View source for Demographics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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{{Infobox place demographics|image=File:Democratic Republic of the Congo single age population pyramid 2020.png|place=[[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]|image_size=350|caption=[[Population pyramid]] of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2020|size_of_population={{UN_Population|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} ({{UN_Population|Year}} est.)|nation=Congolese|official=French|age_0–14_years=46.38%|age_65_years=2.47%|birth=40.08 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)|growth=3.24% (2022 est.)|death=7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)|net_migration=-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)|sr_under_15=1.01 male(s)/female|sr_at_birth=1.03 male(s)/female|sr_65_years_over=0.6 male(s)/female|total_mf_ratio=1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)|infant_mortality=60.85 deaths/1,000 live births|life=61.83 years|life_male=60.03 years|life_female=63.69 years|fertility=5.5 children born/woman (2024 est.)}}[[File:Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo_population.svg|350px|alt=|thumb|upright=1.4|Democratic Republic of the Congos population between 1960 and 2017.]]
[[demography|Demographic]] features of the [[population]] of the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] include [[Ethnic group|ethnicity]], education level, health, [[Socioeconomic status|economic status]], [[Religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|religious]] affiliations and other aspects of the population.

As many as 250 [[ethnic group]]s have been distinguished and named.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Congo (Kinshasa) (01/08) |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/congokinshasa/85994.htm |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> The most numerous people are the [[Luba people|Luba]], [[Mongo people|Mongo]], and [[Bakongo|Kongo]].

Although 700 local [[language]]s and [[dialect]]s are spoken, the linguistic variety is bridged both by the use of [[French language|French]], and the intermediary languages [[Kituba language|Kikongo ya leta]], [[Luba-Kasai language|Tshiluba]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]], and [[Lingala language|Lingala]].

==Population==
[[File:Historical population of the DR Congo.svg|thumb|450px|Historical population of the DR Congo]]
The [[The World Factbook|CIA World Factbook]] estimated the population to be over 105 million as of 2022 (the exact number being 108,407,721), now exceeding that of Vietnam (with 98,721,275 inhabitants as of 2020) and ascending the country to the rank of 14th most populous in the world.<ref name="cia.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/congo-democratic-republic-of-the/|title = Congo, Democratic Republic of the|date = 18 April 2022}}</ref> The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2020 was 46.38%, 51.15% of the population was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.47% was 65 years or older.<ref name="cia.gov"/><ref name="WPP 2010">[http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506065230/http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm |date=May 6, 2011 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
!
! style="width:80pt;"|Total population<ref name="cia.gov"/>
! style="width:80pt;"|Population aged 0–14 (%)
! style="width:80pt;"|Population aged 15–64 (%)
! style="width:80pt;"|Population aged 65+ (%)
|-
| 1950
|12 184 000||43.7||52.5||3.8
|-
| 1955
|13 580 000||43.8||53.1||3.1
|-
| 1960
|15 368 000||43.8||53.3||2.9
|-
| 1965
|17 543 000||43.9||53.2||2.8
|-
| 1970
|20 267 000||44.4||52.8||2.8
|-
| 1975
|23 317 000||44.9||52.3||2.8
|-
| 1980
|27 019 000||45.4||51.8||2.8
|-
| 1985
|31 044 000||46.1||51.1||2.8
|-
| 1990
|36 406 000||47.0||50.2||2.8
|-
| 1995
|44 067 000||47.9||49.4||2.7
|-
| 2000
|49 626 000||48.0||49.4||2.7
|-
| 2005
|57 421 000||47.5||49.9||2.7
|-
| 2010
|65 966 000||46.3||51.1||2.7
|-
| 2020
|101 780 263||46.4||51.2||2.5
|}

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Post-censal estimates.) (Provisional.):<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/|title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 50 286 000
| align="right" | 51 472 000
| align="right" | 101 758 000
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 9 956 000
| align="right" | 9 780 000
| align="right" | 19 736 000
| align="right" | 19.40
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 8 046 000
| align="right" | 7 978 000
| align="right" | 16 024 000
| align="right" | 15.75
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 6 638 000
| align="right" | 6 588 000
| align="right" | 13 226 000
| align="right" | 13.00
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 5 280 000
| align="right" | 5 250 000
| align="right" | 10 530 000
| align="right" | 10.35
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 4 224 000
| align="right" | 4 272 000
| align="right" | 8 496 000
| align="right" | 8.35
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 3 621 000
| align="right" | 3 603 000
| align="right" | 7 224 000
| align="right" | 7.10
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 3 017 000 
| align="right" | 3 037 000
| align="right" | 6 054 000
| align="right" | 5.95
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 2 565 000
| align="right" | 2 728 000
| align="right" | 5 293 000
| align="right" | 5.20
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 2 011 000
| align="right" | 2 059 000
| align="right" | 4 070 000
| align="right" | 4.00
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 1 307 000
| align="right" | 1 493 000
| align="right" | 2 800 000
| align="right" | 2.75
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 1 056 000
| align="right" | 1 287 000
| align="right" | 2 343 000
| align="right" | 2.30
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 704 000
| align="right" | 926 000
| align="right" | 1 630 000
| align="right" | 1.60
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 704 000
| align="right" | 926 000
| align="right" | 1 630 000
| align="right" | 1.60
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 553 000
| align="right" | 721 000
| align="right" | 1 274 000
| align="right" | 1.25
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 302 000
| align="right" | 412 000
| align="right" | 714 000
| align="right" | 0.70
|-
| align="right" | 75+
| align="right" | 302 000
| align="right" | 412 000
| align="right" | 714 000
| align="right" | 0.70
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 24 640 000
| align="right" | 24 346 000
| align="right" | 48 986 000
| align="right" | 48.14
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 24 489 000
| align="right" | 25 581 000
| align="right" | 50 070 000
| align="right" | 49.20
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 1 157 000
| align="right" | 1 545 000
| align="right" | 2 702 000
| align="right" | 2.66
|-
|}

