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Population in the Central African Republic compared to China: 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 1,408,975,000 people in China in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 1,402,578,808 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 243.8 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while China is the 2nd.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 16.9% for China.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +0.3% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (6.98% growth).

Central African Republic vs China: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR China
2100 19,066,004 633,320,628
2099 18,985,867 643,959,697
2098 18,901,154 654,691,595
2097 18,815,607 665,517,335
2096 18,724,783 676,438,150
2095 18,626,431 687,457,915
2094 18,526,390 698,589,897
2093 18,425,013 709,852,629
2092 18,316,437 721,251,520
2091 18,205,237 732,791,748
2090 18,087,725 744,501,355
2089 17,972,896 756,404,299
2088 17,848,943 768,478,316
2087 17,721,681 780,707,622
2086 17,585,946 793,081,006
2085 17,451,621 805,608,315
2084 17,310,863 818,268,277
2083 17,164,209 830,972,107
2082 17,014,388 843,721,746
2081 16,864,906 856,534,631
2080 16,708,761 869,351,919
2079 16,556,341 882,146,959
2078 16,396,395 894,889,246
2077 16,228,166 907,592,919
2076 16,055,590 920,280,380
2075 15,881,626 932,956,157
2074 15,710,778 945,631,173
2073 15,530,355 958,352,980
2072 15,350,553 971,115,895
2071 15,162,785 983,938,054
2070 14,968,105 996,853,418
2069 14,772,746 1,009,905,851
2068 14,575,859 1,023,081,790
2067 14,373,538 1,036,420,010
2066 14,170,754 1,049,887,382
2065 13,967,146 1,063,477,623
2064 13,761,777 1,077,206,695
2063 13,548,616 1,090,982,303
2062 13,336,037 1,104,833,556
2061 13,123,628 1,118,682,849
2060 12,906,496 1,132,504,136
2059 12,688,037 1,146,199,736
2058 12,467,461 1,159,714,746
2057 12,245,441 1,172,963,523
2056 12,023,522 1,185,938,083
2055 11,801,006 1,198,550,408
2054 11,578,020 1,210,749,681
2053 11,354,432 1,222,500,569
2052 11,131,786 1,233,808,926
2051 10,910,913 1,244,584,333
2050 10,689,058 1,254,824,040
2049 10,471,199 1,264,598,914
2048 10,252,433 1,273,885,471
2047 10,037,332 1,282,701,271
2046 9,822,499 1,291,133,690
2045 9,608,962 1,299,154,327
2044 9,397,018 1,306,805,350
2043 9,188,292 1,314,176,710
2042 8,982,316 1,321,319,298
2041 8,777,138 1,328,219,755
2040 8,570,085 1,334,857,481
2039 8,360,267 1,341,265,381
2038 8,151,599 1,347,407,165
2037 7,944,754 1,353,377,505
2036 7,736,415 1,359,133,287
2035 7,527,731 1,364,651,508
2034 7,316,613 1,369,940,557
2033 7,106,984 1,375,003,005
2032 6,898,917 1,379,784,204
2031 6,691,778 1,384,301,522
2030 6,488,327 1,388,520,533
2029 6,287,899 1,392,490,007
2028 6,086,983 1,396,163,778
2027 5,892,506 1,399,515,824
2026 5,702,177 1,402,578,808
2025 5,514,692 1,405,826,385
2024 5,330,690 1,408,975,000
2023 5,152,421 1,410,710,000
2022 5,098,039 1,412,175,000
2021 5,112,100 1,412,360,000
2020 5,026,628 1,411,100,000
2019 4,944,703 1,407,745,000
2018 4,878,657 1,402,760,000
2017 4,793,511 1,396,215,000
2016 4,713,663 1,387,790,000
2015 4,629,320 1,379,860,000
2014 4,623,182 1,371,860,000
2013 4,642,419 1,363,240,000
2012 4,610,848 1,354,190,000
2011 4,565,021 1,345,035,000
2010 4,492,995 1,337,705,000
2009 4,529,047 1,331,260,000
2008 4,558,984 1,324,655,000
2007 4,462,770 1,317,885,000
2006 4,377,579 1,311,020,000
2005 4,288,810 1,303,720,000
2004 4,192,826 1,296,075,000
2003 4,103,086 1,288,400,000
2002 4,006,077 1,280,400,000
2001 3,919,487 1,271,850,000
2000 3,833,416 1,262,645,000
1999 3,729,450 1,252,735,000
1998 3,628,827 1,241,935,000
1997 3,531,700 1,230,075,000
1996 3,435,965 1,217,550,000
1995 3,348,052 1,204,855,000
1994 3,257,954 1,191,835,000
1993 3,157,839 1,178,440,000
1992 3,058,831 1,164,970,000
1991 2,963,191 1,150,780,000
1990 2,871,910 1,135,185,000
1989 2,783,970 1,118,650,000
1988 2,713,965 1,101,630,000
1987 2,669,155 1,084,035,000
1986 2,634,258 1,066,790,000
1985 2,600,932 1,051,040,000
1984 2,568,610 1,036,825,000
1983 2,537,399 1,023,310,000
1982 2,507,375 1,008,630,000
1981 2,478,402 993,885,000
1980 2,450,535 981,235,000
1979 2,423,794 969,005,000
1978 2,397,961 956,165,000
1977 2,372,930 943,455,000
1976 2,348,566 930,685,000
1975 2,313,916 916,395,000
1974 2,269,338 900,350,000
1973 2,226,008 881,940,000
1972 2,183,769 862,030,000
1971 2,141,450 841,105,000
1970 2,097,505 818,315,000
1969 2,051,515 796,025,000
1968 2,005,100 774,510,000
1967 1,960,444 754,550,000
1966 1,918,082 735,400,000
1965 1,877,854 715,185,000
1964 1,839,583 698,355,000
1963 1,803,063 682,335,000
1962 1,768,115 665,770,000
1961 1,734,580 660,330,000
1960 1,702,346 667,070,000

