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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 2.93 times bigger than the DR Congo's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 5.57% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

DR Congo vs United States: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo United States
2100 436,320,913 415,429,771
2099 433,372,904 414,829,167
2098 430,335,169 414,231,720
2097 427,231,271 413,576,381
2096 424,043,303 412,927,393
2095 420,759,430 412,225,379
2094 417,384,609 411,498,749
2093 413,946,692 410,785,729
2092 410,440,733 410,051,921
2091 406,841,757 409,320,183
2090 403,166,901 408,613,732
2089 399,411,004 407,885,645
2088 395,583,655 407,129,733
2087 391,688,383 406,421,298
2086 387,713,874 405,715,343
2085 383,678,330 405,059,379
2084 379,568,054 404,343,130
2083 375,402,379 403,612,785
2082 371,195,818 402,871,293
2081 366,948,626 402,054,554
2080 362,644,227 401,319,194
2079 358,295,825 400,554,914
2078 353,888,897 399,737,968
2077 349,435,210 398,906,565
2076 344,932,895 398,035,750
2075 340,403,800 397,109,170
2074 335,826,108 396,226,412
2073 331,220,816 395,307,725
2072 326,568,298 394,393,561
2071 321,892,514 393,415,363
2070 317,165,418 392,469,727
2069 312,409,702 391,479,981
2068 307,625,941 390,517,695
2067 302,820,577 389,543,856
2066 297,989,401 388,597,719
2065 293,137,514 387,685,327
2064 288,267,282 386,805,026
2063 283,369,365 385,911,917
2062 278,452,605 385,032,627
2061 273,517,380 384,170,837
2060 268,572,331 383,361,269
2059 263,620,905 382,542,030
2058 258,672,397 381,704,804
2057 253,733,756 380,907,023
2056 248,796,045 380,159,777
2055 243,861,631 379,430,756
2054 238,931,249 378,682,851
2053 234,016,357 377,878,421
2052 229,117,369 377,073,303
2051 224,240,788 376,229,840
2050 219,397,034 375,373,155
2049 214,588,560 374,493,150
2048 209,814,694 373,590,762
2047 205,079,870 372,626,259
2046 200,379,842 371,644,809
2045 195,731,078 370,602,914
2044 191,124,003 369,518,897
2043 186,569,843 368,375,680
2042 182,068,630 367,158,772
2041 177,617,360 365,937,822
2040 173,224,822 364,671,837
2039 168,878,834 363,367,337
2038 164,583,465 361,997,023
2037 160,347,349 360,606,236
2036 156,129,049 359,193,245
2035 151,953,443 357,750,686
2034 147,811,138 356,266,726
2033 143,712,496 354,775,032
2032 139,669,159 353,259,037
2031 135,660,570 351,721,511
2030 131,710,378 350,155,042
2029 127,818,130 348,564,667
2028 123,980,695 346,906,294
2027 120,212,011 345,257,605
2026 116,505,117 343,565,426
2025 112,854,120 341,784,857
2024 109,276,265 340,110,988
2023 105,789,731 334,914,895
2022 102,396,968 333,271,411
2021 99,148,932 331,893,745
2020 95,989,998 331,526,933
2019 92,947,442 328,329,953
2018 90,047,644 326,838,199
2017 87,083,398 325,122,128
2016 83,956,415 323,071,755
2015 81,035,531 320,738,994
2014 78,403,242 318,386,329
2013 75,789,395 316,059,947
2012 73,254,618 313,877,662
2011 70,849,311 311,583,481
2010 68,563,038 309,327,143
2009 66,412,044 306,771,529
2008 64,390,664 304,093,966
2007 62,477,752 301,231,207
2006 60,615,908 298,379,912
2005 58,775,724 295,516,599
2004 56,997,741 292,805,298
2003 55,343,867 290,107,933
2002 53,750,524 287,625,193
2001 52,132,646 284,968,955
2000 50,507,442 282,162,411
1999 48,912,971 279,294,713
1998 47,297,600 276,115,288
1997 46,029,902 272,911,760
1996 45,296,124 269,667,391
1995 44,433,704 266,557,091
1994 42,626,876 263,435,673
1993 40,656,336 260,255,352
