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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 51,662,147 people in Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 54,156,832 in Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 2.19 times bigger than Sudan's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Sudan is the 29th.
  • The countries together account for 2.08% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.65% for Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +2.63% in Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Sudan has grown from 32M to 54.2M (69.3% growth).

DR Congo vs Sudan: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Sudan
2100 436,237,219 138,786,562
2099 433,289,774 138,200,726
2098 430,252,622 137,581,716
2097 427,149,320 136,936,850
2096 423,961,963 136,293,310
2095 420,678,721 135,619,411
2094 417,304,547 134,962,748
2093 413,867,290 134,241,761
2092 410,362,003 133,476,598
2091 406,763,717 132,717,036
2090 403,089,566 131,929,843
2089 399,334,389 131,106,299
2088 395,507,774 130,258,636
2087 391,613,249 129,375,710
2086 387,639,503 128,473,461
2085 383,604,733 127,558,118
2084 379,495,246 126,607,392
2083 375,330,369 125,651,327
2082 371,124,615 124,696,076
2081 366,878,238 123,744,490
2080 362,574,665 122,770,063
2079 358,227,097 121,779,815
2078 353,821,014 120,751,900
2077 349,368,182 119,717,424
2076 344,866,731 118,681,140
2075 340,338,504 117,612,837
2074 335,761,691 116,516,833
2073 331,157,281 115,406,797
2072 326,505,656 114,272,123
2071 321,830,769 113,124,997
2070 317,104,580 111,982,729
2069 312,349,776 110,816,409
2068 307,566,932 109,652,769
2067 302,762,490 108,433,341
2066 297,932,241 107,199,808
2065 293,081,284 105,978,161
2064 288,211,987 104,726,820
2063 283,315,009 103,455,672
2062 278,399,192 102,156,918
2061 273,464,914 100,859,967
2060 268,520,814 99,547,905
2059 263,570,338 98,233,054
2058 258,622,778 96,897,205
2057 253,685,085 95,551,255
2056 248,748,321 94,198,924
2055 243,814,854 92,819,157
2054 238,885,417 91,429,774
2053 233,971,468 90,049,799
2052 229,073,420 88,658,871
2051 224,197,775 87,267,085
2050 219,354,949 85,869,620
2049 214,547,398 84,466,974
2048 209,774,448 83,095,662
2047 205,040,532 81,727,967
2046 200,341,405 80,356,627
2045 195,693,533 78,980,614
2044 191,087,342 77,616,012
2043 186,534,055 76,252,103
2042 182,033,706 74,901,092
2041 177,583,290 73,546,861
2040 173,191,594 72,207,474
2039 168,846,440 70,876,908
2038 164,551,895 69,547,797
2037 160,316,591 68,201,884
2036 156,099,100 66,863,109
2035 151,924,296 65,516,233
2034 147,782,785 64,168,801
2033 143,684,929 62,823,562
2032 139,642,368 61,491,227
2031 135,634,548 60,168,709
2030 131,685,113 58,846,984
2029 127,793,612 57,534,918
2028 123,956,913 56,242,802
2027 120,188,952 54,955,096
2026 116,482,769 53,313,722
2025 112,832,473 51,662,147
2024 109,276,265 50,448,963
2023 105,789,731 50,042,791
2022 102,396,968 49,383,346
2021 99,148,932 48,066,924
2020 95,989,998 46,789,231
2019 92,947,442 45,548,175
2018 90,047,644 44,230,596
2017 87,083,398 42,714,306
2016 83,956,415 41,259,892
2015 81,035,531 40,024,431
2014 78,403,242 38,823,318
2013 75,789,395 37,785,849
2012 73,254,618 36,923,178
2011 70,849,311 36,140,806
2010 68,563,038 35,414,399
2009 66,412,044 34,569,113
2008 64,390,664 33,623,980
2007 62,477,752 32,764,135
2006 60,615,908 31,992,435
2005 58,775,724 31,262,444
2004 56,997,741 30,556,637
2003 55,343,867 29,896,035
2002 53,750,524 29,228,727
2001 52,132,646 28,516,770
2000 50,507,442 27,816,745
1999 48,912,971 27,130,613
1998 47,297,600 26,458,999
1997 46,029,902 25,799,821
1996 45,296,124 25,231,528
1995 44,433,704 24,672,143
1994 42,626,876 24,043,948
1993 40,656,336 23,445,592
1992 39,228,910 22,927,355
1991 37,925,817 22,470,676
1990 36,684,063 22,021,481
1989 35,486,866 21,578,022
1988 34,382,752 21,138,431
1987 33,298,904 20,704,904
1986 32,265,196 20,288,238
1985 31,264,816 19,905,872
1984 30,245,081 19,546,528
1983 29,250,963 19,109,770
1982 28,338,190 18,486,645
1981 27,500,515 17,780,572
1980 26,711,099 17,058,905
1979 25,886,782 16,355,352
1978 24,992,689 15,695,003
1977 24,229,061 15,086,614
1976 23,624,031 14,569,716
1975 23,021,101 14,064,798
1974 22,418,878 13,580,723
1973 21,827,665 13,049,315
1972 21,251,160 12,527,856
1971 20,695,569 12,105,539
1970 20,137,436 11,695,771
1969 19,570,445 11,298,936
1968 19,012,189 10,917,999
1967 18,462,782 10,550,597
1966 17,931,929 10,197,578
1965 17,427,802 9,858,030
1964 16,955,327 9,531,109
1963 16,507,599 9,218,077
1962 16,075,724 8,919,028
1961 15,662,374 8,634,941
1960 15,264,846 8,364,489

