DR Congo Population (LIVE)

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DR Congo Population (1950 - 2026)

Yearly Population Growth Rate (%)
  • The current population of the DR Congo is 115,527,823 as of Tuesday, April 14, 2026, based on Worldometer's elaboration of the latest United Nations data1.
  • the DR Congo 2026 population is estimated at 116,452,162 people at mid-year.
  • the DR Congo population is equivalent to 1.40% of the total world population.
  • the DR Congo ranks number 15 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
  • The population density in the DR Congo is 51 per Km² (133 people per mi²).
  • The total land area is 2,267,050 Km² (875,313 sq. miles).
  • 45.43% of the population is urban (52,904,879 people in 2026)
  • The median age in the DR Congo is 15.9 years.
1. U.N. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

Population of the DR Congo (2026 and historical)

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country's Share of World Pop World Population DRC Global Rank
2026 116,452,162 3.21% 3,619,689 −28,843 15.9 5.8 51 45.4% 52,904,879 1.40% 8,300,678,395 15
2025 112,832,473 3.25% 3,556,208 −27,309 15.8 5.9 50 45% 50,722,858 1.37% 8,231,613,070 15
2024 109,276,265 3.3% 3,486,534 −26,968 15.8 5.98 48 44.5% 48,611,843 1.34% 8,161,972,572 15
2023 105,789,731 3.31% 3,392,763 −14,992 15.8 6.05 47 44% 46,571,127 1.31% 8,091,734,930 15
2022 102,396,968 3.28% 3,203,485 −14,991 15.8 6.11 45 43.6% 44,598,623 1.28% 8,021,407,192 15
2020 95,989,998 3.45% 2,990,893 −1,633 15.8 6.21 42 42.6% 40,848,447 1.22% 7,887,001,292 16
2015 81,035,531 3.4% 2,494,499 −17,711 15.8 6.44 36 40.2% 32,566,508 1.08% 7,470,491,872 18
2010 68,563,038 3.13% 1,957,463 8,823 15.7 6.59 30 37.7% 25,817,901 0.98% 7,021,732,148 20
2005 58,775,724 3.08% 1,653,656 20,384 15.9 6.53 26 34.9% 20,521,483 0.89% 6,586,970,132 22
2000 50,507,442 2.6% 1,214,748 79,340 16.1 6.7 22 32.7% 16,534,234 0.82% 6,171,702,993 23
1995 44,433,704 3.91% 1,549,928 −273,434 17 6.68 20 30.7% 13,659,173 0.77% 5,758,878,982 26
1990 36,684,063 3.25% 1,083,849 219,270 16.7 6.65 16 28.9% 10,603,379 0.69% 5,327,803,110 29
1985 31,264,816 3.2% 910,743 118,791 16.8 6.61 14 27.3% 8,520,577 0.64% 4,868,943,465 29
1980 26,711,099 3.02% 738,000 51,685 16.8 6.5 12 26.7% 7,135,522 0.60% 4,447,606,236 30
1975 23,021,101 2.71% 576,733 −972 16.8 6.42 10 25.7% 5,913,533 0.57% 4,070,735,277 32
1970 20,137,436 2.93% 541,927 39,116 17.3 6.33 9 24.5% 4,924,023 0.55% 3,694,683,794 32
1965 17,427,802 2.69% 432,591 61,397 17.5 6.21 8 23.4% 4,070,472 0.52% 3,334,533,703 33
1960 15,264,846 2.29% 326,899 27,673 17.3 6.11 7 22.3% 3,400,360 0.51% 3,015,470,894 33
1955 13,630,351 2.08% 267,213 −4,874 17.2 5.98 6 20.5% 2,791,904 0.50% 2,740,213,792 32

Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)

Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

DR Congo Population Forecast

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country's Share of World Pop World Population DRC Global Rank
2030 131,532,201 3.11% 3,739,946 −34,958 16.2 5.42 58 47.4% 62,343,480 1.53% 8,569,124,911 12
2035 151,560,103 2.88% 4,005,580 −31,140 16.9 4.87 67 50% 75,772,610 1.71% 8,885,210,181 10
2040 172,595,582 2.63% 4,207,096 −42,925 17.8 4.38 76 52.7% 90,960,949 1.88% 9,177,190,203 10
2045 194,865,379 2.46% 4,453,959 −39,181 18.9 3.99 86 55.3% 107,740,801 2.06% 9,439,639,668 10
2050 218,246,072 2.29% 4,676,139 −46,131 20 3.66 96 57.7% 125,931,197 2.26% 9,664,378,587 8

Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)

Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

DR Congo Demographics (2026)

Life Expectancy
62.4 years

(life expectancy at birth, both sexes)

View by sex and historical chart

Infant Mortality Rate
47.4

(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Deaths under age 5
70.6

(per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Main Cities by Population in the DR Congo

(includes boroughs, districts, urban agglomerations, etc.)

