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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 13 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • 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 +3.38% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% 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 436,320,913 16,111,324
2099 433,372,904 16,126,181
2098 430,335,169 16,139,280
2097 427,231,271 16,154,153
2096 424,043,303 16,164,923
2095 420,759,430 16,173,557
2094 417,384,609 16,173,155
2093 413,946,692 16,177,864
2092 410,440,733 16,175,032
2091 406,841,757 16,168,153
2090 403,166,901 16,158,415
2089 399,411,004 16,146,773
2088 395,583,655 16,133,018
2087 391,688,383 16,116,823
2086 387,713,874 16,089,780
2085 383,678,330 16,068,438
2084 379,568,054 16,044,782
2083 375,402,379 16,011,134
2082 371,195,818 15,975,073
2081 366,948,626 15,935,071
2080 362,644,227 15,896,846
2079 358,295,825 15,854,898
2078 353,888,897 15,805,607
2077 349,435,210 15,754,551
2076 344,932,895 15,699,439
2075 340,403,800 15,639,458
2074 335,826,108 15,584,377
2073 331,220,816 15,516,736
2072 326,568,298 15,446,543
2071 321,892,514 15,374,790
2070 317,165,418 15,297,449
2069 312,409,702 15,216,666
2068 307,625,941 15,128,048
2067 302,820,577 15,032,144
2066 297,989,401 14,935,222
2065 293,137,514 14,837,697
2064 288,267,282 14,740,749
2063 283,369,365 14,642,031
2062 278,452,605 14,529,557
2061 273,517,380 14,423,861
2060 268,572,331 14,311,215
2059 263,620,905 14,198,706
2058 258,672,397 14,080,827
2057 253,733,756 13,960,869
2056 248,796,045 13,836,132
2055 243,861,631 13,706,113
2054 238,931,249 13,579,802
2053 234,016,357 13,444,465
2052 229,117,369 13,303,409
2051 224,240,788 13,156,370
2050 219,397,034 13,010,109
2049 214,588,560 12,867,021
2048 209,814,694 12,716,015
2047 205,079,870 12,570,250
2046 200,379,842 12,414,307
2045 195,731,078 12,257,874
2044 191,124,003 12,092,075
2043 186,569,843 11,931,531
2042 182,068,630 11,770,467
2041 177,617,360 11,602,993
2040 173,224,822 11,431,337
2039 168,878,834 11,262,807
2038 164,583,465 11,100,099
2037 160,347,349 10,931,629
2036 156,129,049 10,760,758
2035 151,953,443 10,585,702
2034 147,811,138 10,413,826
2033 143,712,496 10,241,196
2032 139,669,159 10,062,575
2031 135,660,570 9,883,708
2030 131,710,378 9,708,038
2029 127,818,130 9,532,000
2028 123,980,695 9,360,873
2027 120,212,011 9,179,702
2026 116,505,117 9,001,269
2025 112,854,120 8,822,114
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st 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 3.27% 2.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Sierra Leone
Current population
117507801
9049533
Population rank 15/197 101/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.11%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +497
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 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 - -26,968 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 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 480K
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 (1960–2024, 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/sierra-leone | 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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