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 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 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.