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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 9,092,436 people in Switzerland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 9,155,878 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 12.9 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 99th.
  • The countries together account for 1.53% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +0.96% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.16M (22.3% growth).

DR Congo vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Switzerland
2100 436,237,219 9,273,514
2099 433,289,774 9,265,656
2098 430,252,622 9,259,266
2097 427,149,320 9,251,854
2096 423,961,963 9,248,107
2095 420,678,721 9,242,564
2094 417,304,547 9,238,163
2093 413,867,290 9,235,730
2092 410,362,003 9,233,129
2091 406,763,717 9,230,180
2090 403,089,566 9,228,148
2089 399,334,389 9,227,779
2088 395,507,774 9,229,133
2087 391,613,249 9,228,792
2086 387,639,503 9,230,530
2085 383,604,733 9,234,782
2084 379,495,246 9,239,056
2083 375,330,369 9,244,001
2082 371,124,615 9,249,813
2081 366,878,238 9,256,210
2080 362,574,665 9,262,647
2079 358,227,097 9,270,123
2078 353,821,014 9,276,881
2077 349,368,182 9,284,565
2076 344,866,731 9,289,534
2075 340,338,504 9,295,062
2074 335,761,691 9,305,809
2073 331,157,281 9,314,832
2072 326,505,656 9,322,610
2071 321,830,769 9,332,380
2070 317,104,580 9,343,357
2069 312,349,776 9,351,483
2068 307,566,932 9,359,919
2067 302,762,490 9,367,355
2066 297,932,241 9,379,120
2065 293,081,284 9,391,197
2064 288,211,987 9,402,175
2063 283,315,009 9,412,246
2062 278,399,192 9,423,109
2061 273,464,914 9,434,937
2060 268,520,814 9,443,858
2059 263,570,338 9,454,223
2058 258,622,778 9,462,577
2057 253,685,085 9,468,254
2056 248,748,321 9,475,514
2055 243,814,854 9,483,998
2054 238,885,417 9,491,408
2053 233,971,468 9,496,551
2052 229,073,420 9,496,579
2051 224,197,775 9,496,556
2050 219,354,949 9,494,698
2049 214,547,398 9,491,222
2048 209,774,448 9,484,200
2047 205,040,532 9,477,140
2046 200,341,405 9,471,007
2045 195,693,533 9,465,183
2044 191,087,342 9,458,151
2043 186,534,055 9,450,730
2042 182,033,706 9,440,733
2041 177,583,290 9,433,753
2040 173,191,594 9,422,510
2039 168,846,440 9,413,795
2038 164,551,895 9,404,803
2037 160,316,591 9,393,982
2036 156,099,100 9,382,127
2035 151,924,296 9,368,526
2034 147,782,785 9,351,603
2033 143,684,929 9,334,357
2032 139,642,368 9,315,617
2031 135,634,548 9,292,331
2030 131,685,113 9,267,380
2029 127,793,612 9,240,823
2028 123,956,913 9,209,567
2027 120,188,952 9,174,540
2026 116,482,769 9,136,169
2025 112,832,473 9,092,436
2024 109,276,265 9,005,582
2023 105,789,731 8,888,822
2022 102,396,968 8,777,088
2021 99,148,932 8,704,546
2020 95,989,998 8,638,167
2019 92,947,442 8,575,280
2018 90,047,644 8,514,329
2017 87,083,398 8,451,840
2016 83,956,415 8,373,338
2015 81,035,531 8,282,396
2014 78,403,242 8,188,649
2013 75,789,395 8,089,346
2012 73,254,618 7,996,861
2011 70,849,311 7,912,398
2010 68,563,038 7,824,909
2009 66,412,044 7,743,831
2008 64,390,664 7,647,675
2007 62,477,752 7,551,117
2006 60,615,908 7,483,934
2005 58,775,724 7,437,115
2004 56,997,741 7,389,625
2003 55,343,867 7,339,001
2002 53,750,524 7,284,753
2001 52,132,646 7,229,854
2000 50,507,442 7,184,250
1999 48,912,971 7,143,991
1998 47,297,600 7,110,001
1997 46,029,902 7,088,906
1996 45,296,124 7,071,850
1995 44,433,704 7,040,687
1994 42,626,876 6,993,795
1993 40,656,336 6,938,265
1992 39,228,910 6,875,364
1991 37,925,817 6,799,978
1990 36,684,063 6,715,519
1989 35,486,866 6,646,912
1988 34,382,752 6,593,386
1987 33,298,904 6,545,106
1986 32,265,196 6,504,124
1985 31,264,816 6,470,365
