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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 12.9 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • 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 +3.38% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

DR Congo vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Switzerland
2100 436,320,913 9,234,296
2099 433,372,904 9,226,472
2098 430,335,169 9,220,109
2097 427,231,271 9,212,728
2096 424,043,303 9,208,997
2095 420,759,430 9,203,477
2094 417,384,609 9,199,095
2093 413,946,692 9,196,672
2092 410,440,733 9,194,082
2091 406,841,757 9,191,145
2090 403,166,901 9,189,122
2089 399,411,004 9,188,754
2088 395,583,655 9,190,102
2087 391,688,383 9,189,763
2086 387,713,874 9,191,494
2085 383,678,330 9,195,728
2084 379,568,054 9,199,983
2083 375,402,379 9,204,908
2082 371,195,818 9,210,695
2081 366,948,626 9,217,065
2080 362,644,227 9,223,475
2079 358,295,825 9,230,920
2078 353,888,897 9,237,649
2077 349,435,210 9,245,300
2076 344,932,895 9,250,248
2075 340,403,800 9,255,753
2074 335,826,108 9,266,455
2073 331,220,816 9,275,439
2072 326,568,298 9,283,185
2071 321,892,514 9,292,913
2070 317,165,418 9,303,843
2069 312,409,702 9,311,935
2068 307,625,941 9,320,335
2067 302,820,577 9,327,741
2066 297,989,401 9,339,455
2065 293,137,514 9,351,481
2064 288,267,282 9,362,413
2063 283,369,365 9,372,441
2062 278,452,605 9,383,258
2061 273,517,380 9,395,036
2060 268,572,331 9,403,920
2059 263,620,905 9,414,241
2058 258,672,397 9,422,560
2057 253,733,756 9,428,212
2056 248,796,045 9,435,441
2055 243,861,631 9,443,890
2054 238,931,249 9,451,268
2053 234,016,357 9,456,389
2052 229,117,369 9,456,418
2051 224,240,788 9,456,395
2050 219,397,034 9,454,544
2049 214,588,560 9,451,083
2048 209,814,694 9,444,091
2047 205,079,870 9,437,061
2046 200,379,842 9,430,954
2045 195,731,078 9,425,155
2044 191,124,003 9,418,152
2043 186,569,843 9,410,763
2042 182,068,630 9,400,808
2041 177,617,360 9,393,857
2040 173,224,822 9,382,662
2039 168,878,834 9,373,984
2038 164,583,465 9,365,030
2037 160,347,349 9,354,254
2036 156,129,049 9,342,450
2035 151,953,443 9,328,907
2034 147,811,138 9,312,054
2033 143,712,496 9,294,881
2032 139,669,159 9,276,221
2031 135,660,570 9,253,034
2030 131,710,378 9,228,188
2029 127,818,130 9,201,743
2028 123,980,695 9,170,620
2027 120,212,011 9,135,740
2026 116,505,117 9,097,532
2025 112,854,120 9,053,983
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 9.46M 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 3.27% 0.54%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Switzerland
Current population
117507801
9107866
Population rank 15/197 100/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.11%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
4.5 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
6.57 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +320
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 81/197
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 - -26,968 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 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 480K
Mbandaka 470K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
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 (1960–2024, 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/switzerland | 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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