Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 2.41 times bigger than Spain's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 2.01% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

DR Congo vs Spain: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Spain
2100 436,320,913 33,862,981
2099 433,372,904 34,039,965
2098 430,335,169 34,215,187
2097 427,231,271 34,387,116
2096 424,043,303 34,552,002
2095 420,759,430 34,719,411
2094 417,384,609 34,882,039
2093 413,946,692 35,044,043
2092 410,440,733 35,204,657
2091 406,841,757 35,366,895
2090 403,166,901 35,535,838
2089 399,411,004 35,707,942
2088 395,583,655 35,877,681
2087 391,688,383 36,043,209
2086 387,713,874 36,210,710
2085 383,678,330 36,386,207
2084 379,568,054 36,564,622
2083 375,402,379 36,749,680
2082 371,195,818 36,936,644
2081 366,948,626 37,133,976
2080 362,644,227 37,337,517
2079 358,295,825 37,551,557
2078 353,888,897 37,771,135
2077 349,435,210 38,002,963
2076 344,932,895 38,249,247
2075 340,403,800 38,506,040
2074 335,826,108 38,777,715
2073 331,220,816 39,056,249
2072 326,568,298 39,348,447
2071 321,892,514 39,642,346
2070 317,165,418 39,949,413
2069 312,409,702 40,256,590
2068 307,625,941 40,575,543
2067 302,820,577 40,893,798
2066 297,989,401 41,218,263
2065 293,137,514 41,543,254
2064 288,267,282 41,878,338
2063 283,369,365 42,208,320
2062 278,452,605 42,542,893
2061 273,517,380 42,874,096
2060 268,572,331 43,191,452
2059 263,620,905 43,506,737
2058 258,672,397 43,809,907
2057 253,733,756 44,112,668
2056 248,796,045 44,415,689
2055 243,861,631 44,691,749
2054 238,931,249 44,958,971
2053 234,016,357 45,223,225
2052 229,117,369 45,470,541
2051 224,240,788 45,695,307
2050 219,397,034 45,911,520
2049 214,588,560 46,127,777
2048 209,814,694 46,322,244
2047 205,079,870 46,510,152
2046 200,379,842 46,687,914
2045 195,731,078 46,858,778
2044 191,124,003 47,016,278
2043 186,569,843 47,158,325
2042 182,068,630 47,301,091
2041 177,617,360 47,434,593
2040 173,224,822 47,563,236
2039 168,878,834 47,685,343
2038 164,583,465 47,798,797
2037 160,347,349 47,910,899
2036 156,129,049 48,020,350
2035 151,953,443 48,124,430
2034 147,811,138 48,220,051
2033 143,712,496 48,311,842
2032 139,669,159 48,402,470
2031 135,660,570 48,495,278
2030 131,710,378 48,579,920
2029 127,818,130 48,648,699
2028 123,980,695 48,707,969
2027 120,212,011 48,758,200
2026 116,505,117 48,806,901
2025 112,854,120 48,838,057
2024 109,276,265 48,848,840
2023 105,789,731 48,352,528
2022 102,396,968 47,786,102
2021 99,148,932 47,443,821
2020 95,989,998 47,359,424
2019 92,947,442 47,118,501
2018 90,047,644 46,782,011
2017 87,083,398 46,571,232
2016 83,956,415 46,458,139
2015 81,035,531 46,422,303
2014 78,403,242 46,460,733
2013 75,789,395 46,604,197
2012 73,254,618 46,773,055
2011 70,849,311 46,742,697
2010 68,563,038 46,576,897
2009 66,412,044 46,362,946
2008 64,390,664 45,954,106
2007 62,477,752 45,226,803
2006 60,615,908 44,397,319
2005 58,775,724 43,653,155
2004 56,997,741 42,921,895
2003 55,343,867 42,187,645
2002 53,750,524 41,431,558
2001 52,132,646 40,850,412
2000 50,507,442 40,567,864
1999 48,912,971 40,386,875
1998 47,297,600 40,223,509
1997 46,029,902 40,057,389
1996 45,296,124 39,889,852
1995 44,433,704 39,724,050
1994 42,626,876 39,549,108
1993 40,656,336 39,361,262
1992 39,228,910 39,157,685
1991 37,925,817 38,966,376
1990 36,684,063 38,867,322
