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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 5.73 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 1.67% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

DR Congo vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Somalia
2100 436,320,913 68,384,185
2099 433,372,904 68,040,371
2098 430,335,169 67,702,230
2097 427,231,271 67,362,336
2096 424,043,303 66,972,933
2095 420,759,430 66,585,659
2094 417,384,609 66,179,819
2093 413,946,692 65,760,590
2092 410,440,733 65,324,261
2091 406,841,757 64,852,843
2090 403,166,901 64,362,727
2089 399,411,004 63,922,797
2088 395,583,655 63,464,036
2087 391,688,383 62,987,028
2086 387,713,874 62,447,029
2085 383,678,330 61,873,597
2084 379,568,054 61,318,916
2083 375,402,379 60,761,800
2082 371,195,818 60,187,980
2081 366,948,626 59,676,722
2080 362,644,227 59,100,915
2079 358,295,825 58,477,428
2078 353,888,897 57,852,528
2077 349,435,210 57,211,821
2076 344,932,895 56,602,463
2075 340,403,800 56,005,600
2074 335,826,108 55,330,165
2073 331,220,816 54,651,918
2072 326,568,298 53,978,548
2071 321,892,514 53,284,016
2070 317,165,418 52,573,210
2069 312,409,702 51,878,214
2068 307,625,941 51,197,653
2067 302,820,577 50,493,028
2066 297,989,401 49,779,172
2065 293,137,514 49,024,665
2064 288,267,282 48,265,876
2063 283,369,365 47,522,361
2062 278,452,605 46,785,920
2061 273,517,380 46,037,526
2060 268,572,331 45,220,507
2059 263,620,905 44,397,936
2058 258,672,397 43,659,021
2057 253,733,756 42,897,422
2056 248,796,045 42,121,542
2055 243,861,631 41,318,179
2054 238,931,249 40,513,141
2053 234,016,357 39,744,995
2052 229,117,369 38,992,177
2051 224,240,788 38,228,872
2050 219,397,034 37,471,735
2049 214,588,560 36,739,905
2048 209,814,694 35,984,999
2047 205,079,870 35,218,863
2046 200,379,842 34,462,403
2045 195,731,078 33,717,596
2044 191,124,003 32,977,674
2043 186,569,843 32,247,710
2042 182,068,630 31,537,272
2041 177,617,360 30,794,853
2040 173,224,822 30,032,324
2039 168,878,834 29,312,883
2038 164,583,465 28,583,386
2037 160,347,349 27,838,646
2036 156,129,049 27,114,453
2035 151,953,443 26,385,421
2034 147,811,138 25,687,629
2033 143,712,496 25,018,509
2032 139,669,159 24,338,597
2031 135,660,570 23,657,353
2030 131,710,378 22,965,742
2029 127,818,130 22,299,610
2028 123,980,695 21,651,582
2027 120,212,011 20,991,860
2026 116,505,117 20,322,668
2025 112,854,120 19,666,990
2024 109,276,265 19,009,151
2023 105,789,731 18,358,615
2022 102,396,968 17,801,897
2021 99,148,932 17,271,431
2020 95,989,998 16,651,191
2019 92,947,442 16,030,971
2018 90,047,644 15,452,487
2017 87,083,398 14,916,629
2016 83,956,415 14,348,740
2015 81,035,531 13,806,963
2014 78,403,242 13,339,491
2013 75,789,395 12,869,594
2012 73,254,618 12,461,160
2011 70,849,311 12,348,830
2010 68,563,038 12,261,756
2009 66,412,044 11,961,201
2008 64,390,664 11,663,084
2007 62,477,752 11,322,582
2006 60,615,908 10,975,502
2005 58,775,724 10,644,228
2004 56,997,741 10,280,998
2003 55,343,867 9,909,157
2002 53,750,524 9,550,063
2001 52,132,646 9,198,493
2000 50,507,442 8,838,713
1999 48,912,971 8,492,059
1998 47,297,600 8,155,417
1997 46,029,902 7,824,525
1996 45,296,124 7,554,474
1995 44,433,704 7,285,007
1994 42,626,876 7,026,797
1993 40,656,336 6,681,399
1992 39,228,910 6,495,107
1991 37,925,817 6,813,760