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/sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Sudan gained 9,267,457 people (a 29% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Sudan's population increased by 12,896,940 people (a 31.3% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Sudan was ranked 36th in 2006 and ranked 29th 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 Sudan will increase by 58.6% to 85,869,620 people and rank change from 29th to 21st.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 139M people in 2100 for Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Sudan
2100 0.68% 0.42%
2099 0.71% 0.45%
2098 0.73% 0.47%
2097 0.75% 0.47%
2096 0.78% 0.5%
2095 0.81% 0.49%
2094 0.83% 0.54%
2093 0.85% 0.57%
2092 0.88% 0.57%
2091 0.91% 0.6%
2090 0.94% 0.63%
2089 0.97% 0.65%
2088 0.99% 0.68%
2087 1.03% 0.7%
2086 1.05% 0.72%
2085 1.08% 0.75%
2084 1.11% 0.76%
2083 1.13% 0.77%
2082 1.16% 0.77%
2081 1.19% 0.79%
2080 1.21% 0.81%
2079 1.25% 0.85%
2078 1.27% 0.86%
2077 1.31% 0.87%
2076 1.33% 0.91%
2075 1.36% 0.94%
2074 1.39% 0.96%
2073 1.42% 0.99%
2072 1.45% 1.01%
2071 1.49% 1.02%
2070 1.52% 1.05%
2069 1.56% 1.06%
2068 1.59% 1.12%
2067 1.62% 1.15%
2066 1.66% 1.15%
2065 1.69% 1.19%
2064 1.73% 1.23%
2063 1.77% 1.27%
2062 1.8% 1.29%
2061 1.84% 1.32%
2060 1.88% 1.34%
2059 1.91% 1.38%
2058 1.95% 1.41%
2057 1.98% 1.44%
2056 2.02% 1.49%
2055 2.06% 1.52%
2054 2.1% 1.53%
2053 2.14% 1.57%
2052 2.17% 1.59%
2051 2.21% 1.63%
2050 2.24% 1.66%
2049 2.28% 1.65%
2048 2.31% 1.67%
2047 2.35% 1.71%
2046 2.38% 1.74%
2045 2.41% 1.76%
2044 2.44% 1.79%
2043 2.47% 1.8%
2042 2.51% 1.84%
2041 2.54% 1.85%
2040 2.57% 1.88%
2039 2.61% 1.91%
2038 2.64% 1.97%
2037 2.7% 2%
2036 2.75% 2.06%
2035 2.8% 2.1%
2034 2.85% 2.14%
2033 2.89% 2.17%
2032 2.95% 2.2%
2031 3% 2.25%
2030 3.05% 2.28%
2029 3.1% 2.3%
2028 3.14% 2.34%
2027 3.18% 3.08%
2026 3.24% 3.2%
2025 3.25% 2.4%
2024 3.3% 0.81%
2023 3.31% 1.34%
2022 3.28% 2.74%
2021 3.29% 2.73%
2020 3.27% 2.72%
2019 3.22% 2.98%
2018 3.4% 3.55%
2017 3.72% 3.53%
2016 3.6% 3.09%
2015 3.36% 3.09%
2014 3.45% 2.75%
2013 3.46% 2.34%
2012 3.39% 2.16%
2011 3.33% 2.05%
2010 3.24% 2.45%
2009 3.14% 2.81%
2008 3.06% 2.62%
2007 3.07% 2.41%
2006 3.13% 2.34%
2005 3.12% 2.31%
2004 2.99% 2.21%
2003 2.96% 2.28%
2002 3.1% 2.5%
2001 3.22% 2.52%
2000 3.26% 2.53%
1999 3.42% 2.54%
1998 2.75% 2.55%
1997 1.62% 2.25%
1996 1.94% 2.27%
1995 4.24% 2.61%
1994 4.85% 2.55%
1993 3.64% 2.26%
1992 3.44% 2.03%
1991 3.38% 2.04%
1990 3.37% 2.06%
1989 3.21% 2.08%
1988 3.25% 2.09%
1987 3.2% 2.05%
1986 3.2% 1.92%
1985 3.37% 1.84%
1984 3.4% 2.29%
1983 3.22% 3.37%
1982 3.05% 3.97%
1981 2.96% 4.23%
1980 3.18% 4.3%
1979 3.58% 4.21%
1978 3.15% 4.03%
1977 2.56% 3.55%
1976 2.62% 3.59%
1975 2.69% 3.56%
1974 2.71% 4.07%
1973 2.71% 4.16%
1972 2.68% 3.49%
1971 2.77% 3.5%
1970 2.9% 3.51%
1969 2.94% 3.49%
1968 2.98% 3.48%
1967 2.96% 3.46%
1966 2.89% 3.44%
1965 2.79% 3.43%
1964 2.71% 3.4%
1963 2.69% 3.35%
1962 2.64% 3.29%
1961 2.6% 3.23%

