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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,330,690 in 2024 vs 20,299,123 people in Chad in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 21,893,857 in Chad.

Population statistics:

  • Chad's population is 3.81 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Chad is the 64th.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.26% for Chad.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +3.65% in Chad.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Chad has grown from 10.7M to 21.9M (104.5% growth).

Central African Republic vs Chad: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Chad
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Chad
2100 19,066,004 70,884,357
2099 18,985,867 70,557,567
2098 18,901,154 70,230,207
2097 18,815,607 69,842,152
2096 18,724,783 69,451,196
2095 18,626,431 69,060,721
2094 18,526,390 68,666,177
2093 18,425,013 68,236,720
2092 18,316,437 67,782,173
2091 18,205,237 67,325,804
2090 18,087,725 66,831,262
2089 17,972,896 66,335,362
2088 17,848,943 65,849,776
2087 17,721,681 65,329,155
2086 17,585,946 64,802,341
2085 17,451,621 64,247,517
2084 17,310,863 63,683,201
2083 17,164,209 63,107,011
2082 17,014,388 62,546,281
2081 16,864,906 61,935,077
2080 16,708,761 61,322,770
2079 16,556,341 60,689,500
2078 16,396,395 60,041,413
2077 16,228,166 59,398,544
2076 16,055,590 58,750,589
2075 15,881,626 58,088,399
2074 15,710,778 57,429,638
2073 15,530,355 56,751,288
2072 15,350,553 56,050,641
2071 15,162,785 55,351,270
2070 14,968,105 54,656,129
2069 14,772,746 53,956,737
2068 14,575,859 53,248,745
2067 14,373,538 52,550,963
2066 14,170,754 51,808,021
2065 13,967,146 51,071,215
2064 13,761,777 50,307,695
2063 13,548,616 49,556,347
2062 13,336,037 48,797,884
2061 13,123,628 48,036,580
2060 12,906,496 47,241,459
2059 12,688,037 46,442,418
2058 12,467,461 45,655,034
2057 12,245,441 44,870,896
2056 12,023,522 44,078,534
2055 11,801,006 43,275,519
2054 11,578,020 42,486,590
2053 11,354,432 41,688,608
2052 11,131,786 40,889,772
2051 10,910,913 40,092,484
2050 10,689,058 39,299,495
2049 10,471,199 38,521,793
2048 10,252,433 37,723,298
2047 10,037,332 36,947,445
2046 9,822,499 36,172,851
2045 9,608,962 35,391,232
2044 9,397,018 34,632,170
2043 9,188,292 33,864,845
2042 8,982,316 33,104,772
2041 8,777,138 32,347,709
2040 8,570,085 31,617,805
2039 8,360,267 30,871,258
2038 8,151,599 30,129,880
2037 7,944,754 29,393,074
2036 7,736,415 28,653,774
2035 7,527,731 27,935,849
2034 7,316,613 27,223,833
2033 7,106,984 26,506,530
2032 6,898,917 25,790,343
2031 6,691,778 25,078,386
2030 6,488,327 24,381,060
2029 6,287,899 23,686,105
2028 6,086,983 22,995,214
2027 5,892,506 22,312,346
2026 5,702,177 21,738,687
2025 5,514,692 21,174,977
2024 5,330,690 20,299,123
2023 5,152,421 19,319,064
2022 5,098,039 18,455,316
2021 5,112,100 17,828,273
2020 5,026,628 17,224,679
2019 4,944,703 16,685,223
2018 4,878,657 16,156,531
2017 4,793,511 15,622,759
2016 4,713,663 15,114,655
2015 4,629,320 14,647,621
2014 4,623,182 14,188,678
2013 4,642,419 13,691,079
2012 4,610,848 13,210,998
2011 4,565,021 12,754,997
2010 4,492,995 12,312,575
2009 4,529,047 11,893,754
2008 4,558,984 11,476,296
2007 4,462,770 11,081,660
2006 4,377,579 10,706,424
2005 4,288,810 10,328,092
2004 4,192,826 9,920,036
2003 4,103,086 9,487,833
2002 4,006,077 9,116,192
2001 3,919,487 8,804,124
2000 3,833,416 8,512,093
1999 3,729,450 8,222,705
1998 3,628,827 7,938,840
1997 3,531,700 7,670,366
1996 3,435,965 7,410,108
1995 3,348,052 7,089,064
1994 3,257,954 6,783,450
1993 3,157,839 6,629,146
1992 3,058,831 6,474,656
1991 2,963,191 6,205,676
1990 2,871,910 5,982,833
1989 2,783,970 5,819,586
1988 2,713,965 5,625,602
1987 2,669,155 5,438,309
1986 2,634,258 5,251,069
1985 2,600,932 5,096,269
1984 2,568,610 5,045,145
1983 2,537,399 4,979,130
1982 2,507,375 4,738,483
1981 2,478,402 4,520,959
1980 2,450,535 4,515,453
1979 2,423,794 4,505,384
1978 2,397,961 4,411,366
1977 2,372,930 4,331,667
1976 2,348,566 4,251,297
1975 2,313,916 4,167,234
1974 2,269,338 4,078,356
1973 2,226,008 3,985,909
1972 2,183,769 3,893,252
1971 2,141,450 3,807,316
1970 2,097,505 3,727,828
1969 2,051,515 3,651,113
1968 2,005,100 3,578,231
1967 1,960,444 3,508,512
1966 1,918,082 3,440,903
1965 1,877,854 3,374,220
1964 1,839,583 3,307,479
1963 1,803,063 3,240,905
1962 1,768,115 3,175,598
1961 1,734,580 3,111,947
1960 1,702,346 3,049,838

