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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 5.18 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.7% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

DR Congo vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Zambia
2100 436,237,219 65,204,593
2099 433,289,774 64,858,778
2098 430,252,622 64,503,193
2097 427,149,320 64,136,110
2096 423,961,963 63,764,760
2095 420,678,721 63,380,692
2094 417,304,547 62,980,254
2093 413,867,290 62,578,008
2092 410,362,003 62,163,693
2091 406,763,717 61,738,437
2090 403,089,566 61,309,330
2089 399,334,389 60,868,166
2088 395,507,774 60,422,781
2087 391,613,249 59,958,303
2086 387,639,503 59,487,524
2085 383,604,733 59,011,423
2084 379,495,246 58,524,337
2083 375,330,369 58,029,088
2082 371,124,615 57,527,347
2081 366,878,238 57,016,267
2080 362,574,665 56,495,299
2079 358,227,097 55,972,223
2078 353,821,014 55,438,864
2077 349,368,182 54,895,964
2076 344,866,731 54,350,375
2075 340,338,504 53,796,265
2074 335,761,691 53,236,297
2073 331,157,281 52,666,980
2072 326,505,656 52,090,884
2071 321,830,769 51,509,551
2070 317,104,580 50,921,590
2069 312,349,776 50,324,793
2068 307,566,932 49,727,689
2067 302,762,490 49,125,817
2066 297,932,241 48,520,891
2065 293,081,284 47,909,160
2064 288,211,987 47,290,430
2063 283,315,009 46,668,252
2062 278,399,192 46,039,755
2061 273,464,914 45,407,718
2060 268,520,814 44,768,534
2059 263,570,338 44,128,619
2058 258,622,778 43,485,891
2057 253,685,085 42,843,489
2056 248,748,321 42,198,591
2055 243,814,854 41,550,105
2054 238,885,417 40,898,440
2053 233,971,468 40,247,706
2052 229,073,420 39,596,094
2051 224,197,775 38,942,292
2050 219,354,949 38,287,070
2049 214,547,398 37,626,787
2048 209,774,448 36,964,032
2047 205,040,532 36,302,603
2046 200,341,405 35,638,852
2045 195,693,533 34,974,927
2044 191,087,342 34,310,227
2043 186,534,055 33,645,797
2042 182,033,706 32,984,164
2041 177,583,290 32,323,084
2040 173,191,594 31,658,029
2039 168,846,440 30,995,204
2038 164,551,895 30,329,691
2037 160,316,591 29,662,721
2036 156,099,100 28,994,556
2035 151,924,296 28,327,922
2034 147,782,785 27,665,749
2033 143,684,929 27,006,658
2032 139,642,368 26,351,393
2031 135,634,548 25,697,754
2030 131,685,113 25,050,285
2029 127,793,612 24,409,600
2028 123,956,913 23,776,128
2027 120,188,952 23,146,922
2026 116,482,769 22,525,308
2025 112,832,473 21,913,874
2024 109,276,265 21,314,956
2023 105,789,731 20,723,965
2022 102,396,968 20,152,938
2021 99,148,932 19,603,607
2020 95,989,998 19,059,395
2019 92,947,442 18,513,839
2018 90,047,644 17,973,569
2017 87,083,398 17,441,320
2016 83,956,415 16,914,423
2015 81,035,531 16,399,089
2014 78,403,242 15,895,315
2013 75,789,395 15,398,997
2012 73,254,618 14,913,629
2011 70,849,311 14,437,796
2010 68,563,038 13,965,594
2009 66,412,044 13,490,389
2008 64,390,664 13,021,324
2007 62,477,752 12,565,085
2006 60,615,908 12,129,553
2005 58,775,724 11,718,819
2004 56,997,741 11,338,198
2003 55,343,867 10,983,595
2002 53,750,524 10,647,949
2001 52,132,646 10,325,185
2000 50,507,442 10,017,631
1999 48,912,971 9,740,005
1998 47,297,600 9,482,408
1997 46,029,902 9,237,063
1996 45,296,124 9,004,053
1995 44,433,704 8,785,763
1994 42,626,876 8,576,269
1993 40,656,336 8,373,921
1992 39,228,910 8,176,680
1991 37,925,817 7,981,650
1990 36,684,063 7,786,169
