The Democratic Republic of the Congo has one of the highest population growth rates in the world of 3.19%. With a current population of about 89.56 million, DR Congo is projected to surpass 100 million in 2024 and double its population by 2047.
DR Congo has one of the highest fertility rates in the world of 6.11 births per woman. The 2019 birth rate for DR Congo was 40.6 births per 1,000 people.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, however, has many issues that a rapidly increasing population can exacerbate. The country is plagued with conflict and lacks modern health services. Additionally, HIV/AIDs is a major problem, as well as rape, human trafficking, and child labor.
DR Congo Population Growth
It's very hard to obtain reliable data on DRC's population due to conflict, but it seems to be a destination for many immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. The number of Congolese nationals abroad is somewhere between 3 and 6 million, most of whom live in Africa.
DR Congo Population Projections
The rate of growth in DR Congo is unusually high at 3.27%. This is expected to slow, but not significantly. The population is expected to hit 90 million by 2020, and 100 million by 2024. By the year 2050, DR Congo is projected to have a population close to 200 million.