Updated
Overview
DR Congo has 17 times the population of the Republic of the Congo: 112.83 million people against 6.48 million (2025).
DR Congo's economy is 5.6 times the size of the Republic of the Congo's, at $91.03B versus $16.31B.
Per person, the Republic of the Congo is the wealthier of the two: $2,515 against $807 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | DR Congo | Republic of the Congo | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $91.03B | $16.31B | 2025 | $70.75B / $15.72B |
| GDP per capita | $807 | Higher: $2,515 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.8% | 3.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 2.4% | 2016 / 2025 | — / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.4% | 19.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 42 | 35 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $79 | Higher: $198 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 112.83 million | 6.48 million | 2025 | 119.04 million / 6.10 million |
| Population growth | 3.2% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.8 yrs | 18.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.90 | 4.05 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 62.1 yrs | Higher: 66.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 45% | 64% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 20% | Higher: 47% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,344,858 km² | 342,000 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 48.1/km² | 19.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 5.90 Mt | 8.84 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 1.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $899.19M | $182.04M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 1.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 134,000 | 12,000 | 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 3.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in DR Congo and 2.4% in the Republic of the Congo.
People and society
DR Congo is the younger society: median age 15.8 versus 18.6 years.
Life expectancy is 3.9 years longer in the Republic of the Congo (66.0 vs 62.1).
The Republic of the Congo is considerably more urbanized: 64% of people live in cities, against 45%.
Internet adoption is higher in the Republic of the Congo (47% vs 20% of the population).
Geography
By land area, DR Congo is 6.9 times the size of the Republic of the Congo: 2,344,858 km² versus 342,000 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 19.
Military
DR Congo spends 4.9 times as much on defence as the Republic of the Congo: $899.19M versus $182.04M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
DR Congo fields the larger armed forces: 134,000 personnel against 12,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is DR Congo bigger than the Republic of the Congo?
- DR Congo is larger by land area. DR Congo covers 2,344,858 km² while the Republic of the Congo covers 342,000 km², so DR Congo is 6.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, DR Congo or the Republic of the Congo?
- DR Congo has the larger population: 112.83 million versus 6.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is DR Congo richer than the Republic of the Congo?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Republic of the Congo is richer: $2,515 against $807. Total GDP tells a different story: $91.03B for DR Congo versus $16.31B for the Republic of the Congo.
- Who spends more on their military, DR Congo or the Republic of the Congo?
- DR Congo spends more: $899.19M versus $182.04M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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