Democratic Republic of the Congo Population Pyramid (2026)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a population of 116,452,162 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 15th-largest population in the world and 1.40% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 45.8% of the population and people aged 65 and over 3.1%, with 98.5 males for every 100 females.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Demographics
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has 116.5 million people in 2026, up 478.3% from 20.1 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 3,676,042 (UN projection for 2026).
Under-15 share 45.8% — the 5th-highest of 194 countries.
Median age 15.9 — the 6th-lowest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Alpha — 36.6% (42,613,500)
All generations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo →Compare Democratic Republic of the Congo Demographics
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how the Democratic Republic of the Congo's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has 98.5 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 885,588 (0.8% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:57,783,287
- Percentage:49.6%
Female Statistics
- Population:58,668,875
- Percentage:50.4%
- Ratio Format:1:1.015
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of the Democratic Republic of the Congo indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 4,634,979 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,158,030 | 41.9 | 6.16 | estimate |
| 2022 | 4,262,077 | 41.6 | 6.11 | estimate |
| 2023 | 4,369,683 | 41.3 | 6.05 | estimate |
| 2024 | 4,467,740 | 40.9 | 5.98 | projection |
| 2025 | 4,559,718 | 40.4 | 5.90 | projection |
| 2026 | 4,634,979 | 39.8 | 5.80 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (4,634,979 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's median age is 15.9 years
Half the population is younger than 15.9 years, half is older — indicating a very young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 20,789,376 | 17.9% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 17,723,464 | 15.2% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 14,858,646 | 12.8% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 12,274,133 | 10.5% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 10,029,227 | 8.6% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 8,471,164 | 7.3% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 7,132,500 | 6.1% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 5,758,678 | 4.9% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 4,602,080 | 4.0% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 3,616,559 | 3.1% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 3,021,131 | 2.6% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 2,548,589 | 2.2% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 2,024,037 | 1.7% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 1,500,632 | 1.3% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 1,017,533 | 0.9% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 623,882 | 0.5% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 320,444 | 0.3% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 112,618 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 24,501 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 2,819 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 145 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 2 (high birth rate, falling death rate): 39.8 births and 8.2 deaths per 1,000, a natural increase of about 3.2% a year (births minus deaths, before migration). Read more about Stage 2 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Democratic Republic of the Congo Total Fertility Rate: 5.80 children per woman
Above the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6.16 | 41.9 | |
| 2022 | 6.11 | 41.6 | ↓0.05 |
| 2023 | 6.05 | 41.3 | ↓0.06 |
| 2024 | 5.98 | 40.9 | ↓0.07 |
| 2025 | 5.90 | 40.4 | ↓0.08 |
| 2026 | 5.80 | 39.8 | ↓0.10 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Above global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 5.42
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's total fertility rate is 5.80 children per woman in 2026 (high fertility), above the replacement level of 2.1. The Democratic Republic of the Congo ranks 3 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the highest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −2.8% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's population has increased by 847.2%.
The median age has decreased from 17.1 in 1950 to 15.9 in 2026, indicating a younger demographic profile.
Understanding the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Demographics
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has an expansive population pyramid — a broad base of children that narrows steadily toward older ages.
Children under 15 make up 45.8% of the population and people aged 65 and over 3.1%.
The largest five-year age band is 0–4, at 17.9% of the population.
Demographic Analysis: the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's working-age share peaked in 1963 at 54.4% and is 51.1% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in a period of high fertility, with a total fertility rate of 5.80 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's median age changed by +0.1 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 116,452,162 |
| Male Population | 57,783,287(49.6%) |
| Female Population | 58,668,875(50.4%) |
| Median Age | 15.9 years |
| Sex Ratio | 98.5 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 53,371,486(45.8%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 59,478,102(51.1%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 3,602,574(3.1%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 95.8 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 89.7 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 6.1 |
| Pyramid Type | Expansive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
How long the average person in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is projected to grow to 218.2 million people by 2050 (+87.4% from 2026).
The median age rises from 15.9 in 2026 to 20.0 by 2050.
Democratic Republic of the Congo's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 32.6%, growing from 20.1 million in 1970 to 26.7 million by 1980.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 20.1M to 26.7M
- • Growth rate of 32.6% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 17.3 to 16.8 years (−0.5y)
- • 65+ share changed by +0.0 points; under-15 share by +0.8 points
How Does the Democratic Republic of the Congo Compare to Its Neighbors?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a younger population than Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a larger population than Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Angola
Zambia
Tanzania
Uganda
Frequently Asked Questions About the Democratic Republic of the Congo
How does the Democratic Republic of the Congo rank globally by population?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo ranks 15th in the world by population with 116.5 million people as of 2026, representing 1.40% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does the Democratic Republic of the Congo's age structure reveal about its development?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's age structure — 45.8% under 15, 51.1% working-age (15–64) and 3.1% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 2 of the demographic transition, with an expansive population pyramid. The median age is 15.9 years.
What is the dependency ratio in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has 95.8 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is the Democratic Republic of the Congo experiencing a demographic dividend?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has moved past its demographic-dividend window. The Democratic Republic of the Congo's working-age share peaked in 1963 at 54.4% and is 51.1% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's population?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has more females than males, with 98.5 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Democratic Republic of the Congo Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/democratic-republic-of-the-congo
View UN World Population Prospects Data →