DR Congo

DR Congo secures the second spot with 112.8 million residents spread across 2.34 million square kilometers—an area larger than any other country in Sub-Saharan Africa except #3 Ethiopia’s 1.1 million square km. Its population has doubled since 2000, fueled by a fertility rate of 5.9 births per woman, the highest among the top four African nations. This rapid growth, averaging 3.2% annually, means DR Congo adds 3.6 million people each year, outpacing #1 Nigeria’s absolute annual increase of 5.4 million in percentage terms. The country’s density, however, remains low at 48 people per square km, a stark contrast to Egypt’s concentrated 107.2 million along the Nile, highlighting distinct demographic pressures.