Population · Africa
DR Congo population 2026
Right now · estimate
DR Congo population right now
117,716,417
- Births today
- 0
- Deaths today
- 0
- Births this year
- 3,889,240
- Births minus deaths this year
- +3,084,590
The DR Congo has an estimated 116,452,162 people on 1 July 2026, the UN's projection, 3,619,689 more than a year earlier (+3.21%). It is the 15th most populous country in the world. It is still growing and is projected to reach 218 million by 2050 and 431 million by 2100.
UN projection The counter interpolates the UN’s 1 July figures to the second; it is an estimate, not a count.
DR Congo in numbers, 2026
- Births in 2026
- 4.6 million 12,690 a day
- Deaths in 2026
- 959 thousand 2,625 a day
- Net migration
- −29 thousand more departures than arrivals
- Growth rate
- +3.13% growing
- Fertility rate
- 5.80per woman above replacement (2.1)
- Median age
- 15.9years world: 31.1
- Life expectancy
- 62.4years
- Aged 65 and over
- 3.1% 3.5% by 2050
Land, people and health
- Capital
- Kinshasa
- Area
- 2,345,410 km² 11th largest of 237
- Population density
- 51per km² 168th most crowded
- Urban population
- 45.5% 53.5% by 2050
- Men and women
- 57.8 million / 58.7 million 98.5 men per 100 women
- Life expectancy, women
- 64.6years men: 60.2 years
- Infant mortality
- 47.4per 1,000 births under-5: 70.6
- Birth rate
- 39.8per 1,000 death rate: 8.2
- Net migration rate
- −0.2per 1,000 net departures
Population of the DR Congo, 1950–2100
Still rising in 2100 on the UN medium projection. By 2050: 218 million (+87.4% from today).
- UN estimate
- UN projection
431M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 12,294,287 |
| 1951 | 12,542,644 |
| 1952 | 12,803,640 |
| 1953 | 13,069,450 |
| 1954 | 13,343,031 |
| 1955 | 13,630,351 |
| 1956 | 13,929,951 |
| 1957 | 14,242,278 |
| 1958 | 14,557,796 |
| 1959 | 14,891,582 |
| 1960 | 15,264,846 |
| 1961 | 15,662,374 |
| 1962 | 16,075,724 |
| 1963 | 16,507,598 |
| 1964 | 16,955,327 |
| 1965 | 17,427,802 |
| 1966 | 17,931,929 |
| 1967 | 18,462,782 |
| 1968 | 19,012,189 |
| 1969 | 19,570,445 |
| 1970 | 20,137,436 |
| 1971 | 20,695,569 |
| 1972 | 21,251,160 |
| 1973 | 21,827,665 |
| 1974 | 22,418,878 |
| 1975 | 23,021,101 |
| 1976 | 23,624,031 |
| 1977 | 24,229,061 |
| 1978 | 24,992,689 |
| 1979 | 25,886,782 |
| 1980 | 26,711,098 |
| 1981 | 27,500,515 |
| 1982 | 28,338,190 |
| 1983 | 29,250,963 |
| 1984 | 30,245,081 |
| 1985 | 31,264,816 |
| 1986 | 32,265,196 |
| 1987 | 33,298,904 |
| 1988 | 34,382,752 |
| 1989 | 35,486,866 |
| 1990 | 36,684,063 |
| 1991 | 37,925,817 |
| 1992 | 39,228,910 |
| 1993 | 40,656,336 |
| 1994 | 42,626,876 |
| 1995 | 44,433,704 |
| 1996 | 45,296,124 |
| 1997 | 46,029,902 |
| 1998 | 47,297,600 |
| 1999 | 48,912,971 |
| 2000 | 50,507,442 |
| 2001 | 52,132,646 |
| 2002 | 53,750,524 |
| 2003 | 55,343,867 |
| 2004 | 56,997,741 |
| 2005 | 58,775,724 |
| 2006 | 60,615,908 |
| 2007 | 62,477,752 |
| 2008 | 64,390,664 |
| 2009 | 66,412,044 |
| 2010 | 68,563,038 |
| 2011 | 70,849,311 |
| 2012 | 73,254,618 |
| 2013 | 75,789,395 |
| 2014 | 78,403,242 |
| 2015 | 81,035,531 |
| 2016 | 83,956,415 |
| 2017 | 87,083,398 |
