Skip to content

The Central African Republic Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Updated on by Georank team

With a population of 5.33M people, the Central African Republic has a median age of 15.4 years which makes it the 196/196 oldest country. 49% of the demographic are children 0-14 years old, 48.8% are working-age people aged 15-64, and 2.15% are older population aged 65+ years.

Central African Republic demographic data

CAR World
Population
5662456
122/197
Median age 15.4 years 196/196
Average age 19.8 years 196/196
Age dependency ratio 104.7% 1/196
Young-age dependency ratio 100.3% 1/196
Old-age dependency ratio 4.4% 187/196
Male:Female ratio 48:52 N/A
Population density 8.56 ppl/mi² 186/197
Fertility rate 6.01 5/196
Life expectancy 57.9 years 194/197

Median age history and projection chart in
Central African Republic vs World

Central African Republic
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast
Year Median age
CAR World
1960 20.3 22.5
1961 20.1 22.5
1962 19.9 22.4
1963 19.7 22.2
1964 19.6 22
1965 19.4 21.8
1966 19.3 21.7
1967 19.2 21.6
1968 19 21.5
1969 18.9 21.5
1970 18.9 21.4
1971 18.8 21.4
1972 18.7 21.5
1973 18.6 21.5
1974 18.6 21.6
1975 18.5 21.7
1976 18.5 21.9
1977 18.5 22
1978 18.5 22.2
1979 18.5 22.3
1980 18.5 22.5
1981 18.4 22.6
1982 18.4 22.7
1983 18.3 22.9
1984 18.3 23
1985 18.3 23.2
1986 18.2 23.3
1987 18.1 23.4
1988 18 23.6
1989 17.9 23.8
1990 17.8 23.9
1991 17.6 24.1
1992 17.5 24.3
1993 17.5 24.5
1994 17.4 24.7
1995 17.3 25
1996 17.2 25.2
1997 17.1 25.4
1998 17.1 25.7
1999 17.1 25.9
2000 17.1 26.1
2001 17.1 26.3
2002 17.1 26.5
2003 17.2 26.7
2004 17.2 27
2005 17.2 27.2
2006 17.1 27.4
2007 17.1 27.6
2008 17 27.8
2009 16.9 28
2010 16.7 28.2
2011 16.6 28.4
2012 16.3 28.6
2013 16 28.9
2014 15.6 29.1
2015 15.4 29.3
2016 15.4 29.5
2017 15.4 29.8
2018 15.4 30
2019 15.4 30.3
2020 15.4 30.6
2021 15.4 30.8
2022 15.3 31
2023 15.3 31.3
2024 15.4 31.6
2025 15.5 31.9
2026 15.6 32.1
2027 15.8 32.3
2028 16 32.6
2029 16.1 32.8
2030 16.2 33
2031 16.3 33.2
2032 16.4 33.4
2033 16.5 33.6
2034 16.5 33.8
2035 16.6 34
2036 16.7 34.2
2037 16.9 34.4
2038 17 34.6
2039 17.2 34.8
2040 17.4 35
2041 17.6 35.2
2042 17.9 35.4
2043 18.2 35.6
2044 18.4 35.8
2045 18.7 36
2046 19 36.2
2047 19.3 36.4
2048 19.6 36.6
2049 19.9 36.8
2050 20.2 37.1

In 1960, the median age in the Central African Republic was 20.3 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had decreased to 15.4 years compared to the world's average of 31.6 years. Ranked 82nd for median age 64 years ago (old to young), the Central African Republic ranks 196th currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in the Central African Republic is expected to increase to around 20.2 years by 2050. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

The Central African Republic demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Central African Republic
Male

Female
Age range Share of population
CAR
Male Female
0-4 9.35% 9.21%
5-9 7.84% 7.68%
10-14 7.52% 7.4%
15-19 6.1% 6.15%
20-24 4.88% 5.3%
25-29 3.44% 4.03%
30-34 2.27% 2.86%
35-39 1.53% 2.13%
40-44 1.13% 1.57%
45-49 0.88% 1.2%
50-54 0.82% 1.2%
55-59 0.72% 1.12%
60-64 0.59% 0.91%
65-69 0.45% 0.63%
70-74 0.28% 0.37%
75-79 0.12% 0.16%
80+ 0.06% 0.09%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. The Central African Republic has high demographic potential with 84% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 1/196).