1990 36,684,063 7,082,811
1989 35,486,866 7,114,817
1988 34,382,752 7,235,360
1987 33,298,904 7,228,302
1986 32,265,196 6,974,788
1985 31,264,816 6,693,289
1984 30,245,081 6,428,389
1983 29,250,963 6,198,430
1982 28,338,190 6,003,840
1981 27,500,515 5,982,849
1980 26,711,099 5,936,154
1979 25,886,782 5,449,117
1978 24,992,689 4,814,892
1977 24,229,061 4,484,050
1976 23,624,031 4,365,812
1975 23,021,101 4,257,535
1974 22,418,878 4,151,842
1973 21,827,665 4,045,592
1972 21,251,160 3,939,436
1971 20,695,569 3,837,691
1970 20,137,436 3,738,448
1969 19,570,445 3,641,015
1968 19,012,189 3,546,590
1967 18,462,782 3,454,537
1966 17,931,929 3,365,106
1965 17,427,802 3,277,874
1964 16,955,327 3,192,796
1963 16,507,599 3,110,361
1962 16,075,724 3,030,091
1961 15,662,374 2,952,054
1960 15,264,846 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Somalia
2100 0.68% 0.51%
2099 0.71% 0.5%
2098 0.73% 0.5%
2097 0.75% 0.58%
2096 0.78% 0.58%
2095 0.81% 0.61%
2094 0.83% 0.64%
2093 0.85% 0.67%
2092 0.88% 0.73%
2091 0.91% 0.76%
2090 0.94% 0.69%
2089 0.97% 0.72%
2088 0.99% 0.76%
2087 1.03% 0.86%
2086 1.05% 0.93%
2085 1.08% 0.9%
2084 1.11% 0.92%
2083 1.13% 0.95%
2082 1.16% 0.86%
2081 1.19% 0.97%
2080 1.21% 1.07%
2079 1.25% 1.08%
2078 1.27% 1.12%
2077 1.31% 1.08%
2076 1.33% 1.07%
2075 1.36% 1.22%
2074 1.39% 1.24%
2073 1.42% 1.25%
2072 1.45% 1.3%
2071 1.49% 1.35%
2070 1.52% 1.34%
2069 1.56% 1.33%
2068 1.59% 1.4%
2067 1.62% 1.43%
2066 1.66% 1.54%
2065 1.69% 1.57%
2064 1.73% 1.56%
2063 1.77% 1.57%
2062 1.8% 1.63%
2061 1.84% 1.81%
2060 1.88% 1.85%
2059 1.91% 1.69%
2058 1.95% 1.78%
2057 1.98% 1.84%
2056 2.02% 1.94%
2055 2.06% 1.99%
2054 2.1% 1.93%
2053 2.14% 1.93%
2052 2.17% 2%
2051 2.21% 2.02%
2050 2.24% 1.99%
2049 2.28% 2.1%
2048 2.31% 2.18%
2047 2.35% 2.2%
2046 2.38% 2.21%
2045 2.41% 2.24%
2044 2.44% 2.26%
2043 2.47% 2.25%
2042 2.51% 2.41%
2041 2.54% 2.54%
2040 2.57% 2.45%
2039 2.61% 2.55%
2038 2.64% 2.68%
2037 2.7% 2.67%
2036 2.75% 2.76%
2035 2.8% 2.72%
2034 2.85% 2.67%
2033 2.89% 2.79%
2032 2.95% 2.88%
2031 3% 3.01%
2030 3.05% 2.99%
2029 3.1% 2.99%
2028 3.14% 3.14%
2027 3.18% 3.29%
2026 3.24% 3.33%
2025 3.27% 3.46%
2024 3.3% 3.54%
2023 3.31% 3.13%
2022 3.28% 3.07%
2021 3.29% 3.72%
2020 3.27% 3.87%
2019 3.22% 3.74%
2018 3.4% 3.59%
2017 3.72% 3.96%
2016 3.6% 3.92%
2015 3.36% 3.5%
2014 3.45% 3.65%
2013 3.46% 3.28%
2012 3.39% 0.91%
2011 3.33% 0.71%
2010 3.24% 2.51%
2009 3.14% 2.56%
2008 3.06% 3.01%
2007 3.07% 3.16%
2006 3.13% 3.11%
2005 3.12% 3.53%
2004 2.99% 3.75%
2003 2.96% 3.76%
2002 3.1% 3.82%
2001 3.22% 4.07%
2000 3.26% 4.08%
1999 3.42% 4.13%
1998 2.75% 4.23%
1997 1.62% 3.57%
1996 1.94% 3.7%
1995 4.24% 3.67%
1994 4.85% 5.17%
1993 3.64% 2.87%
1992 3.44% -4.68%
1991 3.38% -3.8%
1990 3.37% -0.45%
1989 3.21% -1.67%
1988 3.25% 0.1%
1987 3.2% 3.63%
1986 3.2% 4.21%
1985 3.37% 4.12%
1984 3.4% 3.71%
1983 3.22% 3.24%
1982 3.05% 0.35%
1981 2.96% 0.79%
1980 3.18% 8.94%
1979 3.58% 13.2%
1978 3.15% 7.38%
1977 2.56% 2.71%
1976 2.62% 2.54%
1975 2.69% 2.55%
1974 2.71% 2.63%
1973 2.71% 2.69%
1972 2.68% 2.65%
1971 2.77% 2.65%
1970 2.9% 2.68%
1969 2.94% 2.66%
1968 2.98% 2.66%
1967 2.96% 2.66%
1966 2.89% 2.66%
1965 2.79% 2.66%
1964 2.71% 2.65%
1963 2.69% 2.65%
1962 2.64% 2.64%
1961 2.6% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Somalia
Current population
117507801
20503678
