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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 9.39 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 1.57% 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 +3.38% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% 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 436,320,913 24,086,901
2099 433,372,904 24,081,477
2098 430,335,169 24,063,461
2097 427,231,271 24,065,268
2096 424,043,303 24,054,483
2095 420,759,430 24,046,345
2094 417,384,609 24,047,776
2093 413,946,692 24,039,017
2092 410,440,733 24,019,054
2091 406,841,757 24,000,308
2090 403,166,901 23,978,496
2089 399,411,004 23,937,487
2088 395,583,655 23,892,166
2087 391,688,383 23,857,250
2086 387,713,874 23,803,312
2085 383,678,330 23,759,178
2084 379,568,054 23,687,109
2083 375,402,379 23,617,646
2082 371,195,818 23,541,119
2081 366,948,626 23,466,449
2080 362,644,227 23,391,758
2079 358,295,825 23,294,252
2078 353,888,897 23,197,067
2077 349,435,210 23,086,584
2076 344,932,895 22,987,331
2075 340,403,800 22,868,587
2074 335,826,108 22,726,189
2073 331,220,816 22,583,672
2072 326,568,298 22,438,943
2071 321,892,514 22,288,026
2070 317,165,418 22,151,650
2069 312,409,702 22,003,659
2068 307,625,941 21,829,800
2067 302,820,577 21,662,211
2066 297,989,401 21,496,881
2065 293,137,514 21,317,455
2064 288,267,282 21,142,002
2063 283,369,365 20,965,122
2062 278,452,605 20,785,055
2061 273,517,380 20,608,964
2060 268,572,331 20,430,857
2059 263,620,905 20,235,022
2058 258,672,397 20,048,974
2057 253,733,756 19,853,696
2056 248,796,045 19,659,362
2055 243,861,631 19,464,297
2054 238,931,249 19,257,481
2053 234,016,357 19,060,517
2052 229,117,369 18,840,461
2051 224,240,788 18,633,198
2050 219,397,034 18,434,212
2049 214,588,560 18,230,881
2048 209,814,694 18,021,026
2047 205,079,870 17,806,282
2046 200,379,842 17,579,173
2045 195,731,078 17,355,041
2044 191,124,003 17,121,972
2043 186,569,843 16,888,278
2042 182,068,630 16,645,354
2041 177,617,360 16,396,768
2040 173,224,822 16,142,816
2039 168,878,834 15,889,952
2038 164,583,465 15,628,043
2037 160,347,349 15,363,975
2036 156,129,049 15,091,275
2035 151,953,443 14,815,307
2034 147,811,138 14,543,511
2033 143,712,496 14,278,180
2032 139,669,159 14,007,134
2031 135,660,570 13,730,637
2030 131,710,378 13,465,615
2029 127,818,130 13,206,477
2028 123,980,695 12,947,082
2027 120,212,011 12,692,769
2026 116,505,117 12,439,296
2025 112,854,120 12,193,102
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th 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 86.7% to 219,397,034 people with a rank change from 15th to 8th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 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 3.27% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

DR Congo South Sudan
Current population
117507801
12507858
Population rank 15/197 80/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.15%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 7/197
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 - -26,968 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/south-sudan | 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 South Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 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 480K
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 (1960–2024, 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/south-sudan | 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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