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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 109,276,265 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 117,507,801 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 125,543 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 15th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 1.42% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.38% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (93.9% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

DR Congo vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Vatican
2100 436,320,913 2,521
2099 433,372,904 2,506
2098 430,335,169 2,497
2097 427,231,271 2,482
2096 424,043,303 2,469
2095 420,759,430 2,452
2094 417,384,609 2,435
2093 413,946,692 2,421
2092 410,440,733 2,400
2091 406,841,757 2,384
2090 403,166,901 2,359
2089 399,411,004 2,337
2088 395,583,655 2,319
2087 391,688,383 2,291
2086 387,713,874 2,269
2085 383,678,330 2,248
2084 379,568,054 2,217
2083 375,402,379 2,183
2082 371,195,818 2,159
2081 366,948,626 2,129
2080 362,644,227 2,105
2079 358,295,825 2,089
2078 353,888,897 2,068
2077 349,435,210 2,050
2076 344,932,895 2,025
2075 340,403,800 2,001
2074 335,826,108 1,970
2073 331,220,816 1,944
2072 326,568,298 1,912
2071 321,892,514 1,866
2070 317,165,418 1,829
2069 312,409,702 1,795
2068 307,625,941 1,777
2067 302,820,577 1,755
2066 297,989,401 1,729
2065 293,137,514 1,701
2064 288,267,282 1,679
2063 283,369,365 1,651
2062 278,452,605 1,623
2061 273,517,380 1,595
2060 268,572,331 1,556
2059 263,620,905 1,530
2058 258,672,397 1,512
2057 253,733,756 1,493
2056 248,796,045 1,469
2055 243,861,631 1,441
2054 238,931,249 1,419
2053 234,016,357 1,382
2052 229,117,369 1,358
2051 224,240,788 1,335
2050 219,397,034 1,311
2049 214,588,560 1,283
2048 209,814,694 1,256
2047 205,079,870 1,237
2046 200,379,842 1,215
2045 195,731,078 1,192
2044 191,124,003 1,174
2043 186,569,843 1,152
2042 182,068,630 1,135
2041 177,617,360 1,105
2040 173,224,822 1,070
2039 168,878,834 1,033
2038 164,583,465 1,001
2037 160,347,349 996
2036 156,129,049 1,001
2035 151,953,443 988
2034 147,811,138 988
2033 143,712,496 974
2032 139,669,159 964
2031 135,660,570 977
2030 131,710,378 979
2029 127,818,130 985
2028 123,980,695 983
2027 120,212,011 946
2026 116,505,117 933
2025 112,854,120 927
2024 109,276,265 910
2023 105,789,731 927
2022 102,396,968 951
2021 99,148,932 972
2020 95,989,998 987
2019 92,947,442 1,000
2018 90,047,644 -
2017 87,083,398 1,000
2016 83,956,415 -
2015 81,035,531 1,000
2014 78,403,242 842
2013 75,789,395 839
2012 73,254,618 836
2011 70,849,311 832
2010 68,563,038 829
2009 66,412,044 826
2008 64,390,664 824
2007 62,477,752 821
2006 60,615,908 932
2005 58,775,724 921
2004 56,997,741 921
2003 55,343,867 911
2002 53,750,524 900
2001 52,132,646 890
2000 50,507,442 880
1999 48,912,971 -
1998 47,297,600 -
1997 46,029,902 -
1996 45,296,124 -
1995 44,433,704 -
1994 42,626,876 -
1993 40,656,336 -
1992 39,228,910 -
1991 37,925,817 -
1990 36,684,063 -
1989 35,486,866 -
1988 34,382,752 -
1987 33,298,904 -
1986 32,265,196 -
1985 31,264,816 -
1984 30,245,081 -
1983 29,250,963 -
1982 28,338,190 -
1981 27,500,515 -
1980 26,711,099 -
1979 25,886,782 -
1978 24,992,689 -
1977 24,229,061 -
1976 23,624,031 -
1975 23,021,101 -
1974 22,418,878 -
1973 21,827,665 -
1972 21,251,160 -
1971 20,695,569 -
1970 20,137,436 -
1969 19,570,445 -
1968 19,012,189 -
1967 18,462,782 -
1966 17,931,929 -
1965 17,427,802 -
1964 16,955,327 -
1963 16,507,599 -
1962 16,075,724 -
1961 15,662,374 -
1960 15,264,846 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 15th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Vatican
2100 0.68% 0.59%
2099 0.71% 0.37%
2098 0.73% 0.6%
2097 0.75% 0.53%
2096 0.78% 0.68%
2095 0.81% 0.69%
2094 0.83% 0.61%
2093 0.85% 0.85%
2092 0.88% 0.7%
2091 0.91% 1.02%
2090 0.94% 0.95%
2089 0.97% 0.8%
2088 0.99% 1.21%
2087 1.03% 0.98%
2086 1.05% 0.91%
2085 1.08% 1.42%
2084 1.11% 1.53%
2083 1.13% 1.12%
2082 1.16% 1.39%
2081 1.19% 1.15%
2080 1.21% 0.8%
2079 1.25% 0.99%
2078 1.27% 0.9%
2077 1.31% 1.19%
2076 1.33% 1.2%
2075 1.36% 1.6%
2074 1.39% 1.34%
2073 1.42% 1.65%
2072 1.45% 2.49%
2071 1.49% 2.03%
2070 1.52% 1.86%
2069 1.56% 1.04%
2068 1.59% 1.27%
2067 1.62% 1.5%
2066 1.66% 1.64%
2065 1.69% 1.33%
2064 1.73% 1.69%
2063 1.77% 1.71%
2062 1.8% 1.74%
2061 1.84% 2.5%
2060 1.88% 1.7%
2059 1.91% 1.23%
2058 1.95% 1.24%
2057 1.98% 1.64%
2056 2.02% 1.93%
2055 2.06% 1.57%
2054 2.1% 2.68%
2053 2.14% 1.78%
2052 2.17% 1.67%
2051 2.21% 1.84%
2050 2.24% 2.17%
2049 2.28% 2.22%