1989 35,486,866 38,827,764
1988 34,382,752 38,766,939
1987 33,298,904 38,684,815
1986 32,265,196 38,584,624
1985 31,264,816 38,469,512
1984 30,245,081 38,330,364
1983 29,250,963 38,171,525
1982 28,338,190 37,986,012
1981 27,500,515 37,758,631
1980 26,711,099 37,491,165
1979 25,886,782 37,191,330
1978 24,992,689 36,864,898
1977 24,229,061 36,511,638
1976 23,624,031 36,137,812
1975 23,021,101 35,757,900
1974 22,418,878 35,373,335
1973 21,827,665 34,988,947
1972 21,251,160 34,604,469
1971 20,695,569 34,224,490
1970 20,137,436 33,814,531
1969 19,570,445 33,441,054
1968 19,012,189 33,113,134
1967 18,462,782 32,682,947
1966 17,931,929 32,283,194
1965 17,427,802 31,954,292
1964 16,955,327 31,609,195
1963 16,507,599 31,296,651
1962 16,075,724 31,023,366
1961 15,662,374 30,739,250
1960 15,264,846 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Spain
2100 0.68% -0.52%
2099 0.71% -0.51%
2098 0.73% -0.5%
2097 0.75% -0.48%
2096 0.78% -0.48%
2095 0.81% -0.47%
2094 0.83% -0.46%
2093 0.85% -0.46%
2092 0.88% -0.46%
2091 0.91% -0.48%
2090 0.94% -0.48%
2089 0.97% -0.47%
2088 0.99% -0.46%
2087 1.03% -0.46%
2086 1.05% -0.48%
2085 1.08% -0.49%
2084 1.11% -0.5%
2083 1.13% -0.51%
2082 1.16% -0.53%
2081 1.19% -0.55%
2080 1.21% -0.57%
2079 1.25% -0.58%
2078 1.27% -0.61%
2077 1.31% -0.64%
2076 1.33% -0.67%
2075 1.36% -0.7%
2074 1.39% -0.71%
2073 1.42% -0.74%
2072 1.45% -0.74%
2071 1.49% -0.77%
2070 1.52% -0.76%
2069 1.56% -0.79%
2068 1.59% -0.78%
2067 1.62% -0.79%
2066 1.66% -0.78%
2065 1.69% -0.8%
2064 1.73% -0.78%
2063 1.77% -0.79%
2062 1.8% -0.77%
2061 1.84% -0.73%
2060 1.88% -0.72%
2059 1.91% -0.69%
2058 1.95% -0.69%
2057 1.98% -0.68%
2056 2.02% -0.62%
2055 2.06% -0.59%
2054 2.1% -0.58%
2053 2.14% -0.54%
2052 2.17% -0.49%
2051 2.21% -0.47%
2050 2.24% -0.47%
2049 2.28% -0.42%
2048 2.31% -0.4%
2047 2.35% -0.38%
2046 2.38% -0.36%
2045 2.41% -0.33%
2044 2.44% -0.3%
2043 2.47% -0.3%
2042 2.51% -0.28%
2041 2.54% -0.27%
2040 2.57% -0.26%
2039 2.61% -0.24%
2038 2.64% -0.23%
2037 2.7% -0.23%
2036 2.75% -0.22%
2035 2.8% -0.2%
2034 2.85% -0.19%
2033 2.89% -0.19%
2032 2.95% -0.19%
2031 3% -0.17%
2030 3.05% -0.14%
2029 3.1% -0.12%
2028 3.14% -0.1%
2027 3.18% -0.1%
2026 3.24% -0.06%
2025 3.27% -0.02%
2024 3.3% 1.03%
2023 3.31% 1.19%
2022 3.28% 0.72%
2021 3.29% 0.18%
2020 3.27% 0.51%
2019 3.22% 0.72%
2018 3.4% 0.45%
2017 3.72% 0.24%
2016 3.6% 0.08%
2015 3.36% -0.08%
2014 3.45% -0.31%
2013 3.46% -0.36%
2012 3.39% 0.06%
2011 3.33% 0.36%
2010 3.24% 0.46%
2009 3.14% 0.89%
2008 3.06% 1.61%
2007 3.07% 1.87%
2006 3.13% 1.7%
2005 3.12% 1.7%
2004 2.99% 1.74%
2003 2.96% 1.82%
2002 3.1% 1.42%
2001 3.22% 0.7%
2000 3.26% 0.45%
1999 3.42% 0.41%
1998 2.75% 0.41%
1997 1.62% 0.42%
1996 1.94% 0.42%
1995 4.24% 0.44%
1994 4.85% 0.48%
1993 3.64% 0.52%
1992 3.44% 0.49%
1991 3.38% 0.25%
1990 3.37% 0.1%
1989 3.21% 0.16%
1988 3.25% 0.21%
1987 3.2% 0.26%
1986 3.2% 0.3%
1985 3.37% 0.36%
1984 3.4% 0.42%
1983 3.22% 0.49%
1982 3.05% 0.6%
1981 2.96% 0.71%
1980 3.18% 0.81%
1979 3.58% 0.89%
1978 3.15% 0.97%
1977 2.56% 1.03%
1976 2.62% 1.06%
1975 2.69% 1.09%
1974 2.71% 1.1%
1973 2.71% 1.11%
1972 2.68% 1.11%
1971 2.77% 1.21%
1970 2.9% 1.12%
1969 2.94% 0.99%
1968 2.98% 1.32%
1967 2.96% 1.24%
1966 2.89% 1.03%
1965 2.79% 1.09%
1964 2.71% 1%
1963 2.69% 0.88%
1962 2.64% 0.92%
1961 2.6% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Spain
Current population
117507801
