Updated
Overview
DR Congo has 7.7 times the population of Rwanda: 112.83 million people against 14.57 million (2025).
DR Congo's economy is 5.6 times the size of Rwanda's, at $91.03B versus $16.37B.
Per person, Rwanda is the wealthier of the two: $1,124 against $807 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | DR Congo | Rwanda | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $91.03B | $16.37B | 2025 | $70.75B / $14.25B |
| GDP per capita | $807 | Higher: $1,124 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.8% | Higher: 9.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 5.9% | 2016 / 2025 | — / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.4% | 11.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 42 | 27 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $53 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $79 | $2 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 112.83 million | 14.57 million | 2025 | 119.04 million / 13.62 million |
| Population growth | 3.2% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.8 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.90 | 3.59 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 62.1 yrs | Higher: 68.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 45% | 31% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 20% | Higher: 32% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,344,858 km² | 26,338 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 48.1/km² | 553.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 5.90 Mt | Lower: 2.03 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $899.19M | $175.92M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 1.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 134,000 | 35,000 | 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
Rwanda is growing much faster: 9.4% annual GDP growth versus 5.8%.
Rwanda runs the hotter price environment: 5.9% inflation versus 2.9%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Rwanda: a price level of 27 versus 42 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
DR Congo is the younger society: median age 15.8 versus 19.9 years.
Life expectancy is 5.9 years longer in Rwanda (68.0 vs 62.1).
DR Congo is considerably more urbanized: 45% of people live in cities, against 31%.
Internet adoption is higher in Rwanda (32% vs 20% of the population).
Geography
By land area, DR Congo is 89 times the size of Rwanda: 2,344,858 km² versus 26,338 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Rwanda is far more densely settled: 553 people per km² against 48.
Military
DR Congo spends 5.1 times as much on defence as Rwanda: $899.19M versus $175.92M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
DR Congo fields the larger armed forces: 134,000 personnel against 35,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is DR Congo bigger than Rwanda?
- DR Congo is larger by land area. DR Congo covers 2,344,858 km² while Rwanda covers 26,338 km², so DR Congo is 89 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, DR Congo or Rwanda?
- DR Congo has the larger population: 112.83 million versus 14.57 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is DR Congo richer than Rwanda?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Rwanda is richer: $1,124 against $807. Total GDP tells a different story: $91.03B for DR Congo versus $16.37B for Rwanda.
- Who spends more on their military, DR Congo or Rwanda?
- DR Congo spends more: $899.19M versus $175.92M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).