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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 1.64 times bigger than Thailand's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 2.28% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

DR Congo vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Thailand
2100 436,320,913 45,712,111
2099 433,372,904 46,056,854
2098 430,335,169 46,406,925
2097 427,231,271 46,761,683
2096 424,043,303 47,122,446
2095 420,759,430 47,487,866
2094 417,384,609 47,857,414
2093 413,946,692 48,230,566
2092 410,440,733 48,609,149
2091 406,841,757 48,988,448
2090 403,166,901 49,372,024
2089 399,411,004 49,760,635
2088 395,583,655 50,146,313
2087 391,688,383 50,536,233
2086 387,713,874 50,929,394
2085 383,678,330 51,326,092
2084 379,568,054 51,728,619
2083 375,402,379 52,131,789
2082 371,195,818 52,537,598
2081 366,948,626 52,942,608
2080 362,644,227 53,352,029
2079 358,295,825 53,766,821
2078 353,888,897 54,181,891
2077 349,435,210 54,599,508
2076 344,932,895 55,019,721
2075 340,403,800 55,442,571
2074 335,826,108 55,872,412
2073 331,220,816 56,304,891
2072 326,568,298 56,739,842
2071 321,892,514 57,177,118
2070 317,165,418 57,621,370
2069 312,409,702 58,066,637
2068 307,625,941 58,516,959
2067 302,820,577 58,967,738
2066 297,989,401 59,418,676
2065 293,137,514 59,878,082
2064 288,267,282 60,336,709
2063 283,369,365 60,797,201
2062 278,452,605 61,262,000
2061 273,517,380 61,724,999
2060 268,572,331 62,192,387
2059 263,620,905 62,656,203
2058 258,672,397 63,118,413
2057 253,733,756 63,577,864
2056 248,796,045 64,032,675
2055 243,861,631 64,478,337
2054 238,931,249 64,917,436
2053 234,016,357 65,343,383
2052 229,117,369 65,763,356
2051 224,240,788 66,167,939
2050 219,397,034 66,558,274
2049 214,588,560 66,936,876
2048 209,814,694 67,296,897
2047 205,079,870 67,641,907
2046 200,379,842 67,972,603
2045 195,731,078 68,287,399
2044 191,124,003 68,585,177
2043 186,569,843 68,870,333
2042 182,068,630 69,139,548
2041 177,617,360 69,396,419
2040 173,224,822 69,632,464
2039 168,878,834 69,854,146
2038 164,583,465 70,062,543
2037 160,347,349 70,256,027
2036 156,129,049 70,435,348
2035 151,953,443 70,604,705
2034 147,811,138 70,756,791
2033 143,712,496 70,897,217
2032 139,669,159 71,025,384
2031 135,660,570 71,140,609
2030 131,710,378 71,247,320
2029 127,818,130 71,342,891
2028 123,980,695 71,428,869
2027 120,212,011 71,505,168
2026 116,505,117 71,571,743
2025 112,854,120 71,625,629
2024 109,276,265 71,668,011
2023 105,789,731 71,702,435
2022 102,396,968 71,735,329
2021 99,148,932 71,727,332
2020 95,989,998 71,641,484
2019 92,947,442 71,522,271
2018 90,047,644 71,376,079
2017 87,083,398 71,160,187
2016 83,956,415 70,859,841
2015 81,035,531 70,540,795
2014 78,403,242 70,216,367
2013 75,789,395 69,845,114
2012 73,254,618 69,436,098
2011 70,849,311 69,007,208
2010 68,563,038 68,579,447
2009 66,412,044 68,121,080
2008 64,390,664 67,619,830
2007 62,477,752 67,102,394
2006 60,615,908 66,567,687
2005 58,775,724 66,017,420
2004 56,997,741 65,452,047
2003 55,343,867 64,868,166
2002 53,750,524 64,266,437
2001 52,132,646 63,651,141
2000 50,507,442 63,007,815
1999 48,912,971 62,299,043
1998 47,297,600 61,522,630
1997 46,029,902 60,724,584
1996 45,296,124 59,920,064
1995 44,433,704 59,098,232
1994 42,626,876 58,260,854
1993 40,656,336 57,408,198
1992 39,228,910 56,528,834
1991 37,925,817 55,637,434
1990 36,684,063 54,738,329
1989 35,486,866 53,848,956
