Total population (thousands) in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Total population (thousands) was 111,036 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
111,036 thousands
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
15th
of 233 countries
All-time high
111,036 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
19,851 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 111,036 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 111,036 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 19,851 thousands, in 1970.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 15th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total population (thousands) in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 19,851 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 20,424 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 20,968 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 21,535 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 22,120 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 22,717 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 23,325 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 23,923 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 24,535 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 25,450 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 26,323 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 27,099 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 27,902 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 28,774 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 29,728 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 30,763 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 31,767 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 32,763 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 33,834 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 34,931 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 36,043 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 37,325 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 38,526 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 39,932 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 41,381 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 43,873 thousands | +6.0% |
| 1996 | 44,995 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 45,598 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 46,462 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 48,133 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 49,693 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 51,322 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 52,943 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 54,558 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 56,130 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 57,865 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 59,686 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 61,546 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 63,410 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 65,372 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 67,452 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 69,674 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 72,025 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 74,484 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 77,095 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 79,712 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 82,359 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 85,554 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 88,613 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 91,482 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 94,413 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 97,567 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 100,731 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 104,063 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 107,516 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 111,036 thousands | +3.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 111,036 thousands is above the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 4.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 111,036 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 7.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22,485 thousands | 19,851 thousands | 25,450 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 30,388 thousands | 26,323 thousands | 34,931 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 42,227 thousands | 36,043 thousands | 48,133 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 57,252 thousands | 49,693 thousands | 65,372 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 78,845 thousands | 67,452 thousands | 91,482 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 102,554 thousands | 94,413 thousands | 111,036 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Total population in Democratic Republic of Congo was 111,036 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 111,036 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 19,851 thousands in 1970.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for total population?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 15th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release