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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the DR Congo was 112,832,473 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current DR Congo's population is 118,386,491 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 6.79 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • The DR Congo is ranked the 14th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 1.63% of the world: 1.42% for the DR Congo vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, the DR Congo has had an average growth rate of +3.36% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of the DR Congo has increased from 60.6M people to 118M (95.3% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

DR Congo vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
DR Congo Zimbabwe
2100 436,237,219 37,486,352
2099 433,289,774 37,415,690
2098 430,252,622 37,331,540
2097 427,149,320 37,238,819
2096 423,961,963 37,146,184
2095 420,678,721 37,035,388
2094 417,304,547 36,915,996
2093 413,867,290 36,814,133
2092 410,362,003 36,691,740
2091 406,763,717 36,570,481
2090 403,089,566 36,428,812
2089 399,334,389 36,284,166
2088 395,507,774 36,144,627
2087 391,613,249 35,980,805
2086 387,639,503 35,811,286
2085 383,604,733 35,640,228
2084 379,495,246 35,459,328
2083 375,330,369 35,271,139
2082 371,124,615 35,081,992
2081 366,878,238 34,876,198
2080 362,574,665 34,662,013
2079 358,227,097 34,442,751
2078 353,821,014 34,220,306
2077 349,368,182 33,985,899
2076 344,866,731 33,742,198
2075 340,338,504 33,498,815
2074 335,761,691 33,247,764
2073 331,157,281 32,981,390
2072 326,505,656 32,708,937
2071 321,830,769 32,448,602
2070 317,104,580 32,183,952
2069 312,349,776 31,909,601
2068 307,566,932 31,633,783
2067 302,762,490 31,348,096
2066 297,932,241 31,065,618
2065 293,081,284 30,769,538
2064 288,211,987 30,482,622
2063 283,315,009 30,178,760
2062 278,399,192 29,870,308
2061 273,464,914 29,559,670
2060 268,520,814 29,254,998
2059 263,570,338 28,947,636
2058 258,622,778 28,634,199
2057 253,685,085 28,309,796
2056 248,748,321 27,993,176
2055 243,814,854 27,661,321
2054 238,885,417 27,334,325
2053 233,971,468 26,989,310
2052 229,073,420 26,645,898
2051 224,197,775 26,289,905
2050 219,354,949 25,937,176
2049 214,547,398 25,587,491
2048 209,774,448 25,230,302
2047 205,040,532 24,876,838
2046 200,341,405 24,515,600
2045 195,693,533 24,149,762
2044 191,087,342 23,785,181
2043 186,534,055 23,404,024
2042 182,033,706 23,037,316
2041 177,583,290 22,649,943
2040 173,191,594 22,275,480
2039 168,846,440 21,904,908
2038 164,551,895 21,532,024
2037 160,316,591 21,161,527
2036 156,099,100 20,792,863
2035 151,924,296 20,415,452
2034 147,782,785 20,049,783
2033 143,684,929 19,678,070
2032 139,642,368 19,313,685
2031 135,634,548 18,960,968
2030 131,685,113 18,615,376
2029 127,793,612 18,271,657
2028 123,956,913 17,935,044
2027 120,188,952 17,602,533
2026 116,482,769 17,274,728
2025 112,832,473 16,950,795
2024 109,276,265 16,634,373
2023 105,789,731 16,340,822
2022 102,396,968 16,069,056
2021 99,148,932 15,797,210
2020 95,989,998 15,526,888
2019 92,947,442 15,271,368
2018 90,047,644 15,034,452
2017 87,083,398 14,812,482
2016 83,956,415 14,600,294
2015 81,035,531 14,399,013
2014 78,403,242 14,207,359
2013 75,789,395 14,013,808
2012 73,254,618 13,817,887
2011 70,849,311 13,595,424
2010 68,563,038 13,356,548
2009 66,412,044 13,142,790
2008 64,390,664 12,959,149
2007 62,477,752 12,804,058
2006 60,615,908 12,636,445
2005 58,775,724 12,483,432
2004 56,997,741 12,365,896
2003 55,343,867 12,232,323
2002 53,750,524 12,087,653
2001 52,132,646 11,971,901
2000 50,507,442 11,892,055
1999 48,912,971 11,783,458
1998 47,297,600 11,594,297
1997 46,029,902 11,369,827
1996 45,296,124 11,158,360
1995 44,433,704 10,974,599
1994 42,626,876 10,873,148
1993 40,656,336 10,860,288
1992 39,228,910 10,702,700
1991 37,925,817 10,404,816
1990 36,684,063 10,137,281
1989 35,486,866 9,864,798
1988 34,382,752 9,583,094
1987 33,298,904 9,284,644
1986 32,265,196 8,982,578
1985 31,264,816 8,686,813
1984 30,245,081 8,391,488
1983 29,250,963 8,098,404
1982 28,338,190 7,796,496
1981 27,500,515 7,498,635
1980 26,711,099 7,041,303
1979 25,886,782 6,647,556
1978 24,992,689 6,543,575
1977 24,229,061 6,449,512
1976 23,624,031 6,287,105
1975 23,021,101 6,098,658
1974 22,418,878 5,908,328
1973 21,827,665 5,720,404
1972 21,251,160 5,542,445
1971 20,695,569 5,374,712
1970 20,137,436 5,215,918
1969 19,570,445 5,058,181
1968 19,012,189 4,900,440
1967 18,462,782 4,748,307
1966 17,931,929 4,601,217
1965 17,427,802 4,458,462
1964 16,955,327 4,320,006
1963 16,507,599 4,185,877
1962 16,075,724 4,055,959
1961 15,662,374 3,930,401
1960 15,264,846 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the DR Congo increased by 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the DR Congo gained 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

