DR Congo now has more children than Brazil
Children aged 0–14, millions, 2010–2025. World Bank estimates based on UN population data.
Children under 15 in DR Congo in 2025, up from 31.6 million in 2010.
The year DR Congo passed Brazil, where the number of children has fallen every year since 2010.
of DR Congo's people are under 15, against 19% in Brazil, so the world's children are shifting toward Africa.
the numbers
| Year | DR Congo (M) | Brazil (M) | United States (M) | Mexico (M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 31.6 | 47.9 | 60.9 | 33.8 |
| 2011 | 32.6 | 47.3 | 61.1 | 33.9 |
| 2012 | 33.7 | 46.8 | 61.3 | 33.9 |
| 2013 | 34.8 | 46.2 | 61.5 | 33.9 |
| 2014 | 36.0 | 45.6 | 61.6 | 34.0 |
| 2015 | 37.3 | 45.2 | 61.8 | 33.9 |
| 2016 | 38.5 | 44.7 | 61.8 | 33.7 |
| 2017 | 39.9 | 44.3 | 61.9 | 33.5 |
| 2018 | 41.3 | 44.0 | 61.7 | 33.3 |
| 2019 | 42.7 | 43.7 | 61.4 | 33.1 |
| 2020 | 44.2 | 43.3 | 61.0 | 32.9 |
| 2021 | 45.7 | 42.9 | 60.3 | 32.8 |
| 2022 | 47.2 | 42.5 | 59.7 | 32.6 |
| 2023 | 48.8 | 42.1 | 59.3 | 32.3 |
| 2024 | 50.3 | 41.7 | 58.9 | 32.1 |
| 2025 | 51.8 | 41.3 | 58.4 | 31.8 |
source notes & method
All values read from the World Bank API (SP.POP.0014.TO, WDI last updated 8 Oct 2026) on 3 Nov 2026. Population estimates are modelled by the World Bank from UN World Population Prospects and national sources; they are estimates, not counts. DR Congo 2025: 51,846,285; Brazil 2025: 41,257,135. DR Congo passed Brazil in 2020 (44.2M vs 43.3M; 2019: 42.7M vs 43.7M). Shares derived with total population (SP.POP.TOTL, 2025): DR Congo 112,832,473 (46%), Brazil 212,812,405 (19.4%). Ethiopia (52.5M, not shown) also has more children than Brazil. Takeaway 3's second clause is an interpretation.
Published 3 Nov 2026
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