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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 5.4 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.69% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

DR Congo vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Sri Lanka
2100 436,237,219 20,009,380
2099 433,289,774 20,121,095
2098 430,252,622 20,234,513
2097 427,149,320 20,345,619
2096 423,961,963 20,456,607
2095 420,678,721 20,566,246
2094 417,304,547 20,674,019
2093 413,867,290 20,780,946
2092 410,362,003 20,886,274
2091 406,763,717 20,990,047
2090 403,089,566 21,095,968
2089 399,334,389 21,198,788
2088 395,507,774 21,299,229
2087 391,613,249 21,398,269
2086 387,639,503 21,496,892
2085 383,604,733 21,594,661
2084 379,495,246 21,687,323
2083 375,330,369 21,778,597
2082 371,124,615 21,866,395
2081 366,878,238 21,954,337
2080 362,574,665 22,038,953
2079 358,227,097 22,122,744
2078 353,821,014 22,200,069
2077 349,368,182 22,274,355
2076 344,866,731 22,345,857
2075 340,338,504 22,414,609
2074 335,761,691 22,485,066
2073 331,157,281 22,550,427
2072 326,505,656 22,610,645
2071 321,830,769 22,669,042
2070 317,104,580 22,725,948
2069 312,349,776 22,779,050
2068 307,566,932 22,831,596
2067 302,762,490 22,885,941
2066 297,932,241 22,935,123
2065 293,081,284 22,985,942
2064 288,211,987 23,030,844
2063 283,315,009 23,071,114
2062 278,399,192 23,107,970
2061 273,464,914 23,139,924
2060 268,520,814 23,171,649
2059 263,570,338 23,199,387
2058 258,622,778 23,224,997
2057 253,685,085 23,247,211
2056 248,748,321 23,267,292
2055 243,814,854 23,278,653
2054 238,885,417 23,287,520
2053 233,971,468 23,297,347
2052 229,073,420 23,301,287
2051 224,197,775 23,302,108
2050 219,354,949 23,299,282
2049 214,547,398 23,293,630
2048 209,774,448 23,283,465
2047 205,040,532 23,267,251
2046 200,341,405 23,244,081
2045 195,693,533 23,212,221
2044 191,087,342 23,181,041
2043 186,534,055 23,144,217
2042 182,033,706 23,103,489
2041 177,583,290 23,056,478
2040 173,191,594 23,005,928
2039 168,846,440 22,948,866
2038 164,551,895 22,888,821
2037 160,316,591 22,822,943
2036 156,099,100 22,756,462
2035 151,924,296 22,685,766
2034 147,782,785 22,611,514
2033 143,684,929 22,532,374
2032 139,642,368 22,449,310
2031 135,634,548 22,364,063
2030 131,685,113 22,273,377
2029 127,793,612 22,181,300
2028 123,956,913 22,082,826
2027 120,188,952 21,979,196
2026 116,482,769 21,870,145
2025 112,832,473 21,756,000
2024 109,276,265 21,916,000
2023 105,789,731 22,037,000
2022 102,396,968 22,181,000
2021 99,148,932 22,156,000
2020 95,989,998 21,919,000
2019 92,947,442 21,803,000
2018 90,047,644 21,670,000
2017 87,083,398 21,453,000
2016 83,956,415 21,209,000
2015 81,035,531 20,970,000
2014 78,403,242 20,778,000
2013 75,789,395 20,585,000
2012 73,254,618 21,169,458
2011 70,849,311 21,009,048
2010 68,563,038 20,879,089
2009 66,412,044 20,756,435
2008 64,390,664 20,629,378
2007 62,477,752 20,492,545
2006 60,615,908 20,352,411
2005 58,775,724 20,216,524
2004 56,997,741 20,087,605
2003 55,343,867 19,951,521
2002 53,750,524 19,805,752
2001 52,132,646 19,600,362
2000 50,507,442 19,293,054
1999 48,912,971 18,944,731
1998 47,297,600 18,596,003
1997 46,029,902 18,248,200
1996 45,296,124 17,905,018
1995 44,433,704 17,564,068
1994 42,626,876 17,275,773
1993 40,656,336 17,025,918
1992 39,228,910 16,739,284
1991 37,925,817 16,475,354
1990 36,684,063 16,352,458
1989 35,486,866 16,248,557
1988 34,382,752 16,078,621