The DR Congo was ranked 22nd most populous country in 2006 and is 14th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

DR Congo
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
DR Congo Zimbabwe
2100 0.68% 0.19%
2099 0.71% 0.23%
2098 0.73% 0.25%
2097 0.75% 0.25%
2096 0.78% 0.3%
2095 0.81% 0.32%
2094 0.83% 0.28%
2093 0.85% 0.33%
2092 0.88% 0.33%
2091 0.91% 0.39%
2090 0.94% 0.4%
2089 0.97% 0.39%
2088 0.99% 0.46%
2087 1.03% 0.47%
2086 1.05% 0.48%
2085 1.08% 0.51%
2084 1.11% 0.53%
2083 1.13% 0.54%
2082 1.16% 0.59%
2081 1.19% 0.62%
2080 1.21% 0.64%
2079 1.25% 0.65%
2078 1.27% 0.69%
2077 1.31% 0.72%
2076 1.33% 0.73%
2075 1.36% 0.76%
2074 1.39% 0.81%
2073 1.42% 0.83%
2072 1.45% 0.8%
2071 1.49% 0.82%
2070 1.52% 0.86%
2069 1.56% 0.87%
2068 1.59% 0.91%
2067 1.62% 0.91%
2066 1.66% 0.96%
2065 1.69% 0.94%
2064 1.73% 1.01%
2063 1.77% 1.03%
2062 1.8% 1.05%
2061 1.84% 1.04%
2060 1.88% 1.06%
2059 1.91% 1.09%
2058 1.95% 1.15%
2057 1.98% 1.13%
2056 2.02% 1.2%
2055 2.06% 1.2%
2054 2.1% 1.28%
2053 2.14% 1.29%
2052 2.17% 1.35%
2051 2.21% 1.36%
2050 2.24% 1.37%
2049 2.28% 1.42%
2048 2.31% 1.42%
2047 2.35% 1.47%
2046 2.38% 1.51%
2045 2.41% 1.53%
2044 2.44% 1.63%
2043 2.47% 1.59%
2042 2.51% 1.71%
2041 2.54% 1.68%
2040 2.57% 1.69%
2039 2.61% 1.73%
2038 2.64% 1.75%
2037 2.7% 1.77%
2036 2.75% 1.85%
2035 2.8% 1.82%
2034 2.85% 1.89%
2033 2.89% 1.89%
2032 2.95% 1.86%
2031 3% 1.86%
2030 3.05% 1.88%
2029 3.1% 1.88%
2028 3.14% 1.89%
2027 3.18% 1.9%
2026 3.24% 1.91%
2025 3.25% 1.9%
2024 3.3% 1.8%
2023 3.31% 1.69%
2022 3.28% 1.72%
2021 3.29% 1.74%
2020 3.27% 1.67%
2019 3.22% 1.58%
2018 3.4% 1.5%
2017 3.72% 1.45%
2016 3.6% 1.4%
2015 3.36% 1.35%
2014 3.45% 1.38%
2013 3.46% 1.42%
2012 3.39% 1.64%
2011 3.33% 1.79%
2010 3.24% 1.63%
2009 3.14% 1.42%
2008 3.06% 1.21%
2007 3.07% 1.33%
2006 3.13% 1.23%
2005 3.12% 0.95%
2004 2.99% 1.09%
2003 2.96% 1.2%
2002 3.1% 0.97%
2001 3.22% 0.67%
2000 3.26% 0.92%
1999 3.42% 1.63%
1998 2.75% 1.97%
1997 1.62% 1.9%
1996 1.94% 1.67%
1995 4.24% 0.93%
1994 4.85% 0.12%
1993 3.64% 1.47%
1992 3.44% 2.86%
1991 3.38% 2.64%
1990 3.37% 2.76%
1989 3.21% 2.94%
1988 3.25% 3.21%
1987 3.2% 3.36%
1986 3.2% 3.4%
1985 3.37% 3.52%
1984 3.4% 3.62%
1983 3.22% 3.87%
1982 3.05% 3.97%
1981 2.96% 6.49%
1980 3.18% 5.92%
1979 3.58% 1.59%
1978 3.15% 1.46%
1977 2.56% 2.58%
1976 2.62% 3.09%
1975 2.69% 3.22%
1974 2.71% 3.29%
1973 2.71% 3.21%
1972 2.68% 3.12%
1971 2.77% 3.04%
1970 2.9% 3.12%
1969 2.94% 3.22%
1968 2.98% 3.2%
1967 2.96% 3.2%
1966 2.89% 3.2%
1965 2.79% 3.2%
1964 2.71% 3.2%
1963 2.69% 3.2%
1962 2.64% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the DR Congo grew by 3.25%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