Age dependency chart

Central African Republic
Young

Old
World
Young

Old
Year Age dependency ratio
CAR World
Total Young Old Total Young Old
1960 81.3% 73.4% 7.93% 73.5% 64.9% 8.62%
1961 82.2% 74.3% 7.9% 73.8% 65.1% 8.67%
1962 83.1% 75.2% 7.89% 74.1% 65.4% 8.73%
1963 84.1% 76.2% 7.9% 74.9% 66.1% 8.79%
1964 84.8% 76.9% 7.89% 75.5% 66.6% 8.85%
1965 85% 77.2% 7.85% 75.8% 66.8% 8.93%
1966 85% 77.2% 7.8% 75.9% 66.9% 9%
1967 85.1% 77.3% 7.74% 75.9% 66.8% 9.07%
1968 85.2% 77.5% 7.68% 75.8% 66.6% 9.14%
1969 85.4% 77.8% 7.63% 75.7% 66.5% 9.2%
1970 85.7% 78.1% 7.59% 75.5% 66.2% 9.26%
1971 86.2% 78.6% 7.57% 75.2% 65.9% 9.33%
1972 86.8% 79.2% 7.57% 74.9% 65.6% 9.39%
1973 87.4% 79.8% 7.57% 74.6% 65.1% 9.46%
1974 87.9% 80.3% 7.57% 74.4% 64.9% 9.54%
1975 88.3% 80.7% 7.57% 74.2% 64.6% 9.64%
1976 88.4% 80.8% 7.57% 74% 64.3% 9.72%
1977 88.1% 80.6% 7.57% 73.5% 63.7% 9.79%
1978 87.9% 80.4% 7.54% 72.4% 62.5% 9.84%
1979 87.8% 80.3% 7.48% 71.3% 61.4% 9.88%
1980 87.7% 80.3% 7.4% 70.4% 60.5% 9.89%
1981 87.7% 80.4% 7.28% 69.5% 59.6% 9.85%
1982 87.6% 80.5% 7.14% 68.7% 58.9% 9.79%
1983 87.5% 80.6% 6.98% 67.9% 58.1% 9.72%
1984 87.5% 80.7% 6.8% 67% 57.3% 9.68%
1985 87.6% 80.9% 6.62% 66.3% 56.6% 9.68%
1986 87.7% 81.3% 6.43% 65.7% 55.9% 9.71%
1987 88% 81.8% 6.24% 65.2% 55.4% 9.75%
1988 88.6% 82.5% 6.04% 64.8% 54.9% 9.81%
1989 89.4% 83.6% 5.84% 64.4% 54.5% 9.89%
1990 90.5% 84.8% 5.66% 64.2% 54.3% 9.97%
1991 91.5% 86% 5.49% 64% 53.9% 10.1%
1992 92.2% 86.9% 5.34% 63.7% 53.6% 10.2%
1993 92.6% 87.4% 5.2% 63.5% 53.2% 10.3%
1994 92.7% 87.6% 5.06% 63.1% 52.7% 10.4%
1995 92.9% 88% 4.94% 62.7% 52.2% 10.5%
1996 93.1% 88.2% 4.83% 62.1% 51.5% 10.6%
1997 92.9% 88.2% 4.72% 61.5% 50.8% 10.7%
1998 92.6% 87.9% 4.62% 60.7% 50% 10.7%
1999 92.1% 87.5% 4.53% 60% 49.2% 10.8%
2000 91.5% 87% 4.44% 59.3% 48.4% 10.9%
2001 91.2% 86.8% 4.35% 58.5% 47.6% 11%
2002 90.7% 86.4% 4.27% 57.8% 46.7% 11.1%
2003 90.1% 85.9% 4.21% 57% 45.9% 11.1%
2004 89.8% 85.6% 4.16% 56.3% 45.1% 11.2%
2005 89.5% 85.4% 4.11% 55.6% 44.3% 11.3%
2006 89.6% 85.6% 4.08% 55% 43.6% 11.4%
2007 90.1% 86% 4.07% 54.5% 43.1% 11.4%
2008 90.4% 86.4% 4.06% 54.1% 42.6% 11.5%
2009 90.9% 87.1% 3.81% 53.8% 42.2% 11.6%
2010 91.6% 88% 3.56% 53.5% 41.9% 11.6%
2011 93% 89.4% 3.6% 53.4% 41.6% 11.8%
2012 95.3% 91.6% 3.67% 53.3% 41.4% 11.9%
2013 98% 94.2% 3.75% 53.4% 41.2% 12.1%
2014 101.5% 97.6% 3.84% 53.5% 41.1% 12.4%
2015 103.9% 99.9% 3.98% 53.6% 40.9% 12.7%
2016 104.2% 100.1% 4.15% 53.7% 40.7% 13%
2017 104.6% 100.3% 4.29% 53.9% 40.6% 13.3%
2018 105% 100.5% 4.43% 54.1% 40.4% 13.7%
2019 105% 100.5% 4.49% 54.2% 40.1% 14%
2020 104.5% 100% 4.5% 54.2% 39.8% 14.4%
2021 105% 100.5% 4.56% 54.2% 39.5% 14.7%
2022 105.6% 101.2% 4.41% 54% 39% 15%
2023 105.2% 100.9% 4.3% 53.9% 38.5% 15.4%
2024 104.7% 100.3% 4.4% 53.7% 38% 15.7%