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/chad | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Chad gained 4,408,231 people (a 41.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Chad's population increased by 6,779,202 people (a 44.9% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Chad was ranked 76th in 2006 and ranked 64th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Central African Republic's population will grow by 85.8% to 10,689,058 people with a rank change from 118th to 96th. The population of Chad will increase by 79.5% to 39,299,495 people and rank change from 64th to 52nd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 70.9M people in 2100 for Chad.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Chad
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Chad
2100 0.42% 0.46%
2099 0.45% 0.47%
2098 0.45% 0.56%
2097 0.49% 0.56%
2096 0.53% 0.57%
2095 0.54% 0.57%
2094 0.55% 0.63%
2093 0.59% 0.67%
2092 0.61% 0.68%
2091 0.65% 0.74%
2090 0.64% 0.75%
2089 0.69% 0.74%
2088 0.72% 0.8%
2087 0.77% 0.81%
2086 0.77% 0.86%
2085 0.81% 0.89%
2084 0.85% 0.91%
2083 0.88% 0.9%
2082 0.89% 0.99%
2081 0.93% 1%
2080 0.92% 1.04%
2079 0.98% 1.08%
2078 1.04% 1.08%
2077 1.07% 1.1%
2076 1.1% 1.14%
2075 1.09% 1.15%
2074 1.16% 1.2%
2073 1.17% 1.25%
2072 1.24% 1.26%
2071 1.3% 1.27%
2070 1.32% 1.3%
2069 1.35% 1.33%
2068 1.41% 1.33%
2067 1.43% 1.43%
2066 1.46% 1.44%
2065 1.49% 1.52%
2064 1.57% 1.52%
2063 1.59% 1.55%
2062 1.62% 1.58%
2061 1.68% 1.68%
2060 1.72% 1.72%
2059 1.77% 1.72%
2058 1.81% 1.75%
2057 1.85% 1.8%
2056 1.89% 1.86%
2055 1.93% 1.86%
2054 1.97% 1.91%
2053 2% 1.95%
2052 2.02% 1.99%
2051 2.08% 2.02%
2050 2.08% 2.02%
2049 2.13% 2.12%
2048 2.14% 2.1%
2047 2.19% 2.14%
2046 2.22% 2.21%
2045 2.26% 2.19%
2044 2.27% 2.27%
2043 2.29% 2.3%
2042 2.34% 2.34%
2041 2.42% 2.31%
2040 2.51% 2.42%
2039 2.56% 2.46%
2038 2.6% 2.51%
2037 2.69% 2.58%
2036 2.77% 2.57%
2035 2.89% 2.62%
2034 2.95% 2.71%
2033 3.02% 2.78%
2032 3.1% 2.84%
2031 3.14% 2.86%
2030 3.19% 2.93%
2029 3.3% 3%
2028 3.3% 3.06%
2027 3.34% 2.64%
2026 3.4% 2.66%
2025 3.45% 4.31%
2024 3.46% 5.07%
2023 1.07% 4.68%
2022 -0.28% 3.52%
2021 1.7% 3.5%
2020 1.66% 3.23%
2019 1.35% 3.27%
2018 1.78% 3.42%
2017 1.69% 3.36%
2016 1.82% 3.19%
2015 0.13% 3.23%
2014 -0.41% 3.63%
2013 0.68% 3.63%
2012 1% 3.58%
2011 1.6% 3.59%
2010 -0.8% 3.52%
2009 -0.66% 3.64%
2008 2.16% 3.56%
2007 1.95% 3.5%
2006 2.07% 3.66%
2005 2.29% 4.11%
2004 2.19% 4.56%
2003 2.42% 4.08%
2002 2.21% 3.54%
2001 2.25% 3.43%
2000 2.79% 3.52%
1999 2.77% 3.58%
1998 2.75% 3.5%
1997 2.79% 3.51%
1996 2.63% 4.53%
1995 2.77% 4.51%
1994 3.17% 2.33%
1993 3.24% 2.39%
1992 3.23% 4.33%
1991 3.18% 3.72%
1990 3.16% 2.81%
1989 2.58% 3.45%
1988 1.68% 3.44%
1987 1.32% 3.57%
1986 1.28% 3.04%
1985 1.26% 1.01%
1984 1.23% 1.33%
1983 1.2% 5.08%
1982 1.17% 4.81%
1981 1.14% 0.12%
1980 1.1% 0.22%
1979 1.08% 2.13%
1978 1.05% 1.84%
1977 1.04% 1.89%
1976 1.5% 2.02%
1975 1.96% 2.18%
1974 1.95% 2.32%
1973 1.93% 2.38%
1972 1.98% 2.26%
1971 2.1% 2.13%
1970 2.24% 2.1%
1969 2.31% 2.04%
1968 2.28% 1.99%
1967 2.21% 1.96%
1966 2.14% 1.98%
1965 2.08% 2.02%
1964 2.03% 2.05%
1963 1.98% 2.06%
1962 1.93% 2.05%
1961 1.89% 2.04%