1989 35,486,866 7,589,216
1988 34,382,752 7,391,440
1987 33,298,904 7,191,282
1986 32,265,196 6,986,471
1985 31,264,816 6,780,953
1984 30,245,081 6,580,490
1983 29,250,963 6,381,038
1982 28,338,190 6,178,637
1981 27,500,515 5,983,289
1980 26,711,099 5,802,833
1979 25,886,782 5,631,728
1978 24,992,689 5,465,374
1977 24,229,061 5,302,480
1976 23,624,031 5,143,842
1975 23,021,101 4,990,086
1974 22,418,878 4,842,746
1973 21,827,665 4,702,693
1972 21,251,160 4,569,309
1971 20,695,569 4,442,525
1970 20,137,436 4,321,718
1969 19,570,445 4,197,116
1968 19,012,189 4,065,593
1967 18,462,782 3,936,343
1966 17,931,929 3,812,003
1965 17,427,802 3,692,086
1964 16,955,327 3,577,017
1963 16,507,599 3,465,907
1962 16,075,724 3,358,099
1961 15,662,374 3,254,086
1960 15,264,846 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Zambia
2100 0.68% 0.53%
2099 0.71% 0.55%
2098 0.73% 0.57%
2097 0.75% 0.58%
2096 0.78% 0.61%
2095 0.81% 0.64%
2094 0.83% 0.64%
2093 0.85% 0.67%
2092 0.88% 0.69%
2091 0.91% 0.7%
2090 0.94% 0.72%
2089 0.97% 0.74%
2088 0.99% 0.77%
2087 1.03% 0.79%
2086 1.05% 0.81%
2085 1.08% 0.83%
2084 1.11% 0.85%
2083 1.13% 0.87%
2082 1.16% 0.9%
2081 1.19% 0.92%
2080 1.21% 0.93%
2079 1.25% 0.96%
2078 1.27% 0.99%
2077 1.31% 1%
2076 1.33% 1.03%
2075 1.36% 1.05%
2074 1.39% 1.08%
2073 1.42% 1.11%
2072 1.45% 1.13%
2071 1.49% 1.15%
2070 1.52% 1.19%
2069 1.56% 1.2%
2068 1.59% 1.23%
2067 1.62% 1.25%
2066 1.66% 1.28%
2065 1.69% 1.31%
2064 1.73% 1.33%
2063 1.77% 1.37%
2062 1.8% 1.39%
2061 1.84% 1.43%
2060 1.88% 1.45%
2059 1.91% 1.48%
2058 1.95% 1.5%
2057 1.98% 1.53%
2056 2.02% 1.56%
2055 2.06% 1.59%
2054 2.1% 1.62%
2053 2.14% 1.65%
2052 2.17% 1.68%
2051 2.21% 1.71%
2050 2.24% 1.75%
2049 2.28% 1.79%
2048 2.31% 1.82%
2047 2.35% 1.86%
2046 2.38% 1.9%
2045 2.41% 1.94%
2044 2.44% 1.97%
2043 2.47% 2.01%
2042 2.51% 2.05%
2041 2.54% 2.1%
2040 2.57% 2.14%
2039 2.61% 2.19%
2038 2.64% 2.25%
2037 2.7% 2.3%
2036 2.75% 2.35%
2035 2.8% 2.39%
2034 2.85% 2.44%
2033 2.89% 2.49%
2032 2.95% 2.54%
2031 3% 2.58%
2030 3.05% 2.62%
2029 3.1% 2.66%
2028 3.14% 2.72%
2027 3.18% 2.76%
2026 3.24% 2.79%
2025 3.25% 2.81%
2024 3.3% 2.85%
2023 3.31% 2.83%
2022 3.28% 2.8%
2021 3.29% 2.86%
2020 3.27% 2.95%
2019 3.22% 3.01%
2018 3.4% 3.05%
2017 3.72% 3.12%
2016 3.6% 3.14%
2015 3.36% 3.17%
2014 3.45% 3.22%
2013 3.46% 3.25%
2012 3.39% 3.3%
2011 3.33% 3.38%
2010 3.24% 3.52%
2009 3.14% 3.6%
2008 3.06% 3.63%
2007 3.07% 3.59%
2006 3.13% 3.5%
2005 3.12% 3.36%
2004 2.99% 3.23%
2003 2.96% 3.15%
2002 3.1% 3.13%
2001 3.22% 3.07%
2000 3.26% 2.85%
1999 3.42% 2.72%
1998 2.75% 2.66%
1997 1.62% 2.59%
1996 1.94% 2.48%
1995 4.24% 2.44%
1994 4.85% 2.42%
1993 3.64% 2.41%
1992 3.44% 2.44%
1991 3.38% 2.51%
1990 3.37% 2.6%
1989 3.21% 2.68%
1988 3.25% 2.78%
1987 3.2% 2.93%
1986 3.2% 3.03%
1985 3.37% 3.05%
1984 3.4% 3.13%
1983 3.22% 3.28%
1982 3.05% 3.26%
1981 2.96% 3.11%
1980 3.18% 3.04%
1979 3.58% 3.04%
1978 3.15% 3.07%
1977 2.56% 3.08%
1976 2.62% 3.08%
1975 2.69% 3.04%
1974 2.71% 2.98%
1973 2.71% 2.92%
1972 2.68% 2.85%
1971 2.77% 2.8%
1970 2.9% 2.97%
1969 2.94% 3.24%
1968 2.98% 3.28%
1967 2.96% 3.26%
1966 2.89% 3.25%
1965 2.79% 3.22%
1964 2.71% 3.21%
1963 2.69% 3.21%
1962 2.64% 3.2%
1961 2.6% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Zambia
Current population
118386491
22844606
Population rank 14/197 62/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.27%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
