Population in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Population was 105.79 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
105.79 million people
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
15th
of 236 countries
All-time high
105.79 million people
in 2023
All-time low
12.29 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 105.79 million people for population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 39.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 105.79 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.29 million people, in 1950.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 15th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.29 million people | — |
| 1951 | 12.54 million people | +2.0% |
| 1952 | 12.80 million people | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 13.07 million people | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 13.34 million people | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 13.63 million people | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 13.93 million people | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 14.24 million people | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 14.56 million people | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 14.89 million people | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 15.26 million people | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 15.66 million people | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 16.08 million people | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 16.51 million people | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 16.96 million people | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 17.43 million people | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 17.93 million people | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 18.46 million people | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 19.01 million people | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 19.57 million people | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 20.14 million people | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 20.70 million people | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 21.25 million people | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 21.83 million people | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 22.42 million people | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 23.02 million people | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 23.62 million people | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 24.23 million people | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 24.99 million people | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 25.89 million people | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 26.71 million people | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 27.50 million people | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 28.34 million people | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 29.25 million people | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 30.25 million people | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 31.26 million people | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 32.27 million people | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 33.30 million people | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 34.38 million people | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 35.49 million people | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 36.68 million people | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 37.93 million people | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 39.23 million people | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 40.66 million people | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 42.63 million people | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 44.43 million people | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 45.30 million people | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 46.03 million people | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 47.30 million people | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 48.91 million people | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 50.51 million people | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 52.13 million people | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 53.75 million people | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 55.34 million people | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 57.00 million people | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 58.78 million people | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 60.62 million people | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 62.48 million people | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 64.39 million people | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 66.41 million people | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 68.56 million people | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 70.85 million people | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 73.25 million people | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 75.79 million people | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 78.40 million people | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 81.04 million people | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 83.96 million people | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 87.08 million people | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 90.05 million people | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 92.95 million people | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 95.99 million people | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 99.15 million people | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 102.40 million people | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 105.79 million people | +3.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 105.79 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 23.03 million people, 4.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 105.79 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 7.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.53 million people | 12.29 million people | 14.89 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.29 million people | 15.26 million people | 19.57 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.81 million people | 20.14 million people | 25.89 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.87 million people | 26.71 million people | 35.49 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.91 million people | 36.68 million people | 48.91 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.14 million people | 50.51 million people | 66.41 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.19 million people | 68.56 million people | 92.95 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 100.83 million people | 95.99 million people | 105.79 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More population data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 33.44 million people (2100)
- Population density 189.99 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.5489 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Population in Democratic Republic of Congo was 105.79 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 105.79 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.29 million people in 1950.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for population?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 15th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.