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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 9.42 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 1.58% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

DR Congo vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo South Sudan
2100 436,237,219 24,078,379
2099 433,289,774 24,072,957
2098 430,252,622 24,054,947
2097 427,149,320 24,056,753
2096 423,961,963 24,045,972
2095 420,678,721 24,037,837
2094 417,304,547 24,039,267
2093 413,867,290 24,030,512
2092 410,362,003 24,010,555
2091 406,763,717 23,991,816
2090 403,089,566 23,970,012
2089 399,334,389 23,929,017
2088 395,507,774 23,883,712
2087 391,613,249 23,848,809
2086 387,639,503 23,794,890
2085 383,604,733 23,750,772
2084 379,495,246 23,678,728
2083 375,330,369 23,609,290
2082 371,124,615 23,532,790
2081 366,878,238 23,458,146
2080 362,574,665 23,383,482
2079 358,227,097 23,286,011
2078 353,821,014 23,188,860
2077 349,368,182 23,078,416
2076 344,866,731 22,979,198
2075 340,338,504 22,860,496
2074 335,761,691 22,718,148
2073 331,157,281 22,575,682
2072 326,505,656 22,431,004
2071 321,830,769 22,280,140
2070 317,104,580 22,143,813
2069 312,349,776 21,995,874
2068 307,566,932 21,822,076
2067 302,762,490 21,654,546
2066 297,932,241 21,489,275
2065 293,081,284 21,309,913
2064 288,211,987 21,134,522
2063 283,315,009 20,957,705
2062 278,399,192 20,777,701
2061 273,464,914 20,601,672
2060 268,520,814 20,423,629
2059 263,570,338 20,227,862
2058 258,622,778 20,041,880
2057 253,685,085 19,846,671
2056 248,748,321 19,652,407
2055 243,814,854 19,457,411
2054 238,885,417 19,250,667
2053 233,971,468 19,053,773
2052 229,073,420 18,833,795
2051 224,197,775 18,626,605
2050 219,354,949 18,427,690
2049 214,547,398 18,224,430
2048 209,774,448 18,014,650
2047 205,040,532 17,799,982
2046 200,341,405 17,572,953
2045 195,693,533 17,348,901
2044 191,087,342 17,115,914
2043 186,534,055 16,882,303
2042 182,033,706 16,639,465
2041 177,583,290 16,390,966
2040 173,191,594 16,137,104
2039 168,846,440 15,884,330
2038 164,551,895 15,622,514
2037 160,316,591 15,358,539
2036 156,099,100 15,085,936
2035 151,924,296 14,810,066
2034 147,782,785 14,538,365
2033 143,684,929 14,273,128
2032 139,642,368 14,002,178
2031 135,634,548 13,725,779
2030 131,685,113 13,460,850
2029 127,793,612 13,201,804
2028 123,956,913 12,942,501
2027 120,188,952 12,688,278
2026 116,482,769 12,434,895
2025 112,832,473 12,188,788
2024 109,276,265 11,943,408
2023 105,789,731 11,483,374
2022 102,396,968 11,021,177
2021 99,148,932 10,865,780
2020 95,989,998 10,698,467
2019 92,947,442 10,423,384
2018 90,047,644 10,122,977
2017 87,083,398 10,259,154
2016 83,956,415 10,830,102
2015 81,035,531 11,107,561
2014 78,403,242 11,235,073
2013 75,789,395 11,166,275
2012 73,254,618 10,756,240
2011 70,849,311 10,288,109
2010 68,563,038 9,745,953
2009 66,412,044 9,243,556
2008 64,390,664 8,817,647
2007 62,477,752 8,388,788
2006 60,615,908 7,976,526
2005 58,775,724 7,590,143
2004 56,997,741 7,233,041
2003 55,343,867 6,903,127
2002 53,750,524 6,596,806
2001 52,132,646 6,308,391
2000 50,507,442 6,032,267
1999 48,912,971 5,771,628
1998 47,297,600 5,620,068
1997 46,029,902 5,509,136
1996 45,296,124 5,356,925
1995 44,433,704 5,225,836
1994 42,626,876 5,071,184
1993 40,656,336 4,956,002
1992 39,228,910 4,909,749
1991 37,925,817 4,836,677
1990 36,684,063 4,737,633