48806901
Population rank 15/197 32/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.59%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
1.06 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
1.62 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 100/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +96,630
Net migration rank 159/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 96,630
2024 - -26,968 - 111,674
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -111,211 119,099
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -133,801 299,779
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 -113,865 144,385
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -151,551 236,854
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 -56,542 464,783
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 -56,139 337,467
2017 2,883,245 176,290 -32,600 201,135
2016 2,753,687 440,748 0 106,474
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 -4,642 -1,979
2014 2,580,251 36,966 32,522 -97,870
2013 2,489,378 121,097 37,284 -250,741
2012 2,405,462 53,668 51,450 -153,486
2011 2,310,679 40,891 84,137 60,761
2010 2,212,255 8,823 102,469 69,406
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 106,635 129,557
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 133,267 434,135
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 108,545 772,317
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 110,994 659,720
2005 1,800,300 20,384 78,576 629,803
2004 1,731,022 4,260 85,844 661,158
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 54,844 658,428
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 53,861 737,880
2001 1,594,999 26,523 44,936 181,307
2000 1,549,518 79,340 36,512 176,269
1999 1,450,318 109,761 8,077 178,559
1998 1,375,130 295,560 4,022 182,926
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 20,028 165,345
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 11,967 162,704
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 15,889 162,434
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 31,639 160,407
1993 1,209,242 240,176 47,234 160,907
1992 1,152,781 252,666 62,652 177,544
1991 1,114,033 86,721 58,450 122,841
1990 1,063,508 219,270 66,075 -30,684
1989 1,027,238 84,415 81,538 -25,892
1988 995,278 101,314 100,794 -17,663
1987 959,875 111,220 116,054 -12,681
1986 925,334 70,988 131,188 -13,540
1985 885,670 118,791 146,184 -589
1984 844,956 190,045 172,487 2,754
1983 807,122 146,095 183,223 1,241
1982 774,823 97,495 231,714 -7,384
1981 748,371 54,656 237,879 2,563
1980 724,111 51,685 281,184 20,166
1979 691,773 181,028 312,407 -5,929
1978 646,411 268,974 339,157 -2,504
1977 638,242 -26,355 361,465 -1,332
1976 624,147 -25,965 375,834 2,804
1975 608,655 -972 371,882 -218
1974 593,539 3,216 396,182 105,838
1973 578,280 7,414 374,381 8,624
1972 564,495 2,840 391,030 7,935
1971 549,343 -5,497 369,625 7,363
1970 533,300 39,116 378,723 -60,580
1969 514,800 46,778 367,851 -49,956
1968 497,682 57,274 387,423 -46,088
1967 479,552 64,307 402,001 -42,344
1966 463,397 54,443 397,084 -41,467
1965 429,002 61,397 405,819 -42,476
1964 406,334 48,207 429,885 -41,461
1963 398,972 41,960 394,338 -44,446
1962 383,406 39,431 384,690 -45,211
1961 368,207 35,654 396,537 -46,517
1960 363,517 27,673 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.