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/china | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while China gained 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while China's population increased by 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. China was ranked 1st in 2006 and ranked 2nd 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 China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR China
2100 0.42% -1.65%
2099 0.45% -1.64%
2098 0.45% -1.63%
2097 0.49% -1.61%
2096 0.53% -1.6%
2095 0.54% -1.59%
2094 0.55% -1.59%
2093 0.59% -1.58%
2092 0.61% -1.57%
2091 0.65% -1.57%
2090 0.64% -1.57%
2089 0.69% -1.57%
2088 0.72% -1.57%
2087 0.77% -1.56%
2086 0.77% -1.56%
2085 0.81% -1.55%
2084 0.85% -1.53%
2083 0.88% -1.51%
2082 0.89% -1.5%
2081 0.93% -1.47%
2080 0.92% -1.45%
2079 0.98% -1.42%
2078 1.04% -1.4%
2077 1.07% -1.38%
2076 1.1% -1.36%
2075 1.09% -1.34%
2074 1.16% -1.33%
2073 1.17% -1.31%
2072 1.24% -1.3%
2071 1.3% -1.3%
2070 1.32% -1.29%
2069 1.35% -1.29%
2068 1.41% -1.29%
2067 1.43% -1.28%
2066 1.46% -1.28%
2065 1.49% -1.27%
2064 1.57% -1.26%
2063 1.59% -1.25%
2062 1.62% -1.24%
2061 1.68% -1.22%
2060 1.72% -1.19%
2059 1.77% -1.17%
2058 1.81% -1.13%
2057 1.85% -1.09%
2056 1.89% -1.05%
2055 1.93% -1.01%
2054 1.97% -0.96%
2053 2% -0.92%
2052 2.02% -0.87%
2051 2.08% -0.82%
2050 2.08% -0.77%
2049 2.13% -0.73%
2048 2.14% -0.69%
2047 2.19% -0.65%
2046 2.22% -0.62%
2045 2.26% -0.59%
2044 2.27% -0.56%
2043 2.29% -0.54%
2042 2.34% -0.52%
2041 2.42% -0.5%
2040 2.51% -0.48%
2039 2.56% -0.46%
2038 2.6% -0.44%
2037 2.69% -0.42%
2036 2.77% -0.4%
2035 2.89% -0.39%
2034 2.95% -0.37%
2033 3.02% -0.35%
2032 3.1% -0.33%
2031 3.14% -0.3%
2030 3.19% -0.29%
2029 3.3% -0.26%
2028 3.3% -0.24%
2027 3.34% -0.22%
2026 3.4% -0.23%
2025 3.45% -0.22%
2024 3.46% -0.12%
2023 1.07% -0.1%
2022 -0.28% -0.01%
2021 1.7% 0.09%
2020 1.66% 0.24%
2019 1.35% 0.36%
2018 1.78% 0.47%
2017 1.69% 0.61%
2016 1.82% 0.57%
2015 0.13% 0.58%
2014 -0.41% 0.63%
2013 0.68% 0.67%
2012 1% 0.68%
2011 1.6% 0.55%
2010 -0.8% 0.48%
2009 -0.66% 0.5%
2008 2.16% 0.51%
2007 1.95% 0.52%
2006 2.07% 0.56%
2005 2.29% 0.59%
2004 2.19% 0.6%
2003 2.42% 0.62%
2002 2.21% 0.67%
2001 2.25% 0.73%
2000 2.79% 0.79%
1999 2.77% 0.87%
1998 2.75% 0.96%
1997 2.79% 1.03%
1996 2.63% 1.05%
1995 2.77% 1.09%
1994 3.17% 1.14%
1993 3.24% 1.16%
1992 3.23% 1.23%
1991 3.18% 1.37%
1990 3.16% 1.48%
1989 2.58% 1.54%
1988 1.68% 1.62%
1987 1.32% 1.62%
1986 1.28% 1.5%
1985 1.26% 1.37%
1984 1.23% 1.32%
1983 1.2% 1.46%
1982 1.17% 1.48%
1981 1.14% 1.29%
1980 1.1% 1.26%
1979 1.08% 1.34%
1978 1.05% 1.35%
1977 1.04% 1.37%
1976 1.5% 1.56%
1975 1.96% 1.78%
1974 1.95% 2.09%
1973 1.93% 2.31%
1972 1.98% 2.49%
1971 2.1% 2.78%
1970 2.24% 2.8%
1969 2.31% 2.78%
1968 2.28% 2.65%
1967 2.21% 2.6%
1966 2.14% 2.83%
1965 2.08% 2.41%
1964 2.03% 2.35%
1963 1.98% 2.49%
1962 1.93% 0.82%
1961 1.89% -1.01%

