The current population of the Central African Republic is 5,753,659 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 5,330,690 in 2024.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth in 20 years).
- The Central African Republic accounts for 0.07% of the world's population.
- The Central African Republic is ranked 118/197 by population and was ranked 118th in 2006.
- For the last 20 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of 1.57% per year.
- The Central African Republic is projected to reach 19.1M people in 2100.
The Central African Republic population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 19,066,004 | 0.42% |
| 2099 | 18,985,867 | 0.45% |
| 2098 | 18,901,154 | 0.45% |
| 2097 | 18,815,607 | 0.49% |
| 2096 | 18,724,783 | 0.53% |
| 2095 | 18,626,431 | 0.54% |
| 2094 | 18,526,390 | 0.55% |
| 2093 | 18,425,013 | 0.59% |
| 2092 | 18,316,437 | 0.61% |
| 2091 | 18,205,237 | 0.65% |
| 2090 | 18,087,725 | 0.64% |
| 2089 | 17,972,896 | 0.69% |
| 2088 | 17,848,943 | 0.72% |
| 2087 | 17,721,681 | 0.77% |
| 2086 | 17,585,946 | 0.77% |
| 2085 | 17,451,621 | 0.81% |
| 2084 | 17,310,863 | 0.85% |
| 2083 | 17,164,209 | 0.88% |
| 2082 | 17,014,388 | 0.89% |
| 2081 | 16,864,906 | 0.93% |
| 2080 | 16,708,761 | 0.92% |
| 2079 | 16,556,341 | 0.98% |
| 2078 | 16,396,395 | 1.04% |
| 2077 | 16,228,166 | 1.07% |
| 2076 | 16,055,590 | 1.1% |
| 2075 | 15,881,626 | 1.09% |
| 2074 | 15,710,778 | 1.16% |
| 2073 | 15,530,355 | 1.17% |
| 2072 | 15,350,553 | 1.24% |
| 2071 | 15,162,785 | 1.3% |
| 2070 | 14,968,105 | 1.32% |
| 2069 | 14,772,746 | 1.35% |
| 2068 | 14,575,859 | 1.41% |
| 2067 | 14,373,538 | 1.43% |
| 2066 | 14,170,754 | 1.46% |
| 2065 | 13,967,146 | 1.49% |
| 2064 | 13,761,777 | 1.57% |
| 2063 | 13,548,616 | 1.59% |
| 2062 | 13,336,037 | 1.62% |
| 2061 | 13,123,628 | 1.68% |
| 2060 | 12,906,496 | 1.72% |
| 2059 | 12,688,037 | 1.77% |
| 2058 | 12,467,461 | 1.81% |
| 2057 | 12,245,441 | 1.85% |
| 2056 | 12,023,522 | 1.89% |
| 2055 | 11,801,006 | 1.93% |
| 2054 | 11,578,020 | 1.97% |
| 2053 | 11,354,432 | 2% |
| 2052 | 11,131,786 | 2.02% |
| 2051 | 10,910,913 | 2.08% |
| 2050 | 10,689,058 | 2.08% |
| 2049 | 10,471,199 | 2.13% |
| 2048 | 10,252,433 | 2.14% |
| 2047 | 10,037,332 | 2.19% |
| 2046 | 9,822,499 | 2.22% |
| 2045 | 9,608,962 | 2.26% |
| 2044 | 9,397,018 | 2.27% |
| 2043 | 9,188,292 | 2.29% |
| 2042 | 8,982,316 | 2.34% |
| 2041 | 8,777,138 | 2.42% |
| 2040 | 8,570,085 | 2.51% |
| 2039 | 8,360,267 | 2.56% |
| 2038 | 8,151,599 | 2.6% |
| 2037 | 7,944,754 | 2.69% |
| 2036 | 7,736,415 | 2.77% |
| 2035 | 7,527,731 | 2.89% |
| 2034 | 7,316,613 | 2.95% |
| 2033 | 7,106,984 | 3.02% |
