Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,879,337 in 2025 vs 5,513,282 people in the Central African Republic in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 31,045,453 people compared to 5,798,457 in the Central African Republic.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 5.35 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 117th.
  • 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 +2.8% per year vs +1.62% in the Central African Republic.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 31M (76.9% growth), while the Central African Republic has grown from 4.38M to 5.8M (32.5% 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 89,761,493 19,061,127
2099 89,236,081 18,981,009
2098 88,700,571 18,896,319
2097 88,148,423 18,810,793
2096 87,584,533 18,719,993
2095 87,012,755 18,621,666
2094 86,422,461 18,521,650
2093 85,823,264 18,420,299
2092 85,216,516 18,311,751
2091 84,591,510 18,200,580
2090 83,955,258 18,083,097
2089 83,304,250 17,968,298
2088 82,644,527 17,844,377
2087 81,971,087 17,717,148
2086 81,292,292 17,581,447
2085 80,596,814 17,447,157
2084 79,893,144 17,306,435
2083 79,174,449 17,159,818
2082 78,447,054 17,010,036
2081 77,705,764 16,860,592
2080 76,946,674 16,704,486
2079 76,185,626 16,552,105
2078 75,414,998 16,392,201
2077 74,632,426 16,224,015
2076 73,846,385 16,051,483
2075 73,045,925 15,877,563
2074 72,232,083 15,706,759
2073 71,416,307 15,526,382
2072 70,587,575 15,346,626
2071 69,756,436 15,158,906
2070 68,920,850 14,964,276
2069 68,080,121 14,768,967
2068 67,236,365 14,572,130
2067 66,384,714 14,369,861
2066 65,524,711 14,167,129
2065 64,661,065 13,963,573
2064 63,793,364 13,758,257
2063 62,925,133 13,545,150
2062 62,051,886 13,332,625
2061 61,174,588 13,120,271
2060 60,289,485 12,903,195
2059 59,400,116 12,684,791
2058 58,506,347 12,464,271
2057 57,609,734 12,242,308
2056 56,718,154 12,020,446
2055 55,825,018 11,797,986
2054 54,922,920 11,575,058
2053 54,020,742 11,351,527
2052 53,110,977 11,128,939
2051 52,204,288 10,908,122
2050 51,302,617 10,686,324
2049 50,395,223 10,468,520
2048 49,490,600 10,249,810
2047 48,582,238 10,034,764
2046 47,678,096 9,819,986
2045 46,779,348 9,606,504
2044 45,880,138 9,394,614
2043 44,989,272 9,185,941
2042 44,093,888 8,980,018
2041 43,194,408 8,774,893
2040 42,307,249 8,567,893
2039 41,421,572 8,358,128
2038 40,545,218 8,149,514
2037 39,674,106 7,942,721
2036 38,807,341 7,734,436
2035 37,954,978 7,525,805
2034 37,107,744 7,314,741
2033 36,270,943 7,105,166
2032 35,438,930 6,897,152
2031 34,618,857 6,690,066
2030 33,804,320 6,486,667
2029 33,002,520 6,286,290
2028 32,206,806 6,085,426
2027 31,421,882 5,890,999
2026 30,647,877 5,700,718
2025 29,879,337 5,513,282
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 7,591,292 people (a 32.4% growth), while the Central African Republic's population increased by 1,084,794 people (a 23% 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 ranked 117th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 65.3% to 51,302,617 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of the Central African Republic will increase by 84.3% to 10,686,324 people and rank change from 117th 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 2.59% 3.43%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.59%, while the Central African Republic's population grew by 3.43%.

Live population counters

Cameroon CAR
Current population
31045453
5798457
Population rank 51/197 117/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.07%
One net population change
41.9 seconds
2.89 minutes
One birth every
32.5 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
2.57 minutes
10.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,070 +500
Annual growth/decline +755,593 +182,592
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +3.43%
Population growth rate rank 22/197 7/197
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 766,304 -13,892 196,244 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 7,129,456 people) and 0.66% is from migration (a loss of 47,352 people). In the Central African Republic 74.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,253,108 people) and 25.2% is from migration (a loss of 421,899 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.