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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 1.69 times bigger than the United Kingdom's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 2.27% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

DR Congo vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo United Kingdom
2100 436,237,219 74,517,005
2099 433,289,774 74,647,273
2098 430,252,622 74,766,073
2097 427,149,320 74,879,923
2096 423,961,963 74,991,940
2095 420,678,721 75,102,041
2094 417,304,547 75,198,597
2093 413,867,290 75,296,704
2092 410,362,003 75,390,038
2091 406,763,717 75,480,137
2090 403,089,566 75,566,962
2089 399,334,389 75,649,353
2088 395,507,774 75,721,067
2087 391,613,249 75,791,990
2086 387,639,503 75,859,854
2085 383,604,733 75,918,647
2084 379,495,246 75,969,065
2083 375,330,369 76,018,614
2082 371,124,615 76,059,464
2081 366,878,238 76,086,593
2080 362,574,665 76,118,679
2079 358,227,097 76,147,352
2078 353,821,014 76,165,841
2077 349,368,182 76,183,437
2076 344,866,731 76,185,828
2075 340,338,504 76,198,349
2074 335,761,691 76,209,676
2073 331,157,281 76,218,781
2072 326,505,656 76,211,187
2071 321,830,769 76,200,495
2070 317,104,580 76,190,801
2069 312,349,776 76,184,140
2068 307,566,932 76,183,288
2067 302,762,490 76,175,881
2066 297,932,241 76,168,987
2065 293,081,284 76,168,193
2064 288,211,987 76,165,129
2063 283,315,009 76,165,534
2062 278,399,192 76,158,910
2061 273,464,914 76,156,587
2060 268,520,814 76,157,104
2059 263,570,338 76,157,593
2058 258,622,778 76,139,384
2057 253,685,085 76,119,478
2056 248,748,321 76,086,799
2055 243,814,854 76,047,952
2054 238,885,417 75,980,524
2053 233,971,468 75,907,047
2052 229,073,420 75,815,200
2051 224,197,775 75,709,173
2050 219,354,949 75,591,218
2049 214,547,398 75,460,140
2048 209,774,448 75,313,837
2047 205,040,532 75,153,802
2046 200,341,405 74,986,563
2045 195,693,533 74,808,886
2044 191,087,342 74,623,687
2043 186,534,055 74,424,133
2042 182,033,706 74,224,922
2041 177,583,290 74,020,934
2040 173,191,594 73,812,680
2039 168,846,440 73,600,788
2038 164,551,895 73,378,310
2037 160,316,591 73,155,497
2036 156,099,100 72,921,995
2035 151,924,296 72,671,687
2034 147,782,785 72,418,766
2033 143,684,929 72,145,065
2032 139,642,368 71,869,259
2031 135,634,548 71,581,519
2030 131,685,113 71,267,237
2029 127,793,612 70,948,992
2028 123,956,913 70,609,246
2027 120,188,952 70,248,858
2026 116,482,769 69,883,746
2025 112,832,473 69,487,000
2024 109,276,265 69,281,000
2023 105,789,731 68,526,000
2022 102,396,968 67,636,000
2021 99,148,932 66,978,000
2020 95,989,998 66,740,000
2019 92,947,442 66,628,000
2018 90,047,644 66,287,000
2017 87,083,398 65,964,000
2016 83,956,415 65,606,000
2015 81,035,531 65,087,000
2014 78,403,242 64,619,000
2013 75,789,395 64,138,000
2012 73,254,618 63,711,000
2011 70,849,311 63,258,810
2010 68,563,038 62,766,365
2009 66,412,044 62,276,270
2008 64,390,664 61,806,995
2007 62,477,752 61,322,463
2006 60,615,908 60,846,820
2005 58,775,724 60,401,206
2004 56,997,741 59,987,905
2003 55,343,867 59,647,577
2002 53,750,524 59,370,479
2001 52,132,646 59,119,673
2000 50,507,442 58,892,514
1999 48,912,971 58,682,466
1998 47,297,600 58,487,141
1997 46,029,902 58,316,954
1996 45,296,124 58,166,950
1995 44,433,704 58,019,030
1994 42,626,876 57,865,745
1993 40,656,336 57,718,614
1992 39,228,910 57,580,402
1991 37,925,817 57,424,897
1990 36,684,063 57,247,586
1989 35,486,866 57,076,711
1988 34,382,752 56,928,327
