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
16th
of 239 countries
All-time high
105.79 million people
in 2023
All-time low
2.94 million people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Democratic Republic of Congo is 105.79 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 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, 2.94 million people, in 1000.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 16th out of 239 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 2.94 million people | — |
| 1100 | 3.43 million people | +16.7% |
| 1200 | 3.93 million people | +14.3% |
| 1300 | 4.42 million people | +12.5% |
| 1400 | 5.15 million people | +16.7% |
| 1500 | 5.89 million people | +14.3% |
| 1600 | 6.26 million people | +6.2% |
| 1700 | 6.62 million people | +5.9% |
| 1710 | 6.68 million people | +0.8% |
| 1720 | 6.72 million people | +0.6% |
| 1730 | 6.76 million people | +0.7% |
| 1740 | 6.81 million people | +0.7% |
| 1750 | 6.86 million people | +0.7% |
| 1760 | 6.92 million people | +0.8% |
| 1770 | 6.97 million people | +0.8% |
| 1780 | 7.03 million people | +0.9% |
| 1790 | 7.10 million people | +0.9% |
| 1800 | 5.16 million people | -27.2% |
| 1801 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 5.16 million people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 5.18 million people | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 5.21 million people | +0.6% |
| 1821 | 5.26 million people | +0.9% |
| 1822 | 5.33 million people | +1.3% |
| 1823 | 5.41 million people | +1.6% |
| 1824 | 5.50 million people | +1.6% |
| 1825 | 5.58 million people | +1.6% |
| 1826 | 5.67 million people | +1.6% |
| 1827 | 5.76 million people | +1.6% |
| 1828 | 5.85 million people | +1.6% |
| 1829 | 5.94 million people | +1.6% |
| 1830 | 6.03 million people | +1.6% |
| 1831 | 6.13 million people | +1.6% |
| 1832 | 6.22 million people | +1.6% |
| 1833 | 6.32 million people | +1.6% |
| 1834 | 6.42 million people | +1.6% |
| 1835 | 6.52 million people | +1.6% |
| 1836 | 6.62 million people | +1.6% |
| 1837 | 6.72 million people | +1.6% |
| 1838 | 6.83 million people | +1.6% |
| 1839 | 6.93 million people | +1.6% |
| 1840 | 7.04 million people | +1.6% |
| 1841 | 7.15 million people | +1.6% |
| 1842 | 7.26 million people | +1.6% |
| 1843 | 7.38 million people | +1.6% |
| 1844 | 7.49 million people | +1.6% |
| 1845 | 7.61 million people | +1.6% |
| 1846 | 7.73 million people | +1.6% |
| 1847 | 7.85 million people | +1.6% |
| 1848 | 7.97 million people | +1.6% |
| 1849 | 8.07 million people | +1.3% |
| 1850 | 8.15 million people | +0.9% |
| 1851 | 8.20 million people | +0.7% |
| 1852 | 8.23 million people | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 8.24 million people | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 8.24 million people | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 8.25 million people | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 8.25 million people | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 8.26 million people | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 8.26 million people | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 8.28 million people | +0.2% |
| 1860 | 8.30 million people | +0.3% |
| 1861 | 8.34 million people | +0.4% |
| 1862 | 8.38 million people | +0.5% |
| 1863 | 8.44 million people | +0.6% |
| 1864 | 8.49 million people | +0.6% |
| 1865 | 8.54 million people | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 8.60 million people | +0.6% |
| 1867 | 8.65 million people | +0.6% |
| 1868 | 8.71 million people | +0.6% |
| 1869 | 8.77 million people | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 8.83 million people | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 8.89 million people | +0.7% |
| 1872 | 8.96 million people | +0.7% |
| 1873 | 9.03 million people | +0.8% |
| 1874 | 9.10 million people | +0.8% |
| 1875 | 9.17 million people | +0.8% |
| 1876 | 9.24 million people | +0.8% |
| 1877 | 9.31 million people | +0.8% |
| 1878 | 9.38 million people | +0.8% |
| 1879 | 9.45 million people | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 9.51 million people | +0.6% |
| 1881 | 9.56 million people | +0.6% |
| 1882 | 9.61 million people | +0.5% |
| 1883 | 9.66 million people | +0.5% |
| 1884 | 9.70 million people | +0.5% |
| 1885 | 9.75 million people | +0.5% |
| 1886 | 9.79 million people | +0.5% |
| 1887 | 9.84 million people | +0.5% |
| 1888 | 9.88 million people | +0.5% |
| 1889 | 9.91 million people | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 9.92 million people | +0.1% |
| 1891 | 9.90 million people | -0.1% |
| 1892 | 9.87 million people | -0.3% |
| 1893 | 9.82 million people | -0.5% |
| 1894 | 9.77 million people | -0.5% |
| 1895 | 9.72 million people | -0.5% |
| 1896 | 9.67 million people | -0.5% |
| 1897 | 9.63 million people | -0.5% |
| 1898 | 9.58 million people | -0.5% |
| 1899 | 9.52 million people | -0.6% |
| 1900 | 9.45 million people | -0.7% |
| 1901 | 9.38 million people | -0.8% |
| 1902 | 9.29 million people | -0.9% |
| 1903 | 9.20 million people | -1.0% |
| 1904 | 9.11 million people | -1.0% |
| 1905 | 9.02 million people | -1.0% |
| 1906 | 8.93 million people | -1.0% |
| 1907 | 8.84 million people | -1.0% |
| 1908 | 8.75 million people | -1.0% |
| 1909 | 8.67 million people | -0.9% |
| 1910 | 8.60 million people | -0.8% |
| 1911 | 8.54 million people | -0.7% |
| 1912 | 8.48 million people | -0.7% |
| 1913 | 8.43 million people | -0.6% |
| 1914 | 8.38 million people | -0.6% |
