Updated
Overview
DR Congo has 7.8 times the population of Burundi: 112.83 million people against 14.39 million (2025).
DR Congo's economy is 27 times the size of Burundi's, at $91.03B versus $3.36B.
Per person, DR Congo is the wealthier of the two: $807 against $234 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | DR Congo | Burundi | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $91.03B | $3.36B | 2025 | $70.75B / $2.16B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $807 | $234 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.8% | 4.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 34.1% | 2016 / 2025 | — / 20.2% |
| Unemployment | 4.4% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 42 | 34 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $51 | — / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $79 | $1 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 112.83 million | 14.39 million | 2025 | 119.04 million / 13.59 million |
| Population growth | 3.2% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.8 yrs | 16.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.90 | 4.68 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 62.1 yrs | Higher: 63.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 45% | 26% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 20% | 9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,344,858 km² | 27,834 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 48.1/km² | 517.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 5.90 Mt | Lower: 0.92 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $899.19M | $171.83M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 3.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 134,000 | 31,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
DR Congo is growing faster: 5.8% annual GDP growth versus 4.2%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Burundi at 34.1%, while the other economy sits at 2.9%.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 15.8 (DR Congo) and 16.4 (Burundi).
Life expectancy is 1.7 years longer in Burundi (63.8 vs 62.1).
DR Congo is considerably more urbanized: 45% of people live in cities, against 26%.
Internet adoption is higher in DR Congo (20% vs 9% of the population).
Geography
By land area, DR Congo is 84 times the size of Burundi: 2,344,858 km² versus 27,834 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Burundi is far more densely settled: 517 people per km² against 48.
Military
DR Congo spends 5.2 times as much on defence as Burundi: $899.19M versus $171.83M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Burundi carries the heavier military burden: 3.8% of GDP versus 1.2%.
DR Congo fields the larger armed forces: 134,000 personnel against 31,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is DR Congo bigger than Burundi?
- DR Congo is larger by land area. DR Congo covers 2,344,858 km² while Burundi covers 27,834 km², so DR Congo is 84 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, DR Congo or Burundi?
- DR Congo has the larger population: 112.83 million versus 14.39 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is DR Congo richer than Burundi?
- Measured by GDP per capita, DR Congo is richer: $807 against $234. Total GDP tells the same story: $91.03B for DR Congo versus $3.36B for Burundi.
- Who spends more on their military, DR Congo or Burundi?
- DR Congo spends more: $899.19M versus $171.83M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).