| 2032 | 6,898,917 | 3.1% |
| 2031 | 6,691,778 | 3.14% |
| 2030 | 6,488,327 | 3.19% |
| 2029 | 6,287,899 | 3.3% |
| 2028 | 6,086,983 | 3.3% |
| 2027 | 5,892,506 | 3.34% |
| 2026 | 5,702,177 | 3.4% |
| 2025 | 5,514,692 | 3.45% |
| 2024 | 5,330,690 | 3.46% |
| 2023 | 5,152,421 | 1.07% |
| 2022 | 5,098,039 | -0.28% |
| 2021 | 5,112,100 | 1.7% |
| 2020 | 5,026,628 | 1.66% |
| 2019 | 4,944,703 | 1.35% |
| 2018 | 4,878,657 | 1.78% |
| 2017 | 4,793,511 | 1.69% |
| 2016 | 4,713,663 | 1.82% |
| 2015 | 4,629,320 | 0.13% |
| 2014 | 4,623,182 | -0.41% |
| 2013 | 4,642,419 | 0.68% |
| 2012 | 4,610,848 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4,565,021 | 1.6% |
| 2010 | 4,492,995 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 4,529,047 | -0.66% |
| 2008 | 4,558,984 | 2.16% |
| 2007 | 4,462,770 | 1.95% |
| 2006 | 4,377,579 | 2.07% |
| 2005 | 4,288,810 | 2.29% |
| 2004 | 4,192,826 | 2.19% |
| 2003 | 4,103,086 | 2.42% |
| 2002 | 4,006,077 | 2.21% |
| 2001 | 3,919,487 | 2.25% |
| 2000 | 3,833,416 | 2.79% |
| 1999 | 3,729,450 | 2.77% |
| 1998 | 3,628,827 | 2.75% |
| 1997 | 3,531,700 | 2.79% |
| 1996 | 3,435,965 | 2.63% |
| 1995 | 3,348,052 | 2.77% |
| 1994 | 3,257,954 | 3.17% |
| 1993 | 3,157,839 | 3.24% |
| 1992 | 3,058,831 | 3.23% |
| 1991 | 2,963,191 | 3.18% |
| 1990 | 2,871,910 | 3.16% |
| 1989 | 2,783,970 | 2.58% |
| 1988 | 2,713,965 | 1.68% |
| 1987 | 2,669,155 | 1.32% |
| 1986 | 2,634,258 | 1.28% |
| 1985 | 2,600,932 | 1.26% |
| 1984 | 2,568,610 | 1.23% |
| 1983 | 2,537,399 | 1.2% |
| 1982 | 2,507,375 | 1.17% |
| 1981 | 2,478,402 | 1.14% |
| 1980 | 2,450,535 | 1.1% |
| 1979 | 2,423,794 | 1.08% |
| 1978 | 2,397,961 | 1.05% |
| 1977 | 2,372,930 | 1.04% |
| 1976 | 2,348,566 | 1.5% |
| 1975 | 2,313,916 | 1.96% |
| 1974 | 2,269,338 | 1.95% |
| 1973 | 2,226,008 | 1.93% |
| 1972 | 2,183,769 | 1.98% |
| 1971 | 2,141,450 | 2.1% |
| 1970 | 2,097,505 | 2.24% |
| 1969 | 2,051,515 | 2.31% |
| 1968 | 2,005,100 | 2.28% |
| 1967 | 1,960,444 | 2.21% |
| 1966 | 1,918,082 | 2.14% |
| 1965 | 1,877,854 | 2.08% |
| 1964 | 1,839,583 | 2.03% |
| 1963 | 1,803,063 | 1.98% |
| 1962 | 1,768,115 | 1.93% |
| 1961 | 1,734,580 | 1.89% |
| 1960 | 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/central-african-republic | CC BY 
The Central African Republic has a population of 5.75M as of 2026, compared to 4.71M in 2016, 4.38M in 2006, and 3.44M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 2.21% per year. The Central African Republic is ranked 75th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) the Central African Republic will have 9,822,499 people (70.7% growth) with a rank change from 118th to 98th.
