Updated
Overview
DR Congo has 9.3 times the population of South Sudan: 112.83 million people against 12.19 million (2025).
DR Congo's economy is 7.6 times the size of South Sudan's, at $91.03B versus $12.00B.
Per person, South Sudan is the wealthier of the two: $1,080 against $807 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | DR Congo | South Sudan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $91.03B | $12.00B | 2025 / 2015 | $70.75B / — |
| GDP per capita | $807 | Higher: $1,080 | 2025 / 2015 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.8% | -10.8% | 2025 / 2015 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 91.4% | 2016 / 2024 | — / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.4% | 12.4% | 2025 / 2023 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 42 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $79 | — | 2023 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 112.83 million | 12.19 million | 2025 | 119.04 million / 12.70 million |
| Population growth | 3.2% | 2.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.8 yrs | 18.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.90 | 3.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 62.1 yrs | 57.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 45% | 22% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 20% | 7% | 2024 / 2019 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,344,858 km² | 644,329 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 48.1/km² | 18.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 5.90 Mt | Lower: 1.70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $899.19M | $2.03B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 134,000 | 53,000 | 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 grew while the other economy contracted: 5.8% against -10.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in South Sudan at 91.4%, while the other economy sits at 2.9%.
People and society
DR Congo is the younger society: median age 15.8 versus 18.7 years.
Life expectancy is 4.3 years longer in DR Congo (62.1 vs 57.7).
DR Congo is considerably more urbanized: 45% of people live in cities, against 22%.
Internet adoption is higher in DR Congo (20% vs 7% of the population).
Geography
By land area, DR Congo is 3.6 times the size of South Sudan: 2,344,858 km² versus 644,329 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
South Sudan spends 2.3 times as much on defence as DR Congo: $2.03B versus $899.19M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
DR Congo fields the larger armed forces: 134,000 personnel against 53,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is DR Congo bigger than South Sudan?
- DR Congo is larger by land area. DR Congo covers 2,344,858 km² while South Sudan covers 644,329 km², so DR Congo is 3.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, DR Congo or South Sudan?
- DR Congo has the larger population: 112.83 million versus 12.19 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is DR Congo richer than South Sudan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, South Sudan is richer: $1,080 against $807. Total GDP tells a different story: $91.03B for DR Congo versus $12.00B for South Sudan.
- Who spends more on their military, DR Congo or South Sudan?
- South Sudan spends more: $2.03B versus $899.19M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).