| 2018 | 90,047,644 |
| 2019 | 92,947,442 |
| 2020 | 95,989,998 |
| 2021 | 99,148,932 |
| 2022 | 102,396,968 |
| 2023 | 105,789,731 |
| 2024 * | 109,276,265 |
| 2025 * | 112,832,473 |
| 2026 * | 116,452,162 |
| 2027 * | 120,129,746 |
| 2028 * | 123,871,549 |
| 2029 * | 127,674,140 |
| 2030 * | 131,532,201 |
| 2031 * | 135,447,495 |
| 2032 * | 139,408,612 |
| 2033 * | 143,414,030 |
| 2034 * | 147,468,136 |
| 2035 * | 151,560,102 |
| 2036 * | 155,689,455 |
| 2037 * | 159,848,576 |
| 2038 * | 164,045,610 |
| 2039 * | 168,296,695 |
| 2040 * | 172,595,582 |
| 2041 * | 176,946,263 |
| 2042 * | 181,350,405 |
| 2043 * | 185,805,164 |
| 2044 * | 190,312,002 |
| 2045 * | 194,865,379 |
| 2046 * | 199,464,484 |
| 2047 * | 204,105,927 |
| 2048 * | 208,783,694 |
| 2049 * | 213,497,692 |
| 2050 * | 218,246,072 |
| 2051 * | 223,027,957 |
| 2052 * | 227,837,014 |
| 2053 * | 232,664,917 |
| 2054 * | 237,508,266 |
| 2055 * | 242,361,218 |
| 2056 * | 247,217,774 |
| 2057 * | 252,076,411 |
| 2058 * | 256,940,360 |
| 2059 * | 261,810,598 |
| 2060 * | 266,679,134 |
| 2061 * | 271,539,699 |
| 2062 * | 276,386,349 |
| 2063 * | 281,214,645 |
| 2064 * | 286,020,052 |
| 2065 * | 290,802,814 |
| 2066 * | 295,566,363 |
| 2067 * | 300,307,025 |
| 2068 * | 305,024,362 |
| 2069 * | 309,717,274 |
| 2070 * | 314,382,310 |
| 2071 * | 319,008,024 |
| 2072 * | 323,597,049 |
| 2073 * | 328,151,396 |
| 2074 * | 332,668,933 |
| 2075 * | 337,148,986 |
| 2076 * | 341,591,956 |
| 2077 * | 345,997,829 |
| 2078 * | 350,356,778 |
| 2079 * | 354,663,932 |
| 2080 * | 358,920,647 |
| 2081 * | 363,127,572 |
| 2082 * | 367,286,366 |
| 2083 * | 371,405,058 |
| 2084 * | 375,476,384 |
| 2085 * | 379,483,691 |
| 2086 * | 383,424,209 |
| 2087 * | 387,295,720 |
| 2088 * | 391,094,836 |
| 2089 * | 394,825,388 |
| 2090 * | 398,480,921 |
| 2091 * | 402,059,257 |
| 2092 * | 405,554,504 |
| 2093 * | 408,970,520 |
| 2094 * | 412,322,023 |
| 2095 * | 415,597,743 |
| 2096 * | 418,781,543 |
| 2097 * | 421,876,805 |
| 2098 * | 424,898,159 |
| 2099 * | 427,842,825 |
| 2100 * | 430,709,445 |
* UN projection
Population of the DR Congo by year
50.5 million in 2000, 116 million in 2026. Every year for the last decade, then every five years to 1950. * UN projection; earlier years are UN estimates.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 116,452,162 | +3.21% | +3,619,689 | −28,843 | 15.9 | 5.80 | 51 | 46% | 1.40% | 15 |
| 2025* | 112,832,473 | +3.25% | +3,556,208 | −27,309 | 15.8 | 5.90 | 50 | 45% | 1.37% | 15 |
| 2024* | 109,276,265 | +3.30% | +3,486,534 | −26,968 | 15.8 | 5.98 | 48 | 45% | 1.34% | 15 |
| 2023 | 105,789,731 | +3.31% | +3,392,763 | −14,992 | 15.8 | 6.05 | 47 | 44% | 1.31% | 15 |
| 2022 | 102,396,968 | +3.28% | +3,248,036 | −14,991 | 15.8 | 6.11 | 45 | 44% | 1.28% | 15 |
| 2021 | 99,148,932 | +3.29% | +3,158,934 | −64,639 | 15.8 | 6.16 | 44 | 44% | 1.25% | 15 |
| 2020 | 95,989,998 | +3.27% | +3,042,556 | −1,633 | 15.8 | 6.21 | 42 | 43% | 1.22% | 16 |
| 2019 | 92,947,442 | +3.22% | +2,899,798 | −144,920 | 15.8 | 6.25 | 41 | 43% | 1.19% | 16 |
| 2018 | 90,047,644 | +3.40% | +2,964,246 | −124,246 | 15.9 | 6.30 | 40 | 43% | 1.16% | 16 |
