PopulationTracker

Japan vs DR Congo: population comparison

Current population of Japan

122,696,542

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
400
Deaths today
935
Change today (UTC)
−346

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

Japan has a population of 123,366,734 and DR Congo has 112,832,473 (2025 estimates). Japan is currently larger by 10,534,261 people — about 1.1 times DR Congo's population. They rank 12 and 15 in the world respectively.

Their trajectories differ: DR Congo grows at +3.20% per year versus −0.49% for Japan. One population is expanding while the other shrinks — the gap between them widens every year.

UN medium-variant projections point to a changing of the guard: DR Congo is projected to overtake Japan around 2027.

Beyond size, the structures differ: DR Congo is the younger society (median age 15.8 vs 49.8); Japan is far more crowded at 342 people per km² against 47.

Japan vs DR Congo population, 1960–2025

JapanDR Congo
030M60M90M120M150M19601970198019902000201020202025: 112.83M2025: 123.37M1960: 93,216,0001961: 94,055,0001962: 94,933,0001963: 95,900,0001964: 96,903,0001965: 97,952,0001966: 98,851,0001967: 99,879,0001968: 101,011,0001969: 102,219,0001970: 103,403,0001971: 105,697,0001972: 107,188,0001973: 108,707,0001974: 110,162,0001975: 111,573,0001976: 112,775,0001977: 113,872,0001978: 114,913,0001979: 115,890,0001980: 116,807,0001981: 117,661,0001982: 118,480,0001983: 119,307,0001984: 120,083,0001985: 120,837,0001986: 121,482,0001987: 122,069,0001988: 122,578,0001989: 123,069,0001990: 123,478,0001991: 123,964,0001992: 124,425,0001993: 124,829,0001994: 125,178,0001995: 125,472,0001996: 125,757,0001997: 126,057,0001998: 126,400,0001999: 126,631,0002000: 126,843,0002001: 127,149,0002002: 127,445,0002003: 127,718,0002004: 127,761,0002005: 127,773,0002006: 127,854,0002007: 128,001,0002008: 128,063,0002009: 128,047,0002010: 128,070,0002011: 127,833,0002012: 127,629,0002013: 127,445,0002014: 127,276,0002015: 127,141,0002016: 127,076,0002017: 126,972,0002018: 126,811,0002019: 126,633,0002020: 126,261,0002021: 125,681,5932022: 125,124,9892023: 124,516,6502024: 123,975,3712025: 123,366,7341960: 15,264,8461961: 15,662,3741962: 16,075,7241963: 16,507,5991964: 16,955,3271965: 17,427,8021966: 17,931,9291967: 18,462,7821968: 19,012,1891969: 19,570,4451970: 20,137,4361971: 20,695,5691972: 21,251,1601973: 21,827,6651974: 22,418,8781975: 23,021,1011976: 23,624,0311977: 24,229,0611978: 24,992,6891979: 25,886,7821980: 26,711,0991981: 27,500,5151982: 28,338,1901983: 29,250,9631984: 30,245,0811985: 31,264,8161986: 32,265,1961987: 33,298,9041988: 34,382,7521989: 35,486,8661990: 36,684,0631991: 37,925,8171992: 39,228,9101993: 40,656,3361994: 42,626,8761995: 44,433,7041996: 45,296,1241997: 46,029,9021998: 47,297,6001999: 48,912,9712000: 50,507,4422001: 52,132,6462002: 53,750,5242003: 55,343,8672004: 56,997,7412005: 58,775,7242006: 60,615,9082007: 62,477,7522008: 64,390,6642009: 66,412,0442010: 68,563,0382011: 70,849,3112012: 73,254,6182013: 75,789,3952014: 78,403,2422015: 81,035,5312016: 83,956,4152017: 87,083,3982018: 90,047,6442019: 92,947,4422020: 95,989,9982021: 99,148,9322022: 102,396,9682023: 105,789,7312024: 109,276,2652025: 112,832,473

Side by side

Japan and DR Congo compared across demographic indicators
IndicatorJapanDR Congo
Population123,366,734112,832,473
Annual growth−0.49%+3.20%
Yearly change−608,637+3,556,208
Density (P/km²)34247
Land area (km²)364,5692,267,050
Median age49.8 yrs15.8 yrs
Fertility rate1.155.98
Life expectancy84.0 yrs62.1 yrs
Urban population92%45%
World share1.50%1.37%
2050 projection (UN)105,123,167218,246,072

Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: Japan · DR Congo

Japan vs DR Congo FAQ

Is Japan bigger than DR Congo by population?

Japan currently has the larger population: 123,366,734 versus 112,832,473 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 10.53 million people.

Will DR Congo overtake Japan in population?

United Nations medium-variant projections suggest DR Congo could overtake Japan around 2027.

Which grows faster, Japan or DR Congo?

DR Congo currently grows faster: +3.20% per year versus −0.49%.

How do Japan and DR Congo compare in 2050?

UN medium-variant projections put Japan at 105,123,167 and DR Congo at 218,246,072 in 2050.

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