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in the Central African Republic increased from 89.8% to 104.7% between 2004 and 2024 with a increased share of children and an decreased proportion of people aged 65+

Central African Republic working age demographic chart

Central African Republic
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast
Year Working age population share
CAR World
1960 55.2% 57.6%
1961 54.9% 57.5%
1962 54.6% 57.4%
1963 54.3% 57.2%
1964 54.1% 57%
1965 54% 56.9%
1966 54% 56.8%
1967 54% 56.9%
1968 54% 56.9%
1969 53.9% 56.9%
1970 53.9% 57%
1971 53.7% 57.1%
1972 53.5% 57.2%
1973 53.4% 57.3%
1974 53.2% 57.3%
1975 53.1% 57.4%
1976 53.1% 57.5%
1977 53.2% 57.7%
1978 53.2% 58%
1979 53.2% 58.4%
1980 53.3% 58.7%
1981 53.3% 59%
1982 53.3% 59.3%
1983 53.3% 59.6%
1984 53.3% 59.9%
1985 53.3% 60.1%
1986 53.3% 60.4%
1987 53.2% 60.5%
1988 53% 60.7%
1989 52.8% 60.8%
1990 52.5% 60.9%
1991 52.2% 61%
1992 52% 61.1%
1993 51.9% 61.2%
1994 51.9% 61.3%
1995 51.8% 61.5%
1996 51.8% 61.7%
1997 51.8% 61.9%
1998 51.9% 62.2%
1999 52.1% 62.5%
2000 52.2% 62.8%
2001 52.3% 63.1%
2002 52.4% 63.4%
2003 52.6% 63.7%
2004 52.7% 64%
2005 52.8% 64.3%
2006 52.7% 64.5%
2007 52.6% 64.7%
2008 52.5% 64.9%
2009 52.4% 65%
2010 52.2% 65.1%
2011 51.8% 65.2%
2012 51.2% 65.2%
2013 50.5% 65.2%
2014 49.6% 65.2%
2015 49% 65.1%
2016 49% 65.1%
2017 48.9% 65%
2018 48.8% 64.9%
2019 48.8% 64.9%
2020 48.9% 64.8%
2021 48.8% 64.9%
2022 48.6% 64.9%
2023 48.7% 65%
2024 48.8% 65.1%
2025 49.1% 65.2%
2026 49.5% 65.3%
2027 49.9% 65.4%
2028 50.2% 65.4%
2029 50.5% 65.4%
2030 50.6% 65.4%
2031 50.7% 65.4%
2032 50.9% 65.4%
2033 51% 65.4%
2034 51.2% 65.3%
2035 51.4% 65.2%
2036 51.6% 65%
2037 51.9% 64.9%
2038 52.4% 64.7%
2039 53% 64.6%
2040 53.7% 64.5%
2041 54.4% 64.4%
2042 55.1% 64.3%
2043 55.7% 64.2%
2044 56.4% 64.1%
2045 57.1% 63.9%
2046 57.7% 63.8%
2047 58.4% 63.7%
2048 59% 63.6%
2049 59.6% 63.4%
2050 60.1% 63.3%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in the Central African Republic changed from 52.7% to 48.8% between 2004 and 2024.