| 2017 | 87,083,398 | +3.72% | +3,126,983 | +176,290 | 15.9 | 6.35 | 38 | 42% | 1.14% | 16 |
| 2016 | 83,956,415 | +3.60% | +2,920,884 | +440,748 | 15.8 | 6.39 | 37 | 42% | 1.11% | 16 |
| 2015 | 81,035,531 | +3.36% | +2,632,289 | −17,711 | 15.8 | 6.44 | 36 | 41% | 1.08% | 18 |
| 2010 | 68,563,038 | +3.24% | +2,150,994 | +8,823 | 15.7 | 6.59 | 30 | 39% | 0.98% | 20 |
| 2005 | 58,775,724 | +3.12% | +1,777,983 | +20,384 | 15.9 | 6.53 | 26 | 37% | 0.89% | 22 |
| 2000 | 50,507,442 | +3.26% | +1,594,471 | +79,340 | 16.0 | 6.70 | 22 | 35% | 0.82% | 23 |
| 1995 | 44,433,704 | +4.24% | +1,806,828 | −273,434 | 17.0 | 6.68 | 20 | 33% | 0.77% | 26 |
| 1990 | 36,684,063 | +3.37% | +1,197,197 | +219,270 | 16.7 | 6.65 | 16 | 30% | 0.69% | 29 |
| 1985 | 31,264,816 | +3.37% | +1,019,735 | +118,791 | 16.8 | 6.61 | 14 | 28% | 0.64% | 29 |
| 1980 | 26,711,098 | +3.18% | +824,316 | +51,685 | 16.8 | 6.49 | 12 | 27% | 0.60% | 30 |
| 1975 | 23,021,101 | +2.69% | +602,223 | −972 | 16.8 | 6.42 | 10 | 25% | 0.57% | 32 |
| 1970 | 20,137,436 | +2.90% | +566,991 | +39,116 | 17.3 | 6.33 | 9 | 24% | 0.55% | 32 |
| 1965 | 17,427,802 | +2.79% | +472,475 | +61,397 | 17.5 | 6.21 | 8 | 23% | 0.52% | 33 |
| 1960 | 15,264,846 | +2.51% | +373,264 | +27,673 | 17.3 | 6.11 | 7 | 22% | 0.51% | 33 |
| 1955 | 13,630,351 | +2.15% | +287,320 | −4,874 | 17.2 | 5.98 | 6 | 22% | 0.50% | 32 |
| 1950 | 12,294,287 | – | – | +4,113 | 17.1 | 5.97 | 5 | 19% | 0.49% | 32 |
Population forecast for the DR Congo
UN medium-variant projection: 218 million in 2050 (+87.4% from 2026), 431 million in 2100.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 131,532,201 | +3.02% | −34,958 | 16.2 | 5.42 | 58 | 47% | 1.53% | 12 |
| 2035 | 151,560,102 | +2.77% | −31,140 | 16.9 | 4.87 | 67 | 49% | 1.71% | 10 |
| 2040 | 172,595,582 | +2.55% | −42,925 | 17.8 | 4.38 | 76 | 50% | 1.88% | 10 |
| 2045 | 194,865,379 | +2.39% | −39,181 | 18.9 | 3.99 | 86 | 52% | 2.06% | 10 |
| 2050 | 218,246,072 | +2.22% | −46,131 | 20.0 | 3.66 | 96 | 54% | 2.26% | 8 |
| 2060 | 266,679,134 | +1.86% | −51,774 | 22.3 | 3.14 | 118 | – | 2.67% | 7 |
| 2070 | 314,382,310 | +1.51% | −47,900 | 24.6 | 2.77 | 139 | – | 3.09% | 7 |
| 2080 | 358,920,647 | +1.20% | −67,983 | 27.1 | 2.50 | 158 | – | 3.49% | 6 |
| 2090 | 398,480,921 | +0.93% | −60,577 | 29.6 | 2.30 | 176 | – | 3.88% | 6 |
| 2100 | 430,709,445 | +0.67% | −62,565 | 31.8 | 2.16 | 190 | – | 4.23% | 5 |
Largest cities in the DR Congo
Urban area in 2026: the whole built-up city, measured the same way for every country (UN, 2025). * UN projection. Largest cities in the world
| # | City | Population 2026 | 2050* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kinshasa (capital) | 11,078,527 | 13,210,577 |
| 2 | Kasaï-Oriental | 3,675,760 | 5,119,555 |
| 3 | Lubumbashi | 2,930,306 | 5,257,654 |
| 4 | Beni | 1,962,498 | 2,824,792 |
| 5 | Kananga | 1,557,073 | 2,795,451 |
| 6 | Tshikapa | 1,081,654 | 1,702,742 |
| 7 | Bukavu | 975,838 | 1,677,115 |
| 8 | Kisangani | 919,961 | 1,301,898 |
| 9 | Goma | 827,968 | 1,167,922 |
| 10 | Kalemie | 776,232 | 1,134,484 |
Age structure
Median age 15.9. 3.1% are 65 or older, 3.5% by 2050; 45.8% are under 15.
