Nigeria vs DR Congo: population comparison
Current population of Nigeria
242,935,504
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 4,400
- Deaths today
- 1,576
- Change today (UTC)
- +2,792
Current population of DR Congo
116,821,540
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 2,630
- Deaths today
- 541
- Change today (UTC)
- +2,060
Nigeria has a population of 237,527,782 and DR Congo has 112,832,473 (2025 estimates). Nigeria is currently larger by 124,695,309 people — about 2.1 times DR Congo's population. They rank 6 and 15 in the world respectively.
Their trajectories differ: DR Congo grows at +3.20% per year versus +2.06% for Nigeria. At current rates the balance between them keeps shifting.
Beyond size, the structures differ: DR Congo is the younger society (median age 15.8 vs 18.1); Nigeria is far more crowded at 250 people per km² against 47.
Nigeria vs DR Congo population, 1960–2025
Side by side
| Indicator | Nigeria | DR Congo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 237,527,782 | 112,832,473 |
| Annual growth | +2.06% | +3.20% |
| Yearly change | +4,848,304 | +3,556,208 |
| Density (P/km²) | 250 | 47 |
| Land area (km²) | 910,770 | 2,267,050 |
| Median age | 18.1 yrs | 15.8 yrs |
| Fertility rate | 4.38 | 5.98 |
| Life expectancy | 54.6 yrs | 62.1 yrs |
| Urban population | 64% | 45% |
| World share | 2.89% | 1.37% |
| 2050 projection (UN) | 359,185,556 | 218,246,072 |
Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: Nigeria · DR Congo
Nigeria vs DR Congo FAQ
Is Nigeria bigger than DR Congo by population?
Nigeria currently has the larger population: 237,527,782 versus 112,832,473 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 124.7 million people.
Which grows faster, Nigeria or DR Congo?
DR Congo currently grows faster: +3.20% per year versus +2.06%.
How do Nigeria and DR Congo compare in 2050?
UN medium-variant projections put Nigeria at 359,185,556 and DR Congo at 218,246,072 in 2050.