{{Chart|definition=Natural change of the DRC population by year.chart|data=Natural change of the DRC population by year.tab|Width=450}}
{{Chart|definition=Infant Mortality per 1000 live births in the DRC by year.chart|data=Infant Mortality per 1000 live births in the DRC by year.tab|Width=450}}
{{Chart|definition=Total Fertility Rate in the DRC by year.chart|data=Total Fertility Rate in the DRC by year.tab|Width=450}}

===Census===
The first and so far only census conducted in DR Congo dates from 1984.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://ireda.ceped.org/inventaire/ressources/cod-1984-rec-o1_resultats_provisoires.pdf| title = Recensement scientifique de la population 1984. Résultats provisoires}}</ref> A census is supposed to be conducted decennially, but this has been obstructed by periods of instability such as [[1991 Zaire unrest|the political reorganization in 1991]] and [[First Congo War|the civil war in 1996]].<ref name="BBC 2024">{{Cite news |last=Mbardounka |first=Chérif Ousman |date=14 May 2024 |title=Le pays africain dont les citoyens n'ont pas de carte d'identité depuis 40 ans |url=https://www.bbc.com/afrique/articles/cy633p6ezq1o |access-date=16 May 2024 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=fr}}</ref>

In January 2015, the parliament passed a law requiring that a census be completed before the next election. Opponents said this was intended to keep [[Joseph Kabila]] in power by delaying [[2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election|the next election]], leading to [[19 January 2015 DRC protests|protests that caused several deaths]]. The parliament repealed the law and the census did not take place.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ross |first=Aaron |date=25 January 2015 |title=Congo parliament passes election law stripped of census requirement |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/cnews-us-congodemocratic-politics-idCAKBN0KY0Y520150125/ |access-date=15 May 2024 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

The second general census of population and housing is underway as of 2024.<ref name="Plan">{{Cite web |date=9 April 2024 |title=Recensement général de la population et de l'Habitat |url=https://plan.gouv.cd/projects/recensement-g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral-de-la-population-et-de-l-habitat |website=Ministère du Plan |language=fr}}</ref> President [[Félix Tshisekedi]] called for a census to improve demographic policies and to enable the creation of national identity cards.<ref name="Actualite">{{Cite news |last=Muamba |first=Clément |date=23 March 2024 |title=RDC : Félix Tshisekedi rappelle au gouvernement la nécessité d'organiser le deuxième recensement général pour " intervenir plus efficacement " en faveur des populations |url=https://actualite.cd/2024/03/23/rdc-felix-tshisekedi-rappelle-au-gouvernement-la-necessite-dorganiser-le-deuxieme |access-date=16 May 2024 |work=[[Actualite.cd]] |language=fr}}</ref><ref name="BBC 2024"/> The National Office for Population Identification (ONIP), founded in 2011, was tasked with leading the census, settling a dispute between bids by the Ministries of Interior, Planning, and Digital Technology.<ref name="BBC 2024"/> Preliminary mapping was conducted in 2018 under Minister of State [[Modeste Bahati Lukwebo]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2018 |title=2nd General Census of Population and Housing in DRC: Evaluation of pilot cartography |url=https://drc.unfpa.org/en/news/2nd-general-census-population-and-housing-drc-evaluation-pilot-cartography |access-date=15 May 2024 |website=[[United Nations Population Fund]]}}</ref> Data collection began on 2 March 2020 and was scheduled to end on 10 June, but implementation was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Responses to the 1st UNSD survey on the impact of COVID-19 |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/census/COVID-19-SurveyT1/ |access-date=15 May 2024 |website=[[United Nations Statistics Division]]}}</ref> Data collection was arranged by the Ministries of Planning, Budget, and Finance, and [[Independent National Electoral Commission (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|the electoral commission]] sent materials to the ONIP and the {{ill|National Statistics Institute (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|lt=National Statistics Institute|fr|Institut national de la statistique (république démocratique du Congo)}}.<ref name="Actualite"/> In 2022, Prime Minister [[Sama Lukonde]] issued a decree about the operations of the census.<ref name="BBC 2024"/> The government allocated the census 250 million dollars of its 2022 budget.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 October 2022 |title=RDC's government confirms general census is going ahead |url=https://www.africanews.com/2022/01/10/rdc-s-government-confirms-general-census-is-going-ahead// |access-date=15 May 2024 |work=[[Africanews]]}}</ref> The census is planned to be completed in 2025 with an expected budget of US$153,700,453.<ref name="Plan"/>

