.44% -1.88%
1991 3.38% 1.18%
1990 3.37% 4.04%
1989 3.21% 2.53%
1988 3.25% 2.74%
1987 3.2% 2.72%
1986 3.2% 2.47%
1985 3.37% 2.24%
1984 3.4% 2.21%
1983 3.22% 2.16%
1982 3.05% 2.07%
1981 2.96% 2.04%
1980 3.18% 2.01%
1979 3.58% 1.97%
1978 3.15% 1.95%
1977 2.56% 1.87%
1976 2.62% 1.82%
1975 2.69% 1.86%
1974 2.71% 1.87%
1973 2.71% 1.87%
1972 2.68% 1.85%
1971 2.77% 1.88%
1970 2.9% 1.91%
1969 2.94% 1.91%
1968 2.98% 1.92%
1967 2.96% 1.9%
1966 2.89% 1.86%
1965 2.79% 1.83%
1964 2.71% 1.77%
1963 2.69% 1.71%
1962 2.64% 1.65%
1961 2.6% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Sierra Leone
Current population
118386491
9090531
Population rank 14/197 100/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.11%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
2.96 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
2.02 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +487
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 47/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -11,309
Net migration rank 159/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -11,309
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 189,234 -11,000
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 188,788 -4,000
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 186,625 -4,000
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 183,326 -1,544
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 181,015 1,292
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 181,068 -2,238
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 178,772 -2,741
2017 2,883,245 176,290 173,259 1,234
2016 2,753,687 440,748 168,784 4,657
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 162,275 -356
2014 2,580,251 36,966 160,137 485
2013 2,489,378 121,097 161,265 2,773
2012 2,405,462 53,668 160,915 988
2011 2,310,679 40,891 158,858 6,895
2010 2,212,255 8,823 155,338 7,983
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 152,669 18,145
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 149,855 1,182
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 145,740 -6,042
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 144,127 -34,052
2005 1,800,300 20,384 137,234 -1,805
2004 1,731,022 4,260 132,661 23,897
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 130,312 69,185
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 126,429 86,578
2001 1,594,999 26,523 116,647 227,791
2000 1,549,518 79,340 110,754 83,013
1999 1,450,318 109,761 102,295 -84,926
1998 1,375,130 295,560 103,906 -76,766
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 105,433 -48,437
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 104,140 -52,110
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 100,885 -112,857
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 101,486 -77,371
1993 1,209,242 240,176 103,317 -95,476
1992 1,152,781 252,666 103,251 -129,565
1991 1,114,033 86,721 105,477 -238,965
1990 1,063,508 219,270 100,778 131,587
1989 1,027,238 84,415 98,298 -5,079
1988 995,278 101,314 96,344 9,470
1987 959,875 111,220 94,235 9,558
1986 925,334 70,988 90,902 7,992
1985 885,670 118,791 88,869 -7,873
1984 844,956 190,045 87,072 -8,708
1983 807,122 146,095 84,628 -8,783
1982 774,823 97,495 82,457 -11,379
1981 748,371 54,656 80,111 -12,699
1980 724,111 51,685 77,932 -11,641
1979 691,773 181,028 75,992 -13,095
1978 646,411 268,974 74,130 -13,073
1977 638,242 -26,355 71,663 -12,399
1976 624,147 -25,965 69,506 -15,686
1975 608,655 -972 67,560 -13,058
1974 593,539 3,216 65,357 -11,473
1973 578,280 7,414 62,443 -9,322
1972 564,495 2,840 60,279 -8,267
1971 549,343 -5,497 58,484 -8,162
1970 533,300 39,116 56,513 -4,957
1969 514,800 46,778 54,768 -4,485
1968 497,682 57,274 53,126 -3,743
1967 479,552 64,307 51,734 -2,819
1966 463,397 54,443 49,486 -2,911
1965 429,002 61,397 47,223 -1,851
1964 406,334 48,207 45,487 -2,308
1963 398,972 41,960 43,569 -2,480
1962 383,406 39,431 41,603 -2,658
1961 368,207 35,654 40,022 -2,947
1960 363,517 27,673 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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