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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 1.8 times bigger than South Africa's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 2.22% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

DR Congo vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo South Africa
2100 436,237,219 94,734,082
2099 433,289,774 94,523,360
2098 430,252,622 94,316,049
2097 427,149,320 94,125,043
2096 423,961,963 93,927,246
2095 420,678,721 93,719,451
2094 417,304,547 93,494,697
2093 413,867,290 93,267,274
2092 410,362,003 93,041,793
2091 406,763,717 92,793,249
2090 403,089,566 92,561,159
2089 399,334,389 92,322,396
2088 395,507,774 92,080,212
2087 391,613,249 91,833,409
2086 387,639,503 91,581,639
2085 383,604,733 91,352,906
2084 379,495,246 91,106,961
2083 375,330,369 90,845,161
2082 371,124,615 90,583,188
2081 366,878,238 90,313,417
2080 362,574,665 90,039,857
2079 358,227,097 89,770,116
2078 353,821,014 89,494,440
2077 349,368,182 89,217,520
2076 344,866,731 88,954,522
2075 340,338,504 88,681,719
2074 335,761,691 88,397,221
2073 331,157,281 88,118,589
2072 326,505,656 87,835,051
2071 321,830,769 87,509,098
2070 317,104,580 87,178,463
2069 312,349,776 86,870,660
2068 307,566,932 86,558,000
2067 302,762,490 86,237,764
2066 297,932,241 85,904,801
2065 293,081,284 85,573,984
2064 288,211,987 85,214,686
2063 283,315,009 84,845,370
2062 278,399,192 84,473,236
2061 273,464,914 84,103,016
2060 268,520,814 83,719,266
2059 263,570,338 83,325,330
2058 258,622,778 82,918,226
2057 253,685,085 82,508,742
2056 248,748,321 82,098,320
2055 243,814,854 81,669,191
2054 238,885,417 81,227,019
2053 233,971,468 80,789,939
2052 229,073,420 80,338,877
2051 224,197,775 79,858,310
2050 219,354,949 79,383,784
2049 214,547,398 78,897,472
2048 209,774,448 78,409,829
2047 205,040,532 77,894,547
2046 200,341,405 77,369,819
2045 195,693,533 76,852,544
2044 191,087,342 76,330,046
2043 186,534,055 75,800,788
2042 182,033,706 75,264,885
2041 177,583,290 74,721,871
2040 173,191,594 74,179,185
2039 168,846,440 73,636,894
2038 164,551,895 73,079,976
2037 160,316,591 72,506,991
2036 156,099,100 71,930,701
2035 151,924,296 71,337,219
2034 147,782,785 70,737,692
2033 143,684,929 70,128,299
2032 139,642,368 69,502,726
2031 135,634,548 68,865,544
2030 131,685,113 68,221,143
2029 127,793,612 67,549,189
2028 123,956,913 66,860,631
2027 120,188,952 66,166,759
2026 116,482,769 65,473,024
2025 112,832,473 64,747,319
2024 109,276,265 64,007,187
2023 105,789,731 63,212,384
2022 102,396,968 62,378,410
2021 99,148,932 61,502,603
2020 95,989,998 60,562,381
2019 92,947,442 59,587,885
2018 90,047,644 58,613,001
2017 87,083,398 57,635,162
2016 83,956,415 57,259,551
2015 81,035,531 56,723,537
2014 78,403,242 55,594,838
2013 75,789,395 54,678,791
2012 73,254,618 53,782,567
2011 70,849,311 52,995,205
2010 68,563,038 52,344,051
2009 66,412,044 51,728,516
2008 64,390,664 51,114,599
2007 62,477,752 50,528,584
2006 60,615,908 49,998,277
2005 58,775,724 49,490,033
2004 56,997,741 48,991,421
2003 55,343,867 48,500,348
2002 53,750,524 48,019,415
2001 52,132,646 47,566,800
2000 50,507,442 47,159,719
1999 48,912,971 46,730,335
1998 47,297,600 46,223,880
1997 46,029,902 45,666,838
1996 45,296,124 45,123,018
1995 44,433,704 44,541,554
1994 42,626,876 44,004,139
1993 40,656,336 43,297,156
1992 39,228,910 42,443,509