1989 35,486,866 4,713,229
1988 34,382,752 4,848,029
1987 33,298,904 4,962,395
1986 32,265,196 4,921,240
1985 31,264,816 4,834,296
1984 30,245,081 4,750,627
1983 29,250,963 4,661,574
1982 28,338,190 4,557,686
1981 27,500,515 4,447,272
1980 26,711,099 4,339,030
1979 25,886,782 4,232,605
1978 24,992,689 4,127,657
1977 24,229,061 4,024,032
1976 23,624,031 3,921,910
1975 23,021,101 3,821,494
1974 22,418,878 3,723,259
1973 21,827,665 3,627,383
1972 21,251,160 3,542,497
1971 20,695,569 3,468,646
1970 20,137,436 3,409,614
1969 19,570,445 3,365,533
1968 19,012,189 3,321,528
1967 18,462,782 3,277,648
1966 17,931,929 3,236,423
1965 17,427,802 3,189,835
1964 16,955,327 3,129,918
1963 16,507,599 3,072,669
1962 16,075,724 3,024,308
1961 15,662,374 2,976,724
1960 15,264,846 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo South Sudan
2100 0.68% 0.02%
2099 0.71% 0.07%
2098 0.73% -0.008%
2097 0.75% 0.04%
2096 0.78% 0.03%
2095 0.81% -0.006%
2094 0.83% 0.04%
2093 0.85% 0.08%
2092 0.88% 0.08%
2091 0.91% 0.09%
2090 0.94% 0.17%
2089 0.97% 0.19%
2088 0.99% 0.15%
2087 1.03% 0.23%
2086 1.05% 0.19%
2085 1.08% 0.3%
2084 1.11% 0.29%
2083 1.13% 0.33%
2082 1.16% 0.32%
2081 1.19% 0.32%
2080 1.21% 0.42%
2079 1.25% 0.42%
2078 1.27% 0.48%
2077 1.31% 0.43%
2076 1.33% 0.52%
2075 1.36% 0.63%
2074 1.39% 0.63%
2073 1.42% 0.64%
2072 1.45% 0.68%
2071 1.49% 0.62%
2070 1.52% 0.67%
2069 1.56% 0.8%
2068 1.59% 0.77%
2067 1.62% 0.77%
2066 1.66% 0.84%
2065 1.69% 0.83%
2064 1.73% 0.84%
2063 1.77% 0.87%
2062 1.8% 0.85%
2061 1.84% 0.87%
2060 1.88% 0.97%
2059 1.91% 0.93%
2058 1.95% 0.98%
2057 1.98% 0.99%
2056 2.02% 1%
2055 2.06% 1.07%
2054 2.1% 1.03%
2053 2.14% 1.17%
2052 2.17% 1.11%
2051 2.21% 1.08%
2050 2.24% 1.12%
2049 2.28% 1.16%
2048 2.31% 1.21%
2047 2.35% 1.29%
2046 2.38% 1.29%
2045 2.41% 1.36%
2044 2.44% 1.38%
2043 2.47% 1.46%
2042 2.51% 1.52%
2041 2.54% 1.57%
2040 2.57% 1.59%
2039 2.61% 1.68%
2038 2.64% 1.72%
2037 2.7% 1.81%
2036 2.75% 1.86%
2035 2.8% 1.87%
2034 2.85% 1.86%
2033 2.89% 1.94%
2032 2.95% 2.01%
2031 3% 1.97%
2030 3.05% 1.96%
2029 3.1% 2%
2028 3.14% 2%
2027 3.18% 2.04%
2026 3.24% 2.02%
2025 3.25% 2.05%
2024 3.3% 4.01%
2023 3.31% 4.19%
2022 3.28% 1.43%
2021 3.29% 1.56%
2020 3.27% 2.64%
2019 3.22% 2.97%
2018 3.4% -1.33%
2017 3.72% -5.27%
2016 3.6% -2.5%
2015 3.36% -1.13%
2014 3.45% 0.62%
2013 3.46% 3.81%
2012 3.39% 4.55%
2011 3.33% 5.56%
2010 3.24% 5.44%
2009 3.14% 4.83%
2008 3.06% 5.11%
2007 3.07% 5.17%
2006 3.13% 5.09%
2005 3.12% 4.94%
2004 2.99% 4.78%
2003 2.96% 4.64%
2002 3.1% 4.57%
2001 3.22% 4.58%
2000 3.26% 4.52%
1999 3.42% 2.7%
1998 2.75% 2.01%
1997 1.62% 2.84%
1996 1.94% 2.51%
1995 4.24% 3.05%
1994 4.85% 2.32%
1993 3.64% 0.94%
1992 3.44% 1.51%
1991 3.38% 2.09%
1990 3.37% 0.52%
1989 3.21% -2.78%
1988 3.25% -2.3%
1987 3.2% 0.84%
1986 3.2% 1.8%
1985 3.37% 1.76%
1984 3.4% 1.91%
1983 3.22% 2.28%
1982 3.05% 2.48%
1981 2.96% 2.49%
1980 3.18% 2.51%
1979 3.58% 2.54%
1978 3.15% 2.58%
1977 2.56% 2.6%
1976 2.62% 2.63%
1975 2.69% 2.64%
1974 2.71% 2.64%
1973 2.71% 2.4%
1972 2.68% 2.13%
1971 2.77% 1.73%
1970 2.9% 1.31%
1969 2.94% 1.32%
1968 2.98% 1.34%
1967 2.96% 1.27%
1966 2.89% 1.46%
1965 2.79% 1.91%
1964 2.71% 1.86%
1963 2.69% 1.6%
1962 2.64% 1.6%
1961 2.6% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

DR Congo South Sudan
Current population
118386491
12565048
Population rank 14/197 80/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.15%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