Share of young population (0-14 years)

Central African Republic
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of population 0-14 years old
CAR World
1960 40.5% 37.4%
1961 40.8% 37.5%
1962 41.1% 37.6%
1963 41.4% 37.8%
1964 41.6% 38%
1965 41.7% 38%
1966 41.7% 38%
1967 41.8% 38%
1968 41.9% 37.9%
1969 41.9% 37.8%
1970 42.1% 37.7%
1971 42.2% 37.6%
1972 42.4% 37.5%
1973 42.6% 37.3%
1974 42.7% 37.2%
1975 42.9% 37.1%
1976 42.9% 36.9%
1977 42.8% 36.7%
1978 42.8% 36.3%
1979 42.8% 35.9%
1980 42.8% 35.5%
1981 42.8% 35.2%
1982 42.9% 34.9%
1983 43% 34.6%
1984 43% 34.3%
1985 43.2% 34%
1986 43.3% 33.8%
1987 43.5% 33.6%
1988 43.8% 33.4%
1989 44.1% 33.2%
1990 44.5% 33%
1991 44.9% 32.9%
1992 45.2% 32.7%
1993 45.4% 32.5%
1994 45.5% 32.3%
1995 45.6% 32.1%
1996 45.7% 31.8%
1997 45.7% 31.5%
1998 45.7% 31.1%
1999 45.6% 30.8%
2000 45.5% 30.4%
2001 45.4% 30%
2002 45.3% 29.6%
2003 45.2% 29.2%
2004 45.1% 28.8%
2005 45.1% 28.5%
2006 45.1% 28.1%
2007 45.3% 27.9%
2008 45.4% 27.6%
2009 45.6% 27.5%
2010 45.9% 27.3%
2011 46.3% 27.1%
2012 46.9% 27%
2013 47.6% 26.9%
2014 48.5% 26.8%
2015 49% 26.6%
2016 49% 26.5%
2017 49% 26.4%
2018 49% 26.2%
2019 49% 26%
2020 48.9% 25.8%
2021 49% 25.6%
2022 49.2% 25.3%
2023 49.2% 25%
2024 49% 24.7%
2025 48.7% 24.4%
2026 48.2% 24.1%
2027 47.8% 23.8%
2028 47.5% 23.4%
2029 47.2% 23.1%
2030 47.1% 22.8%
2031 46.9% 22.6%
2032 46.8% 22.3%
2033 46.7% 22.1%
2034 46.5% 21.9%
2035 46.3% 21.7%
2036 46.1% 21.6%
2037 45.8% 21.5%
2038 45.3% 21.4%
2039 44.7% 21.3%
2040 44.1% 21.2%
2041 43.5% 21.1%
2042 42.8% 21%
2043 42.2% 21%
2044 41.5% 20.9%
2045 40.9% 20.8%
2046 40.2% 20.7%
2047 39.6% 20.7%
2048 39% 20.6%
2049 38.4% 20.5%
2050 37.9% 20.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in the Central African Republic increased from 45.1% to 49% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+)

