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Population in Cameroon compared to the Central African Republic: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 5,330,690 people in the Central African Republic in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 5,753,659 in the Central African Republic.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 5.36 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while the Central African Republic is the 118th.
  • The countries together account for 0.44% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.07% for the Central African Republic.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +1.27% in the Central African Republic.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while the Central African Republic has grown from 4.38M to 5.75M (31.4% growth).

Cameroon vs Central African Republic: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon CAR
2100 89,781,496 19,066,004
2099 89,255,966 18,985,867
2098 88,720,337 18,901,154
2097 88,168,066 18,815,607
2096 87,604,050 18,724,783
2095 87,032,145 18,626,431
2094 86,441,720 18,526,390
2093 85,842,389 18,425,013
2092 85,235,505 18,316,437
2091 84,610,360 18,205,237
2090 83,973,967 18,087,725
2089 83,322,813 17,972,896
2088 82,662,944 17,848,943
2087 81,989,354 17,721,681
2086 81,310,407 17,585,946
2085 80,614,775 17,451,621
2084 79,910,947 17,310,863
2083 79,192,092 17,164,209
2082 78,464,535 17,014,388
2081 77,723,079 16,864,906
2080 76,963,821 16,708,761
2079 76,202,603 16,556,341
2078 75,431,803 16,396,395
2077 74,649,057 16,228,166
2076 73,862,841 16,055,590
2075 73,062,202 15,881,626
2074 72,248,179 15,710,778
2073 71,432,221 15,530,355
2072 70,603,305 15,350,553
2071 69,771,981 15,162,785
2070 68,936,208 14,968,105
2069 68,095,292 14,772,746
2068 67,251,348 14,575,859
2067 66,399,507 14,373,538
2066 65,539,313 14,170,754
2065 64,675,474 13,967,146
2064 63,807,579 13,761,777
2063 62,939,156 13,548,616
2062 62,065,714 13,336,037
2061 61,188,220 13,123,628
2060 60,302,920 12,906,496
2059 59,413,352 12,688,037
2058 58,519,385 12,467,461
2057 57,622,572 12,245,441
2056 56,730,793 12,023,522
2055 55,837,458 11,801,006
2054 54,935,159 11,578,020
2053 54,032,780 11,354,432
2052 53,122,812 11,131,786
2051 52,215,921 10,910,913
2050 51,314,050 10,689,058
2049 50,406,453 10,471,199
2048 49,501,629 10,252,433
2047 48,593,064 10,037,332
2046 47,688,721 9,822,499
2045 46,789,773 9,608,962
2044 45,890,362 9,397,018
2043 44,999,297 9,188,292
2042 44,103,714 8,982,316
2041 43,204,033 8,777,138
2040 42,316,677 8,570,085
2039 41,430,803 8,360,267
2038 40,554,253 8,151,599
2037 39,682,947 7,944,754
2036 38,815,989 7,736,415
2035 37,963,436 7,527,731
2034 37,116,013 7,316,613
2033 36,279,025 7,106,984
2032 35,446,827 6,898,917
2031 34,626,572 6,691,778
2030 33,811,853 6,488,327
2029 33,009,874 6,287,899
2028 32,213,983 6,086,983
2027 31,428,884 5,892,506
2026 30,654,707 5,702,177
2025 29,885,995 5,514,692
2024 29,123,744 5,330,690
2023 28,372,687 5,152,421
2022 27,632,771 5,098,039
2021 26,915,758 5,112,100
2020 26,210,558 5,026,628
2019 25,506,095 4,944,703
2018 24,806,383 4,878,657
2017 24,128,601 4,793,511
2016 23,454,161 4,713,663
2015 22,763,414 4,629,320
2014 22,059,893 4,623,182
2013 21,402,376 4,642,419
2012 20,809,529 4,610,848
2011 20,232,304 4,565,021
2010 19,668,066 4,492,995
2009 19,113,974 4,529,047
2008 18,574,056 4,558,984
2007 18,049,896 4,462,770
2006 17,550,407 4,377,579
2005 17,074,594 4,288,810
2004 16,610,487 4,192,826
2003 16,160,340 4,103,086
2002 15,725,528 4,006,077
2001 15,309,490 3,919,487
2000 14,912,631 3,833,416
1999 14,525,140 3,729,450
1998 14,144,860 3,628,827
1997 13,775,214 3,531,700
1996 13,414,757 3,435,965
1995 13,058,516 3,348,052
1994 12,704,903 3,257,954
1993 12,353,131 3,157,839
1992 12,006,353 3,058,831
1991 11,667,180 2,963,191
1990 11,331,821 2,871,910
1989 11,002,745 2,783,970
1988 10,684,968 2,713,965
1987 10,370,749 2,669,155
1986 10,060,342 2,634,258
1985 9,761,730 2,600,932
1984 9,475,078 2,568,610
1983 9,215,397 2,537,399
1982 9,028,678 2,507,375
1981 8,816,377 2,478,402
1980 8,512,219 2,450,535
1979 8,239,641 2,423,794
1978 8,011,921 2,397,961
1977 7,796,501 2,372,930
1976 7,597,962 2,348,566
1975 7,397,120 2,313,916
1974 7,193,583 2,269,338
1973 6,996,660 2,226,008
1972 6,806,872 2,183,769
1971 6,624,408 2,141,450
1970 6,449,793 2,097,505
1969 6,283,462 2,051,515
1968 6,125,863 2,005,100
1967 5,977,318 1,960,444
1966 5,837,295 1,918,082
1965 5,704,686 1,877,854
1964 5,578,257 1,839,583
1963 5,456,623 1,803,063
1962 5,338,620 1,768,115
1961 5,239,273 1,734,580
1960 5,159,057 1,702,346