Share of the total population in each age group (%)
Births per woman
5.80 in 2026; about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration.
- UN estimate
- UN projection
2.2 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.97 |
| 1951 | 5.97 |
| 1952 | 5.97 |
| 1953 | 5.98 |
| 1954 | 5.98 |
| 1955 | 5.98 |
| 1956 | 5.99 |
| 1957 | 6.01 |
| 1958 | 6.04 |
| 1959 | 6.07 |
| 1960 | 6.11 |
| 1961 | 6.12 |
| 1962 | 6.14 |
| 1963 | 6.16 |
| 1964 | 6.19 |
| 1965 | 6.21 |
| 1966 | 6.24 |
| 1967 | 6.27 |
| 1968 | 6.29 |
| 1969 | 6.30 |
| 1970 | 6.33 |
| 1971 | 6.34 |
| 1972 | 6.37 |
| 1973 | 6.38 |
| 1974 | 6.40 |
| 1975 | 6.42 |
| 1976 | 6.44 |
| 1977 | 6.45 |
| 1978 | 6.46 |
| 1979 | 6.48 |
| 1980 | 6.49 |
| 1981 | 6.52 |
| 1982 | 6.54 |
| 1983 | 6.56 |
| 1984 | 6.59 |
| 1985 | 6.61 |
| 1986 | 6.63 |
| 1987 | 6.65 |
| 1988 | 6.66 |
| 1989 | 6.65 |
| 1990 | 6.65 |
| 1991 | 6.64 |
| 1992 | 6.64 |
| 1993 | 6.64 |
| 1994 | 6.64 |
| 1995 | 6.68 |
| 1996 | 6.67 |
| 1997 | 6.69 |
| 1998 | 6.70 |
| 1999 | 6.69 |
| 2000 | 6.70 |
| 2001 | 6.66 |
| 2002 | 6.61 |
| 2003 | 6.55 |
| 2004 | 6.53 |
| 2005 | 6.53 |
| 2006 | 6.55 |
| 2007 | 6.56 |
| 2008 | 6.58 |
| 2009 | 6.59 |
| 2010 | 6.59 |
| 2011 | 6.58 |
| 2012 | 6.56 |
| 2013 | 6.53 |
| 2014 | 6.48 |
| 2015 | 6.44 |
| 2016 | 6.39 |
| 2017 | 6.35 |
| 2018 | 6.30 |
| 2019 | 6.25 |
| 2020 | 6.21 |
| 2021 | 6.16 |
| 2022 | 6.11 |
| 2023 | 6.05 |
| 2024 * | 5.98 |
| 2025 * | 5.90 |
| 2026 * | 5.80 |
| 2027 * | 5.71 |
| 2028 * | 5.62 |
| 2029 * | 5.52 |
| 2030 * | 5.42 |
| 2031 * | 5.32 |
| 2032 * | 5.20 |
| 2033 * | 5.09 |
| 2034 * | 4.99 |
| 2035 * | 4.87 |
| 2036 * | 4.77 |
| 2037 * | 4.64 |
| 2038 * | 4.55 |
| 2039 * | 4.46 |
| 2040 * | 4.38 |
| 2041 * | 4.30 |
| 2042 * | 4.21 |
| 2043 * | 4.14 |
| 2044 * | 4.06 |
| 2045 * | 3.99 |
| 2046 * | 3.92 |
| 2047 * | 3.85 |
| 2048 * | 3.78 |
| 2049 * | 3.72 |
| 2050 * | 3.66 |
| 2051 * | 3.60 |
| 2052 * | 3.54 |
| 2053 * | 3.48 |
| 2054 * | 3.43 |
| 2055 * | 3.37 |
| 2056 * | 3.32 |
| 2057 * | 3.27 |
| 2058 * | 3.23 |
| 2059 * | 3.18 |
| 2060 * | 3.14 |
| 2061 * | 3.10 |
| 2062 * | 3.06 |
| 2063 * | 3.02 |
| 2064 * | 2.98 |
| 2065 * | 2.94 |
| 2066 * | 2.90 |
| 2067 * | 2.87 |
| 2068 * | 2.84 |
| 2069 * | 2.80 |
| 2070 * | 2.77 |
| 2071 * | 2.74 |
| 2072 * | 2.71 |
| 2073 * | 2.68 |
| 2074 * | 2.65 |
| 2075 * | 2.62 |
| 2076 * | 2.60 |
| 2077 * | 2.57 |
| 2078 * | 2.55 |
| 2079 * | 2.52 |
| 2080 * | 2.50 |
| 2081 * | 2.48 |
| 2082 * | 2.46 |
| 2083 * | 2.44 |
| 2084 * | 2.42 |
| 2085 * | 2.40 |
| 2086 * | 2.38 |
| 2087 * | 2.36 |
| 2088 * | 2.34 |
| 2089 * | 2.32 |
| 2090 * | 2.30 |
| 2091 * | 2.29 |
| 2092 * | 2.27 |
| 2093 * | 2.25 |
| 2094 * | 2.24 |
| 2095 * | 2.23 |
| 2096 * | 2.21 |
| 2097 * | 2.20 |
| 2098 * | 2.19 |
| 2099 * | 2.17 |
| 2100 * | 2.16 |
* UN projection
Births and deaths each year
Births outnumber deaths throughout the projection.