Central African Republic
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of population 65+ years old
CAR World
1960 4.37% 4.97%
1961 4.34% 4.99%
1962 4.31% 5.01%
1963 4.29% 5.02%
1964 4.27% 5.04%
1965 4.24% 5.08%
1966 4.22% 5.12%
1967 4.18% 5.16%
1968 4.15% 5.2%
1969 4.12% 5.24%
1970 4.09% 5.28%
1971 4.07% 5.32%
1972 4.05% 5.37%
1973 4.04% 5.42%
1974 4.03% 5.47%
1975 4.02% 5.53%
1976 4.02% 5.59%
1977 4.02% 5.65%
1978 4.01% 5.71%
1979 3.98% 5.77%
1980 3.94% 5.81%
1981 3.88% 5.81%
1982 3.81% 5.8%
1983 3.72% 5.79%
1984 3.63% 5.8%
1985 3.53% 5.82%
1986 3.43% 5.86%
1987 3.32% 5.91%
1988 3.21% 5.95%
1989 3.09% 6.01%
1990 2.97% 6.07%
1991 2.87% 6.14%
1992 2.78% 6.21%
1993 2.7% 6.29%
1994 2.63% 6.37%
1995 2.56% 6.45%
1996 2.5% 6.53%
1997 2.45% 6.61%
1998 2.4% 6.68%
1999 2.36% 6.76%
2000 2.32% 6.84%
2001 2.28% 6.92%
2002 2.24% 7.01%
2003 2.22% 7.1%
2004 2.19% 7.18%
2005 2.17% 7.26%
2006 2.15% 7.34%
2007 2.14% 7.41%
2008 2.13% 7.47%
2009 2% 7.52%
2010 1.86% 7.58%
2011 1.87% 7.66%
2012 1.88% 7.78%
2013 1.9% 7.92%
2014 1.91% 8.08%
2015 1.95% 8.26%
2016 2.03% 8.45%
2017 2.1% 8.65%
2018 2.16% 8.88%
2019 2.19% 9.1%
2020 2.2% 9.33%
2021 2.22% 9.53%
2022 2.14% 9.74%
2023 2.1% 9.98%
2024 2.15% 10.2%
2025 2.2% 10.4%
2026 2.24% 10.6%
2027 2.27% 10.8%
2028 2.29% 11.1%
2029 2.31% 11.5%
2030 2.33% 11.7%
2031 2.33% 12%
2032 2.34% 12.3%
2033 2.34% 12.6%
2034 2.34% 12.8%
2035 2.33% 13.1%
2036 2.32% 13.4%
2037 2.3% 13.7%
2038 2.27% 13.9%
2039 2.24% 14.1%
2040 2.2% 14.3%
2041 2.15% 14.5%
2042 2.11% 14.7%
2043 2.08% 14.9%
2044 2.06% 15%
2045 2.04% 15.2%
2046 2.03% 15.4%
2047 2.02% 15.7%
2048 2.02% 15.9%
2049 2.03% 16.1%
2050 2.04% 16.3%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in the Central African Republic decreased from 2.19% to 2.15% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in life expectancy.

