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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 4.39 times bigger than Syria's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 1.75% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

DR Congo vs Syria: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Syria
2100 436,237,219 44,500,028
2099 433,289,774 44,570,009
2098 430,252,622 44,629,837
2097 427,149,320 44,692,566
2096 423,961,963 44,747,012
2095 420,678,721 44,774,686
2094 417,304,547 44,824,294
2093 413,867,290 44,853,295
2092 410,362,003 44,882,700
2091 406,763,717 44,895,349
2090 403,089,566 44,926,869
2089 399,334,389 44,925,891
2088 395,507,774 44,920,667
2087 391,613,249 44,928,298
2086 387,639,503 44,947,658
2085 383,604,733 44,913,669
2084 379,495,246 44,878,845
2083 375,330,369 44,850,592
2082 371,124,615 44,790,014
2081 366,878,238 44,723,244
2080 362,574,665 44,624,321
2079 358,227,097 44,567,127
2078 353,821,014 44,529,618
2077 349,368,182 44,484,155
2076 344,866,731 44,400,339
2075 340,338,504 44,306,882
2074 335,761,691 44,209,517
2073 331,157,281 44,102,028
2072 326,505,656 43,965,642
2071 321,830,769 43,821,617
2070 317,104,580 43,678,154
2069 312,349,776 43,530,683
2068 307,566,932 43,348,487
2067 302,762,490 43,154,741
2066 297,932,241 42,944,885
2065 293,081,284 42,695,249
2064 288,211,987 42,445,036
2063 283,315,009 42,198,056
2062 278,399,192 41,949,014
2061 273,464,914 41,695,586
2060 268,520,814 41,410,547
2059 263,570,338 41,097,942
2058 258,622,778 40,815,606
2057 253,685,085 40,534,091
2056 248,748,321 40,224,053
2055 243,814,854 39,918,930
2054 238,885,417 39,584,624
2053 233,971,468 39,242,144
2052 229,073,420 38,940,206
2051 224,197,775 38,629,604
2050 219,354,949 38,307,069
2049 214,547,398 37,986,965
2048 209,774,448 37,682,780
2047 205,040,532 37,391,752
2046 200,341,405 37,081,479
2045 195,693,533 36,744,441
2044 191,087,342 36,428,225
2043 186,534,055 36,090,851
2042 182,033,706 35,729,021
2041 177,583,290 35,352,033
2040 173,191,594 34,947,817
2039 168,846,440 34,533,772
2038 164,551,895 34,091,760
2037 160,316,591 33,612,993
2036 156,099,100 33,134,445
2035 151,924,296 32,608,669
2034 147,782,785 32,062,309
2033 143,684,929 31,477,500
2032 139,642,368 30,883,996
2031 135,634,548 30,248,264
2030 131,685,113 29,592,787
2029 127,793,612 28,871,638
2028 123,956,913 28,141,821
2027 120,188,952 27,355,002
2026 116,482,769 26,535,554
2025 112,832,473 25,620,427
2024 109,276,265 24,672,760
2023 105,789,731 23,594,623
2022 102,396,968 22,462,173
2021 99,148,932 21,628,839
2020 95,989,998 21,049,429
2019 92,947,442 20,353,534
2018 90,047,644 19,577,845
2017 87,083,398 19,224,668
2016 83,956,415 19,193,834
2015 81,035,531 19,424,618
2014 78,403,242 20,273,659
2013 75,789,395 21,666,917
2012 73,254,618 22,759,763
2011 70,849,311 22,878,098
2010 68,563,038 22,482,421
2009 66,412,044 21,976,969
2008 64,390,664 21,636,564
2007 62,477,752 20,884,125
2006 60,615,908 19,637,022
2005 58,775,724 18,814,091
2004 56,997,741 18,336,875
2003 55,343,867 17,889,296
2002 53,750,524 17,468,332
2001 52,132,646 17,051,338
2000 50,507,442 16,637,888
1999 48,912,971 16,228,061
1998 47,297,600 15,820,413
1997 46,029,902 15,417,542
1996 45,296,124 15,018,104
1995 44,433,704 14,616,801
1994 42,626,876 14,208,583
1993 40,656,336 13,795,686
1992 39,228,910 13,385,571
1991 37,925,817 12,980,821
1990 36,684,063 12,579,208