DR Congo Zimbabwe
Current population
118386491
17443108
Population rank 14/197 74/197
Percent of world population 1.42% 0.21%
One net population change
8.89 seconds
1.67 minutes
One birth every
7.06 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
34.3 seconds
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,743 +867
Annual growth/decline +3,556,208 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +3.25% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 10/197 53/197
One migration net change every
19.3 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -27,309 -54,555
Net migration rank 159/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 1,085,090 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 57/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 152/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

DR Congo
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
DR Congo Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,309 - -54,555
2024 3,547,217 -26,968 372,494 -60,528
2023 3,467,787 -14,992 372,505 -97,380
2022 3,347,664 -14,991 371,243 -102,828
2021 3,227,992 -64,639 349,908 -74,623
2020 3,156,152 -1,633 354,790 -89,440
2019 3,075,538 -144,920 348,798 -103,107
2018 2,993,184 -124,246 345,883 -117,758
2017 2,883,245 176,290 344,035 -128,241
2016 2,753,687 440,748 348,772 -140,181
2015 2,665,016 -17,711 356,203 -162,220
2014 2,580,251 36,966 366,350 -177,029
2013 2,489,378 121,097 374,757 -176,972
2012 2,405,462 53,668 371,135 -177,061
2011 2,310,679 40,891 359,572 -108,714
2010 2,212,255 8,823 335,570 -108,671
2009 2,126,912 -46,009 309,316 -108,689
2008 2,044,210 -82,339 280,527 -113,858
2007 1,963,738 -99,742 261,805 -118,299
2006 1,889,398 -29,715 248,963 -57,257
2005 1,800,300 20,384 248,545 -134,212
2004 1,731,022 4,260 248,307 -127,550
2003 1,679,188 -106,731 243,057 -96,667
2002 1,631,597 -17,358 244,170 -101,212
2001 1,594,999 26,523 227,909 -139,361
2000 1,549,518 79,340 236,343 -165,181
1999 1,450,318 109,761 232,393 -86,343
1998 1,375,130 295,560 225,614 6,645
1997 1,392,037 -527,356 216,288 395
1996 1,380,490 -777,833 205,269 978
1995 1,395,440 -273,434 206,695 -45,428
1994 1,259,539 1,232,105 216,343 -174,723
1993 1,209,242 240,176 228,045 -243,947
1992 1,152,781 252,666 255,291 75,788
1991 1,114,033 86,721 260,943 3,749
1990 1,063,508 219,270 265,444 4,948
1989 1,027,238 84,415 270,838 3,736
1988 995,278 101,314 277,498 11,327
1987 959,875 111,220 286,766 21,308
1986 925,334 70,988 289,894 6,154
1985 885,670 118,791 290,756 4,718
1984 844,956 190,045 290,052 5,124
1983 807,122 146,095 286,545 4,456
1982 774,823 97,495 279,934 32,899
1981 748,371 54,656 271,361 11,523
1980 724,111 51,685 241,179 390,593
1979 691,773 181,028 223,657 -67,937
1978 646,411 268,974 222,979 -170,727
1977 638,242 -26,355 225,139 -89,270
1976 624,147 -25,965 221,419 -32,495
1975 608,655 -972 216,947 -28,988
1974 593,539 3,216 208,806 -16,105
1973 578,280 7,414 201,885 -18,733
1972 564,495 2,840 193,725 -20,959
1971 549,343 -5,497 185,427 -22,719
1970 533,300 39,116 178,979 -24,102
1969 514,800 46,778 172,626 -12,028
1968 497,682 57,274 166,865 -11,997
1967 479,552 64,307 161,205 -11,814
1966 463,397 54,443 156,014 -11,211
1965 429,002 61,397 151,164 -10,465
1964 406,334 48,207 145,848 -9,631
1963 398,972 41,960 140,984 -8,936
1962 383,406 39,431 136,317 -8,529
1961 368,207 35,654 131,531 -8,204
1960 363,517 27,673 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/dr-congo/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 1,085,090 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in the DR Congo, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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