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/china | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while China's population declined by 0.12%.

Live population counters

CAR China
Current population
5753659
1402578808
Population rank 118/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 16.9%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
18.2 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
3.5 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
2.84 seconds
Daily growth/decline +488 -4,753
Annual growth/decline +178,269 -1,735,000
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% -0.12%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 173/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.97 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -268,126
Net migration rank 143/196 189/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 1,638,718
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 43/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 192/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
China
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR China
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -268,126
2024 - -15,357 - -318,992
2023 190,325 -14,682 -2,087,851 -567,724
2022 -49,456 -17,430 -847,305 -293,846
2021 124,408 -85,646 480,203 -379,749
2020 156,911 -24,745 2,046,095 -91,577
2019 68,523 -36,849 4,673,713 -656,091
2018 153,361 -52,954 5,302,433 -198,206
2017 128,461 -58,584 7,790,880 -94,625
2016 142,419 -52,607 9,062,269 -153,056
2015 141,912 -63,045 6,788,911 -646,941
2014 107,448 -174,051 9,205,180 -371,108
2013 140,489 -112,382 8,043,116 -188,951
2012 146,791 -111,764 10,075,174 -58,864
2011 142,913 -86,281 8,245,065 -416,189
2010 130,539 -43,126 6,407,607 -184,144
2009 -130,613 -28,899 6,483,236 -177,135
2008 128,627 -28,983 6,729,247 -764,370
2007 123,137 -30,352 6,813,465 -1,042,019
2006 118,882 -41,282 6,922,185 -759,559
2005 113,534 -13,604 7,678,911 -103,701
2004 108,548 -16,510 7,607,960 -770,977
2003 105,540 -18,097 7,743,284 -613,223
2002 100,588 5,992 8,258,580 -761,291
2001 99,598 -33,006 8,839,358 -176,419
2000 97,468 8,079 9,570,849 -62,622
1999 96,108 6,284 10,247,372 -96,102
1998 94,361 4,479 11,351,286 -40,472
1997 93,378 2,034 12,374,554 -279,251
1996 93,369 2,697 12,686,872 -250,750
1995 92,748 -12,986 12,711,220 -365,986
1994 90,943 9,496 13,360,470 -723,641
1993 89,873 9,930 13,493,138 -373,316
1992 88,939 9,269 13,548,601 -142,985
1991 88,688 4,381 14,937,124 -544,650
1990 87,507 1,995 16,335,313 -11,187
1989 85,969 409 16,824,495 -313,476
1988 84,654 -31,016 17,328,640 -282,194
1987 83,408 -47,428 18,005,821 -169,170
1986 81,149 -47,332 16,609,920 -79,190
1985 79,266 -46,427 14,987,830 -60,929
1984 77,395 -45,591 13,561,671 -51,961
1983 75,399 -44,780 13,599,789 -43,756
1982 73,330 -43,908 15,815,318 -36,181
1981 71,391 -42,872 14,461,027 -28,016
1980 68,759 -41,539 11,647,260 -20,129
1979 66,104 -39,850 11,250,148 -13,704
1978 63,285 -37,874 11,473,980 -9,916
1977 60,436 -35,782 11,378,068 -15,323
1976 57,725 -33,645 11,782,472 -55,109
1975 55,106 -9,895 14,378,237 -115,173
1974 53,777 -9,838 15,738,118 -175,239
1973 52,525 -9,800 18,423,727 -214,997
1972 51,390 -9,634 19,102,585 -215,650
1971 50,142 -7,259 19,622,980 -180,153
1970 48,690 -3,693 21,137,076 -126,510
1969 47,066 -80 20,760,332 -72,836
1968 45,377 474 21,206,083 -37,290
1967 42,979 474 19,263,662 1,246,654
1966 40,804 474 19,282,187 4,165
1965 38,710 474 20,296,950 -130,900
1964 36,878 474 19,302,532 -1,250,441
1963 35,218 474 22,742,225 -31,383
1962 33,731 474 17,969,132 -31,305
1961 32,383 474 2,496,047 -25,578
1960 31,131 474 -3,048,510 -16,927

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/china | 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 China 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 1,638,718 people or 0.1% in China.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M

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/china | 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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