1989 35,486,866 12,179,060
1988 34,382,752 11,782,264
1987 33,298,904 11,388,923
1986 32,265,196 11,002,844
1985 31,264,816 10,625,672
1984 30,245,081 10,258,398
1983 29,250,963 9,904,809
1982 28,338,190 9,572,511
1981 27,500,515 9,260,189
1980 26,711,099 8,957,663
1979 25,886,782 8,661,909
1978 24,992,689 8,372,759
1977 24,229,061 8,090,501
1976 23,624,031 7,817,320
1975 23,021,101 7,554,364
1974 22,418,878 7,302,160
1973 21,827,665 7,060,321
1972 21,251,160 6,826,024
1971 20,695,569 6,598,094
1970 20,137,436 6,380,609
1969 19,570,445 6,175,166
1968 19,012,189 5,978,742
1967 18,462,782 5,790,198
1966 17,931,929 5,609,047
1965 17,427,802 5,435,267
1964 16,955,327 5,269,087
1963 16,507,599 5,110,467
1962 16,075,724 4,959,340
1961 15,662,374 4,815,466
1960 15,264,846 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Syria
2100 0.68% -0.16%
2099 0.71% -0.13%
2098 0.73% -0.14%
2097 0.75% -0.12%
2096 0.78% -0.06%
2095 0.81% -0.11%
2094 0.83% -0.06%
2093 0.85% -0.07%
2092 0.88% -0.03%
2091 0.91% -0.07%
2090 0.94% 0.002%
2089 0.97% 0.01%
2088 0.99% -0.02%
2087 1.03% -0.04%
2086 1.05% 0.08%
2085 1.08% 0.08%
2084 1.11% 0.06%
2083 1.13% 0.14%
2082 1.16% 0.15%
2081 1.19% 0.22%
2080 1.21% 0.13%
2079 1.25% 0.08%
2078 1.27% 0.1%
2077 1.31% 0.19%
2076 1.33% 0.21%
2075 1.36% 0.22%
2074 1.39% 0.24%
2073 1.42% 0.31%
2072 1.45% 0.33%
2071 1.49% 0.33%
2070 1.52% 0.34%
2069 1.56% 0.42%
2068 1.59% 0.45%
2067 1.62% 0.49%
2066 1.66% 0.58%
2065 1.69% 0.59%
2064 1.73% 0.59%
2063 1.77% 0.59%
2062 1.8% 0.61%
2061 1.84% 0.69%
2060 1.88% 0.76%
2059 1.91% 0.69%
2058 1.95% 0.69%
2057 1.98% 0.77%
2056 2.02% 0.76%
2055 2.06% 0.84%
2054 2.1% 0.87%
2053 2.14% 0.78%
2052 2.17% 0.8%
2051 2.21% 0.84%
2050 2.24% 0.84%
2049 2.28% 0.81%
2048 2.31% 0.78%
2047 2.35% 0.84%
2046 2.38% 0.92%
2045 2.41% 0.87%
2044 2.44% 0.93%
2043 2.47% 1.01%
2042 2.51% 1.07%
2041 2.54% 1.16%
2040 2.57% 1.2%
2039 2.61% 1.3%
2038 2.64% 1.42%
2037 2.7% 1.44%
2036 2.75% 1.61%
2035 2.8% 1.7%
2034 2.85% 1.86%
2033 2.89% 1.92%
2032 2.95% 2.1%
2031 3% 2.21%
2030 3.05% 2.5%
2029 3.1% 2.59%
2028 3.14% 2.88%
2027 3.18% 3.09%
2026 3.24% 3.57%
2025 3.25% 3.84%
2024 3.3% 4.57%
2023 3.31% 5.04%
2022 3.28% 3.85%
2021 3.29% 2.75%
2020 3.27% 3.42%
2019 3.22% 3.96%
2018 3.4% 1.84%
2017 3.72% 0.16%
2016 3.6% -1.19%
2015 3.36% -4.19%
2014 3.45% -6.43%
2013 3.46% -4.8%
2012 3.39% -0.52%
2011 3.33% 1.76%
2010 3.24% 2.3%
2009 3.14% 1.57%
2008 3.06% 3.6%
2007 3.07% 6.35%
2006 3.13% 4.37%
2005 3.12% 2.6%
2004 2.99% 2.5%
2003 2.96% 2.41%
2002 3.1% 2.45%
2001 3.22% 2.48%
2000 3.26% 2.53%
1999 3.42% 2.58%
1998 2.75% 2.61%
1997 1.62% 2.66%
1996 1.94% 2.75%
1995 4.24% 2.87%
1994 4.85% 2.99%
1993 3.64% 3.06%
1992 3.44% 3.12%
1991 3.38% 3.19%
1990 3.37% 3.29%
1989 3.21% 3.37%
1988 3.25% 3.45%
1987 3.2% 3.51%
1986 3.2% 3.55%
1985 3.37% 3.58%
1984 3.4% 3.57%
1983 3.22% 3.47%
1982 3.05% 3.37%
1981 2.96% 3.38%
1980 3.18% 3.41%
1979 3.58% 3.45%
1978 3.15% 3.49%
1977 2.56% 3.49%
1976 2.62% 3.48%
1975 2.69% 3.45%
1974 2.71% 3.43%
1973 2.71% 3.43%
1972 2.68% 3.45%
1971 2.77% 3.41%
1970 2.9% 3.33%
1969 2.94% 3.29%
1968 2.98% 3.26%
1967 2.96% 3.23%
1966 2.89% 3.2%
1965 2.79% 3.15%
1964 2.71% 3.1%
1963 2.69% 3.05%
1962 2.64% 2.99%
1961 2.6% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Syria
Current population
118386491
26956472
Population rank 14/197 56/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.32%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