1988 34,382,752 52,969,595
1987 33,298,904 52,074,105
1986 32,265,196 51,177,834
1985 31,264,816 50,270,753
1984 30,245,081 49,351,708
1983 29,250,963 48,423,309
1982 28,338,190 47,494,577
1981 27,500,515 46,575,855
1980 26,711,099 45,650,022
1979 25,886,782 44,718,434
1978 24,992,689 43,788,976
1977 24,229,061 42,843,974
1976 23,624,031 41,896,504
1975 23,021,101 40,940,005
1974 22,418,878 39,952,891
1973 21,827,665 38,947,787
1972 21,251,160 37,933,929
1971 20,695,569 36,937,387
1970 20,137,436 35,954,408
1969 19,570,445 34,973,782
1968 19,012,189 34,002,560
1967 18,462,782 33,037,801
1966 17,931,929 32,086,071
1965 17,427,802 31,149,337
1964 16,955,327 30,232,141
1963 16,507,599 29,342,322
1962 16,075,724 28,481,040
1961 15,662,374 27,650,334
1960 15,264,846 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Thailand
2100 0.68% -0.75%
2099 0.71% -0.75%
2098 0.73% -0.76%
2097 0.75% -0.77%
2096 0.78% -0.77%
2095 0.81% -0.77%
2094 0.83% -0.77%
2093 0.85% -0.78%
2092 0.88% -0.77%
2091 0.91% -0.78%
2090 0.94% -0.78%
2089 0.97% -0.77%
2088 0.99% -0.77%
2087 1.03% -0.77%
2086 1.05% -0.77%
2085 1.08% -0.78%
2084 1.11% -0.77%
2083 1.13% -0.77%
2082 1.16% -0.76%
2081 1.19% -0.77%
2080 1.21% -0.77%
2079 1.25% -0.77%
2078 1.27% -0.76%
2077 1.31% -0.76%
2076 1.33% -0.76%
2075 1.36% -0.77%
2074 1.39% -0.77%
2073 1.42% -0.77%
2072 1.45% -0.76%
2071 1.49% -0.77%
2070 1.52% -0.77%
2069 1.56% -0.77%
2068 1.59% -0.76%
2067 1.62% -0.76%
2066 1.66% -0.77%
2065 1.69% -0.76%
2064 1.73% -0.76%
2063 1.77% -0.76%
2062 1.8% -0.75%
2061 1.84% -0.75%
2060 1.88% -0.74%
2059 1.91% -0.73%
2058 1.95% -0.72%
2057 1.98% -0.71%
2056 2.02% -0.69%
2055 2.06% -0.68%
2054 2.1% -0.65%
2053 2.14% -0.64%
2052 2.17% -0.61%
2051 2.21% -0.59%
2050 2.24% -0.57%
2049 2.28% -0.53%
2048 2.31% -0.51%
2047 2.35% -0.49%
2046 2.38% -0.46%
2045 2.41% -0.43%
2044 2.44% -0.41%
2043 2.47% -0.39%
2042 2.51% -0.37%
2041 2.54% -0.34%
2040 2.57% -0.32%
2039 2.61% -0.3%
2038 2.64% -0.28%
2037 2.7% -0.25%
2036 2.75% -0.24%
2035 2.8% -0.21%
2034 2.85% -0.2%
2033 2.89% -0.18%
2032 2.95% -0.16%
2031 3% -0.15%
2030 3.05% -0.13%
2029 3.1% -0.12%
2028 3.14% -0.11%
2027 3.18% -0.09%
2026 3.24% -0.08%
2025 3.27% -0.06%
2024 3.3% -0.05%
2023 3.31% -0.05%
2022 3.28% 0.01%
2021 3.29% 0.12%
2020 3.27% 0.17%
2019 3.22% 0.2%
2018 3.4% 0.3%
2017 3.72% 0.42%
2016 3.6% 0.45%
2015 3.36% 0.46%
2014 3.45% 0.53%
2013 3.46% 0.59%
2012 3.39% 0.62%
2011 3.33% 0.62%
2010 3.24% 0.67%
2009 3.14% 0.74%
2008 3.06% 0.77%
2007 3.07% 0.8%
2006 3.13% 0.83%
2005 3.12% 0.86%
2004 2.99% 0.9%
2003 2.96% 0.94%
2002 3.1% 0.97%
2001 3.22% 1.02%
2000 3.26% 1.14%
1999 3.42% 1.26%
1998 2.75% 1.31%
1997 1.62% 1.34%
1996 1.94% 1.39%
1995 4.24% 1.44%
1994 4.85% 1.49%
1993 3.64% 1.56%
1992 3.44% 1.6%
1991 3.38% 1.64%
1990 3.37% 1.65%
1989 3.21% 1.66%
1988 3.25% 1.72%
1987 3.2% 1.75%
1986 3.2% 1.8%
1985 3.37% 1.86%
1984 3.4% 1.92%
1983 3.22% 1.96%
1982 3.05% 1.97%
1981 2.96% 2.03%
1980 3.18% 2.08%
1979 3.58% 2.12%
1978 3.15% 2.21%
1977 2.56% 2.26%
1976 2.62% 2.34%
1975 2.69% 2.47%
1974 2.71% 2.58%
1973 2.71% 2.67%
1972 2.68% 2.7%
1971 2.77% 2.73%
1970 2.9% 2.8%
1969 2.94% 2.86%
1968 2.98% 2.92%
1967 2.96% 2.97%
1966 2.89% 3.01%
1965 2.79% 3.03%
1964 2.71% 3.03%
1963 2.69% 3.02%
1962 2.64% 3%
1961 2.6% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Thailand
Current population
117507801
71571743
Population rank 15/197 21/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.86%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
