Updated
Overview
DR Congo has 2.2 times the population of Uganda: 112.83 million people against 51.38 million (2025).
DR Congo's economy is about 45% larger than Uganda's, at $91.03B versus $61.99B.
Per person, Uganda is the wealthier of the two: $1,206 against $807 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | DR Congo | Uganda | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $91.03B | $61.99B | 2025 | $70.75B / $53.65B |
| GDP per capita | $807 | Higher: $1,206 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.8% | Higher: 6.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 3.6% | 2016 / 2025 | — / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 4.4% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 42 | 35 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $161 | — / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $79 | $35 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 112.83 million | 51.38 million | 2025 | 119.04 million / 50.86 million |
| Population growth | 3.2% | 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.8 yrs | 16.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.90 | 4.06 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 62.1 yrs | Higher: 68.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 45% | 32% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 20% | 9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,344,858 km² | 241,550 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 48.1/km² | 212.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 5.90 Mt | 6.33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $899.19M | $1.12B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 134,000 | 46,000 | 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
Uganda is growing faster: 6.3% annual GDP growth versus 5.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in DR Congo and 3.6% in Uganda.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 15.8 (DR Congo) and 16.9 (Uganda).
Life expectancy is 6.4 years longer in Uganda (68.5 vs 62.1).
DR Congo is considerably more urbanized: 45% of people live in cities, against 32%.
Internet adoption is higher in DR Congo (20% vs 9% of the population).
Geography
By land area, DR Congo is 9.7 times the size of Uganda: 2,344,858 km² versus 241,550 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Uganda is far more densely settled: 213 people per km² against 48.
Military
Uganda spends 24% more on defence than DR Congo: $1.12B versus $899.19M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
DR Congo fields the larger armed forces: 134,000 personnel against 46,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is DR Congo bigger than Uganda?
- DR Congo is larger by land area. DR Congo covers 2,344,858 km² while Uganda covers 241,550 km², so DR Congo is 9.7 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, DR Congo or Uganda?
- DR Congo has the larger population: 112.83 million versus 51.38 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is DR Congo richer than Uganda?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Uganda is richer: $1,206 against $807. Total GDP tells a different story: $91.03B for DR Congo versus $61.99B for Uganda.
- Who spends more on their military, DR Congo or Uganda?
- Uganda spends more: $1.12B versus $899.19M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).