1987 33,298,904 56,802,050
1986 32,265,196 56,681,396
1985 31,264,816 56,550,268
1984 30,245,081 56,422,072
1983 29,250,963 56,332,848
1982 28,338,190 56,313,641
1981 27,500,515 56,333,829
1980 26,711,099 56,314,216
1979 25,886,782 56,246,951
1978 24,992,689 56,196,504
1977 24,229,061 56,193,492
1976 23,624,031 56,211,968
1975 23,021,101 56,225,800
1974 22,418,878 56,229,974
1973 21,827,665 56,194,527
1972 21,251,160 56,086,065
1971 20,695,569 55,896,223
1970 20,137,436 55,663,250
1969 19,570,445 55,441,750
1968 19,012,189 55,211,700
1967 18,462,782 54,943,600
1966 17,931,929 54,648,500
1965 17,427,802 54,348,050
1964 16,955,327 54,000,000
1963 16,507,599 53,650,000
1962 16,075,724 53,250,000
1961 15,662,374 52,800,000
1960 15,264,846 52,400,000

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 76.2M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo United Kingdom
2100 0.68% -0.17%
2099 0.71% -0.16%
2098 0.73% -0.15%
2097 0.75% -0.15%
2096 0.78% -0.15%
2095 0.81% -0.13%
2094 0.83% -0.13%
2093 0.85% -0.12%
2092 0.88% -0.12%
2091 0.91% -0.11%
2090 0.94% -0.11%
2089 0.97% -0.09%
2088 0.99% -0.09%
2087 1.03% -0.09%
2086 1.05% -0.08%
2085 1.08% -0.07%
2084 1.11% -0.07%
2083 1.13% -0.05%
2082 1.16% -0.04%
2081 1.19% -0.04%
2080 1.21% -0.04%
2079 1.25% -0.02%
2078 1.27% -0.02%
2077 1.31% -0.003%
2076 1.33% -0.02%
2075 1.36% -0.01%
2074 1.39% -0.01%
2073 1.42% 0.01%
2072 1.45% 0.01%
2071 1.49% 0.01%
2070 1.52% 0.009%
2069 1.56% 0.001%
2068 1.59% 0.01%
2067 1.62% 0.009%
2066 1.66% 0.001%
2065 1.69% 0.004%
2064 1.73% -0%
2063 1.77% 0.009%
2062 1.8% 0.003%
2061 1.84% -0.001%
2060 1.88% -0.001%
2059 1.91% 0.02%
2058 1.95% 0.03%
2057 1.98% 0.04%
2056 2.02% 0.05%
2055 2.06% 0.09%
2054 2.1% 0.1%
2053 2.14% 0.12%
2052 2.17% 0.14%
2051 2.21% 0.16%
2050 2.24% 0.17%
2049 2.28% 0.19%
2048 2.31% 0.21%
2047 2.35% 0.22%
2046 2.38% 0.24%
2045 2.41% 0.25%
2044 2.44% 0.27%
2043 2.47% 0.27%
2042 2.51% 0.28%
2041 2.54% 0.28%
2040 2.57% 0.29%
2039 2.61% 0.3%
2038 2.64% 0.3%
2037 2.7% 0.32%
2036 2.75% 0.34%
2035 2.8% 0.35%
2034 2.85% 0.38%
2033 2.89% 0.38%
2032 2.95% 0.4%
2031 3% 0.44%
2030 3.05% 0.45%
2029 3.1% 0.48%
2028 3.14% 0.51%
2027 3.18% 0.52%
2026 3.24% 0.57%
2025 3.25% 0.3%
2024 3.3% 1.1%
2023 3.31% 1.32%
2022 3.28% 0.98%
2021 3.29% 0.36%
2020 3.27% 0.17%
2019 3.22% 0.51%
2018 3.4% 0.49%
2017 3.72% 0.55%
2016 3.6% 0.8%
2015 3.36% 0.72%
2014 3.45% 0.75%
2013 3.46% 0.67%
2012 3.39% 0.71%
2011 3.33% 0.78%
2010 3.24% 0.79%
2009 3.14% 0.76%
2008 3.06% 0.79%
2007 3.07% 0.78%
2006 3.13% 0.74%
2005 3.12% 0.69%
2004 2.99% 0.57%
2003 2.96% 0.47%
2002 3.1% 0.42%
2001 3.22% 0.39%
2000 3.26% 0.36%
1999 3.42% 0.33%
1998 2.75% 0.29%
1997 1.62% 0.26%
1996 1.94% 0.25%
1995 4.24% 0.26%
1994 4.85% 0.25%
1993 3.64% 0.24%
1992 3.44% 0.27%
1991 3.38% 0.31%
1990 3.37% 0.3%
1989 3.21% 0.26%
1988 3.25% 0.22%
1987 3.2% 0.21%
1986 3.2% 0.23%
1985 3.37% 0.23%
1984 3.4% 0.16%
1983 3.22% 0.03%
1982 3.05% -0.04%
1981 2.96% 0.03%
1980 3.18% 0.12%
1979 3.58% 0.09%
1978 3.15% 0.005%
1977 2.56% -0.03%
1976 2.62% -0.02%
1975 2.69% -0.007%
1974 2.71% 0.06%
1973 2.71% 0.19%
1972 2.68% 0.34%
1971 2.77% 0.42%
1970 2.9% 0.4%
1969 2.94% 0.42%
1968 2.98% 0.49%
1967 2.96% 0.54%
1966 2.89% 0.55%
1965 2.79% 0.64%
1964 2.71% 0.65%
1963 2.69% 0.75%
1962 2.64% 0.85%
1961 2.6% 0.76%

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

DR Congo United Kingdom
Current population
118386491
70071289
Population rank 14/197 22/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.84%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