2048 2.31% 1.5%
2047 2.35% 1.83%
2046 2.38% 1.87%
2045 2.41% 1.58%
2044 2.44% 1.93%
2043 2.47% 1.47%
2042 2.51% 2.68%
2041 2.54% 3.29%
2040 2.57% 3.59%
2039 2.61% 3.15%
2038 2.64% 0.56%
2037 2.7% -0.56%
2036 2.75% 1.31%
2035 2.8% 0%
2034 2.85% 1.52%
2033 2.89% 0.96%
2032 2.95% -1.33%
2031 3% -0.19%
2030 3.05% -0.56%
2029 3.1% 0.19%
2028 3.14% 3.92%
2027 3.18% 1.39%
2026 3.24% 0.6%
2025 3.27% 1.83%
2024 3.3% -1.8%
2023 3.31% -2.53%
2022 3.28% -2.1%
2021 3.29% -1.5%
2020 3.27% -1.3%
2019 3.22% 0%
2018 3.4% 0%
2017 3.72% 0%
2016 3.6% 0%
2015 3.36% 18.8%
2014 3.45% 0.36%
2013 3.46% 0.36%
2012 3.39% 0.48%
2011 3.33% 0.36%
2010 3.24% 0.36%
2009 3.14% 0.24%
2008 3.06% 0.37%
2007 3.07% -11.9%
2006 3.13% 1.19%
2005 3.12% 0%
2004 2.99% 1.1%
2003 2.96% 1.22%
2002 3.1% 1.12%
2001 3.22% 1.14%
2000 3.26% -
1999 3.42% -
1998 2.75% -
1997 1.62% -
1996 1.94% -
1995 4.24% -
1994 4.85% -
1993 3.64% -
1992 3.44% -
1991 3.38% -
1990 3.37% -
1989 3.21% -
1988 3.25% -
1987 3.2% -
1986 3.2% -
1985 3.37% -
1984 3.4% -
1983 3.22% -
1982 3.05% -
1981 2.96% -
1980 3.18% -
1979 3.58% -
1978 3.15% -
1977 2.56% -
1976 2.62% -
1975 2.69% -
1974 2.71% -
1973 2.71% -
1972 2.68% -
1971 2.77% -
1970 2.9% -
1969 2.94% -
1968 2.98% -
1967 2.96% -
1966 2.89% -
1965 2.79% -
1964 2.71% -
1963 2.69% -
1962 2.64% -
1961 2.6% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.3%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Vatican
Current population
117507801
936
Population rank 15/197 197/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.00001%
One net population change
9.05 seconds
1 month
One birth every
7.22 seconds
n/a
One death every
35 seconds
n/a
Daily growth/decline +9,552 +0
Annual growth/decline +3,486,534 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +3.3% +0%
Population growth rate rank 11/197 163/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
n/a
Annual migration change -27,309 n/a
Net migration rank 159/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -
2024 - -26,968 - -
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 - -
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 - -
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 - -
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 - -
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 - -
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 - -
2017 2,883,245 176,290 - -
2016 2,753,687 440,748 - -
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 - -
2014 2,580,251 36,966 - -
2013 2,489,378 121,097 - -
2012 2,405,462 53,668 - -
2011 2,310,679 40,891 - -
2010 2,212,255 8,823 - -
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 - -
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 - -
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 - -
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 - -
2005 1,800,300 20,384 - -
2004 1,731,022 4,260 - -
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 - -
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 - -
2001 1,594,999 26,523 - -
2000 1,549,518 79,340 - -
1999 1,450,318 109,761 - -
1998 1,375,130 295,560 - -
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 - -
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 - -
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 - -
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 - -
1993 1,209,242 240,176 - -
1992 1,152,781 252,666 - -
1991 1,114,033 86,721 - -
1990 1,063,508 219,270 - -
1989 1,027,238 84,415 - -
1988 995,278 101,314 - -
1987 959,875 111,220 - -
1986 925,334 70,988 - -
1985 885,670 118,791 - -
1984 844,956 190,045 - -
1983 807,122 146,095 - -
1982 774,823 97,495 - -
1981 748,371 54,656 - -
1980 724,111 51,685 - -
1979 691,773 181,028 - -
1978 646,411 268,974 - -
1977 638,242 -26,355 - -
1976 624,147 -25,965 - -
1975 608,655 -972 - -
1974 593,539 3,216 - -
1973 578,280 7,414 - -
1972 564,495 2,840 - -
1971 549,343 -5,497 - -
1970 533,300 39,116 - -
1969 514,800 46,778 - -
1968 497,682 57,274 - -
1967 479,552 64,307 - -
1966 463,397 54,443 - -
1965 429,002 61,397 - -
1964 406,334 48,207 - -
1963 398,972 41,960 - -
1962 383,406 39,431 - -
1961 368,207 35,654 - -
1960 363,517 27,673 - -

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

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

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between the DR Congo and the Vatican

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/vatican | 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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