==Vital statistics==
Registration of vital events in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is incomplete. The [[United Nations Population Division|Population Department of the United Nations]] prepared the following estimates.
<ref name="WPP 2022">{{Cite web |title=World Population Prospects 2022 – Demographic Indicators – Compact (most used: estimates and medium projections) (XLSX, 24.07 MB) |url=https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Files/1_Indicators%20(Standard)/EXCEL_FILES/1_General/WPP2022_GEN_F01_DEMOGRAPHIC_INDICATORS_COMPACT_REV1.xlsx|format=xlsx|access-date=2022-07-13 |website=[[United Nations Population Division]]|at=tab "Estimates"}} (found under: [https://population.un.org/wpp/ World Population Prospects 2022] – [https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/MostUsed/ Download Files])</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
! style="width:70pt;"|Period
! style="width:70pt;"|Population (in thousands)
! style="width:70pt;"|Live births per year
! style="width:70pt;"|Deaths per year
! style="width:70pt;"|Natural change per year
! style="width:70pt;"|CBR*
! style="width:70pt;" |CDR*
! style="width:70pt;" |NC*
! style="width:70pt;"|TFR*
! style="width:70pt;"|IMR*
! style="width:70pt;"|Life expectancy
|-
|1950
| 12,174
|   566,000
|   326,000
|   239,000
|46.0
|26.6
|19.5
|style="color:red" |5.97
|179.9
|38.31
|-
|1951
| 12,415
|  579,000
|  328,000
|  251,000
|46.1
|26.2
|20.0
|5.97
|178.5
|38.44
|-
|1952
| 12,671
|  592,000
|  327,000
|  264,000
|46.2
|25.6
|20.6
|5.97
|175.8
|38.85
|-
|1953
| 12,937
|  607,000
|  329,000
|  278,000
|46.4
|25.1
|21.2
|5.98
|173.3
|39.14
|-
|1954
| 13,202
|  619,000
|  330,000
|  289,000
|46.3
|24.7
|21.6
|5.98
|171.0
|39.47
|-
|1955
| 13,484
|  632,000
|  333,000
|  299,000
|46.3
|24.4
|21.9
|5.98
|168.8
|39.72
|-
|1956
| 13,777
|  646,000
|  336,000
|  311,000
|46.4
|24.1
|22.3
|5.99
|166.7
|39.98
|-
|1957
| 14,084
|  663,000
|  338,000
|  325,000
|46.5
|23.7
|22.8
|6.01
|164.7
|40.32
|-
|1958
| 14,402
|  681,000
|  343,000
|  338,000
|46.7
|23.5
|23.2
|6.04
|162.9
|40.50
|-
|1959
| 14,714
|  698,000
|  348,000
|  349,000
|46.8
|23.4
|23.4
|6.07
|161.2
|40.64
|-
|1960
| 15,069
|  716,000
|  354,000
|  362,000
|46.9
|23.2
|23.7
|6.08
|159.8
|40.86
|-
|1961
| 15,460
|  738,000
|  370,000
|  368,000
|47.1
|23.6
|23.5
|6.11
|159.6
|40.24
|-
|1962
| 15,864
|  761,000
|  378,000
|  383,000
|47.4
|23.5
|23.8
|6.13
|158.1
|40.34
|-
|1963
| 16,287
|  785,000
|  385,000
|  400,000
|47.5
|23.3
|24.2
|6.16
|156.5
|40.60
|-
|1964
| 16,728
|  808,000
|  403,000
|  406,000
|47.7
|23.8
|24.0
|6.18
|155.7
|40.05
|-
|1965
| 17,183
|  833,000
|  404,000
|  429,000
|47.9
|23.2
|24.7
|6.21
|153.1
|40.70
|-
|1966
| 17,673
|  859,000
|  397,000
|  462,000
|47.9
|22.1
|25.8
|6.24
|149.5
|42.05
|-
|1967
| 18,191
|  885,000
|  405,000
