Updated
Overview
DR Congo has 20 times the population of the Central African Republic: 112.83 million people against 5.51 million (2025).
DR Congo's economy is 30 times the size of the Central African Republic's, at $91.03B versus $3.07B.
Per person, DR Congo is the wealthier of the two: $807 against $556 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | DR Congo | Central African Republic | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $91.03B | $3.07B | 2025 | $70.75B / $2.75B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $807 | $556 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.8% | 4.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 1.0% | 2016 / 2025 | — / 3.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.4% | 6.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 42 | 42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $79 | $58 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 112.83 million | 5.51 million | 2025 | 119.04 million / 5.75 million |
| Population growth | 3.2% | 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.8 yrs | 14.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.90 | 5.81 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 62.1 yrs | 57.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 45% | 45% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 20% | 14% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,344,858 km² | 622,984 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 48.1/km² | 8.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 5.90 Mt | Lower: 0.40 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $899.19M | $71.17M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 2.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 134,000 | 10,000 | 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 4.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in DR Congo and 1.0% in the Central African Republic.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 15.8 (DR Congo) and 14.5 (the Central African Republic).
Life expectancy is 4.4 years longer in DR Congo (62.1 vs 57.7).
Geography
By land area, DR Congo is 3.8 times the size of the Central African Republic: 2,344,858 km² versus 622,984 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
DR Congo is far more densely settled: 48 people per km² against 9.
Military
DR Congo spends 13 times as much on defence as the Central African Republic: $899.19M versus $71.17M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the Central African Republic carries the heavier military burden: 2.5% of GDP versus 1.2%.
DR Congo fields the larger armed forces: 134,000 personnel against 10,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is DR Congo bigger than the Central African Republic?
- DR Congo is larger by land area. DR Congo covers 2,344,858 km² while the Central African Republic covers 622,984 km², so DR Congo is 3.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, DR Congo or the Central African Republic?
- DR Congo has the larger population: 112.83 million versus 5.51 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is DR Congo richer than the Central African Republic?
- Measured by GDP per capita, DR Congo is richer: $807 against $556. Total GDP tells the same story: $91.03B for DR Congo versus $3.07B for the Central African Republic.
- Who spends more on their military, DR Congo or the Central African Republic?
- DR Congo spends more: $899.19M versus $71.17M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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