- Births
- Deaths
- UN estimate
- UN projection
6.8M3.9M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Births | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 563,665 | 327,302 |
| 1951 | 577,101 | 326,790 |
| 1952 | 590,023 | 326,949 |
| 1953 | 605,163 | 328,590 |
| 1954 | 618,028 | 331,077 |
| 1955 | 631,411 | 333,182 |
| 1956 | 645,839 | 336,212 |
| 1957 | 662,717 | 338,910 |
| 1958 | 680,372 | 343,173 |
| 1959 | 697,116 | 348,369 |
| 1960 | 718,406 | 354,892 |
| 1961 | 739,473 | 371,265 |
| 1962 | 761,301 | 377,897 |
| 1963 | 783,807 | 384,849 |
| 1964 | 808,176 | 401,839 |
| 1965 | 832,196 | 403,189 |
| 1966 | 858,732 | 395,330 |
| 1967 | 883,812 | 404,256 |
| 1968 | 908,873 | 411,203 |
| 1969 | 933,154 | 418,360 |
| 1970 | 957,902 | 424,595 |
| 1971 | 980,913 | 431,573 |
| 1972 | 1,001,904 | 437,415 |
| 1973 | 1,022,641 | 444,377 |
| 1974 | 1,045,063 | 451,522 |
| 1975 | 1,067,337 | 458,682 |
| 1976 | 1,090,982 | 466,841 |
| 1977 | 1,112,677 | 474,426 |
| 1978 | 1,135,606 | 489,218 |
| 1979 | 1,186,842 | 495,054 |
| 1980 | 1,231,233 | 507,105 |
| 1981 | 1,266,724 | 518,353 |
| 1982 | 1,303,813 | 528,994 |
| 1983 | 1,347,179 | 540,054 |
| 1984 | 1,396,607 | 551,629 |
| 1985 | 1,453,831 | 568,180 |
| 1986 | 1,504,905 | 579,571 |
| 1987 | 1,549,963 | 590,077 |
| 1988 | 1,595,209 | 599,936 |
| 1989 | 1,636,468 | 609,242 |
| 1990 | 1,681,955 | 618,471 |
| 1991 | 1,744,207 | 630,166 |
| 1992 | 1,793,265 | 640,510 |
| 1993 | 1,865,350 | 656,103 |
| 1994 | 1,932,742 | 673,191 |
| 1995 | 2,097,462 | 702,026 |
| 1996 | 2,128,873 | 748,401 |
| 1997 | 2,116,742 | 724,672 |
| 1998 | 2,125,496 | 750,382 |
| 1999 | 2,212,244 | 761,936 |
| 2000 | 2,287,896 | 738,367 |
| 2001 | 2,344,778 | 749,768 |
| 2002 | 2,395,052 | 763,464 |
| 2003 | 2,443,727 | 764,535 |
| 2004 | 2,495,424 | 764,415 |
| 2005 | 2,570,127 | 769,819 |
| 2006 | 2,665,465 | 776,058 |
| 2007 | 2,746,572 | 782,827 |
| 2008 | 2,833,867 | 789,712 |
| 2009 | 2,924,268 | 797,319 |
| 2010 | 3,011,258 | 799,042 |
| 2011 | 3,115,991 | 805,377 |
| 2012 | 3,219,513 | 814,063 |
| 2013 | 3,311,232 | 821,895 |
| 2014 | 3,410,957 | 830,672 |
| 2015 | 3,503,691 | 838,652 |
| 2016 | 3,599,622 | 845,922 |
| 2017 | 3,742,518 | 859,293 |
| 2018 | 3,861,913 | 868,697 |
| 2019 | 3,954,796 | 879,238 |
| 2020 | 4,049,813 | 893,708 |
| 2021 | 4,158,030 | 929,997 |
| 2022 | 4,262,077 | 914,409 |
| 2023 | 4,369,683 | 901,851 |
| 2024 * | 4,467,740 | 920,541 |
| 2025 * | 4,559,718 | 940,228 |
| 2026 * | 4,634,979 | 958,937 |
| 2027 * | 4,715,179 | 977,104 |
| 2028 * | 4,802,947 | 995,917 |
| 2029 * | 4,875,684 | 1,014,347 |
| 2030 * | 4,954,791 | 1,033,274 |
| 2031 * | 5,028,912 | 1,052,243 |
| 2032 * | 5,084,138 | 1,070,962 |
| 2033 * | 5,153,883 | 1,089,210 |
| 2034 * | 5,219,842 | 1,108,609 |
| 2035 * | 5,266,778 | 1,127,285 |
| 2036 * | 5,334,715 | 1,147,806 |
| 2037 * | 5,370,090 | 1,167,075 |
| 2038 * | 5,446,326 | 1,185,951 |
| 2039 * | 5,518,613 | 1,207,417 |
| 2040 * | 5,593,911 | 1,229,201 |
| 2041 * | 5,665,214 | 1,250,199 |
| 2042 * | 5,738,924 | 1,272,913 |
| 2043 * | 5,816,604 | 1,296,447 |