7.06 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
34.3 seconds
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 19/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -27,309 +6,562
Net migration rank 159/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - 6,562
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 587,419 7,381
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 577,660 9,521
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 563,456 -8,566
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 535,629 8,143
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 536,484 8,156
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 528,089 18,385
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 515,644 18,431
2017 2,883,245 176,290 504,630 25,789
2016 2,753,687 440,748 497,521 25,860
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 491,021 16,261
2014 2,580,251 36,966 483,663 16,574
2013 2,489,378 121,097 476,846 15,542
2012 2,405,462 53,668 469,406 8,958
2011 2,310,679 40,891 459,743 13,569
2010 2,212,255 8,823 448,337 22,761
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 434,458 44,867
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 419,560 39,249
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 403,729 49,945
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 387,891 29,517
2005 1,800,300 20,384 368,756 35,316
2004 1,731,022 4,260 349,352 7,819
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 331,189 20,845
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 316,041 3,206
2001 1,594,999 26,523 302,682 23,582
2000 1,549,518 79,340 293,186 -4,338
1999 1,450,318 109,761 283,297 -16,888
1998 1,375,130 295,560 275,568 -26,796
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 268,198 -26,276
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 262,468 -38,358
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 257,897 -45,423
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 252,023 -45,504
1993 1,209,242 240,176 245,917 -47,739
1992 1,152,781 252,666 239,953 -43,656
1991 1,114,033 86,721 237,957 -44,203
1990 1,063,508 219,270 235,835 -38,619
1989 1,027,238 84,415 233,429 -36,736
1988 995,278 101,314 230,118 -31,270
1987 959,875 111,220 227,813 -26,338
1986 925,334 70,988 224,768 -16,610
1985 885,670 118,791 221,351 -18,474
1984 844,956 190,045 216,695 -18,652
1983 807,122 146,095 212,712 -11,849
1982 774,823 97,495 207,621 -3,676
1981 748,371 54,656 202,822 -16,072
1980 724,111 51,685 198,817 -24,664
1979 691,773 181,028 197,578 -29,515
1978 646,411 268,974 194,933 -30,284
1977 638,242 -26,355 191,557 -30,423
1976 624,147 -25,965 186,762 -30,612
1975 608,655 -972 182,258 -30,886
1974 593,539 3,216 174,484 -31,178
1973 578,280 7,414 168,258 -31,472
1972 564,495 2,840 161,648 -31,672
1971 549,343 -5,497 155,249 -31,651
1970 533,300 39,116 149,380 -31,370
1969 514,800 46,778 142,660 -11,469
1968 497,682 57,274 137,315 -5,447
1967 479,552 64,307 131,938 -5,298
1966 463,397 54,443 127,164 -5,129
1965 429,002 61,397 122,814 -5,023
1964 406,334 48,207 117,197 -4,851
1963 398,972 41,960 114,555 -4,676
1962 383,406 39,431 110,173 -4,428
1961 368,207 35,654 106,318 -4,043
1960 363,517 27,673 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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