Rank Urban Area Population Estimate (2025)
1 Kinshasa 10,943,641
2 Kasaï-Oriental 3,605,738
3 Lubumbashi 2,832,853
4 Beni 1,923,700
5 Kananga 1,504,370
6 Tshikapa 1,054,686
7 Bukavu 948,948
8 Kisangani 900,330
9 Goma 809,601
10 Kalemie 758,379
11 Kamina 724,982
12 Likasi 673,034
13 Bunia 582,792
14 Kikwit 549,102
15 Manono 517,304
16 Butembo 454,857
17 Kolwezi 446,709
18 Gemena 440,327
19 Mbandaka 432,976
20 Uvira 416,523
21 Kongolo 410,371
22 Malemba-Nkulu 386,790
23 Matadi 377,297
24 Mwene-Ditu 351,319
25 Ngandajika 345,996
26 Mulongo 321,881
27 Ilebo 321,392
28 Kindu 309,727
29 Fungurume 298,713
30 Kasumbalesa 294,623
31 Kasaji 292,523
32 Mweka 279,312
33 Kabinda 269,115
34 Kilwa 256,165
35 Lisala 248,434
36 Demba 248,191
37 Kipushi 247,546
38 Kamituga 243,261
39 Kambove 242,939
40 Boma 242,042
41 Mbanza-Ngungu 236,056
42 Luputa 230,128
43 Bumba 216,429
44 Kahemba 215,825
45 Kabongo 215,612
46 Rutshuru 214,158
47 Bandundu 212,016
48 Kabondo-Dianda 211,167
49 Luena 205,691
50 Mongbwalu 205,051
51 Musangala 199,847
52 Kasangulu 198,467
53 Dilolo 197,075
54 Buta 196,091
55 Kisantu 195,949
56 Kinzao 193,973
57 Nyunzu 192,205
58 Rubaya 189,880
59 Kasongo 184,984
60 Kirumba 182,137
61 Lwambo 176,648
62 Kitenge 174,943
63 Pweto 173,099
64 Mukubu 168,033
65 Kanyama 167,532
66 Baraka 166,603
67 Durba 166,417
68 Sandoa 165,522
69 Katanga 165,251
70 Idiofa 161,117
More info

See also


Notes

The DR Congo Population (Live) counter shows a continuously updated estimate of the current population of DR Congo delivered by Worldometer's RTS algorithm, which processes data collected from the United Nations Population Division.

The Population of DR Congo (1950 - 2026) chart plots the total population count as of July 1 of each year, from 1950 to 2026.

The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2026. This value can differ from the Yearly % Change shown in the historical table, which shows the last year equivalent percentage change assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period.

Definitions

Year: as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Population: Overall total population (both sexes and all ages) in the country as of July 1 of the year indicated, as estimated by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. For forecasted years, the U.N. medium-fertility variant is used.

Yearly % Change: For 2026: percentage change in total population over the last year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). For all other years: latest year annual percentage change equivalent assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period, calculated through reverse compounding.

Yearly Change: For 2026: absolute change in total population (increase or decrease in number of people) over the last year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). For all other years: average annual numerical change over the preceding five year period.

Migrants (net): The average annual number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants over the preceding five year period (running from July 1 to June 30 of the initial and final years), or subsequent five year period (for 2016 data). A negative number means that there are more emigrants than immigrants.

Median Age: age that divides the population into two numerically equal groups: half of the people are older than the median age indicated and half are younger. This parameter provides an indication of age distribution.

Fertility Rate: (Total Fertility Rate, or TFR), it is expressed as children per woman. It is calculated as the average number of children an average woman will have during her reproductive period (15 to 49 years old) based on the current fertility rates of every age group in the country, and assuming she is not subject to mortality.

Density (P/Km²): (Population Density) Population per square Kilometer (Km²).

Urban Pop % : Urban population as a percentage of total population.

Urban Population: Population living in areas classified as urban according to the criteria used by each country.

Country's Share of World Pop: Total population in the country as a percentage of total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

World Population: Total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Global Rank: Position held by the DR Congo in the list of all countries worldwide ranked by population (from the highest population to the lowest population) as of July 1 of the year indicated.