1987 33,298,904 15,916,576
1986 32,265,196 15,731,256
1985 31,264,816 15,544,154
1984 30,245,081 15,441,860
1983 29,250,963 15,388,794
1982 28,338,190 15,286,567
1981 27,500,515 15,099,414
1980 26,711,099 14,847,974
1979 25,886,782 14,579,614
1978 24,992,689 14,310,128
1977 24,229,061 14,049,371
1976 23,624,031 13,796,770
1975 23,021,101 13,548,984
1974 22,418,878 13,305,693
1973 21,827,665 13,060,916
1972 21,251,160 12,809,205
1971 20,695,569 12,551,910
1970 20,137,436 12,287,110
1969 19,570,445 12,013,858
1968 19,012,189 11,736,088
1967 18,462,782 11,457,328
1966 17,931,929 11,183,928
1965 17,427,802 10,916,965
1964 16,955,327 10,653,397
1963 16,507,599 10,395,040
1962 16,075,724 10,143,754
1961 15,662,374 9,899,372
1960 15,264,846 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Sri Lanka
2100 0.68% -0.56%
2099 0.71% -0.56%
2098 0.73% -0.55%
2097 0.75% -0.54%
2096 0.78% -0.53%
2095 0.81% -0.52%
2094 0.83% -0.51%
2093 0.85% -0.5%
2092 0.88% -0.49%
2091 0.91% -0.5%
2090 0.94% -0.49%
2089 0.97% -0.47%
2088 0.99% -0.46%
2087 1.03% -0.46%
2086 1.05% -0.45%
2085 1.08% -0.43%
2084 1.11% -0.42%
2083 1.13% -0.4%
2082 1.16% -0.4%
2081 1.19% -0.38%
2080 1.21% -0.38%
2079 1.25% -0.35%
2078 1.27% -0.33%
2077 1.31% -0.32%
2076 1.33% -0.31%
2075 1.36% -0.31%
2074 1.39% -0.29%
2073 1.42% -0.27%
2072 1.45% -0.26%
2071 1.49% -0.25%
2070 1.52% -0.23%
2069 1.56% -0.23%
2068 1.59% -0.24%
2067 1.62% -0.21%
2066 1.66% -0.22%
2065 1.69% -0.19%
2064 1.73% -0.17%
2063 1.77% -0.16%
2062 1.8% -0.14%
2061 1.84% -0.14%
2060 1.88% -0.12%
2059 1.91% -0.11%
2058 1.95% -0.1%
2057 1.98% -0.09%
2056 2.02% -0.05%
2055 2.06% -0.04%
2054 2.1% -0.04%
2053 2.14% -0.02%
2052 2.17% -0.004%
2051 2.21% 0.01%
2050 2.24% 0.02%
2049 2.28% 0.04%
2048 2.31% 0.07%
2047 2.35% 0.1%
2046 2.38% 0.14%
2045 2.41% 0.13%
2044 2.44% 0.16%
2043 2.47% 0.18%
2042 2.51% 0.2%
2041 2.54% 0.22%
2040 2.57% 0.25%
2039 2.61% 0.26%
2038 2.64% 0.29%
2037 2.7% 0.29%
2036 2.75% 0.31%
2035 2.8% 0.33%
2034 2.85% 0.35%
2033 2.89% 0.37%
2032 2.95% 0.38%
2031 3% 0.41%
2030 3.05% 0.42%
2029 3.1% 0.45%
2028 3.14% 0.47%
2027 3.18% 0.5%
2026 3.24% 0.52%
2025 3.25% -0.73%
2024 3.3% -0.55%
2023 3.31% -0.65%
2022 3.28% 0.11%
2021 3.29% 1.08%
2020 3.27% 0.53%
2019 3.22% 0.61%
2018 3.4% 1.01%
2017 3.72% 1.15%
2016 3.6% 1.14%
2015 3.36% 0.92%
2014 3.45% 0.94%
2013 3.46% -2.76%
2012 3.39% 0.76%
2011 3.33% 0.62%
2010 3.24% 0.59%
2009 3.14% 0.62%
2008 3.06% 0.67%
2007 3.07% 0.69%
2006 3.13% 0.67%
2005 3.12% 0.64%
2004 2.99% 0.68%
2003 2.96% 0.74%
2002 3.1% 1.05%
2001 3.22% 1.59%
2000 3.26% 1.84%
1999 3.42% 1.88%
1998 2.75% 1.91%
1997 1.62% 1.92%
1996 1.94% 1.94%
1995 4.24% 1.67%
1994 4.85% 1.47%
1993 3.64% 1.71%
1992 3.44% 1.6%
1991 3.38% 0.75%
1990 3.37% 0.64%
1989 3.21% 1.06%
1988 3.25% 1.02%
1987 3.2% 1.18%
1986 3.2% 1.2%
1985 3.37% 0.66%
1984 3.4% 0.34%
1983 3.22% 0.67%
1982 3.05% 1.24%
1981 2.96% 1.69%
1980 3.18% 1.84%
1979 3.58% 1.88%
1978 3.15% 1.86%
1977 2.56% 1.83%
1976 2.62% 1.83%
1975 2.69% 1.83%
1974 2.71% 1.87%
1973 2.71% 1.97%
1972 2.68% 2.05%
1971 2.77% 2.16%
1970 2.9% 2.27%
1969 2.94% 2.37%
1968 2.98% 2.43%
1967 2.96% 2.44%
1966 2.89% 2.45%
1965 2.79% 2.47%
1964 2.71% 2.49%
1963 2.69% 2.48%
1962 2.64% 2.47%
1961 2.6% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Sri Lanka
Current population
118386491
21926160
Population rank 14/197 63/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.26%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
