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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 1.67 times bigger than the United Kingdom's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 2.26% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% 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 436,320,913 74,700,585
2099 433,372,904 74,831,175
2098 430,335,169 74,950,267
2097 427,231,271 75,064,397
2096 424,043,303 75,176,691
2095 420,759,430 75,287,063
2094 417,384,609 75,383,856
2093 413,946,692 75,482,205
2092 410,440,733 75,575,769
2091 406,841,757 75,666,091
2090 403,166,901 75,753,129
2089 399,411,004 75,835,723
2088 395,583,655 75,907,614
2087 391,688,383 75,978,712
2086 387,713,874 76,046,742
2085 383,678,330 76,105,680
2084 379,568,054 76,156,223
2083 375,402,379 76,205,894
2082 371,195,818 76,246,844
2081 366,948,626 76,274,040
2080 362,644,227 76,306,205
2079 358,295,825 76,334,949
2078 353,888,897 76,353,484
2077 349,435,210 76,371,123
2076 344,932,895 76,373,520
2075 340,403,800 76,386,071
2074 335,826,108 76,397,426
2073 331,220,816 76,406,554
2072 326,568,298 76,398,941
2071 321,892,514 76,388,223
2070 317,165,418 76,378,505
2069 312,409,702 76,371,827
2068 307,625,941 76,370,973
2067 302,820,577 76,363,548
2066 297,989,401 76,356,638
2065 293,137,514 76,355,841
2064 288,267,282 76,352,770
2063 283,369,365 76,353,175
2062 278,452,605 76,346,535
2061 273,517,380 76,344,206
2060 268,572,331 76,344,725
2059 263,620,905 76,345,215
2058 258,672,397 76,326,961
2057 253,733,756 76,307,006
2056 248,796,045 76,274,247
2055 243,861,631 76,235,304
2054 238,931,249 76,167,710
2053 234,016,357 76,094,051
2052 229,117,369 76,001,979
2051 224,240,788 75,895,690
2050 219,397,034 75,777,445
2049 214,588,560 75,646,044
2048 209,814,694 75,499,380
2047 205,079,870 75,338,951
2046 200,379,842 75,171,300
2045 195,731,078 74,993,186
2044 191,124,003 74,807,530
2043 186,569,843 74,607,485
2042 182,068,630 74,407,783
2041 177,617,360 74,203,292
2040 173,224,822 73,994,525
2039 168,878,834 73,782,112
2038 164,583,465 73,559,085
2037 160,347,349 73,335,723
2036 156,129,049 73,101,646
2035 151,953,443 72,850,722
2034 147,811,138 72,597,177
2033 143,712,496 72,322,802
2032 139,669,159 72,046,316
2031 135,660,570 71,757,868
2030 131,710,378 71,442,811
2029 127,818,130 71,123,782
2028 123,980,695 70,783,199
2027 120,212,011 70,421,923
2026 116,505,117 70,055,911
2025 112,854,120 69,658,188
2024 109,276,265 69,226,000
2023 105,789,731 68,492,000
2022 102,396,968 67,604,000
2021 99,148,932 66,984,000
2020 95,989,998 66,744,000
2019 92,947,442 66,631,000
2018 90,047,644 66,289,000
2017 87,083,398 65,966,000
2016 83,956,415 65,607,000
2015 81,035,531 65,088,000
2014 78,403,242 64,620,000
2013 75,789,395 64,139,000
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th 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 86.7% to 219,397,034 people with a rank change from 15th to 8th. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 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 76.4M 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 3.27% 0.62%
2024 3.3% 1.07%
2023 3.31% 1.31%
2022 3.28% 0.93%
2021 3.29% 0.36%
2020 3.27% 0.17%
2019 3.22% 0.52%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

DR Congo United Kingdom
Current population
117507801
70154914
Population rank 15/197 22/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.85%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
43 seconds
One birth every
7.22 seconds
45.9 seconds
One death every
35 seconds
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 97/197
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 - -26,968 - 417,114
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 34,589 445,523
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 39,751 487,029
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 30,612 462,967
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 -4,272 144,221
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 108,342 232,727
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 119,321 259,744
2017 2,883,245 176,290 145,125 272,311
2016 2,753,687 440,748 177,139 324,649
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 175,738 347,839
2014 2,580,251 36,966 206,784 306,091
2013 2,489,378 121,097 198,830 237,272
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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 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 480K
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 (1960–2024, 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/united-kingdom | 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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