| 2044 * | 5,889,608 | 1,319,792 |
| 2045 * | 5,956,604 | 1,343,549 |
| 2046 * | 6,030,087 | 1,369,006 |
| 2047 * | 6,093,589 | 1,392,468 |
| 2048 * | 6,161,478 | 1,418,546 |
| 2049 * | 6,223,928 | 1,444,612 |
| 2050 * | 6,282,533 | 1,470,683 |
| 2051 * | 6,339,028 | 1,498,096 |
| 2052 * | 6,393,693 | 1,524,975 |
| 2053 * | 6,437,980 | 1,552,639 |
| 2054 * | 6,479,087 | 1,581,049 |
| 2055 * | 6,518,670 | 1,610,541 |
| 2056 * | 6,551,173 | 1,640,996 |
| 2057 * | 6,584,011 | 1,673,010 |
| 2058 * | 6,625,651 | 1,705,840 |
| 2059 * | 6,661,989 | 1,739,412 |
| 2060 * | 6,691,105 | 1,773,932 |
| 2061 * | 6,716,180 | 1,809,338 |
| 2062 * | 6,740,204 | 1,845,861 |
| 2063 * | 6,758,729 | 1,885,186 |
| 2064 * | 6,774,848 | 1,924,906 |
| 2065 * | 6,791,483 | 1,963,591 |
| 2066 * | 6,813,044 | 2,003,732 |
| 2067 * | 6,833,357 | 2,044,911 |
| 2068 * | 6,848,272 | 2,087,795 |
| 2069 * | 6,866,094 | 2,131,124 |
| 2070 * | 6,873,815 | 2,174,962 |
| 2071 * | 6,891,969 | 2,221,040 |
| 2072 * | 6,901,750 | 2,266,546 |
| 2073 * | 6,914,828 | 2,314,190 |
| 2074 * | 6,919,358 | 2,362,992 |
| 2075 * | 6,932,663 | 2,413,703 |
| 2076 * | 6,942,969 | 2,463,869 |
| 2077 * | 6,959,693 | 2,515,987 |
| 2078 * | 6,962,682 | 2,567,368 |
| 2079 * | 6,973,689 | 2,620,366 |
| 2080 * | 6,977,073 | 2,674,019 |
| 2081 * | 6,981,541 | 2,729,608 |
| 2082 * | 6,992,845 | 2,785,437 |
| 2083 * | 7,002,163 | 2,843,106 |
| 2084 * | 7,006,946 | 2,901,582 |
| 2085 * | 7,005,899 | 2,962,845 |
| 2086 * | 6,994,081 | 3,023,584 |
| 2087 * | 6,981,807 | 3,084,618 |
| 2088 * | 6,981,572 | 3,147,244 |
| 2089 * | 6,963,502 | 3,210,035 |
| 2090 * | 6,949,505 | 3,273,267 |
| 2091 * | 6,939,325 | 3,335,478 |
| 2092 * | 6,924,415 | 3,400,355 |
| 2093 * | 6,912,929 | 3,466,621 |
| 2094 * | 6,907,837 | 3,531,084 |
| 2095 * | 6,889,658 | 3,596,042 |
| 2096 * | 6,875,387 | 3,662,838 |
| 2097 * | 6,856,197 | 3,726,395 |
| 2098 * | 6,844,756 | 3,791,920 |
| 2099 * | 6,826,669 | 3,855,394 |
| 2100 * | 6,813,098 | 3,917,828 |
* UN projection
Economy of the DR Congo
GDP by country →- GDP 2026
- $122 billion 73rd largest economy
- GDP per person
- $1,111 US$, market rates
- GDP per person (PPP)
- Int$ 2,138 at purchasing power parity
- Economic growth
- +5.2% real GDP
- Inflation
- 4.3% consumer prices
- Unemployment
- – of the labour force
- Government debt
- 23.7% of GDP
- Share of world GDP
- 0.1%
- IMF estimate
- IMF projection
169B 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | GDP, US$ |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 41,448,000,000 |
| 1991 | 40,250,000,000 |
| 1992 | 36,333,000,000 |
| 1993 | 47,450,000,000 |
| 1994 | 25,746,000,000 |
| 1995 | 25,021,000,000 |
| 1996 | 32,099,000,000 |
| 1997 | 28,819,000,000 |
| 1998 | 21,089,000,000 |
| 1999 | 19,147,000,000 |
| 2000 | 19,077,000,000 |
| 2001 | 7,246,000,000 |
| 2002 | 8,720,000,000 |
| 2003 | 9,022,000,000 |
| 2004 | 10,275,000,000 |
| 2005 | 12,720,000,000 |
| 2006 | 15,403,000,000 |
| 2007 | 18,598,000,000 |
| 2008 | 22,665,000,000 |
| 2009 | 18,626,000,000 |
| 2010 | 22,340,000,000 |
| 2011 | 26,406,000,000 |