2.56 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +564
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 145/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 +389,911
Net migration rank 159/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 389,911
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 13,233 417,114
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 34,606 445,523
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 39,770 487,029
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 30,609 462,967
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -4,272 144,221
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 108,338 232,727
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 119,317 259,744
2017 2,883,245 176,290 145,121 272,311
2016 2,753,687 440,748 177,136 324,649
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 175,735 347,839
2014 2,580,251 36,966 206,781 306,091
2013 2,489,378 121,097 198,827 237,272
2012 2,405,462 53,668 248,473 172,088
2011 2,310,679 40,891 259,361 228,773
2010 2,212,255 8,823 251,066 274,811
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 230,422 249,639
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 216,325 263,390
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 196,232 309,385
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 176,455 288,923
2005 1,800,300 20,384 144,963 308,279
2004 1,731,022 4,260 131,974 276,077
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 89,471 211,846
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 65,308 203,577
2001 1,594,999 26,523 65,032 175,133
2000 1,549,518 79,340 70,671 153,917
1999 1,450,318 109,761 64,551 152,653
1998 1,375,130 295,560 87,730 125,541
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 99,138 59,723
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 98,884 54,964
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 87,028 61,385
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 127,304 45,339
1993 1,209,242 240,176 103,893 27,403
1992 1,152,781 252,666 149,709 17,846
1991 1,114,033 86,721 143,562 27,601
1990 1,063,508 219,270 154,569 57,132
1989 1,027,238 84,415 119,861 49,586
1988 995,278 101,314 136,628 13,952
1987 959,875 111,220 136,325 8,266
1986 925,334 70,988 90,690 41,836
1985 885,670 118,791 79,170 83,164
1984 844,956 190,045 84,633 71,107
1983 807,122 146,095 61,966 27,063
1982 774,823 97,495 56,314 -61,152
1981 748,371 54,656 73,234 -83,876
1980 724,111 51,685 95,734 -25,187
1979 691,773 181,028 61,872 11,255
1978 646,411 268,974 16,859 3,783
1977 638,242 -26,355 0 -21,636
1976 624,147 -25,965 -5,621 -19,135
1975 608,655 -972 33,735 -40,241
1974 593,539 3,216 67,476 -65,710
1973 578,280 7,414 112,389 -33,840
1972 564,495 2,840 162,650 -1,406
1971 549,343 -5,497 257,123 1,175
1970 533,300 39,116 244,918 -15,254
1969 514,800 46,778 260,577 -60,655
1968 497,682 57,274 292,622 -38,852
1967 479,552 64,307 346,145 -39,659
1966 463,397 54,443 333,356 -27,935
1965 429,002 61,397 364,132 -24,955
1964 406,334 48,207 405,000 -23,885
1963 398,972 41,960 337,995 8,271
1962 383,406 39,431 340,800 76,443
1961 368,207 35,654 311,519 52,295
1960 363,517 27,673 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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/united-kingdom | 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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