Religion demographics

CAR
Religion Share of population
Christianity 90.7%
Islam 6.24%
Atheism 0.45%
Judaism 0.003%
Hinduism 0.002%
Buddhism 0.002%
All other 2.62%

Median age map

Median age

Demographics comparisons

Demographics vs Central African Republic
Afghanistan Compare
Albania Compare
Algeria Compare
Andorra Compare
Angola Compare
Antigua Compare
Argentina Compare
Armenia Compare
Australia Compare
Austria Compare
Azerbaijan Compare
Bahamas Compare
Bahrain Compare
Bangladesh Compare
Barbados Compare
Belarus Compare
Belgium Compare
Belize Compare
Benin Compare
Bhutan Compare
Bolivia Compare
Bosnia Compare
Botswana Compare
Brazil Compare
Brunei Compare
Bulgaria Compare
Burkina Faso Compare
Burundi Compare
Cambodia Compare
Cameroon Compare
Canada Compare
Cape Verde Compare
Cayman Islands Compare
Chad Compare
Chile Compare
China Compare
Colombia Compare
Comoros Compare
Congo Compare
Costa Rica Compare
Croatia Compare
Cuba Compare
Curacao Compare
Cyprus Compare
Czech Republic Compare
DR Congo Compare
Denmark Compare
Djibouti Compare
Dominica Compare
Dominican Republic Compare
East Timor Compare
Ecuador Compare
Egypt Compare
El Salvador Compare
Equatorial Guinea Compare
Eritrea Compare
Estonia Compare
Eswatini Compare
Ethiopia Compare
Fiji Compare
Finland Compare
France Compare
Gabon Compare
Gambia Compare
Georgia Compare
Germany Compare
Ghana Compare
Greece Compare
Grenada Compare
Guatemala Compare
Guinea Compare
Guinea-Bissau Compare
Guyana Compare
Haiti Compare
Honduras Compare
Hungary Compare
Iceland Compare
India Compare
Indonesia Compare
Iran Compare
Iraq Compare
Ireland Compare
Israel Compare
Italy Compare
Ivory Coast Compare
Jamaica Compare
Japan Compare
Jordan Compare
Kazakhstan Compare
Kenya Compare
Kiribati Compare
Kuwait Compare
Kyrgyzstan Compare
Laos Compare
Latvia Compare
Lebanon Compare
Lesotho Compare
Liberia Compare
Libya Compare
Liechtenstein Compare
Lithuania Compare
Luxembourg Compare
Madagascar Compare
Malawi Compare
Malaysia Compare
Maldives Compare
Mali Compare
Malta Compare
Marshall Islands Compare
Mauritania Compare
Mauritius Compare
Mexico Compare
Moldova Compare
Monaco Compare
Mongolia Compare
Montenegro Compare
Morocco Compare
Mozambique Compare
Myanmar Compare
Namibia Compare
Nauru Compare
Nepal Compare
Netherlands Compare
New Zealand Compare
Nicaragua Compare
Niger Compare
Nigeria Compare
North Korea Compare
North Macedonia Compare
Norway Compare
Oman Compare
Pakistan Compare
Palau Compare
Palestine Compare
Panama Compare
Papua New Guinea Compare
Paraguay Compare
Peru Compare
Philippines Compare
Poland Compare
Portugal Compare
Qatar Compare
Romania Compare
Russia Compare
Rwanda Compare
Saint Kitts Compare
Saint Lucia Compare
Saint Vincent Compare
Samoa Compare
San Marino Compare
Sao Tome Compare
Saudi Arabia Compare
Senegal Compare
Serbia Compare
Seychelles Compare
Sierra Leone Compare
Singapore Compare
Slovakia Compare
Slovenia Compare
Solomon Islands Compare
Somalia Compare
South Africa Compare
South Korea Compare
South Sudan Compare
Spain Compare
Sri Lanka Compare
Sudan Compare
Suriname Compare
Sweden Compare
Switzerland Compare
Syria Compare
Taiwan Compare
Tajikistan Compare
Tanzania Compare
Thailand Compare
Togo Compare
Tonga Compare
Trinidad Compare
Tunisia Compare
Turkey Compare
Turkmenistan Compare
Tuvalu Compare
Uganda Compare
Ukraine Compare
UAE Compare
United Kingdom Compare
United States Compare
Uruguay Compare
Uzbekistan Compare
Vanuatu Compare
Venezuela Compare
Vietnam Compare
Yemen Compare
Zambia Compare
Zimbabwe Compare