At a glance
Ethiopia vs DR Congo: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  Ethiopia |  DR Congo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 139,897,448 | 117,494,835 | Ethiopia 1.2× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +2.5 | +3.1 | -0.6 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 123.12026 | 50.12026 | +73 |
| Surface area km² | 1,136,2402023 | 2,344,8602023 | DR Congo 2.1× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 31.52024 | 40.92024 | -9.4 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 5.92024 | 8.42024 | -2.5 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | +0.2 | -0.2 | +0.4 |
| Urban population % of population | 24.12025 | 45.12025 | -21 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 100.4 | 98.5 | +1.9 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 67.62024 | 62.12024 | +5.5 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 3.912024 | 5.982024 | -2.07 |
| Median age years | 19.3 | 15.9 | +3.4 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 29.9 | 47.4 | -17.5 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 38.82025 | 45.92025 | -7.2 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 3.32025 | 3.12025 | +0.2 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $126.36B2025 | $91.03B2025 | Ethiopia 1.4× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $9332025 | $8072025 | Ethiopia 1.2× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 3.32025 | 4.42025 | -1.1 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 13.22025 | 2.92016 | +10.3 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 19.362024 | 6.212024 | Ethiopia 3.1× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 0.152024 | 0.062024 | +0.09 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 3822023 | 4092023 | DR Congo 1.1× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 90.62021 | 96.32021 | -5.7 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 14.92023 | 54.22023 | -39.3 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 9732022 | 8,7892022 | DR Congo 9× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 8.62022 | 0.12022 | +8.6 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 21.92024 | 19.72024 | +2.3 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 65.12024 | 58.52024 | +6.6 |
▲ 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 Ethiopia minus DR Congo for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
Ethiopia compared with DR Congo
Ethiopia has a live population of about 139,897,448 (#10 in the world) and DR Congo about 117,494,835 (#15), so Ethiopia has 1.2 times as many people as DR Congo. Ethiopia is growing at 2.5% a year and DR Congo at 3.1%.
By area DR Congo is larger: 2,344,860 km² against 1,136,240 km², which gives population densities of 123.1 people per km² in Ethiopia and 50.1 in DR Congo.
Ethiopia's economy is worth $126.36B (2025) and DR Congo's $91.03B (2025); per person that is $933 in Ethiopia versus $807 in DR Congo, so the average Ethiopia resident produces 1.2 times as much.
Life expectancy is 67.6 years in Ethiopia and 62.1 in DR Congo; women have 3.9 children on average in Ethiopia compared with 6 in DR Congo; the median age is 19.3 versus 15.9 years.
24.1% of Ethiopia's people live in cities against 45.1% in DR Congo; 21.9% use the internet in Ethiopia and 19.7% in DR Congo; CO₂ emissions per person are 0.1 t in Ethiopia and 0.1 t in DR Congo.
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, Ethiopia or DR Congo?
By population Ethiopia is bigger: 139,897,448 people versus 117,494,835 (live estimates, October 2026). By area DR Congo is larger (2,344,860 km² vs 1,136,240 km²).
Which has the larger economy, Ethiopia or DR Congo?
Ethiopia: GDP of $126,358,758,448 versus $91,030,531,317 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, Ethiopia or DR Congo?
Life expectancy at birth is 67.6 years in Ethiopia and 62.1 years in DR Congo, a difference of 5.5 years in favour of Ethiopia.
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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DR Congo vs PhilippinesSources & 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 2026-10-19. More about our data.