Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 4.38 times bigger than Syria's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 1.74% 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 +3.38% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

DR Congo vs Syria: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Syria
2100 436,320,913 44,620,090
2099 433,372,904 44,690,260
2098 430,335,169 44,750,249
2097 427,231,271 44,813,148
2096 424,043,303 44,867,740
2095 420,759,430 44,895,489
2094 417,384,609 44,945,231
2093 413,946,692 44,974,311
2092 410,440,733 45,003,795
2091 406,841,757 45,016,478
2090 403,166,901 45,048,083
2089 399,411,004 45,047,102
2088 395,583,655 45,041,864
2087 391,688,383 45,049,516
2086 387,713,874 45,068,928
2085 383,678,330 45,034,847
2084 379,568,054 44,999,929
2083 375,402,379 44,971,600
2082 371,195,818 44,910,859
2081 366,948,626 44,843,908
2080 362,644,227 44,744,718
2079 358,295,825 44,687,371
2078 353,888,897 44,649,760
2077 349,435,210 44,604,175
2076 344,932,895 44,520,132
2075 340,403,800 44,426,423
2074 335,826,108 44,328,795
2073 331,220,816 44,221,016
2072 326,568,298 44,084,262
2071 321,892,514 43,939,848
2070 317,165,418 43,795,999
2069 312,409,702 43,648,130
2068 307,625,941 43,465,442
2067 302,820,577 43,271,173
2066 297,989,401 43,060,752
2065 293,137,514 42,810,442
2064 288,267,282 42,559,554
2063 283,369,365 42,311,907
2062 278,452,605 42,062,193
2061 273,517,380 41,808,082
2060 268,572,331 41,522,274
2059 263,620,905 41,208,825
2058 258,672,397 40,925,728
2057 253,733,756 40,643,453
2056 248,796,045 40,332,578
2055 243,861,631 40,026,632
2054 238,931,249 39,691,425
2053 234,016,357 39,348,020
2052 229,117,369 39,045,268
2051 224,240,788 38,733,827
2050 219,397,034 38,410,423
2049 214,588,560 38,089,455
2048 209,814,694 37,784,449
2047 205,079,870 37,492,636
2046 200,379,842 37,181,526
2045 195,731,078 36,843,579
2044 191,124,003 36,526,509
2043 186,569,843 36,188,225
2042 182,068,630 35,825,419
2041 177,617,360 35,447,414
2040 173,224,822 35,042,107
2039 168,878,834 34,626,945
2038 164,583,465 34,183,740
2037 160,347,349 33,703,682
2036 156,129,049 33,223,843
2035 151,953,443 32,696,648
2034 147,811,138 32,148,814
2033 143,712,496 31,562,427
2032 139,669,159 30,967,322
2031 135,660,570 30,329,874
2030 131,710,378 29,672,629
2029 127,818,130 28,949,535
2028 123,980,695 28,217,748
2027 120,212,011 27,428,807
2026 116,505,117 26,607,148
2025 112,854,120 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th 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 86.7% to 219,397,034 people with a rank change from 15th to 8th. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 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 45.1M 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 3.27% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Syria
Current population
117507801
26829400
Population rank 15/197 56/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.32%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
7.22 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
35 seconds
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 6/197
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 - -26,968 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 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 480K
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 (1960–2024, 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/syria | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.