| 2012 | 30,074,000,000 |
| 2013 | 34,908,000,000 |
| 2014 | 38,355,000,000 |
| 2015 | 40,154,000,000 |
| 2016 | 38,086,000,000 |
| 2017 | 37,499,000,000 |
| 2018 | 46,660,000,000 |
| 2019 | 46,844,000,000 |
| 2020 | 46,682,000,000 |
| 2021 | 59,068,000,000 |
| 2022 | 70,422,000,000 |
| 2023 | 69,844,000,000 |
| 2024 | 76,724,000,000 |
| 2025 | 92,901,000,000 |
| 2026 * | 122,281,000,000 |
| 2027 * | 130,717,000,000 |
| 2028 * | 139,071,000,000 |
| 2029 * | 148,427,000,000 |
| 2030 * | 158,442,000,000 |
| 2031 * | 169,267,000,000 |
* IMF projection
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026). 2026 and later are IMF projections. GDP per capita by country · Richest countries
CO₂ emissions of the DR Congo
CO₂ by country →- CO₂ emissions 2024
- 5.9 million tonnes 132nd largest emitter
- Per person
- 0.05 t world: 4.73 t
- Share of world CO₂
- 0.02% 1.40% of its people
- Change since 1990
- +39% +158% since 2005
5.9 2024
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | CO₂, million tonnes |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.48 |
| 1951 | 1.75 |
| 1952 | 2.08 |
| 1953 | 2.29 |
| 1954 | 2.82 |
| 1955 | 3.39 |
| 1956 | 3.17 |
| 1957 | 3.33 |
| 1958 | 2.93 |
| 1959 | 2.70 |
| 1960 | 2.32 |
| 1961 | 2.35 |
| 1962 | 2.17 |
| 1963 | 2.29 |
| 1964 | 1.97 |
| 1965 | 2.47 |
| 1966 | 2.40 |
| 1967 | 2.29 |
| 1968 | 3.37 |
| 1969 | 3.65 |
| 1970 | 2.71 |
| 1971 | 2.96 |
| 1972 | 3.02 |
| 1973 | 3.19 |
| 1974 | 3.37 |
| 1975 | 3.23 |
| 1976 | 3.40 |
| 1977 | 3.48 |
| 1978 | 3.53 |
| 1979 | 3.74 |
| 1980 | 3.48 |
| 1981 | 3.75 |
| 1982 | 3.05 |
| 1983 | 4.00 |
| 1984 | 3.93 |
| 1985 | 3.61 |
| 1986 | 3.35 |
| 1987 | 3.82 |
| 1988 | 3.98 |
| 1989 | 4.35 |
| 1990 | 4.25 |
| 1991 | 3.13 |
| 1992 | 2.81 |
| 1993 | 2.66 |
| 1994 | 2.75 |
| 1995 | 3.10 |
| 1996 | 3.47 |
| 1997 | 3.09 |
| 1998 | 2.73 |
| 1999 | 2.20 |
| 2000 | 1.71 |
| 2001 | 1.65 |
| 2002 | 1.73 |
| 2003 | 2.10 |
| 2004 | 2.03 |
| 2005 | 2.29 |
| 2006 | 2.35 |
| 2007 | 2.62 |
| 2008 | 2.69 |
| 2009 | 2.45 |
| 2010 | 2.73 |
| 2011 | 3.04 |
| 2012 | 2.80 |
| 2013 | 3.92 |
| 2014 | 5.07 |
| 2015 | 3.27 |
| 2016 | 2.66 |
| 2017 | 2.92 |
| 2018 | 3.77 |
| 2019 | 4.12 |
| 2020 | 4.30 |
| 2021 | 4.29 |
| 2022 | 5.89 |
| 2023 | 5.88 |
| 2024 | 5.90 |
By source, 2024
- Oil82.0%
- Cement13.9%
- Flaring2.9%
- Coal1.2%
Fossil fuels and industry, territorial; Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ per capita by country · Historical emissions
Compare with Africa
| Country | Population 2026 | Growth | Fertility | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | 116 million | +3.13% | 5.80 | 15.9 |
| Nigeria | 242 million | +2.03% | 4.20 | 18.3 |
| Ethiopia | 139 million | +2.48% | 3.72 | 19.3 |
| Egypt | 120 million | +1.44% | 2.68 | 24.7 |
| Tanzania | 72.6 million | +2.79% | 4.41 | 17.6 |
| South Africa | 65.5 million | +1.05% | 2.17 | 28.9 |
| Kenya | 58.6 million | +1.89% | 3.07 | 20.3 |
| Sudan | 53.3 million | +3.03% | 4.13 | 18.8 |
| Uganda | 52.8 million | +2.62% | 3.97 | 17.1 |
