Ethiopia vs DR Congo: population comparison
Current population of Ethiopia
139,287,321
Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures
- Births today
- 2,430
- Deaths today
- 454
- Change today (UTC)
- +1,970
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
Ethiopia has a population of 135,472,051 and DR Congo has 112,832,473 (2025 estimates). Ethiopia is currently larger by 22,639,578 people — about 1.2 times DR Congo's population. They rank 10 and 15 in the world respectively.
Their trajectories differ: DR Congo grows at +3.20% per year versus +2.55% for Ethiopia. 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 19.1); Ethiopia is far more crowded at 114 people per km² against 47.
Ethiopia vs DR Congo population, 1960–2025
Side by side
| Indicator | Ethiopia | DR Congo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 135,472,051 | 112,832,473 |
| Annual growth | +2.55% | +3.20% |
| Yearly change | +3,412,284 | +3,556,208 |
| Density (P/km²) | 114 | 47 |
| Land area (km²) | 1,128,499 | 2,267,050 |
| Median age | 19.1 yrs | 15.8 yrs |
| Fertility rate | 3.91 | 5.98 |
| Life expectancy | 67.6 yrs | 62.1 yrs |
| Urban population | 24% | 45% |
| World share | 1.65% | 1.37% |
| 2050 projection (UN) | 225,021,874 | 218,246,072 |
Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: Ethiopia · DR Congo
Ethiopia vs DR Congo FAQ
Is Ethiopia bigger than DR Congo by population?
Ethiopia currently has the larger population: 135,472,051 versus 112,832,473 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 22.64 million people.
Which grows faster, Ethiopia or DR Congo?
DR Congo currently grows faster: +3.20% per year versus +2.55%.
How do Ethiopia and DR Congo compare in 2050?
UN medium-variant projections put Ethiopia at 225,021,874 and DR Congo at 218,246,072 in 2050.