1984 30,245,081 6,441,865
1983 29,250,963 6,418,773
1982 28,338,190 6,391,309
1981 27,500,515 6,354,074
1980 26,711,099 6,319,408
1979 25,886,782 6,294,365
1978 24,992,689 6,281,738
1977 24,229,061 6,281,174
1976 23,624,031 6,302,504
1975 23,021,101 6,338,632
1974 22,418,878 6,341,405
1973 21,827,665 6,307,347
1972 21,251,160 6,260,956
1971 20,695,569 6,213,399
1970 20,137,436 6,180,877
1969 19,570,445 6,136,387
1968 19,012,189 6,067,714
1967 18,462,782 5,991,785
1966 17,931,929 5,918,002
1965 17,427,802 5,856,472
1964 16,955,327 5,789,228
1963 16,507,599 5,694,247
1962 16,075,724 5,573,815
1961 15,662,374 5,434,294
1960 15,264,846 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 782,540 people (a 9.35% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 99th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.7% to 9,494,698 people and rank change from 99th to 102nd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 9.5M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Switzerland
2100 0.68% 0.08%
2099 0.71% 0.07%
2098 0.73% 0.08%
2097 0.75% 0.04%
2096 0.78% 0.06%
2095 0.81% 0.05%
2094 0.83% 0.03%
2093 0.85% 0.03%
2092 0.88% 0.03%
2091 0.91% 0.02%
2090 0.94% 0.004%
2089 0.97% -0.01%
2088 0.99% 0.004%
2087 1.03% -0.02%
2086 1.05% -0.05%
2085 1.08% -0.05%
2084 1.11% -0.05%
2083 1.13% -0.06%
2082 1.16% -0.07%
2081 1.19% -0.07%
2080 1.21% -0.08%
2079 1.25% -0.07%
2078 1.27% -0.08%
2077 1.31% -0.05%
2076 1.33% -0.06%
2075 1.36% -0.12%
2074 1.39% -0.1%
2073 1.42% -0.08%
2072 1.45% -0.1%
2071 1.49% -0.12%
2070 1.52% -0.09%
2069 1.56% -0.09%
2068 1.59% -0.08%
2067 1.62% -0.13%
2066 1.66% -0.13%
2065 1.69% -0.12%
2064 1.73% -0.11%
2063 1.77% -0.12%
2062 1.8% -0.13%
2061 1.84% -0.09%
2060 1.88% -0.11%
2059 1.91% -0.09%
2058 1.95% -0.06%
2057 1.98% -0.08%
2056 2.02% -0.09%
2055 2.06% -0.08%
2054 2.1% -0.05%
2053 2.14% -0%
2052 2.17% 0%
2051 2.21% 0.02%
2050 2.24% 0.04%
2049 2.28% 0.07%
2048 2.31% 0.07%
2047 2.35% 0.06%
2046 2.38% 0.06%
2045 2.41% 0.07%
2044 2.44% 0.08%
2043 2.47% 0.11%
2042 2.51% 0.07%
2041 2.54% 0.12%
2040 2.57% 0.09%
2039 2.61% 0.1%
2038 2.64% 0.12%
2037 2.7% 0.13%
2036 2.75% 0.15%
2035 2.8% 0.18%
2034 2.85% 0.18%
2033 2.89% 0.2%
2032 2.95% 0.25%
2031 3% 0.27%
2030 3.05% 0.29%
2029 3.1% 0.34%
2028 3.14% 0.38%
2027 3.18% 0.42%
2026 3.24% 0.48%
2025 3.25% 0.96%
2024 3.3% 1.31%
2023 3.31% 1.27%
2022 3.28% 0.83%
2021 3.29% 0.77%
2020 3.27% 0.73%
2019 3.22% 0.72%
2018 3.4% 0.74%
2017 3.72% 0.94%
2016 3.6% 1.1%
2015 3.36% 1.14%
2014 3.45% 1.23%
2013 3.46% 1.16%
2012 3.39% 1.07%
2011 3.33% 1.12%
2010 3.24% 1.05%
2009 3.14% 1.26%
2008 3.06% 1.28%
2007 3.07% 0.9%
2006 3.13% 0.63%
2005 3.12% 0.64%
2004 2.99% 0.69%
2003 2.96% 0.74%
2002 3.1% 0.76%
2001 3.22% 0.63%
2000 3.26% 0.56%
1999 3.42% 0.48%
1998 2.75% 0.3%
1997 1.62% 0.24%
1996 1.94% 0.44%
1995 4.24% 0.67%
1994 4.85% 0.8%
1993 3.64% 0.91%
1992 3.44% 1.11%
1991 3.38% 1.26%
1990 3.37% 1.03%
1989 3.21% 0.81%
1988 3.25% 0.74%
1987 3.2% 0.63%
1986 3.2% 0.52%
1985 3.37% 0.44%
1984 3.4% 0.36%
1983 3.22% 0.43%
1982 3.05% 0.59%
1981 2.96% 0.55%
1980 3.18% 0.4%
1979 3.58% 0.2%
1978 3.15% 0.009%
1977 2.56% -0.34%
1976 2.62% -0.57%
1975 2.69% -0.04%
1974 2.71% 0.54%
1973 2.71% 0.74%
1972 2.68% 0.77%
1971 2.77% 0.53%
1970 2.9% 0.73%
1969 2.94% 1.13%
1968 2.98% 1.27%
1967 2.96% 1.25%
1966 2.89% 1.05%
1965 2.79% 1.16%
1964 2.71% 1.67%
1963 2.69% 2.16%
1962 2.64% 2.57%
1961 2.6% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Switzerland's population grew by 0.96%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Switzerland
Current population
118386491
9155878
Population rank 14/197 99/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.11%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
