The Central African Republic has a population density of 23.7 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. The Central African Republic has 1,257,950 sq ft of land per person and ranks 185th out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
The Central African Republic has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.42% of the total land area of all countries.
The Central African Republic population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 23.7 | 185 |
| 2025 | 22.9 | 185 |
| 2024 | 22.2 | 186 |
| 2023 | 21.4 | 186 |
| 2022 | 21.2 | 186 |
| 2021 | 21.3 | 186 |
| 2020 | 20.9 | 186 |
| 2019 | 20.6 | 186 |
| 2018 | 20.3 | 186 |
| 2017 | 19.9 | 186 |
| 2016 | 19.6 | 186 |
| 2015 | 19.2 | 186 |
| 2014 | 19.2 | 186 |
| 2013 | 19.3 | 185 |
| 2012 | 19.2 | 185 |
| 2011 | 19 | 183 |
| 2010 | 18.7 | 182 |
| 2009 | 18.8 | 182 |
| 2008 | 19 | 182 |
| 2007 | 18.6 | 182 |
| 2006 | 18.2 | 182 |
| 2005 | 17.8 | 180 |
| 2004 | 17.4 | 180 |
| 2003 | 17.1 | 180 |
| 2002 | 16.7 | 180 |
| 2001 | 16.3 | 180 |
| 2000 | 15.9 | 180 |
| 1999 | 15.5 | 178 |
| 1998 | 15.1 | 178 |
| 1997 | 14.7 | 179 |
| 1996 | 14.3 | 179 |
| 1995 | 13.9 | 179 |
| 1994 | 13.5 | 179 |
| 1993 | 13.1 | 179 |
| 1992 | 12.7 | 175 |
| 1991 | 12.3 | 156 |
| 1990 | 11.9 | 154 |
| 1989 | 11.6 | 154 |
| 1988 | 11.3 | 154 |
| 1987 | 11.1 | 153 |
| 1986 | 11 | 152 |
| 1985 | 10.8 | 152 |
| 1984 | 10.7 | 151 |
| 1983 | 10.5 | 151 |
| 1982 | 10.4 | 151 |
| 1981 | 10.3 | 151 |
| 1980 | 10.2 | 152 |
| 1979 | 10.1 | 152 |
| 1978 | 9.97 | 152 |
| 1977 | 9.87 | 152 |
| 1976 | 9.76 | 152 |
| 1975 | 9.62 | 152 |
| 1974 | 9.43 | 152 |
| 1973 | 9.25 | 152 |
| 1972 | 9.08 | 152 |
| 1971 | 8.9 | 152 |
| 1970 | 8.72 | 152 |
| 1969 | 8.53 | 152 |
| 1968 | 8.34 | 151 |
| 1967 | 8.15 | 151 |
| 1966 | 7.97 | 151 |
| 1965 | 7.81 | 151 |
| 1964 | 7.65 | 151 |
| 1963 | 7.5 | 151 |
| 1962 | 7.35 | 151 |
| 1961 | 7.21 | 151 |
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/population-density/central-african-republic | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in the Central African Republic has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 30.3%. The Central African Republic ranked 182nd by population density 20 years ago and ranks 185th today.
Density metrics
CAR
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 23.7 ppl/mi² | 185/197 |
| Population |
5753659
|
121/197 |
| Land area | 240,534 sq mi | 43/197 |
| Land area per capita | 1,257,942 sq ft | 12/197 |
| Rural population | 55.9% | 53/195 |
| Urban population | 44.1% | 143/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 0% | 118/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 44.1% | 143 |
| 2023 | 43.7% | 143 |
| 2022 | 43.3% | 143 |
| 2021 | 42.9% | 143 |
| 2020 | 42.3% | 145 |
| 2019 | 41.8% | 145 |
| 2018 | 41.3% | 145 |
| 2017 | 40.8% | 145 |
| 2016 | 40.4% | 145 |
| 2015 | 40% | 145 |
| 2014 | 39.6% | 147 |
| 2013 | 39.3% | 147 |
| 2012 | 39% | 147 |
| 2011 | 38.8% | 147 |
| 2010 | 38.6% | 146 |
| 2009 | 38.5% | 145 |
| 2008 | 38.3% | 145 |
| 2007 | 38.2% | 144 |
| 2006 | 38.1% | 142 |
| 2005 | 38% | 142 |
| 2004 | 38% | 141 |
| 2003 | 37.9% | 140 |
| 2002 | 37.8% | 139 |
| 2001 | 37.8% | 138 |
| 2000 | 37.7% | 137 |
| 1999 | 37.7% | 137 |
| 1998 | 37.6% | 137 |
| 1997 | 37.6% | 136 |
| 1996 | 37.5% | 135 |
| 1995 | 37.5% | 133 |
| 1994 | 37.4% | 133 |
| 1993 | 37.4% | 131 |
| 1992 | 37.3% | 131 |
| 1991 | 37.3% | 129 |
| 1990 | 37.2% | 129 |
| 1989 | 37.1% | 127 |
| 1988 | 37% | 127 |
| 1987 | 36.9% | 125 |
| 1986 | 36.8% | 123 |
| 1985 | 36.7% | 123 |
| 1984 | 36.6% | 121 |
| 1983 | 36.5% | 121 |
| 1982 | 36.3% | 119 |
| 1981 | 36.1% | 119 |
| 1980 | 35.9% | 117 |
| 1979 | 35.7% | 117 |
| 1978 | 35.4% | 117 |
| 1977 | 35.2% | 117 |
| 1976 | 34.8% | 118 |
| 1975 | 34.4% | 118 |
| 1974 | 33.5% | 119 |
| 1973 | 32.2% | 123 |
| 1972 | 30.7% | 124 |
| 1971 | 29.1% | 128 |
| 1970 | 27.6% | 129 |
| 1969 | 26.5% | 129 |
| 1968 | 25.6% | 130 |
| 1967 | 24.7% | 130 |
| 1966 | 24% | 129 |
| 1965 | 23.2% | 129 |
| 1964 | 22.5% | 129 |
| 1963 | 21.9% | 128 |
| 1962 | 21.2% | 127 |
| 1961 | 20.7% | 127 |
| 1960 | 20.1% | 129 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/central-african-republic | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in the Central African Republic from 1960 to 2024: 20.1% lived in urban areas in 1960, 37.7% in 2000, and 44.1% in 2024.
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population-density/central-african-republic | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2003–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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