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/sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Sudan's population grew by 2.4%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Sudan
Current population
118386491
54156832
Population rank 14/197 29/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.65%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
26.1 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
18.9 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
1.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +3,324
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +1,213,184
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +2.4%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 30/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.81 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +291,469
Net migration rank 159/196 6/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 2,397,113
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 29/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 4.8%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 94/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 291,469
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 1,345,019 -544,257
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 1,361,564 -1,349,998
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 1,333,992 -26,668
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 1,293,817 31,664
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 1,295,781 -65,933
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 1,291,747 -39,491
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 1,257,387 125,499
2017 2,883,245 176,290 1,208,046 441,623
2016 2,753,687 440,748 1,174,422 84,728
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 1,145,259 66,476
2014 2,580,251 36,966 1,097,962 92,504
2013 2,489,378 121,097 1,078,446 -194,001
2012 2,405,462 53,668 1,073,062 -232,196
2011 2,310,679 40,891 1,070,888 -347,024
2010 2,212,255 8,823 1,068,381 -339,466
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 1,041,810 -80,159
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 1,001,826 -73,188
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 992,819 -201,769
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 963,740 -211,387
2005 1,800,300 20,384 907,017 -199,378
2004 1,731,022 4,260 889,382 -185,392
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 898,226 -281,001
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 897,965 -180,603
2001 1,594,999 26,523 880,284 -173,745
2000 1,549,518 79,340 858,536 -165,030
1999 1,450,318 109,761 835,840 -157,090
1998 1,375,130 295,560 814,752 -150,271
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 802,245 -148,368
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 792,926 -310,221
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 780,700 -144,670
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 764,645 -144,324
1993 1,209,242 240,176 743,249 -166,861
1992 1,152,781 252,666 731,177 -271,093
1991 1,114,033 86,721 714,612 -261,341
1990 1,063,508 219,270 699,953 -254,825
1989 1,027,238 84,415 683,743 -241,979
1988 995,278 101,314 672,604 -235,213
1987 959,875 111,220 658,416 -228,756
1986 925,334 70,988 649,649 -245,968
1985 885,670 118,791 583,382 -222,315
1984 844,956 190,045 577,405 -219,755
1983 807,122 146,095 570,198 -54,325
1982 774,823 97,495 606,362 124,007
1981 748,371 54,656 585,087 96,697
1980 724,111 51,685 552,930 208,602
1979 691,773 181,028 524,942 120,613
1978 646,411 268,974 497,987 177,153
1977 638,242 -26,355 483,089 58,540
1976 624,147 -25,965 470,019 22,147
1975 608,655 -972 454,813 62,843
1974 593,539 3,216 444,456 6,023
1973 578,280 7,414 439,201 173,143
1972 564,495 2,840 428,340 2,238
1971 549,343 -5,497 417,641 -3,577
1970 533,300 39,116 401,013 4,479
1969 514,800 46,778 385,712 2,476
1968 497,682 57,274 370,917 2,776
1967 479,552 64,307 356,599 4,508
1966 463,397 54,443 342,118 2,813
1965 429,002 61,397 327,799 6,367
1964 406,334 48,207 315,166 4,505
1963 398,972 41,960 302,132 4,263
1962 383,406 39,431 287,317 4,387
1961 368,207 35,654 272,562 3,904
1960 363,517 27,673 262,235 2,194

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/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 Sudan 90.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 12,707,034 people) and 9.13% is from migration (a loss of 1,276,357 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 2,397,113 people or 4.8% in 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
Sudan
City Population
Khartoum 5.34M
Omdurman 2.81M
Port Sudan 580K
El-Obeid 560K
Kassala 536K
Kosti 528K
Nyala 493K
El-Gadarif 355K
Al-Fashir 286K
Ad-Damazin 186K

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

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