Population rank 15/197 66/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.25%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
48.5 seconds
One birth every
7.22 seconds
40 seconds
One death every
35 seconds
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 8/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +12,077
Net migration rank 159/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 12,077
2024 - -26,968 - 26,859
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 608,203 46,217
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 551,450 -92,434
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 566,399 35,506
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 561,311 77,259
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 548,756 53,124
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 514,244 40,844
2017 2,883,245 176,290 478,556 38,067
2016 2,753,687 440,748 495,132 124,017
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 481,573 -17,178
2014 2,580,251 36,966 464,481 6,065
2013 2,489,378 121,097 448,518 20,723
2012 2,405,462 53,668 399,468 -51,833
2011 2,310,679 40,891 203,213 -326,192
2010 2,212,255 8,823 385,571 -88,448
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 405,784 -101,795
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 394,258 -102,035
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 380,303 8,476
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 372,597 -67,200
2005 1,800,300 20,384 363,117 -5,955
2004 1,731,022 4,260 351,959 17,353
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 341,192 33,174
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 331,215 12,603
2001 1,594,999 26,523 319,059 40,274
2000 1,549,518 79,340 306,651 53,580
1999 1,450,318 109,761 295,523 37,548
1998 1,375,130 295,560 284,779 55,426
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 271,894 49,692
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 264,807 -46,291
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 254,509 65,888
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 246,950 -50,921
1993 1,209,242 240,176 232,960 261,815
1992 1,152,781 252,666 57,495 -179,675
1991 1,114,033 86,721 53,052 -568,166
1990 1,063,508 219,270 225,162 -248,155
1989 1,027,238 84,415 225,255 -266,281
1988 995,278 101,314 215,599 -415,660
1987 959,875 111,220 231,580 -17,391
1986 925,334 70,988 218,416 74,424
1985 885,670 118,791 207,960 62,183
1984 844,956 190,045 199,017 60,630
1983 807,122 146,095 190,775 9,505
1982 774,823 97,495 182,793 6,115
1981 748,371 54,656 185,211 -332,129
1980 724,111 51,685 174,790 65,519
1979 691,773 181,028 151,016 582,746
1978 646,411 268,974 132,689 402,005
1977 638,242 -26,355 124,818 2,170
1976 624,147 -25,965 113,319 -3,831
1975 608,655 -972 108,998 -1,934
1974 593,539 3,216 104,813 -495
1973 578,280 7,414 108,038 143
1972 564,495 2,840 104,493 -351
1971 549,343 -5,497 101,196 -1,850
1970 533,300 39,116 98,025 1,104
1969 514,800 46,778 95,045 690
1968 497,682 57,274 92,208 906
1967 479,552 64,307 89,497 1,498
1966 463,397 54,443 86,930 941
1965 429,002 61,397 84,448 2,142
1964 406,334 48,207 82,042 1,518
1963 398,972 41,960 79,859 1,449
1962 383,406 39,431 77,737 1,496
1961 368,207 35,654 75,513 1,336
1960 363,517 27,673 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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