Republic of the Congo population pyramid 2026
6,637,786 people in 2026 (projected). The Republic of the Congo’s pyramid is a smooth, steep triangle; fertility near four and falling child deaths keep each new cohort larger than the last.
- 2026 population
- 6.6Mrank 112 of 237
- Median age
- 18.7 yearsoldest rank 213
- Fertility rate
- 3.99births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Youthful3.1% age 65+
Republic of the Congo population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Republic of the Congo age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 39.4% of the population, while 3.1% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 57.5% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Republic of the Congo’s age structure as youthful; the guide to expansive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 74.1: about 74 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (68.6 children and 5.5 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Republic of the Congo’s population pyramid
A slow, uneven fertility decline
Unlike many pyramids in this region, the Republic of the Congo’s has no sharp notches or bulges; its shape is governed by a long period of high but slowly easing fertility. The total fertility rate was about six children per woman from 1950 to 1980, fell to about 4.7 by 2000, then stalled, edging back up to about 4.9 in 2010 before resuming its decline to about 4.0 today. That is lower than in many neighbouring countries, but still twice the replacement level.
Mortality has followed a similarly uneven path. Infant mortality halved between 1950 and 1980 but then did not improve at all over the next twenty years, standing at about 69 per 1,000 births in 2000. That long pause coincided with economic crisis, the civil wars of the 1990s and the spread of HIV, although the chart itself cannot apportion the effects. Since 2000 it has fallen to about 29 per 1,000, and life expectancy has risen to about 66 years.
Why the base keeps widening
Falling child mortality has a direct effect on the pyramid: more of each birth cohort survives into the 5–9 and 10–14 bands. Combined with a large generation of young parents, this gives the 2026 pyramid a pronounced step through the teenage years, with about 833,000 people aged 10–14 against about 585,000 at 20–24. Births outnumber deaths by almost five to one, and the population, about 3.2 million in 2000 and 6.6 million now, grows at about 2.3% a year. The guide to population growth and fertility explains why growth stays rapid even as fertility declines.
The sexes are almost exactly balanced up to the fifties, with an overall ratio of about 100 men per 100 women. Migration is small in either direction, with a net gain of about 180,000 between 2000 and 2023. Above 60 women predominate modestly, reflecting a gap of about three and a half years in life expectancy. Among the countries with the most similar age structure today are Togo, Liberia and Ivory Coast.
Under the medium scenario the population reaches about 11 million in 2050 and 20 million in 2100, still growing, with fertility then close to replacement and a median age of about 33.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Republic of the Congo’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. Children under 15 outnumber people aged 65 and older in every pyramid year through 2100.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Republic of the Congo is projected to record 198,689 births (about 544 births a day) and 40,986 deaths, a natural increase of 157,703. Net migration adds −3,298 people, ranking #133 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 3,892,510 births, 888,572 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +181,488. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −25,706 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 68.2 years40.8 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 64.7 years38.4 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 13.3 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 26.7per 1,000 births · 135 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 36.9per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 28.6 yearssex ratio at birth 102.6
Women in Republic of the Congo are projected to live 3.5 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 135 to 26.7 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #48 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 28.6 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Republic of the Congo
The median age of 18.7 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 3.99 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 66.4 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,637,786 | #112 | Largest first |
| Median age | 18.7 years | #213 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 3.99 | #21 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +2.3% | #26 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 66.4 years | #208 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 3.1% | #213 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Republic of the Congo
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | 923,969 | 13.9% | 466.5K / 457.5K |
| 2 | 5–9 | 858,372 | 12.9% | 433.2K / 425.2K |
| 3 | 10–14 | 833,178 | 12.6% | 420.2K / 413K |
| 4 | 15–19 | 739,374 | 11.1% | 372K / 367.4K |
| 5 | 20–24 | 585,301 | 8.8% | 293.7K / 291.6K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Republic of the Congo has 3,318,044 males and 3,319,742 females. That is 99.9 males per 100 females, ranking #79 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 50.0% of the population and females for 50.0%. There are 1,698 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 84.0 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 102.6 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, slightly below the typical value of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Republic of the Congo has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 835,262 in 1950 to 6,637,786 in 2026, a change of 695%. Over the same span, median age moved from 18.9 to 18.7 years.