1991 37,925,817 41,687,898
1990 36,684,063 40,746,268
1989 35,486,866 39,628,575
1988 34,382,752 38,480,649
1987 33,298,904 37,326,190
1986 32,265,196 36,180,515
1985 31,264,816 35,042,093
1984 30,245,081 33,892,788
1983 29,250,963 32,739,304
1982 28,338,190 31,615,339
1981 27,500,515 30,541,044
1980 26,711,099 29,518,857
1979 25,886,782 28,634,162
1978 24,992,689 27,869,507
1977 24,229,061 27,118,952
1976 23,624,031 26,395,450
1975 23,021,101 25,690,940
1974 22,418,878 24,989,108
1973 21,827,665 24,294,263
1972 21,251,160 23,609,456
1971 20,695,569 22,942,143
1970 20,137,436 22,279,984
1969 19,570,445 21,614,676
1968 19,012,189 20,957,287
1967 18,462,782 20,314,066
1966 17,931,929 19,690,087
1965 17,427,802 19,089,380
1964 16,955,327 18,511,361
1963 16,507,599 17,954,564
1962 16,075,724 17,418,522
1961 15,662,374 16,908,035
1960 15,264,846 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo South Africa
2100 0.68% 0.22%
2099 0.71% 0.22%
2098 0.73% 0.2%
2097 0.75% 0.21%
2096 0.78% 0.22%
2095 0.81% 0.24%
2094 0.83% 0.24%
2093 0.85% 0.24%
2092 0.88% 0.27%
2091 0.91% 0.25%
2090 0.94% 0.26%
2089 0.97% 0.26%
2088 0.99% 0.27%
2087 1.03% 0.27%
2086 1.05% 0.25%
2085 1.08% 0.27%
2084 1.11% 0.29%
2083 1.13% 0.29%
2082 1.16% 0.3%
2081 1.19% 0.3%
2080 1.21% 0.3%
2079 1.25% 0.31%
2078 1.27% 0.31%
2077 1.31% 0.3%
2076 1.33% 0.31%
2075 1.36% 0.32%
2074 1.39% 0.32%
2073 1.42% 0.32%
2072 1.45% 0.37%
2071 1.49% 0.38%
2070 1.52% 0.35%
2069 1.56% 0.36%
2068 1.59% 0.37%
2067 1.62% 0.39%
2066 1.66% 0.39%
2065 1.69% 0.42%
2064 1.73% 0.44%
2063 1.77% 0.44%
2062 1.8% 0.44%
2061 1.84% 0.46%
2060 1.88% 0.47%
2059 1.91% 0.49%
2058 1.95% 0.5%
2057 1.98% 0.5%
2056 2.02% 0.53%
2055 2.06% 0.54%
2054 2.1% 0.54%
2053 2.14% 0.56%
2052 2.17% 0.6%
2051 2.21% 0.6%
2050 2.24% 0.62%
2049 2.28% 0.62%
2048 2.31% 0.66%
2047 2.35% 0.68%
2046 2.38% 0.67%
2045 2.41% 0.68%
2044 2.44% 0.7%
2043 2.47% 0.71%
2042 2.51% 0.73%
2041 2.54% 0.73%
2040 2.57% 0.74%
2039 2.61% 0.76%
2038 2.64% 0.79%
2037 2.7% 0.8%
2036 2.75% 0.83%
2035 2.8% 0.85%
2034 2.85% 0.87%
2033 2.89% 0.9%
2032 2.95% 0.93%
2031 3% 0.94%
2030 3.05% 0.99%
2029 3.1% 1.03%
2028 3.14% 1.05%
2027 3.18% 1.06%
2026 3.24% 1.12%
2025 3.25% 1.16%
2024 3.3% 1.26%
2023 3.31% 1.34%
2022 3.28% 1.42%
2021 3.29% 1.55%
2020 3.27% 1.64%
2019 3.22% 1.66%
2018 3.4% 1.7%
2017 3.72% 0.66%
2016 3.6% 0.94%
2015 3.36% 2.03%
2014 3.45% 1.68%
2013 3.46% 1.67%
2012 3.39% 1.49%
2011 3.33% 1.24%
2010 3.24% 1.19%
2009 3.14% 1.2%
2008 3.06% 1.16%
2007 3.07% 1.06%
2006 3.13% 1.03%
2005 3.12% 1.02%
2004 2.99% 1.01%
2003 2.96% 1%
2002 3.1% 0.95%
2001 3.22% 0.86%
2000 3.26% 0.92%
1999 3.42% 1.1%
1998 2.75% 1.22%
1997 1.62% 1.21%
1996 1.94% 1.31%
1995 4.24% 1.22%
1994 4.85% 1.63%
1993 3.64% 2.01%
1992 3.44% 1.81%
1991 3.38% 2.31%
1990 3.37% 2.82%
1989 3.21% 2.98%
1988 3.25% 3.09%
1987 3.2% 3.17%
1986 3.2% 3.25%
1985 3.37% 3.39%
1984 3.4% 3.52%
1983 3.22% 3.56%
1982 3.05% 3.52%
1981 2.96% 3.46%
1980 3.18% 3.09%
1979 3.58% 2.74%
1978 3.15% 2.77%
1977 2.56% 2.74%
1976 2.62% 2.74%
1975 2.69% 2.81%
1974 2.71% 2.86%
1973 2.71% 2.9%
1972 2.68% 2.91%
1971 2.77% 2.97%
1970 2.9% 3.08%
1969 2.94% 3.14%
1968 2.98% 3.17%
1967 2.96% 3.17%
1966 2.89% 3.15%
1965 2.79% 3.12%
1964 2.71% 3.1%
1963 2.69% 3.08%
1962 2.64% 3.02%
1961 2.6% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

DR Congo South Africa
Current population
118386491