|  480,000
|style="color:blue" | 48.0
|21.9
|26.0
|6.27
|147.3
|42.31
|-
|1968
| 18,735
|  910,000
|  411,000
|  500,000
|47.9
|21.6
|26.3
|6.30
|145.1
|42.71
|-
|1969
| 19,290
|  935,000
|  418,000
|  517,000
|47.8
|21.4
|26.4
|6.32
|142.7
|42.98
|-
|1970
| 19,851
|  959,000
|  425,000
|  534,000
|47.6
|21.1
|26.5
|6.34
|140.5
|43.28
|-
|1971
| 20,424
|  985,000
|  431,000
|  554,000
|47.5
|20.8
|26.8
|6.38
|138.3
|43.66
|-
|1972
| 20,967
|  1,006,000
|  437,000
|  569,000
|47.3
|20.5
|26.8
|6.40
|136.4
|43.93
|-
|1973
| 21,535
|  1,026,000
|  445,000
|  582,000
|47.0
|20.4
|26.6
|6.41
|134.7
|44.10
|-
|1974
| 22,121
|  1,047,000
|  451,000
|  597,000
|46.7
|20.1
|26.6
|6.42
|133.3
|44.41
|-
|1975
| 22,717
|  1,070,000
|  460,000
|  610,000
|46.4
|20.0
|26.4
|6.42
|132.1
|44.47
|-
|1976
| 23,325
|  1,091,000
|  468,000
|  623,000
|46.1
|19.8
|26.3
|6.43
|130.9
|44.66
|-
|1977
| 23,923
|  1,111,000
|  476,000
|  634,000
|45.8
|19.6
|26.1
|6.43
|129.8
|44.76
|-
|1978
| 24,535
|  1,134,000
|  491,000
|  643,000
|45.6
|19.7
|25.8
|6.44
|129.1
|44.54
|-
|1979
| 25,450
|  1,184,000
|  496,000
|  688,000
|45.9
|19.2
|26.7
|6.46
|126.9
|45.21
|-
|1980
| 26,323
|  1,227,000
|  507,000
|  720,000
|46.0
|19.0
|27.0
|6.47
|125.1
|45.47
|-
|1981
| 27,099
|  1,260,000
|  517,000
|  744,000
|45.9
|18.8
|27.1
|6.49
|123.5
|45.72
|-
|1982 
| 27,902
|  1,293,000
|  526,000
|  766,000
|45.8
|18.6
|27.2
|6.50
|121.9
|45.92
|-
|1983
| 28,774
|  1,333,000
|  535,000
|  798,000
|45.9
|18.5
|27.5
|6.55
|120.3
|46.18
|-
|1984
| 29,728
|  1,377,000
|  545,000
|  832,000
|46.2
|18.3
|27.9
|6.60
|118.7
|46.45
|-
|1985
| 30,763
|  1,433,000
|  559,000
|  873,000
|46.5
|18.2
|28.4
|6.65
|117.4
|46.62
|-
|1986
| 31,767
|  1,480,000
|  571,000
|  910,000
|46.7
|18.0
|28.7
|6.69
|116.1
|46.91
|-
|1987
| 32,763
|  1,529,000
|  579,000
|  950,000
|46.8
|17.7
|29.1
|style="color:blue" |6.74
|114.9
|47.34
|-
|1988
| 33,834
| 1,568,000
|  588,000
|  980,000
|46.5
|17.4
|29.1
|6.73
|113.7
|47.77
|-
|1989
| 34,931
|  1,610,000
|  596,000
|  1,014,000
|46.3
|17.1
|29.1
|6.74
|112.6
|48.17
|-
|1990
| 36,043
|  1,652,000
|  604,000
|  1,047,000
|46.0
|16.8
|29.2
|6.70
|111.3
|48.60
|-
|1991
| 37,325
|  1,713,000
|  617,000
|  1,097,000
|46.1
|16.6
|29.5
|6.69
|110.1
|48.95
|-
|1992
| 38,526
|  1,761,000
|  629,000
|  1,132,000
|45.9
|16.4
|29.5
|6.67
|108.9
|49.24
|-
|1993
| 39,932
|  1,804,000
|  638,000
|  1,165,000
|45.7
|16.2
|29.5
|6.64
|108.1
|49.55
|-
|1994
| 41,381
|  1,878,000
|  653,000
|  1,225,000
|45.9
|16.0
|29.9
|6.67
|107.0
|49.88
|-
|1995
| 43,873
|  2,046,000
|  682,000
|  1,364,000
|47.1
|15.7
|31.4
|6.71
|105.7
|50.41
|-
|1996
| 44,995
|  2,083,000
|  730,000
|  1,353,000
|46.8
|16.4
|30.4
|6.72
|106.4
|49.31
|-
|1997 
| 45,598
|  2,067,000
|  707,000
|  1,360,000
|45.8
|15.7
|30.2
|6.73
|103.7
|50.40
|-
|1998
| 46,462
|  2,071,000