3.29 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
2.37 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 -438
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 190/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -30,724
Net migration rank 159/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -30,724
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 50,407 -27,245
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 66,111 -28,011
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 95,378 -27,435
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 121,858 -29,586
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 170,968 -29,875
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 172,243 -28,426
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 183,610 -28,607
2017 2,883,245 176,290 187,993 -22,324
2016 2,753,687 440,748 194,232 -18,388
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 201,815 -29,797
2014 2,580,251 36,966 211,541 -33,672
2013 2,489,378 121,097 221,021 -37,754
2012 2,405,462 53,668 229,138 -41,955
2011 2,310,679 40,891 224,461 -90,839
2010 2,212,255 8,823 224,325 -98,060
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 200,175 -81,130
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 232,225 -97,144
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 248,287 -109,695
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 248,706 -107,045
2005 1,800,300 20,384 248,683 -118,594
2004 1,731,022 4,260 212,527 -84,795
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 252,008 -107,573
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 252,840 -105,718
2001 1,594,999 26,523 244,377 19,273
2000 1,549,518 79,340 227,060 123,894
1999 1,450,318 109,761 206,876 138,799
1998 1,375,130 295,560 201,059 150,724
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 208,193 135,636
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 215,290 127,236
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 221,957 117,416
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 228,904 8,323
1993 1,209,242 240,176 226,257 36,232
1992 1,152,781 252,666 222,230 88,542
1991 1,114,033 86,721 218,117 -1,047
1990 1,063,508 219,270 224,454 -195,736
1989 1,027,238 84,415 212,401 -33,305
1988 995,278 101,314 219,184 -58,415
1987 959,875 111,220 226,414 -63,105
1986 925,334 70,988 233,782 -26,460
1985 885,670 118,791 247,836 -80,950
1984 844,956 190,045 263,175 -225,450
1983 807,122 146,095 277,768 -209,362
1982 774,823 97,495 300,030 -163,987
1981 748,371 54,656 328,096 -89,824
1980 724,111 51,685 328,155 -63,541
1979 691,773 181,028 329,791 -57,683
1978 646,411 268,974 317,055 -50,189
1977 638,242 -26,355 300,038 -45,383
1976 624,147 -25,965 291,816 -41,258
1975 608,655 -972 282,496 -37,475
1974 593,539 3,216 275,521 -33,979
1973 578,280 7,414 278,577 -30,582
1972 564,495 2,840 282,494 -27,071
1971 549,343 -5,497 281,200 -22,021
1970 533,300 39,116 286,719 -16,299
1969 514,800 46,778 286,218 -10,152
1968 497,682 57,274 286,642 -7,163
1967 479,552 64,307 284,738 -6,696
1966 463,397 54,443 275,549 -6,794
1965 429,002 61,397 272,422 -7,249
1964 406,334 48,207 269,584 -7,614
1963 398,972 41,960 262,880 -8,118
1962 383,406 39,431 256,719 -8,909
1961 368,207 35,654 251,087 -10,144
1960 363,517 27,673 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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