15.3 minutes
One birth every
7.22 seconds
53.3 seconds
One death every
35 seconds
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,552 -94
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 168/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +27,509
Net migration rank 159/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 27,509
2024 - -26,968 - 23,321
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 -46,105 19,648
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 -61,046 21,683
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 57,382 -2,093
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 84,107 32,277
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 116,867 5,221
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 159,383 10,984
2017 2,883,245 176,290 194,695 66,805
2016 2,753,687 440,748 226,255 112,978
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 266,362 32,500
2014 2,580,251 36,966 294,628 55,358
2013 2,489,378 121,097 325,059 67,452
2012 2,405,462 53,668 351,485 74,033
2011 2,310,679 40,891 365,670 66,607
2010 2,212,255 8,823 370,466 52,791
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 382,636 110,883
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 401,730 107,333
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 425,362 100,486
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 441,211 102,362
2005 1,800,300 20,384 456,378 100,542
2004 1,731,022 4,260 466,542 107,199
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 488,003 105,917
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 504,299 105,215
2001 1,594,999 26,523 524,230 96,817
2000 1,549,518 79,340 543,884 121,640
1999 1,450,318 109,761 578,073 173,924
1998 1,375,130 295,560 617,318 183,471
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 644,834 150,411
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 661,397 152,397
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 682,703 147,226
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 712,589 132,271
1993 1,209,242 240,176 737,696 122,746
1992 1,152,781 252,666 754,999 143,318
1991 1,114,033 86,721 760,508 124,034
1990 1,063,508 219,270 760,808 152,916
1989 1,027,238 84,415 774,563 90,497
1988 995,278 101,314 765,252 128,469
1987 959,875 111,220 774,498 122,791
1986 925,334 70,988 783,430 111,820
1985 885,670 118,791 776,935 141,963
1984 844,956 190,045 779,856 139,345
1983 807,122 146,095 794,239 143,393
1982 774,823 97,495 817,951 101,885
1981 748,371 54,656 839,297 78,337
1980 724,111 51,685 845,575 88,478
1979 691,773 181,028 843,434 85,693
1978 646,411 268,974 847,799 82,011
1977 638,242 -26,355 871,232 88,937
1976 624,147 -25,965 894,072 40,656
1975 608,655 -972 911,980 66,306
1974 593,539 3,216 923,151 72,801
1973 578,280 7,414 933,540 80,704
1972 564,495 2,840 940,420 73,082
1971 549,343 -5,497 936,215 43,400
1970 533,300 39,116 937,116 49,221
1969 514,800 46,778 948,314 26,551
1968 497,682 57,274 953,806 13,718
1967 479,552 64,307 944,980 17,005
1966 463,397 54,443 929,469 12,016
1965 429,002 61,397 909,000 22,995
1964 406,334 48,207 885,137 17,249
1963 398,972 41,960 860,728 16,494
1962 383,406 39,431 828,741 16,605
1961 368,207 35,654 801,140 14,968
1960 363,517 27,673 774,190 6,886

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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