A data packet forwarding method and apparatus, where the method includes collecting, by a source switch according to a preset sampling period, congestion extents of d sampling paths in n paths, storing congestion extent indication information of each sampling path, where d is less than n, selecting, according to the congestion extent indication information, a first target sampling path with a smallest congestion extent at a first time point, forwarding a first data packet using the first target sampling path, storing an identifier of a first data flowcell to which the first data packet belongs forwarding a second data packet using the first target sampling path when an identifier of a second data flowcell to which the second data packet belongs is the same as the identifier of the first data flowcell.