| 1915 | 8.33 million people | -0.6% |
| 1916 | 8.28 million people | -0.6% |
| 1917 | 8.23 million people | -0.6% |
| 1918 | 8.19 million people | -0.6% |
| 1919 | 8.17 million people | -0.2% |
| 1920 | 8.18 million people | +0.2% |
| 1921 | 8.23 million people | +0.6% |
| 1922 | 8.31 million people | +0.9% |
| 1923 | 8.42 million people | +1.3% |
| 1924 | 8.53 million people | +1.3% |
| 1925 | 8.64 million people | +1.3% |
| 1926 | 8.75 million people | +1.3% |
| 1927 | 8.87 million people | +1.3% |
| 1928 | 8.99 million people | +1.3% |
| 1929 | 9.10 million people | +1.3% |
| 1930 | 9.22 million people | +1.3% |
| 1931 | 9.34 million people | +1.3% |
| 1932 | 9.45 million people | +1.2% |
| 1933 | 9.57 million people | +1.2% |
| 1934 | 9.68 million people | +1.2% |
| 1935 | 9.80 million people | +1.2% |
| 1936 | 9.92 million people | +1.2% |
| 1937 | 10.04 million people | +1.2% |
| 1938 | 10.17 million people | +1.2% |
| 1939 | 10.30 million people | +1.3% |
| 1940 | 10.44 million people | +1.4% |
| 1941 | 10.60 million people | +1.5% |
| 1942 | 10.76 million people | +1.5% |
| 1943 | 10.93 million people | +1.6% |
| 1944 | 11.11 million people | +1.6% |
| 1945 | 11.29 million people | +1.6% |
| 1946 | 11.47 million people | +1.6% |
| 1947 | 11.66 million people | +1.6% |
| 1948 | 11.85 million people | +1.6% |
| 1949 | 12.06 million people | +1.8% |
| 1950 | 12.29 million people | +1.9% |
| 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)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | -27.2% | 7.10 million people | 5.16 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2.94 million people | 2.94 million people | 2.94 million people | 1 |
| 1100s | 3.43 million people | 3.43 million people | 3.43 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 3.93 million people | 3.93 million people | 3.93 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 4.42 million people | 4.42 million people | 4.42 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 5.15 million people | 5.15 million people | 5.15 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 5.89 million people | 5.89 million people | 5.89 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 6.26 million people | 6.26 million people | 6.26 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 6.62 million people | 6.62 million people | 6.62 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 6.68 million people | 6.68 million people | 6.68 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 6.72 million people | 6.72 million people | 6.72 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 6.76 million people | 6.76 million people | 6.76 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 6.81 million people | 6.81 million people | 6.81 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 6.86 million people | 6.86 million people | 6.86 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 6.92 million people | 6.92 million people | 6.92 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 6.97 million people | 6.97 million people | 6.97 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 7.03 million people | 7.03 million people | 7.03 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 7.10 million people | 7.10 million people | 7.10 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.16 million people | 5.16 million people | 5.16 million people | 10 |
| 1810s | 5.17 million people | 5.16 million people | 5.18 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 5.55 million people | 5.21 million people | 5.94 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 6.47 million people | 6.03 million people | 6.93 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 7.56 million people | 7.04 million people | 8.07 million people | 10 |
| 1850s | 8.24 million people | 8.15 million people | 8.28 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 8.52 million people | 8.30 million people | 8.77 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 9.13 million people | 8.83 million people | 9.45 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 9.72 million people | 9.51 million people | 9.91 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 9.74 million people | 9.52 million people | 9.92 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 9.06 million people | 8.67 million people | 9.45 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 8.36 million people | 8.17 million people | 8.60 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 8.60 million people | 8.18 million people | 9.10 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 9.75 million people | 9.22 million people | 10.30 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 11.22 million people | 10.44 million people | 12.06 million people | 10 |
| 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
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Population density 189.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 33.44 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (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 HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing 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 2.94 million people in 1000.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for population?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 16th out of 239 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 HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.