DR Congo
- Capital:
- Kinshasa
- Continent:
- Africa
- Region(s):
- Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Largest Cities:
- Kinshasa, Mbuji-Mayi, Lubumbashi
- Abbreviation:
- COD
116,452,162
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
116,452,162
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
DR Congo's population is projected to be 421,876,805 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 116,452,162 | 3.27% | 15 |
| 2025 | 112,832,473 | 3.29% | 15 |
| 2020 | 95,989,998 | 3.27% | 16 |
| 2019 | 92,947,442 | 3.22% | 16 |
| 2018 | 90,047,644 | 3.4% | 16 |
| 2017 | 87,083,398 | 3.72% | 16 |
| 2015 | 81,035,531 | 3.4% | 18 |
| 2010 | 68,563,038 | 3.13% | 20 |
| 2005 | 58,775,724 | 3.08% | 22 |
| 2000 | 50,507,442 | 2.6% | 23 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 116,452,162 | 3.27% | 15 |
| 2032 | 139,408,612 | 3.02% | 11 |
| 2037 | 159,848,576 | 2.77% | 10 |
| 2042 | 181,350,405 | 2.56% | 10 |
| 2047 | 204,105,927 | 2.39% | 10 |
| 2052 | 227,837,014 | 2.22% | 8 |
| 2057 | 252,076,411 | 2.04% | 7 |
| 2062 | 276,386,349 | 1.86% | 7 |
| 2067 | 300,307,025 | 1.67% | 7 |
| 2072 | 323,597,049 | 1.5% | 6 |
706K
750K
1M
2.5M
5M
7.5M
10M
21.9M
Kinshasa has a metropolitan area population of 21,852,144, comprising 18.76%% of DR Congo's total population.
| Rank | City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | % of National Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kinshasa | 21,852,144 | 18.76% |
| 2 | Mbuji-Mayi | 3,319,877 | 2.85% |
| 3 | Lubumbashi | 3,165,454 | 2.72% |
| 4 | Kananga | 1,897,178 | 1.63% |
| 5 | Kisangani | 1,583,825 | 1.36% |
| 6 | Bukavu | 1,417,332 | 1.22% |
| 7 | Tshikapa | 1,101,036 | 0.95% |
| 8 | Kolwezi | 1,015,129 | 0.87% |
| 9 | Goma | 750,627 | 0.64% |
| 10 | Uvira | 706,388 | 0.61% |
As of 2026, DR Congo has a total population of 116,452,162, ranking as the 15th most populous nation in the world.
DR Congo has a net population change of approximately 9,986 people per day, driven by 12,690 births, 2,625 deaths, and net emigration of 79 people.
DR Congo represents 1.45% of the total global population and 7.35% of Africa's population.
DR Congo has a population density of 51.4 people per km² (approximately 133.0 per mi²), making it the 162nd most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 41.79% of the population resides in urban areas, a figure that is increasing annually.
*Rates last updated: June 16, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in DR Congo is over 200 African ethnic groups . Note: majority are Bantu; the four largest - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) - make up about 45% of the population.
As of 2026, Other Christian is the largest religion in DR Congo, comprising 36.5% of the population.