By the year 2100, the Central African Republic's population is projected to grow by 231.4% from its current level to 19.1M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -14,693 |
| 2024 | - | - | -15,357 |
| 2023 | 175,643 | 190,325 | -14,682 |
| 2022 | -66,886 | -49,456 | -17,430 |
| 2021 | 38,762 | 124,408 | -85,646 |
| 2020 | 132,166 | 156,911 | -24,745 |
| 2019 | 31,674 | 68,523 | -36,849 |
| 2018 | 100,407 | 153,361 | -52,954 |
| 2017 | 69,877 | 128,461 | -58,584 |
| 2016 | 89,812 | 142,419 | -52,607 |
| 2015 | 78,867 | 141,912 | -63,045 |
| 2014 | -66,603 | 107,448 | -174,051 |
| 2013 | 28,107 | 140,489 | -112,382 |
| 2012 | 35,027 | 146,791 | -111,764 |
| 2011 | 56,632 | 142,913 | -86,281 |
| 2010 | 87,413 | 130,539 | -43,126 |
| 2009 | -159,512 | -130,613 | -28,899 |
| 2008 | 99,644 | 128,627 | -28,983 |
| 2007 | 92,785 | 123,137 | -30,352 |
| 2006 | 77,600 | 118,882 | -41,282 |
| 2005 | 99,930 | 113,534 | -13,604 |
| 2004 | 92,038 | 108,548 | -16,510 |
| 2003 | 87,443 | 105,540 | -18,097 |
| 2002 | 106,580 | 100,588 | 5,992 |
| 2001 | 66,592 | 99,598 | -33,006 |
| 2000 | 105,547 | 97,468 | 8,079 |
| 1999 | 102,392 | 96,108 | 6,284 |
| 1998 | 98,840 | 94,361 | 4,479 |
| 1997 | 95,412 | 93,378 | 2,034 |
| 1996 | 96,066 | 93,369 | 2,697 |
| 1995 | 79,762 | 92,748 | -12,986 |
| 1994 | 100,439 | 90,943 | 9,496 |
| 1993 | 99,803 | 89,873 | 9,930 |
| 1992 | 98,208 | 88,939 | 9,269 |
| 1991 | 93,069 | 88,688 | 4,381 |
| 1990 | 89,502 | 87,507 | 1,995 |
| 1989 | 86,378 | 85,969 | 409 |
| 1988 | 53,638 | 84,654 | -31,016 |
| 1987 | 35,980 | 83,408 | -47,428 |
| 1986 | 33,817 | 81,149 | -47,332 |
| 1985 | 32,839 | 79,266 | -46,427 |
| 1984 | 31,804 | 77,395 | -45,591 |
| 1983 | 30,619 | 75,399 | -44,780 |
| 1982 | 29,422 | 73,330 | -43,908 |
| 1981 | 28,519 | 71,391 | -42,872 |
| 1980 | 27,220 | 68,759 | -41,539 |
| 1979 | 26,254 | 66,104 | -39,850 |
| 1978 | 25,411 | 63,285 | -37,874 |
| 1977 | 24,654 | 60,436 | -35,782 |
| 1976 | 24,080 | 57,725 | -33,645 |
| 1975 | 45,211 | 55,106 | -9,895 |
| 1974 | 43,939 | 53,777 | -9,838 |
| 1973 | 42,725 | 52,525 | -9,800 |
| 1972 | 41,756 | 51,390 | -9,634 |
| 1971 | 42,883 | 50,142 | -7,259 |
| 1970 | 44,997 | 48,690 | -3,693 |
| 1969 | 46,986 | 47,066 | -80 |
| 1968 | 45,851 | 45,377 | 474 |
| 1967 | 43,453 | 42,979 | 474 |
| 1966 | 41,278 | 40,804 | 474 |
| 1965 | 39,184 | 38,710 | 474 |
| 1964 | 37,352 | 36,878 | 474 |
| 1963 | 35,692 | 35,218 | 474 |
| 1962 | 34,205 | 33,731 | 474 |
| 1961 | 32,857 | 32,383 | 474 |
| 1960 | 31,605 | 31,131 | 474 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 66.7% of the population change in the Central African Republic 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, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 94,685 and 2.1% in 2010.
The Central African Republic population clock
CAR
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5753659
|
118/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.07% | 118/197 |
| One net population change |
2.95 minutes
|
70/197 |
| One birth every |
2.2 minutes
|
80/196 |
| One death every |
10.8 minutes
|
106/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +488 | 70/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +178,269 | 70/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +3.46% | 9/197 |
| One migration net change every |
35.9 minutes
|
143/196 |
| Annual migration change | -14,693 | 143/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 94,556 | 132/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 1.8% | 135/195 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Central African Republic population statistics
|
CAR
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.2 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 19.8 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 15.4 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48:52 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 6.01 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 23.7 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/central-african-republic | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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