1992 39,228,910 256,894,189
1991 37,925,817 253,492,503
1990 36,684,063 250,131,894
1989 35,486,866 246,819,222
1988 34,382,752 244,499,004
1987 33,298,904 242,288,936
1986 32,265,196 240,132,831
1985 31,264,816 237,923,734
1984 30,245,081 235,824,908
1983 29,250,963 233,792,014
1982 28,338,190 231,664,432
1981 27,500,515 229,465,744
1980 26,711,099 226,542,250
1979 25,886,782 225,055,487
1978 24,992,689 222,584,545
1977 24,229,061 220,239,425
1976 23,624,031 218,035,164
1975 23,021,101 215,973,199
1974 22,418,878 213,853,928
1973 21,827,665 211,908,788
1972 21,251,160 209,896,021
1971 20,695,569 207,660,677
1970 20,137,436 205,052,174
1969 19,570,445 202,676,946
1968 19,012,189 200,706,052
1967 18,462,782 198,712,056
1966 17,931,929 196,560,338
1965 17,427,802 194,302,963
1964 16,955,327 191,888,791
1963 16,507,599 189,241,798
1962 16,075,724 186,537,737
1961 15,662,374 183,691,481
1960 15,264,846 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/united-states | 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 States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo United States
2100 0.68% 0.14%
2099 0.71% 0.14%
2098 0.73% 0.16%
2097 0.75% 0.16%
2096 0.78% 0.17%
2095 0.81% 0.18%
2094 0.83% 0.17%
2093 0.85% 0.18%
2092 0.88% 0.18%
2091 0.91% 0.17%
2090 0.94% 0.18%
2089 0.97% 0.19%
2088 0.99% 0.17%
2087 1.03% 0.17%
2086 1.05% 0.16%
2085 1.08% 0.18%
2084 1.11% 0.18%
2083 1.13% 0.18%
2082 1.16% 0.2%
2081 1.19% 0.18%
2080 1.21% 0.19%
2079 1.25% 0.2%
2078 1.27% 0.21%
2077 1.31% 0.22%
2076 1.33% 0.23%
2075 1.36% 0.22%
2074 1.39% 0.23%
2073 1.42% 0.23%
2072 1.45% 0.25%
2071 1.49% 0.24%
2070 1.52% 0.25%
2069 1.56% 0.25%
2068 1.59% 0.25%
2067 1.62% 0.24%
2066 1.66% 0.24%
2065 1.69% 0.23%
2064 1.73% 0.23%
2063 1.77% 0.23%
2062 1.8% 0.22%
2061 1.84% 0.21%
2060 1.88% 0.21%
2059 1.91% 0.22%
2058 1.95% 0.21%
2057 1.98% 0.2%
2056 2.02% 0.19%
2055 2.06% 0.2%
2054 2.1% 0.21%
2053 2.14% 0.21%
2052 2.17% 0.22%
2051 2.21% 0.23%
2050 2.24% 0.23%
2049 2.28% 0.24%
2048 2.31% 0.26%
2047 2.35% 0.26%
2046 2.38% 0.28%
2045 2.41% 0.29%
2044 2.44% 0.31%
2043 2.47% 0.33%
2042 2.51% 0.33%
2041 2.54% 0.35%
2040 2.57% 0.36%
2039 2.61% 0.38%
2038 2.64% 0.39%
2037 2.7% 0.39%
2036 2.75% 0.4%
2035 2.8% 0.42%
2034 2.85% 0.42%
2033 2.89% 0.43%
2032 2.95% 0.44%
2031 3% 0.45%
2030 3.05% 0.46%
2029 3.1% 0.48%
2028 3.14% 0.48%
2027 3.18% 0.49%
2026 3.24% 0.52%
2025 3.27% 0.49%
2024 3.3% 1.55%
2023 3.31% 0.49%
2022 3.28% 0.42%
2021 3.29% 0.11%
2020 3.27% 0.97%
2019 3.22% 0.46%
2018 3.4% 0.53%
2017 3.72% 0.63%
2016 3.6% 0.73%
2015 3.36% 0.74%
2014 3.45% 0.74%
2013 3.46% 0.7%
2012 3.39% 0.74%
2011 3.33% 0.73%
2010 3.24% 0.83%
2009 3.14% 0.88%
2008 3.06% 0.95%
2007 3.07% 0.96%
2006 3.13% 0.97%
2005 3.12% 0.93%
2004 2.99% 0.93%
2003 2.96% 0.86%
2002 3.1% 0.93%
2001 3.22% 0.99%
2000 3.26% 1.03%
1999 3.42% 1.15%
1998 2.75% 1.17%
1997 1.62% 1.2%
1996 1.94% 1.17%
1995 4.24% 1.18%
1994 4.85% 1.22%
1993 3.64% 1.31%
1992 3.44% 1.34%
1991 3.38% 1.34%
1990 3.37% 1.34%
1989 3.21% 0.95%
1988 3.25% 0.91%
1987 3.2% 0.9%
1986 3.2% 0.93%
1985 3.37% 0.89%
1984 3.4% 0.87%
1983 3.22% 0.92%
1982 3.05% 0.96%
1981 2.96% 1.29%
1980 3.18% 0.66%
1979 3.58% 1.11%
1978 3.15% 1.06%
1977 2.56% 1.01%
1976 2.62% 0.95%
1975 2.69% 0.99%
1974 2.71% 0.92%
1973 2.71% 0.96%
1972 2.68% 1.08%
1971 2.77% 1.27%
1970 2.9% 1.17%
1969 2.94% 0.98%
1968 2.98% 1%
1967 2.96% 1.09%
1966 2.89% 1.16%
1965 2.79% 1.26%
1964 2.71% 1.4%
1963 2.69% 1.45%
1962 2.64% 1.55%