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/central-african-republic | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while the Central African Republic gained 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while the Central African Republic's population increased by 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. The Central African Republic was ranked 118th in 2006 and still ranked 118th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 66.3% to 51,314,050 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of the Central African Republic will increase by 85.8% to 10,689,058 people and rank change from 118th to 96th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 19.1M people in 2100 for the Central African Republic.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon CAR
2100 0.59% 0.42%
2099 0.6% 0.45%
2098 0.63% 0.45%
2097 0.64% 0.49%
2096 0.66% 0.53%
2095 0.68% 0.54%
2094 0.7% 0.55%
2093 0.71% 0.59%
2092 0.74% 0.61%
2091 0.76% 0.65%
2090 0.78% 0.64%
2089 0.8% 0.69%
2088 0.82% 0.72%
2087 0.84% 0.77%
2086 0.86% 0.77%
2085 0.88% 0.81%
2084 0.91% 0.85%
2083 0.93% 0.88%
2082 0.95% 0.89%
2081 0.99% 0.93%
2080 1% 0.92%
2079 1.02% 0.98%
2078 1.05% 1.04%
2077 1.06% 1.07%
2076 1.1% 1.1%
2075 1.13% 1.09%
2074 1.14% 1.16%
2073 1.17% 1.17%
2072 1.19% 1.24%
2071 1.21% 1.3%
2070 1.23% 1.32%
2069 1.25% 1.35%
2068 1.28% 1.41%
2067 1.31% 1.43%
2066 1.34% 1.46%
2065 1.36% 1.49%
2064 1.38% 1.57%
2063 1.41% 1.59%
2062 1.43% 1.62%
2061 1.47% 1.68%
2060 1.5% 1.72%
2059 1.53% 1.77%
2058 1.56% 1.81%
2057 1.57% 1.85%
2056 1.6% 1.89%
2055 1.64% 1.93%
2054 1.67% 1.97%
2053 1.71% 2%
2052 1.74% 2.02%
2051 1.76% 2.08%
2050 1.8% 2.08%
2049 1.83% 2.13%
2048 1.87% 2.14%
2047 1.9% 2.19%
2046 1.92% 2.22%
2045 1.96% 2.26%
2044 1.98% 2.27%
2043 2.03% 2.29%
2042 2.08% 2.34%
2041 2.1% 2.42%
2040 2.14% 2.51%
2039 2.16% 2.56%
2038 2.2% 2.6%
2037 2.23% 2.69%
2036 2.25% 2.77%
2035 2.28% 2.89%
2034 2.31% 2.95%
2033 2.35% 3.02%
2032 2.37% 3.1%
2031 2.41% 3.14%
2030 2.43% 3.19%
2029 2.47% 3.3%
2028 2.5% 3.3%
2027 2.53% 3.34%
2026 2.57% 3.4%
2025 2.62% 3.45%
2024 2.65% 3.46%
2023 2.68% 1.07%
2022 2.66% -0.28%
2021 2.69% 1.7%
2020 2.76% 1.66%
2019 2.82% 1.35%
2018 2.81% 1.78%
2017 2.88% 1.69%
2016 3.03% 1.82%
2015 3.19% 0.13%
2014 3.07% -0.41%
2013 2.85% 0.68%
2012 2.85% 1%
2011 2.87% 1.6%
2010 2.9% -0.8%
2009 2.91% -0.66%
2008 2.9% 2.16%
2007 2.85% 1.95%
2006 2.79% 2.07%
2005 2.79% 2.29%
2004 2.79% 2.19%
2003 2.77% 2.42%
2002 2.72% 2.21%
2001 2.66% 2.25%
2000 2.67% 2.79%
1999 2.69% 2.77%
1998 2.68% 2.75%
1997 2.69% 2.79%
1996 2.73% 2.63%
1995 2.78% 2.77%
1994 2.85% 3.17%
1993 2.89% 3.24%
1992 2.91% 3.23%
1991 2.96% 3.18%
1990 2.99% 3.16%
1989 2.97% 2.58%
1988 3.03% 1.68%
1987 3.09% 1.32%
1986 3.06% 1.28%
1985 3.03% 1.26%
1984 2.82% 1.23%
1983 2.07% 1.2%
1982 2.41% 1.17%
1981 3.57% 1.14%
1980 3.31% 1.1%
1979 2.84% 1.08%
1978 2.76% 1.05%
1977 2.61% 1.04%
1976 2.72% 1.5%
1975 2.83% 1.96%
1974 2.81% 1.95%
1973 2.79% 1.93%
1972 2.75% 1.98%
1971 2.71% 2.1%
1970 2.65% 2.24%
1969 2.57% 2.31%
1968 2.49% 2.28%
1967 2.4% 2.21%
1966 2.32% 2.14%
1965 2.27% 2.08%
1964 2.23% 2.03%
1963 2.21% 1.98%
1962 1.9% 1.93%
1961 1.55% 1.89%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/central-african-republic | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while the Central African Republic's population grew by 3.46%.

