At a glance
DR Congo vs Iran: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  DR Congo |  Iran | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 117,501,247 | 93,380,098 | DR Congo 1.3× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +3.1 | +0.8 | +2.4 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 50.12026 | 53.52026 | -3.4 |
| Surface area km² | 2,344,8602023 | 1,745,1502023 | DR Congo 1.3× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 40.92024 | 12.62024 | +28.3 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 8.42024 | 4.82024 | +3.7 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | -0.2 | +0.7 | -0.9 |
| Urban population % of population | 45.12025 | 77.42025 | -32.3 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 98.5 | 103.2 | -4.7 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 62.12024 | 77.92024 | -15.8 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 5.982024 | 1.682024 | +4.3 |
| Median age years | 15.9 | 34.5 | -18.6 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 47.4 | 8.5 | +38.9 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 45.92025 | 222025 | +23.9 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 3.12025 | 8.62025 | -5.5 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $91.03B2025 | $362.68B2025 | Iran 4× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $8072025 | $3,9242025 | Iran 4.9× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 4.42025 | 8.32025 | -3.9 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 2.92016 | 42.22025 | -39.3 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 6.212024 | 8292024 | Iran 134× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 0.062024 | 9.052024 | -9 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 4092023 | 3,3992023 | Iran 8.3× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 96.32021 | 0.92021 | +95.4 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 54.22023 | 6.62023 | +47.5 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 8,7892022 | 1,4352022 | DR Congo 6.1× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 0.12022 | 72.32022 | -72.3 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 19.72024 | 85.32024 | -65.7 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 58.52024 | 174.12024 | -115.5 |
▲ marks the higher value (for death rate, infant mortality, unemployment, inflation, CO₂ and water stress: the lower value). "Difference" is the ratio for absolute measures and DR Congo minus Iran for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
DR Congo compared with Iran
DR Congo has a live population of about 117,501,247 (#15 in the world) and Iran about 93,380,098 (#17), so DR Congo has 1.3 times as many people as Iran. DR Congo is growing at 3.1% a year and Iran at 0.8%.
By area DR Congo is larger: 2,344,860 km² against 1,745,150 km², which gives population densities of 50.1 people per km² in DR Congo and 53.5 in Iran.
DR Congo's economy is worth $91.03B (2025) and Iran's $362.68B (2025); per person that is $807 in DR Congo versus $3,924 in Iran, so the average Iran resident produces 4.9 times as much.
Life expectancy is 62.1 years in DR Congo and 77.9 in Iran; women have 6 children on average in DR Congo compared with 1.7 in Iran; the median age is 15.9 versus 34.5 years.
45.1% of DR Congo's people live in cities against 77.4% in Iran; 19.7% use the internet in DR Congo and 85.3% in Iran; CO₂ emissions per person are 0.1 t in DR Congo and 9.1 t in Iran.
Population over time
Life expectancy & fertility
Birth & death rates
Age structure
CO₂ emissions
Energy use & renewables
Forest area
Urban population
Water resources & stress
Economy
Unemployment & inflation
Internet & mobile
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, DR Congo or Iran?
By population DR Congo is bigger: 117,501,247 people versus 93,380,098 (live estimates, October 2026). By area DR Congo is larger (2,344,860 km² vs 1,745,150 km²).
Which has the larger economy, DR Congo or Iran?
Iran: GDP of $362,682,115,433 versus $91,030,531,317 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, DR Congo or Iran?
Life expectancy at birth is 62.1 years in DR Congo and 77.9 years in Iran, a difference of 15.8 years in favour of Iran.
How are these comparisons calculated?
Live populations extrapolate the UN World Population Prospects baseline with each country's growth rate; every other figure is the latest value published by World Bank Open Data (or the UN for median age, infant mortality and migration). Each row shows the year of the figure, and the charts below overlay the full historical series of both countries.
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Iran vs VietnamSources & method: live populations are linear extrapolations of the UN World Population Prospects estimates; all other indicators are the latest values from World Bank Open Data (UN WPP for median age, infant mortality, sex ratio and net migration). Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.