65829368
Population rank 14/197 24/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.79%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 91/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +146,370
Net migration rank 159/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 146,370
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 591,618 166,972
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 602,793 228,222
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 603,636 233,284
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 456,411 458,246
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 595,873 369,901
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 652,130 331,124
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 648,319 318,260
2017 2,883,245 176,290 645,975 343,146
2016 2,753,687 440,748 641,365 -879,235
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 668,771 641,150
2014 2,580,251 36,966 674,754 272,697
2013 2,489,378 121,097 652,427 232,230
2012 2,405,462 53,668 643,723 264,091
2011 2,310,679 40,891 601,708 65,166
2010 2,212,255 8,823 566,834 68,563
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 554,115 41,528
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 595,332 36,869
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 503,567 36,339
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 487,584 33,159
2005 1,800,300 20,384 464,464 31,286
2004 1,731,022 4,260 442,540 58,924
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 415,018 65,604
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 430,926 50,313
2001 1,594,999 26,523 484,801 -60,793
2000 1,549,518 79,340 526,963 -136,794
1999 1,450,318 109,761 594,643 -126,011
1998 1,375,130 295,560 627,027 -82,722
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 667,969 -98,181
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 710,868 -193,007
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 743,488 -98,403
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 698,609 -268,849
1993 1,209,242 240,176 789,220 194,977
1992 1,152,781 252,666 794,415 -71,342
1991 1,114,033 86,721 827,296 -39,131
1990 1,063,508 219,270 835,421 259,718
1989 1,027,238 84,415 884,629 255,605
1988 995,278 101,314 909,221 246,382
1987 959,875 111,220 922,330 231,009
1986 925,334 70,988 903,644 234,378
1985 885,670 118,791 893,889 244,940
1984 844,956 190,045 869,011 290,789
1983 807,122 146,095 837,013 310,172
1982 774,823 97,495 807,550 293,195
1981 748,371 54,656 767,833 279,985
1980 724,111 51,685 738,415 258,127
1979 691,773 181,028 716,541 56,323
1978 646,411 268,974 694,341 62,121
1977 638,242 -26,355 680,929 63,739
1976 624,147 -25,965 675,011 27,333
1975 608,655 -972 667,862 38,809
1974 593,539 3,216 658,438 38,518
1973 578,280 7,414 651,596 41,125
1972 564,495 2,840 638,754 38,163
1971 549,343 -5,497 624,761 32,961
1970 533,300 39,116 605,102 61,514
1969 514,800 46,778 590,794 73,225
1968 497,682 57,274 571,841 78,932
1967 479,552 64,307 553,741 81,932
1966 463,397 54,443 534,862 77,417
1965 429,002 61,397 506,632 82,514
1964 406,334 48,207 490,606 76,298
1963 398,972 41,960 473,821 72,844
1962 383,406 39,431 455,634 69,771
1961 368,207 35,654 437,851 57,728
1960 363,517 27,673 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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