|  729,000
|  1,342,000
|45.1
|15.9
|29.2
|6.73
|101.5
|49.70
|-
|1999
| 48,133
|  2,128,000
|  739,000
|  1,389,000
|45.0
|15.6
|29.4
|6.72
|99.5
|49.95
|-
|2000
| 49,693
|  2,189,000
|  712,000
|  1,477,000
|45.0
|14.6
|30.4
|6.72
|97.3
|51.78
|-
|2001
| 51,322
|  2,245,000
|  721,000
|  1,525,000
|44.8
|14.4
|30.4
|6.70
|95.0
|52.12
|-
|2002
| 52,943
|  2,310,000
|  733,000
|  1,577,000
|44.7
|14.2
|30.5
|6.67
|92.6
|52.33
|-
|2003
| 54,558
|  2,372,000
|  738,000
|  1,634,000
|44.5
|13.9
|30.7
|6.64
|89.9
|52.83
|-
|2004
| 56,130
|  2,426,000
|  738,000
|  1,688,000
|44.3
|13.5
|30.8
|6.62
|87.2
|53.43
|-
|2005
| 57,865
|  2,499,000
|  743,000
|  1,757,000
|44.2
|13.1
|31.1
|6.60
|84.6
|53.93
|-
|2006
| 59,686
|  2,592,000
|  746,000
|  1,846,000
|44.4
|12.8
|31.6
|6.59
|82.0
|54.53
|-
|2007
| 61,546
|  2,675,000
|  756,000
|  1,920,000
|44.4
|12.5
|31.8
|6.58
|79.4
|54.92
|-
|2008
| 63,410
|  2,767,000
|  764,000
|  2,003,000
|44.4
|12.3
|32.2
|6.58
|77.0
|55.34
|-
|2009
| 65,372
|  2,867,000
|  771,000
|  2,096,000
|44.6
|12.0
|32.6
|6.59
|74.5
|55.84
|-
|2010
| 67,453
|  2,957,000
|  774,000
|  2,183,000
|44.5
|11.7
|32.9
|6.59
|72.2
|56.42
|-
|2011
| 69,674
|  3,069,000
|  776,000
|  2,293,000
|44.7
|11.3
|33.4
|6.58
|70.0
|57.07
|-
|2012
| 72,025
|  3,171,000
|  793,000
|  2,378,000
|44.6
|11.2
|style="color:blue" |33.5
|6.56
|68.0
|57.25
|-
|2013
| 74,484
|  3,247,000
|  797,000
|  2,450,000
|44.2
|10.9
|33.4
|6.53
|65.9
|57.76
|-
|2014
| 77,095
|  3,345,000
|  802,000
|  2,543,000
|44.0
|10.6
|33.4
|6.48
|64.0
|58.30
|-
|2015
| 79,712
|  3,433,000
|  818,000
|  2,615,000
|43.6
|10.4
|33.2
|6.44
|62.2
|58.49
|-
|2016
| 82,359
|  3,532,000
|  820,000
|  2,712,000
|43.4
|10.1
|33.3
|6.39
|60.4
|59.07
|-
|2017
| 85,554
|  3,647,000
|  832,000
|  2,815,000
|43.3
|9.9
|33.4
|6.35
|58.6
|59.41
|-
|2018
| 88,613
|  3,748,000
|  835,000
|  2,913,000
|43.0
|9.6
|33.4
|6.30
|56.9
|59.94
|-
|2019
| 91,482
|  3,839,000
|  844,000
|  2,995,000
|42.7
|9.4
|33.3
|6.25
|55.5
|60.28
|-
|2020
| 94,413
|  3,930,000
|  886,000
|  3,044,000
|42.3
|9.5
|32.8
|6.21
|53.9
|59.74
|-
|2021
| 97,567
|  4,158,000
|  930,000
|  3,163,000
||41.9
|9.4
|31.9
|6.16
|52.0
|60.0
|-
|2022
| 100,731
|  4,262,000
|  914,000
|  3,333,000
| 41.6
|8.9
|32.7
|6.11
|50.5
|61.0
|-
|2023
| 104,063
| style="color:blue"|4,370,000
|  902,000
|style="color:blue"|3,453,000
|style="color:red"|41.3
|style="color:blue" |8.5
|32.8
|6.05
|49.3
|61.9
|-
|2024
| 
| 
|  
|
|40.9
|8.4
|32.5
|5.98
|
|
|-
|2025
| 
| 
|  
|
|40.4
|8.3
|32.1
|5.90
|
|
|-
| colspan="10" style="text-align:left;" | *<small>CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000 people); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000 people); NC = natural change (per 1000 people), also equals CBR minus CDR; IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)</small>
|}