33.4 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
55.2 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 5/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +421,693
Net migration rank 159/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 421,693
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 449,784 546,494
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 402,713 757,309
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 369,750 735,142
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 350,560 211,220
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 327,992 269,050
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 293,762 500,985
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 242,530 514,102
2017 2,883,245 176,290 237,214 -287,501
2016 2,753,687 440,748 236,007 -124,063
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 253,977 -827,496
2014 2,580,251 36,966 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 2,489,378 121,097 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 2,405,462 53,668 475,520 -999,267
2011 2,310,679 40,891 543,950 -256,888
2010 2,212,255 8,823 558,666 -54,359
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 559,314 -52,703
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 576,593 -402,393
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 529,162 801,514
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 480,616 682,911
2005 1,800,300 20,384 468,960 13,382
2004 1,731,022 4,260 461,209 10,881
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 457,000 -33,920
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 453,967 -35,096
2001 1,594,999 26,523 451,503 -36,383
2000 1,549,518 79,340 446,211 -34,425
1999 1,450,318 109,761 439,261 -31,394
1998 1,375,130 295,560 433,447 -26,025
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 429,887 -31,571
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 430,765 -30,197
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 430,172 -28,122
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 426,996 -12,630
1993 1,209,242 240,176 420,244 -8,828
1992 1,152,781 252,666 412,878 -4,063
1991 1,114,033 86,721 410,830 -10,154
1990 1,063,508 219,270 409,177 -6,620
1989 1,027,238 84,415 406,111 -8,379
1988 995,278 101,314 404,285 -8,426
1987 959,875 111,220 399,159 -8,335
1986 925,334 70,988 390,821 -9,485
1985 885,670 118,791 379,231 -6,221
1984 844,956 190,045 366,768 -5,245
1983 807,122 146,095 355,375 -9,729
1982 774,823 97,495 319,664 -721
1981 748,371 54,656 330,237 -24,536
1980 724,111 51,685 332,464 -33,114
1979 691,773 181,028 324,943 -32,793
1978 646,411 268,974 316,724 -30,567
1977 638,242 -26,355 306,630 -28,275
1976 624,147 -25,965 294,267 -26,268
1975 608,655 -972 282,299 -24,389
1974 593,539 3,216 270,735 -24,242
1973 578,280 7,414 254,687 -17,502
1972 564,495 2,840 249,027 -17,610
1971 549,343 -5,497 239,610 -15,167
1970 533,300 39,116 230,117 -19,594
1969 514,800 46,778 219,114 -18,749
1968 497,682 57,274 209,454 -16,968
1967 479,552 64,307 199,223 -14,618
1966 463,397 54,443 191,122 -13,434
1965 429,002 61,397 182,560 -12,704
1964 406,334 48,207 174,549 -12,044
1963 398,972 41,960 166,555 -11,817
1962 383,406 39,431 159,155 -11,641
1961 368,207 35,654 151,485 -11,237
1960 363,517 27,673 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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