All 237 countries · Fertility rate by country · Birth rate by country · Median age by country · Life expectancy by country · Population growth rate by country · Population density by country · Largest countries by area · Death rate by country · Infant mortality rate by country · Elderly population by country · Net migration rate by country · Urban population by country · Sex ratio by country
Air quality in the DR Congo today
Hourly AQI and a 48-hour forecast for 9 cities, from Kinshasa to Tshikapa.
Questions
What is the population of the DR Congo in 2026?
116,452,162 on 1 July 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-variant projection). That is 116 million people, +3.21% on 2025.
Is the DR Congo's population growing or shrinking?
Growing: 3,619,689 more people in 2026 than in 2025, with 12,690 births and 2,625 deaths a day and net migration of −28,843 a year.
When will the DR Congo's population peak?
Not this century on the UN's medium projection: 218 million in 2050 and 431 million in 2100, still rising.
What is the fertility rate in the DR Congo?
5.80 births per woman in 2026. A population replaces itself at about 2.1.
How many babies are born in the DR Congo every day?
About 12,690 a day (4.6 million in 2026), against about 2,625 deaths a day.
What is the life expectancy in the DR Congo?
62.4 years at birth in 2026: 64.6 for women and 60.2 for men, against a world average of 73.8.
How many men and women live in the DR Congo?
About 57.8 million men and 58.7 million women in 2026, or 98.5 men for every 100 women.
What is the population density of the DR Congo?
51 people per km² of land in 2026, on a total area of 2,345,410 km². The world average is 64.
What was the population of the DR Congo in 2000?
50,507,442 (50.5 million), the UN estimate for 1 July 2000. It has grown by 131% since, to 116 million in 2026.
What will the population of the DR Congo be in 2050?
About 218 million on the UN's medium projection (218,246,072), +87.4% from 2026; 431 million by 2100.
What are the largest cities in the DR Congo?
Kinshasa (11.1 million), Kasaï-Oriental (3.7 million), Lubumbashi (2.9 million), Beni (2 million), Kananga (1.6 million). UN figures for 2026, counting each city’s whole built-up area.
What is the GDP of the DR Congo in 2026?
$122 billion at current prices, the 73rd largest economy in the world, on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (October 2026) figures; real growth of +5.2%.
What is the DR Congo's GDP per capita?
$1,111 per person at market exchange rates in 2026, or Int$ 2,138 at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for local prices.
How much CO₂ does the DR Congo emit?
5.9 million tonnes from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.05 t per person and 0.02% of the world total; oil is the largest source (82%).
Source and method
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant. Figures for 1950–2023 are UN estimates; later years are the medium-variant projection, which assumes fertility, mortality and migration follow their most likely paths. National statistics offices publish their own counts, which can differ. Reuse under CC BY 3.0 IGO. How we use the data.