6.07 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
6.71 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +238
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +86,854
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +0.96%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 101/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +37,253
Net migration rank 159/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 37,253
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 6,304 40,099
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 8,000 45,098
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 7,899 96,424
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 18,279 50,665
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 9,502 55,523
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 18,008 44,517
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 20,434 41,253
2017 2,883,245 176,290 20,284 45,658
2016 2,753,687 440,748 22,608 71,009
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 19,050 71,876
2014 2,580,251 36,966 21,290 78,122
2013 2,489,378 121,097 17,797 83,823
2012 2,405,462 53,668 18,393 67,840
2011 2,310,679 40,891 18,990 67,194
2010 2,212,255 8,823 17,997 76,388
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 15,487 69,324
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 15,295 94,430
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 13,592 72,475
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 12,723 37,308
2005 1,800,300 20,384 11,899 33,203
2004 1,731,022 4,260 13,302 39,484
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 8,807 42,567
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 10,199 49,650
2001 1,594,999 26,523 10,845 35,420
2000 1,549,518 79,340 15,806 24,463
1999 1,450,318 109,761 16,431 25,599
1998 1,375,130 295,560 16,353 11,325
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 17,722 -1,939
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 19,801 -131
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 19,010 25,343
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 20,982 30,274
1993 1,209,242 240,176 21,509 40,267
1992 1,152,781 252,666 24,064 42,014
1991 1,114,033 86,721 23,800 69,738
1990 1,063,508 219,270 20,146 58,428
1989 1,027,238 84,415 19,941 34,432
1988 995,278 101,314 21,099 34,602
1987 959,875 111,220 15,708 27,081
1986 925,334 70,988 16,261 23,242
1985 885,670 118,791 14,882 14,402
1984 844,956 190,045 16,105 12,532
1983 807,122 146,095 12,837 5,663
1982 774,823 97,495 15,339 21,929
1981 748,371 54,656 13,979 24,229
1980 724,111 51,685 14,535 17,841
1979 691,773 181,028 14,477 4,262
1978 646,411 268,974 13,820 -6,552
1977 638,242 -26,355 16,959 -22,516
1976 624,147 -25,965 17,017 -54,255
1975 608,655 -972 22,820 -58,187
1974 593,539 3,216 27,902 2,008
1973 578,280 7,414 30,906 8,158
1972 564,495 2,840 35,061 19,991
1971 549,343 -5,497 38,523 2,636
1970 533,300 39,116 42,648 -18,326
1969 514,800 46,778 44,182 20,754
1968 497,682 57,274 47,328 25,828
1967 479,552 64,307 52,128 27,697
1966 463,397 54,443 53,854 14,979
1965 429,002 61,397 56,222 -1,351
1964 406,334 48,207 59,050 21,455
1963 398,972 41,960 52,956 58,415
1962 383,406 39,431 49,050 82,798
1961 368,207 35,654 48,365 101,278
1960 363,517 27,673 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 150,368 people) and 78.9% is from migration (a gain of 562,122 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 452K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 120K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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