1961 2.6% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

DR Congo United States
Current population
117507801
344023146
Population rank 15/197 3/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 4.15%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
18.9 seconds
One birth every
7.22 seconds
8.8 seconds
One death every
35 seconds
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 134/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -27,309 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 159/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 1,230,663
2024 - -26,968 - 1,286,132
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 502,372 1,322,668
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 399,926 1,319,009
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 199,137 674,787
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 208,862 329,769
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 887,476 1,774,500
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 955,022 1,764,961
2017 2,883,245 176,290 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 2,753,687 440,748 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 2,580,251 36,966 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 2,489,378 121,097 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 2,405,462 53,668 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 2,310,679 40,891 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 2,212,255 8,823 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 1,800,300 20,384 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 1,731,022 4,260 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 1,594,999 26,523 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 1,549,518 79,340 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 1,450,318 109,761 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 1,375,130 295,560 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 1,209,242 240,176 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 1,152,781 252,666 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 1,114,033 86,721 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 1,063,508 219,270 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 1,027,238 84,415 1,875,826 400,998
1988 995,278 101,314 1,735,943 460,778
1987 959,875 111,220 1,720,252 480,815
1986 925,334 70,988 1,656,917 493,082
1985 885,670 118,791 1,689,258 598,777
1984 844,956 190,045 1,627,192 622,793
1983 807,122 146,095 1,636,544 662,840
1982 774,823 97,495 1,714,317 600,149
1981 748,371 54,656 1,652,153 583,070
1980 724,111 51,685 1,608,450 595,916
1979 691,773 181,028 1,597,894 503,559
1978 646,411 268,974 1,402,283 556,521
1977 638,242 -26,355 1,431,556 577,060
1976 624,147 -25,965 1,264,604 635,590
1975 608,655 -972 1,252,644 655,078
1974 593,539 3,216 1,218,968 706,978
1973 578,280 7,414 1,165,499 783,163
1972 564,495 2,840 1,301,355 833,543
1971 549,343 -5,497 1,640,519 833,549
1970 533,300 39,116 1,824,965 744,902
1969 514,800 46,778 1,702,487 523,740
1968 497,682 57,274 1,565,507 594,514
1967 479,552 64,307 1,669,181 585,410
1966 463,397 54,443 1,749,387 637,692
1965 429,002 61,397 1,943,030 644,902
1964 406,334 48,207 2,245,099 618,635
1963 398,972 41,960 2,289,826 639,495
1962 383,406 39,431 2,406,337 625,617
1961 368,207 35,654 2,571,681 580,333
1960 363,517 27,673 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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