Live population counters

Cameroon CAR
Current population
30864115
5753659
Population rank 51/197 118/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.07%
One net population change
42 seconds
2.95 minutes
One birth every
32.9 seconds
2.2 minutes
One death every
2.59 minutes
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +488
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +178,269
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +3.46%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 9/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
35.9 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 -14,693
Net migration rank 146/196 143/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 94,556
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 132/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 135/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon CAR
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -14,693
2024 - -13,892 - -15,357
2023 754,486 -4,798 190,325 -14,682
2022 734,893 -4,798 -49,456 -17,430
2021 713,806 -9,888 124,408 -85,646
2020 716,361 -9,888 156,911 -24,745
2019 714,681 -12,255 68,523 -36,849
2018 706,188 -9,184 153,361 -52,954
2017 696,496 -37,912 128,461 -58,584
2016 677,051 13,255 142,419 -52,607
2015 649,190 42,008 141,912 -63,045
2014 619,243 96,599 107,448 -174,051
2013 606,072 -6,900 140,489 -112,382
2012 594,029 -7,523 146,791 -111,764
2011 580,607 -12,669 142,913 -86,281
2010 569,921 -9,366 130,539 -43,126
2009 557,841 -10,203 -130,613 -28,899
2008 542,919 -10,720 128,627 -28,983
2007 526,949 -10,807 123,137 -30,352
2006 511,366 -28,528 118,882 -41,282
2005 496,547 -27,775 113,534 -13,604
2004 478,880 -19,444 108,548 -16,510
2003 459,422 -18,568 105,540 -18,097
2002 439,544 -10,766 100,588 5,992
2001 422,511 -19,203 99,598 -33,006
2000 411,633 -21,221 97,468 8,079
1999 401,969 -17,398 96,108 6,284
1998 388,432 -12,446 94,361 4,479
1997 377,138 -13,842 93,378 2,034
1996 370,355 -12,738 93,369 2,697
1995 367,532 -12,661 92,748 -12,986
1994 364,390 -12,028 90,943 9,496
1993 360,785 -9,601 89,873 9,930
1992 356,072 -13,702 88,939 9,269
1991 350,493 -14,520 88,688 4,381
1990 342,901 -8,163 87,507 1,995
1989 334,649 -11,244 85,969 409
1988 328,168 -16,016 84,654 -31,016
1987 320,134 -3,829 83,408 -47,428
1986 308,188 -3,671 81,149 -47,332
1985 296,317 -3,604 79,266 -46,427
1984 284,110 -3,512 77,395 -45,591
1983 276,112 -37,346 75,399 -44,780
1982 274,652 -139,974 73,330 -43,908
1981 262,076 27,845 71,391 -42,872
1980 247,808 70,589 68,759 -41,539
1979 238,875 -12,108 66,104 -39,850
1978 229,958 -1,282 63,285 -37,874
1977 222,785 -20,622 60,436 -35,782
1976 214,916 -19,994 57,725 -33,645
1975 206,986 -237 55,106 -9,895
1974 200,693 -377 53,777 -9,838
1973 193,997 -466 52,525 -9,800
1972 186,521 -473 51,390 -9,634
1971 179,317 -439 50,142 -7,259
1970 170,713 -367 48,690 -3,693
1969 162,603 -286 47,066 -80
1968 153,080 -204 45,377 474
1967 144,370 -148 42,979 474
1966 135,927 -96 40,804 474
1965 129,428 -39 38,710 474
1964 123,469 0 36,878 474
1963 119,784 0 35,218 474
1962 116,232 0 33,731 474
1961 82,471 0 32,383 474
1960 77,948 0 31,131 474

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/central-african-republic | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 6,982,395 people) and 0.9% is from migration (a gain of 63,139 people). In the Central African Republic 66.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,164,312 people) and 33.3% is from migration (a loss of 580,593 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 94,556 people or 1.8% in the Central African Republic.

Biggest cities by population

Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K
CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/central-african-republic | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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