===Population estimates by INS===
The Institute of National Statistics of the DRC has provided population estimates from 1984 and 2000-2019:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/cd/Anuaire-Statistique-RDC-2014.pdf|title=République Démocratique du Congo Annuaire Statistique 2014|website=undp.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/cd/UNDP-CD-ANNUAIRE-STAT.-2020-.pdf|title=République Démocratique du Congo Annuaire Statistique 2020|website=undp.org}}</ref>
*1984: 30,631,000
*2000: 52,099,000
*2001: 53,870,000
*2002: 55,702,000
*2003: 57,596,000
*2004: 59,554,000
*2005: 61,579,000
*2006: 63,673,000
*2007: 65,837,000
*2008: 68,076,000
*2009: 70,391,000
*2010: 72,784,000
*2011: 75,259,000
*2012: 77,817,000
*2013: 80,462,000
*2014: 83,197,000
*2015: 86,024,000
*2016: 88,957,000
*2017: 91,994,000
*2018: 94,921,000
*2019: 98,370,000

===Demographic and Health Surveys===
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR) for urban and rural areas:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/1354|title=Congo, Dem. Rep. - Enquête Démographique et de Santé 2007|website=microdata.worldbank.org}}</ref>

The Wanted Fertility Rate is an estimate of what the fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fertility and wanted fertility|url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/fertility-and-wanted-fertility|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Our World in Data}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:50pt;"| Year
! style="width:50pt;"| CBR (Total)
! style="width:50pt;"| TFR (Total)
! style="width:50pt;"| CBR (Urban)
! style="width:50pt;"| TFR (Urban)
! style="width:50pt;"| CBR (Rural)
! style="width:50pt;"| TFR (Rural)
|-
| 2007
| style="text-align:right;"| 44.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.3 (5.6)
| style="text-align:right;"| 40.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.4 (4.8)
| style="text-align:right;"| 46.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 7.0 (6.2)
|-
| 2013–14
| style="text-align:right;"| 44.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.6 (5.7)
| style="text-align:right;"| 40.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.4 (4.6)
| style="text-align:right;"| 45.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 7.3 (6.5)
|-
| 2023–24
| style="text-align:right;"| 35.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.5 (4.8)
| style="text-align:right;"| 30.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.2 (3.5)
| style="text-align:right;"| 38.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 6.4 (5.7)
|-
|}

Fertility data per province, as of 2014:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR300/FR300.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317092838/http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR300/FR300.pdf |archive-date=2015-03-17 |url-status=live|title=Democratic Republic of Congo}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:100pt;"| Province
! style="width:100pt;"| Total fertility rate
! style="width:100pt;"| Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant
! style="width:100pt;"| Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49
|-
|[[Kinshasa]]|| 4.2 || 5.7 || 4.8
|-
|[[Kongo Central|Bas-Congo]]|| 6.0 || 12.6 || 6.5
|-
|[[Bandundu Province|Bandundu]]|| 6.3 || 12.1 || 6.1
|-
|[[Province of Équateur|Équateur]]|| 7.0 || 14.3 || 6.5
|-
|[[Orientale Province|Orientale]]|| 5.9 || 11.6 || 5.3
|-
|[[North Kivu|Nord-Kivu]]|| 6.5 || 9.7 || 6.7
|-
|[[South Kivu|Sud-Kivu]]|| 7.7 || 12.5 || 7.4
|-
|[[Maniema]]|| 6.9 || 14.8 || 7.0
|-
|[[Katanga Province|Katanga]]|| 7.8 || 12.8 || 7.3
|-
|[[Kasai-Oriental|Kasaï Oriental]]|| 7.3 || 12.4 || 7.5
|-
|[[Kasai-Occidental|Kasaï Occidental]]|| 8.2 || 14.2 || 7.5
|}

=== Life expectancy ===
[[File:Life expectancy in DR Congo.svg|thumb|300px|[[Life expectancy]] in DR Congo since 1950]]
[[File:Life expectancy by WBG -Congo, DR -diff.png|thumb|300px|Life expectancy in DR Congo since 1960 by gender]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Period
!Life expectancy in <br /> Years<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|title=World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations|website=esa.un.org|access-date=2018-08-26}}</ref>
|-
|1950–1955
|39.06
|-
|1955–1960
|{{increase}} 40.55
|-
|1960–1965
|{{increase}} 41.63
|-
|1965–1970
|{{increase}} 42.99
|-
|1970–1975
|{{increase}} 44.77
|-
|1975–1980
|{{increase}} 45.63
|-
|1980–1985
|{{increase}} 47.13
|-
|1985–1990
|{{increase}} 48.25
|-
|1990–1995
|{{increase}} 49.59
|-
|1995–2000
|{{decrease}} 48.89
|-
|2000–2005
|{{increase}} 51.84
|-
|2005–2010
|{{increase}} 55.48
|-
|2010–2015
|{{increase}} 58.10
|}
{{clear}}

==Ethnic groups==
{{See also|Category:Ethnic groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2024}}

Over 250 ethnic groups and 450 tribes (ethnic subgroups) populate the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Democratic Republic of Congo]]. These ethnic groups are from the [[Bantu languages|Bantu]], [[Sudanic languages|Sudanic]], [[Nilotic languages|Nilotic]], [[Ubangian languages|Ubangian]] and [[Classification of Pygmy languages|Pygmy]] linguistic groups. There is no dominant ethnic group in Congo; the following ethnic groups account for 51.5% of the population:<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Democratic Republic of Congo in Crisis &#124; Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/blog-feed/democratic-republic-congo-crisis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513223749/https://www.hrw.org/blog-feed/democratic-republic-congo-crisis |archive-date=13 May 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=May 2024}}
[[File:DRC_Ethnic_Groups.png|thumb|450x450px|Breakdown of the largest ethnic groups in DRC]]
* [[Shi people]] 
* [[Luba-Kasai language|Luba-Kasaï]]
* [[Kongo people|Kongo]]
* [[Mongo people|Mongo]]
* [[Luba-Katanga language|Lubakat]]
* [[Lulua people|Lulua]]
* [[Tetela people|Tetela]]
* [[Nande language|Nande]]
* [[Ngbandi people|Ngbandi]]
* [[Ngombe language|Ngombe]]
* [[Yaka people|Yaka]]
* [[Ngbaka languages|Ngbaka]]

Ethnic groups include:

* [[Bantu peoples]]: Ambala, Ambuun, Angba, Babindi, Baboma, Baholo, [[Bangala language|Bangala]], Bango, Bapindi, Batsamba, Bazombe, [[Bemba people|Bemba]], [[Bembe people|Bembe]], Bira, Bowa, Dikidiki, Dzing, [[Furiiru people|Fuliru]], [[Havu]], [[Hema people|Hema]], [[Hima people|Hima]], [[Hunde language|Hunde]], Iboko, Kanioka, Kaonde, [[Kongo people|Kongo]], [[Kuba people|Kuba]], Kumu, Kwango, [[Lengola]], [[Kele people (Congo)|Lokele]], [[Luba people|Luba]], [[Lunda people|Lunda]], Lupu, Lwalwa, Mbala, [[Mbole people|Mbole]], Mbuza (Budja), [[Mongo people|Mongo]], [[Nande]], Ngoli, Bangoli, [[Ngombe language (Congo)|Ngombe]], Nkumu, [[Nyanga people|Nyanga]], [[Pende people|Pende]], Popoi, [[Poto dialect|Poto]], [[Sango language|Sango]], Shi, [[Nyindu people|Nyindu]], Songo, Sukus, [[Lungu people|Tabwa]], [[Chokwe people|Chokwe]], [[Téké]], [[Tembo (Kitembo) language|Tembo]], [[Tetela people|Tetela]], Topoke, Ungana, [[Vira people|Vira]], Wakuti, [[Yaka people|Yaka]], [[Yakoma people|Yakoma]], [[Yansi people|Yanzi]], Yéké, Yela, etc.
* [[Central Sudanic]]: Manvu, Mbunja, [[Moru people|Moru]]-[[Mangbetu people|Mangbetu]], [[Lugbara people|Lugbara]]
* [[Nilotic peoples]]: [[Alur people|Alur]], [[Bari people|Bari]], [[Kakwa people|Kakwa]], [[Logo people|Logo]]
* [[Ubangian languages|Ubangian]]: [[Azande people|Azande]], [[Banda people|Banda]], [[Ngbandi people|Ngbandi]], [[Ngbaka Minagende language|Ngbaka]]
* [[Pygmy peoples]]: [[Mbuti people|Mbuti]], [[Twa]], [[Baka people (Congo and South Sudan)|Baka]], [[Baka people (Cameroon and Gabon)|Babinga]]

[[White people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|People of European descent (white)]] and Asian groups makeup a significant part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s migrant population. Most Europeans and Asians went to the country for temporary employment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Democratic-Republic-of-the-Congo/People |title=Democratic Republic of the Congo - Ethnic Groups, Languages, Religion &#124; Britannica }}</ref>

==Languages==
{{bar box
|left1=
|right2=
|width=300px
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|French|blue|79}}
{{bar percent|Lingala|red|59}}
{{bar percent|Swahili|green|40}}
{{bar percent|Kikongo|purple|17}}
{{bar percent|Tshiluba|orange|17}}
{{bar percent|English|pink|7}}
|caption=Percentage of the DRC population who speak each of the five national languages, plus English.<ref>[https://www.target-sarl.cd/up/en/?readstu&enc=utf-8&t=159 Target study: French the most spoken language in DRC, far ahead of Lingala]</ref>
}}{{Main|Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo}}

The five major languages in the DRC are [[French language|French]] (official), [[Lingala]] (a [[lingua franca]], or trade language), [[Swahili language|Swahili]] (more specifically [[Congo Swahili]] such as the Kingwana dialect), [[Kituba language|Kikongo ya leta]] or Kituba (a [[Kikongo language|Kikongo]]-based creole language), and [[Luba-Kasai language|Tshiluba]] or Luba-Kasai. In total, there are over 200 languages spoken in the DRC.

French, the official language, is generally the language of instruction in schools. However, English is taught as a compulsory foreign language in secondary schools around the country. It is a required subject in the Faculty of Economics at major universities around the country, and there are numerous language schools in the country that teach it. Many Congolese, such as former president [[Joseph Kabila]], are fluent in both English and French.

==Religions==
[[File:Assemblée Chrétienne de Yakusu.jpg|thumb|Christian church in Kisangani]]
A survey conducted by the [[Demographic and Health Surveys]] program in 2013–2014 indicated that Christians constituted 93.7% of the population (Catholics 29.7%, Protestants 26.8%, and other Christians 37.2%). An indigenous religion, [[Kimbanguism]], was practiced by 2.8% of the population, while Muslims make up 1.2%.<ref name="DHS 2013-14">{{cite web|url=https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR300/FR300.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317092838/http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR300/FR300.pdf |archive-date=2015-03-17 |url-status=live|title=Enquête Démographique et de Santé (EDS-RDC) 2013-2014|publisher=Ministère du Plan et Suivi de la Mise en œuvre de la Révolution de la Modernité, Ministère de la Santé Publique|language=fr|page=36|access-date=20 April 2018}}</ref>

