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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 20,653,532 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 5.73 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th 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 +3.36% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

DR Congo vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Somalia
2100 436,237,219 68,341,587
2099 433,289,774 67,997,987
2098 430,252,622 67,660,056
2097 427,149,320 67,320,374
2096 423,961,963 66,931,214
2095 420,678,721 66,544,181
2094 417,304,547 66,138,594
2093 413,867,290 65,719,626
2092 410,362,003 65,283,569
2091 406,763,717 64,812,444
2090 403,089,566 64,322,633
2089 399,334,389 63,882,977
2088 395,507,774 63,424,502
2087 391,613,249 62,947,792
2086 387,639,503 62,408,129
2085 383,604,733 61,835,054
2084 379,495,246 61,280,718
2083 375,330,369 60,723,949
2082 371,124,615 60,150,487
2081 366,878,238 59,639,547
2080 362,574,665 59,064,099
2079 358,227,097 58,441,001
2078 353,821,014 57,816,490
2077 349,368,182 57,176,183
2076 344,866,731 56,567,204
2075 340,338,504 55,970,712
2074 335,761,691 55,295,699
2073 331,157,281 54,617,874
2072 326,505,656 53,944,923
2071 321,830,769 53,250,824
2070 317,104,580 52,540,460
2069 312,349,776 51,845,897
2068 307,566,932 51,165,760
2067 302,762,490 50,461,574
2066 297,932,241 49,748,163
2065 293,081,284 48,994,126
2064 288,211,987 48,235,809
2063 283,315,009 47,492,758
2062 278,399,192 46,756,776
2061 273,464,914 46,008,848
2060 268,520,814 45,192,338
2059 263,570,338 44,370,279
2058 258,622,778 43,631,825
2057 253,685,085 42,870,700
2056 248,748,321 42,095,303
2055 243,814,854 41,292,441
2054 238,885,417 40,487,904
2053 233,971,468 39,720,236
2052 229,073,420 38,967,888
2051 224,197,775 38,205,058
2050 219,354,949 37,448,393
2049 214,547,398 36,717,019
2048 209,774,448 35,962,583
2047 205,040,532 35,196,924
2046 200,341,405 34,440,935
2045 195,693,533 33,696,593
2044 191,087,342 32,957,131
2043 186,534,055 32,227,622
2042 182,033,706 31,517,627
2041 177,583,290 30,775,671
2040 173,191,594 30,013,616
2039 168,846,440 29,294,623
2038 164,551,895 28,565,580
2037 160,316,591 27,821,304
2036 156,099,100 27,097,563
2035 151,924,296 26,368,985
2034 147,782,785 25,671,628
2033 143,684,929 25,002,924
2032 139,642,368 24,323,435
2031 135,634,548 23,642,617
2030 131,685,113 22,951,436
2029 127,793,612 22,285,719
2028 123,956,913 21,638,095
2027 120,188,952 20,978,784
2026 116,482,769 20,310,008
2025 112,832,473 19,654,739
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th 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 85.3% to 219,354,949 people with a rank change from 14th to 8th. The population of Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 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 68.3M 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 3.25% 3.4%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Somalia
Current population
118386491
20653532
Population rank 14/197 66/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.25%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
49 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
39.2 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 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 3,547,217 -26,968 619,793 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 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 573K
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 (1960–2025, 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/somalia | 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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