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/central-african-republic/chad | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Chad's population grew by 5.07%.

Live population counters

CAR Chad
Current population
5753659
21893857
Population rank 118/197 64/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.26%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
32.2 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
38.5 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
2.47 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +2,685
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +980,059
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +5.07%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 2/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
4.28 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -123,104
Net migration rank 143/196 184/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 1,269,673
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 50/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 6.3%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 83/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Chad
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Chad
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -123,104
2024 - -15,357 - 204,040
2023 190,325 -14,682 605,924 496,830
2022 -49,456 -17,430 588,060 36,670
2021 124,408 -85,646 554,851 74,509
2020 156,911 -24,745 541,234 36,605
2019 68,523 -36,849 530,540 -29,451
2018 153,361 -52,954 509,642 46,661
2017 128,461 -58,584 494,304 16,916
2016 142,419 -52,607 483,442 21,540
2015 141,912 -63,045 478,010 -48,918
2014 107,448 -174,051 467,957 20,842
2013 140,489 -112,382 454,517 51,887
2012 146,791 -111,764 444,246 9,514
2011 142,913 -86,281 428,989 29,256
2010 130,539 -43,126 416,177 10,427
2009 -130,613 -28,899 401,937 9,108
2008 128,627 -28,983 387,439 36,446
2007 123,137 -30,352 376,732 -11,339
2006 118,882 -41,282 362,027 23,052
2005 113,534 -13,604 352,302 19,281
2004 108,548 -16,510 334,136 110,387
2003 105,540 -18,097 314,740 105,140
2002 100,588 5,992 302,995 20,400
2001 99,598 -33,006 297,254 3,484
2000 97,468 8,079 287,173 -3,845
1999 96,108 6,284 278,264 17,175
1998 94,361 4,479 270,055 2,232
1997 93,378 2,034 261,030 3,631
1996 93,369 2,697 254,589 1,259
1995 92,748 -12,986 234,010 152,232
1994 90,943 9,496 223,996 986
1993 89,873 9,930 229,984 -146,386
1992 88,939 9,269 219,348 6,013
1991 88,688 4,381 200,102 112,492
1990 87,507 1,995 191,959 -58,884
1989 85,969 409 188,485 4,924
1988 84,654 -31,016 178,489 16,085
1987 83,408 -47,428 156,797 23,220
1986 81,149 -47,332 152,360 42,093
1985 79,266 -46,427 145,845 -30,686
1984 77,395 -45,591 151,511 -164,489
1983 75,399 -44,780 144,684 247
1982 73,330 -43,908 119,121 217,242
1981 71,391 -42,872 111,907 -13,232
1980 68,759 -41,539 122,468 -210,126
1979 66,104 -39,850 117,780 -9,974
1978 63,285 -37,874 115,084 -34,856
1977 60,436 -35,782 113,498 -34,318
1976 57,725 -33,645 111,324 -29,755
1975 55,106 -9,895 109,315 -22,768
1974 53,777 -9,838 106,898 -15,686
1973 52,525 -9,800 104,418 -10,737
1972 51,390 -9,634 101,142 -9,526
1971 50,142 -7,259 89,404 -9,153
1970 48,690 -3,693 87,660 -8,931
1969 47,066 -80 83,413 -8,714
1968 45,377 474 79,465 -8,396
1967 42,979 474 76,142 -7,771
1966 40,804 474 73,123 -6,283
1965 38,710 474 70,913 -4,384
1964 36,878 474 69,483 -2,518
1963 35,218 474 67,414 -1,228
1962 33,731 474 65,312 -890
1961 32,383 474 63,639 -760
1960 31,131 474 62,003 -672

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/chad | 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). In Chad 88.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,253,964 people) and 11.3% is from migration (a gain of 672,204 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 1,269,673 people or 6.3% in Chad.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Chad
City Population
N'Djamena 1.09M
Sarh 108K
Abeche 76.5K
Bongor 27.8K
Bol 11.7K

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/central-african-republic/chad | 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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