Another estimate (by the [[Pew Research Center]] in 2010) found Christianity was followed by 95.8% of the population.<ref name="religion">{{cite web|title=Global Religious Landscape|date=18 December 2012|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/table-religious-composition-by-country-in-percentages/|publisher=Pew Forum}}</ref>

The CIA The World Factbook gives the following percentages: [[Roman Catholic]] 29.9%, [[Protestant]] 26.7%, [[Kimbanguist]] 2.8%, Other Christian 36.5%, [[Islam]] 1.3%, Other (includes [[Syncretic sect|Syncretic Sects]] and [[Indigenous religions|Indigenous beliefs]]) 2.7%.<ref name="CIATONGA">{{cite web|url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/congo-democratic-republic-of-the/|title= Africa :: CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE
|date= 18 April 2022
|publisher= CIA The World Factbook}}</ref>


[[File:Democratic Republic of the Congo Population 1950-2021 UN World Population Prospects 2022.svg|thumb|350px|[[Population]], [[fertility rate]] and [[net reproduction rate]], United Nations estimates]]

== Congolese diaspora ==
{{Update|date=August 2016}}
The table below shows DRC born people who have emigrated abroad in selected Western countries (although it excludes their descendants).<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Schoumaker|first1=Marie-Laurence|last2=Flahaux|first2=Bruno|date=2016-04-19|title=Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Migration History Marked by Crises and Restrictions|url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions|access-date=2023-02-06|website=Migration Policy Institute|language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank
! Country
! Region
! Year
! DRC born population
|-
| 1
| {{flagcountry|FRA}}
| Europe
| 2010
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 59,641]
|-
| 2
| {{flagcountry|BEL}}
| Europe
| 2015
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 44,715]
|-
| 3
| {{flagcountry|CAN}}
| North America
| 2021
| 39,475<ref>{{cite web|title=Immigrant status and period of immigration by place of birth and citizenship: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts|url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810030201|website=Statistics Canada|date = 7 May 2021|publisher=Statistics Canada Statistique Canada|access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref>
|-
| 4
| {{flagcountry|USA}}
| North America
| 2011–13
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 20,410]
|-
| 5
| {{flagcountry|GBR}}
| Europe
| 2011
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 19,193]
|-
| 6
| {{flagcountry|GER}}
| Europe
| 2011 (foreign citizens)
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 9,299]
|-
| 7
| {{flagcountry|SWI}}
| Europe
| 2011
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 6,724]
|-
| 8
| {{flagcountry|ITA}}
| Europe
| 2015
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 6,010]
|-
| 9
| {{flagcountry|NLD}}
| Europe
| 2015
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 4,973]
|-
| 10
| {{flagcountry|SWE}}
| Europe
| 2015
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 3,092]
|-
| 11
| {{flagcountry|BRA}}
| South America
| 2024
| [https://www.nepo.unicamp.br/observatorio/bancointerativo/numeros-imigracao-internacional/sincre-sismigra/ 2,740]
|-
| 12
| {{flagcountry|AUS}}
| Oceania
| 2011
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 2,576]
|-
| 13
| {{flagcountry|NOR}}
| Europe
| 2015
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 2,210]
|-
| 14
| {{flagcountry|SPA}}
| Europe
| 2013
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 1,494]
|-
| 15
| {{flagcountry|FIN}}
| Europe
| 2015
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 1,523]
|-
| 16
| {{flagcountry|DEN}}
| Europe
| 2015
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 1,264]
|-
| 17
| {{flagcountry|AUT}}
| Europe
| 2015
| [https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-migration-history-marked-crises-and-restrictions 1,258]
|}
These are only estimates and do not account for Congolese migrants residing illegally in these and other countries. {{citation needed span|Among African countries, Congo's diaspora is second only to Nigeria in size.|date=May 2015}}

==See also==
Congolese ethnic groups:
*[[Alur people|Alur]]
*[[Azande]]
*[[Chokwe people|Chokwe]]
*[[Hema people|Hema]]
*[[Kakwa people|Kakwa]]
*[[Lendu]]
*[[Luba people|Luba]]
*[[Mangbetu people|Mangbetu]]
*[[Twa peoples|Twa]]
*[[Yaka people|Yaka]]
*[[Lunda people|Lunda]]
Other articles
* [[Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]

==References==
<references />{{CIA World Factbook|year=2007}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|url= http://www.theirc.org/resources/2007/2006-7_congomortalitysurvey.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217125142/http://www.theirc.org/resources/2007/2006-7_congomortalitysurvey.pdf |archive-date=2008-02-17 |url-status=live |title=''Mortality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: An Ongoing Crisis'' }}&nbsp;{{small|(1.07&nbsp;[[Megabyte|MB]])}}, [[International Rescue Committee]], January 2008 (estimates 5.4 million excess deaths above sub-Saharan average from 1998 to 2007)

{{DRC topics}}
{{Ethnic groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
{{Africa in topic|Demographics of}}
{{Demographics by continent| state = expanded }}
{{Lists of countries by population statistics}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Demographics Of The Democratic Republic Of The Congo}}
[[Category:Demographics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo| ]]
[[Category:Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]