2.15 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
1.51 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +672
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 48/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 +6,145
Net migration rank 159/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 6,145
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 231,714 15,374
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 217,966 455,000
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 211,166 40,259
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 213,567 -154,359
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 212,332 62,935
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 209,708 65,198
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 168,497 157,408
2017 2,883,245 176,290 72,193 -670,477
2016 2,753,687 440,748 110,553 -654,225
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 148,542 -159,822
2014 2,580,251 36,966 227,611 -471,523
2013 2,489,378 121,097 315,983 65,337
2012 2,405,462 53,668 312,974 125,771
2011 2,310,679 40,891 303,181 194,325
2010 2,212,255 8,823 287,409 299,402
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 278,859 139,129
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 268,268 165,557
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 256,546 167,350
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 246,706 153,926
2005 1,800,300 20,384 239,272 132,869
2004 1,731,022 4,260 231,877 110,182
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 225,822 91,951
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 212,014 82,847
2001 1,594,999 26,523 204,108 77,856
2000 1,549,518 79,340 196,055 74,227
1999 1,450,318 109,761 180,721 70,271
1998 1,375,130 295,560 -12,157 64,285
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 121,454 48,280
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 116,728 17,953
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 110,417 17,077
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 165,407 16,407
1993 1,209,242 240,176 32,779 15,772
1992 1,152,781 252,666 28,874 15,077
1991 1,114,033 86,721 87,873 14,327
1990 1,063,508 219,270 82,900 12,988
1989 1,027,238 84,415 83,735 -130,821
1988 995,278 101,314 -125,447 -97,065
1987 959,875 111,220 5,756 -11,976
1986 925,334 70,988 99,502 -10,973
1985 885,670 118,791 95,342 -9,986
1984 844,956 190,045 90,970 -8,984
1983 807,122 146,095 104,107 -7,986
1982 774,823 97,495 118,641 -6,983
1981 748,371 54,656 115,163 -5,994
1980 724,111 51,685 112,307 -4,997
1979 691,773 181,028 109,540 -3,997
1978 646,411 268,974 107,352 -2,998
1977 638,242 -26,355 104,886 -1,997
1976 624,147 -25,965 102,346 -995
1975 608,655 -972 99,882 -395
1974 593,539 3,216 97,181 -192
1973 578,280 7,414 94,765 0
1972 564,495 2,840 74,803 193
1971 549,343 -5,497 72,308 394
1970 533,300 39,116 44,776 587
1969 514,800 46,778 42,015 786
1968 497,682 57,274 44,213 995
1967 479,552 64,307 41,357 1,194
1966 463,397 54,443 38,523 1,386
1965 429,002 61,397 51,682 1,591
1964 406,334 48,207 64,786 1,785
1963 398,972 41,960 46,333 1,591
1962 383,406 39,431 47,406 1,386
1961 368,207 35,654 45,186 1,194
1960 363,517 27,673 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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