The under-15 share changed from 40.3% to 39.4%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 3.4% to 3.1%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Republic of the Congo’s population is projected to grow by about 66%, reaching 11,006,472 in 2050. The median age changes from 18.7 to 23.1 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 2.3 percentage points to 5.4%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 33.1%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 20,025,644. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 835,262 | 18.9 | 6.07 | 39.6 | 37,989 | 19,941 | 0 | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 1,056,732 | 17.8 | 6.08 | 47.6 | 45,968 | 18,873 | 0 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 1,397,638 | 16.5 | 6.38 | 53.6 | 61,659 | 19,285 | 0 | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 1,828,985 | 15.9 | 6.06 | 56.8 | 76,381 | 20,831 | −14,972 | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 2,380,560 | 16.6 | 5.27 | 57.1 | 92,634 | 25,393 | −395 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 3,151,346 | 17.4 | 4.72 | 55.4 | 113,966 | 35,474 | +79,780 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 4,462,290 | 18.7 | 4.85 | 61.7 | 173,633 | 36,726 | +12,318 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 5,752,790 | 18.1 | 4.33 | 64.4 | 182,600 | 39,109 | −4,472 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 6,182,885 | 18.3 | 4.16 | 65.8 | 189,365 | 38,880 | −995 | +2.4% |
| 2024* | 6,332,961 | 18.4 | 4.11 | 66.0 | 192,673 | 39,521 | −2,491 | +2.4% |
| 2026* | 6,637,786 | 18.7 | 3.99 | 66.4 | 198,689 | 40,986 | −3,298 | +2.3% |
| 2030* | 7,282,266 | 19.5 | 3.78 | 67.2 | 213,921 | 44,357 | −2,191 | +2.3% |
| 2040* | 9,083,972 | 21.5 | 3.35 | 69.0 | 245,001 | 55,200 | −1,374 | +2.1% |
| 2050* | 11,006,472 | 23.1 | 3.00 | 70.5 | 262,638 | 68,119 | −940 | +1.8% |
| 2060* | 12,950,780 | 25.0 | 2.74 | 71.9 | 279,208 | 82,046 | −96 | +1.5% |
| 2070* | 14,929,960 | 27.1 | 2.56 | 73.4 | 294,793 | 96,921 | −3,749 | +1.3% |
| 2080* | 16,802,276 | 29.2 | 2.39 | 74.7 | 299,155 | 116,551 | −2,058 | +1.1% |
| 2090* | 18,525,565 | 31.2 | 2.28 | 76.1 | 304,310 | 140,698 | −473 | +0.9% |
| 2100* | 20,025,644 | 33.2 | 2.17 | 77.4 | 304,054 | 164,148 | −2,895 | +0.7% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 466,478 | 457,491 | 923,969 | 13.9% |
| 5–9 | 433,167 | 425,205 | 858,372 | 12.9% |
| 10–14 | 420,159 | 413,019 | 833,178 | 12.6% |
| 15–19 | 371,971 | 367,403 | 739,374 | 11.1% |
| 20–24 | 293,746 | 291,555 | 585,301 | 8.8% |
| 25–29 | 239,138 | 237,996 | 477,134 | 7.2% |
| 30–34 | 208,267 | 207,744 | 416,011 | 6.3% |
| 35–39 | 188,292 | 189,075 | 377,367 | 5.7% |
| 40–44 | 170,720 | 170,906 | 341,626 | 5.1% |
| 45–49 | 149,016 | 149,692 | 298,708 | 4.5% |
| 50–54 | 120,784 | 123,715 | 244,499 | 3.7% |
| 55–59 | 92,876 | 98,594 | 191,470 | 2.9% |
| 60–64 | 68,220 | 73,945 | 142,165 | 2.1% |
| 65–69 | 45,627 | 50,632 | 96,259 | 1.5% |
| 70–74 | 26,186 | 31,828 | 58,014 | 0.9% |
| 75–79 | 13,892 | 17,846 | 31,738 | 0.5% |
| 80–84 | 6,359 | 8,568 | 14,927 | 0.2% |
| 85–89 | 2,463 | 3,503 | 5,966 | 0.1% |
| 90–94 | 589 | 882 | 1,471 | 0.0% |
| 95–99 | 89 | 136 | 225 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 6 | 8 | 14 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Republic of the Congo’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Togo99% overlap · median age 19.2
- Ivory Coast98% overlap · median age 18.5
- Liberia98% overlap · median age 19.0
- Nigeria97% overlap · median age 18.3
- Sao Tome and Principe97% overlap · median age 19.7
- Gambia97% overlap · median age 18.8
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Republic of the Congo.
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World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Republic of the Congo Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/republic-of-the-congo/
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“Republic of the Congo Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/republic-of-the-congo/.
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World Population Pyramid. “Republic of the Congo Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/republic-of-the-congo/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Republic of the Congo in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Republic of the Congo's population in 2026 is projected at 6,637,786.
What is the median age in Republic of the Congo?
The projected median age in Republic of the Congo in 2026 is 18.7 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Republic of the Congo?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 3.99 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Republic of the Congo's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 66%, from 6.6M to 11M.
What share of Republic of the Congo is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 3.1% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 5.4%.
How many babies are born in Republic of the Congo each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 198,689 births and 40,986 deaths in 2026, about 544 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 157,703.
What is life expectancy in Republic of the Congo for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 68.2 years for women and 64.7 years for men, a gap of 3.5 years in favour of women.
Does Republic of the Congo have more immigrants or emigrants?
Republic of the Congo is projected to lose about 3,298 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +181,488.
What is the sex ratio in Republic of the Congo?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 99.9 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.