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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 71,619,863 people in Thailand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 71,565,981 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 1.65 times bigger than Thailand's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 2.29% 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 +3.36% per year vs +0.18% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.51% growth).

DR Congo vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Thailand
2100 436,237,219 45,708,431
2099 433,289,774 46,053,146
2098 430,252,622 46,403,189
2097 427,149,320 46,757,918
2096 423,961,963 47,118,652
2095 420,678,721 47,484,043
2094 417,304,547 47,853,561
2093 413,867,290 48,226,682
2092 410,362,003 48,605,235
2091 406,763,717 48,984,504
2090 403,089,566 49,368,049
2089 399,334,389 49,756,629
2088 395,507,774 50,142,276
2087 391,613,249 50,532,164
2086 387,639,503 50,925,294
2085 383,604,733 51,321,960
2084 379,495,246 51,724,454
2083 375,330,369 52,127,592
2082 371,124,615 52,533,368
2081 366,878,238 52,938,345
2080 362,574,665 53,347,733
2079 358,227,097 53,762,492
2078 353,821,014 54,177,529
2077 349,368,182 54,595,112
2076 344,866,731 55,015,291
2075 340,338,504 55,438,108
2074 335,761,691 55,867,914
2073 331,157,281 56,300,358
2072 326,505,656 56,735,274
2071 321,830,769 57,172,515
2070 317,104,580 57,616,731
2069 312,349,776 58,061,962
2068 307,566,932 58,512,248
2067 302,762,490 58,962,990
2066 297,932,241 59,413,893
2065 293,081,284 59,873,261
2064 288,211,987 60,331,851
2063 283,315,009 60,792,306
2062 278,399,192 61,257,068
2061 273,464,914 61,720,030
2060 268,520,814 62,187,380
2059 263,570,338 62,651,158
2058 258,622,778 63,113,332
2057 253,685,085 63,572,746
2056 248,748,321 64,027,520
2055 243,814,854 64,473,146
2054 238,885,417 64,912,210
2053 233,971,468 65,338,122
2052 229,073,420 65,758,061
2051 224,197,775 66,162,612
2050 219,354,949 66,552,915
2049 214,547,398 66,931,487
2048 209,774,448 67,291,479
2047 205,040,532 67,636,461
2046 200,341,405 67,967,131
2045 195,693,533 68,281,902
2044 191,087,342 68,579,656
2043 186,534,055 68,864,788
2042 182,033,706 69,133,982
2041 177,583,290 69,390,832
2040 173,191,594 69,626,857
2039 168,846,440 69,848,522
2038 164,551,895 70,056,903
2037 160,316,591 70,250,371
2036 156,099,100 70,429,677
2035 151,924,296 70,599,021
2034 147,782,785 70,751,094
2033 143,684,929 70,891,510
2032 139,642,368 71,019,665
2031 135,634,548 71,134,882
2030 131,685,113 71,241,584
2029 127,793,612 71,337,147
2028 123,956,913 71,423,119
2027 120,188,952 71,499,411
2026 116,482,769 71,565,981
2025 112,832,473 71,619,863
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 706,140 people (a 1% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th 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 85.3% to 219,354,949 people with a rank change from 14th to 8th. The population of Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,552,915 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 3.25% -0.07%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Thailand
Current population
118386491
71565981
Population rank 14/197 21/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.86%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
10.9 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
54.2 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
48.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,743 -132
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 -48,148
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 164/197
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 3,547,217 -26,968 -65,720 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/thailand | 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 Thailand 74.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 932,180 people) and 25.8% is from migration (a gain of 323,324 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 573K
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 (1960–2025, 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/thailand | 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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