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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 6,484,437 people in the Congo in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 6,718,789 in the Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The Congo's population is 1.16 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while the Congo is the 109th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.08% for the Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +2.44% in the Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while the Congo has grown from 3.84M to 6.72M (75.1% growth).

Central African Republic vs Congo: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Congo
2100 19,061,127 20,194,267
2099 18,981,009 20,053,234
2098 18,896,319 19,906,909
2097 18,810,793 19,760,110
2096 18,719,993 19,610,521
2095 18,621,666 19,459,493
2094 18,521,650 19,306,835
2093 18,420,299 19,151,289
2092 18,311,751 18,990,577
2091 18,200,580 18,828,222
2090 18,083,097 18,663,146
2089 17,968,298 18,497,842
2088 17,844,377 18,325,571
2087 17,717,148 18,153,731
2086 17,581,447 17,979,773
2085 17,447,157 17,807,843
2084 17,306,435 17,631,386
2083 17,159,818 17,453,221
2082 17,010,036 17,270,773
2081 16,860,592 17,093,270
2080 16,704,486 16,910,570
2079 16,552,105 16,728,955
2078 16,392,201 16,542,829
2077 16,224,015 16,357,926
2076 16,051,483 16,173,005
2075 15,877,563 15,981,904
2074 15,706,759 15,791,626
2073 15,526,382 15,597,321
2072 15,346,626 15,402,110
2071 15,158,906 15,205,567
2070 14,964,276 15,009,147
2069 14,768,967 14,808,250
2068 14,572,130 14,609,790
2067 14,369,861 14,412,802
2066 14,167,129 14,211,022
2065 13,963,573 14,010,661
2064 13,758,257 13,810,933
2063 13,545,150 13,609,626
2062 13,332,625 13,405,080
2061 13,120,271 13,204,362
2060 12,903,195 13,004,957
2059 12,684,791 12,806,162
2058 12,464,271 12,609,233
2057 12,242,308 12,413,395
2056 12,020,446 12,217,406
2055 11,797,986 12,022,740
2054 11,575,058 11,824,813
2053 11,351,527 11,627,983
2052 11,128,939 11,431,875
2051 10,908,122 11,235,188
2050 10,686,324 11,039,311
2049 10,468,520 10,844,973
2048 10,249,810 10,650,230
2047 10,034,764 10,453,401
2046 9,819,986 10,258,550
2045 9,606,504 10,063,886
2044 9,394,614 9,871,213
2043 9,185,941 9,676,000
2042 8,980,018 9,482,485
2041 8,774,893 9,287,235
2040 8,567,893 9,096,577
2039 8,358,128 8,907,177
2038 8,149,514 8,719,250
2037 7,942,721 8,532,935
2036 7,734,436 8,348,719
2035 7,525,805 8,166,676
2034 7,314,741 7,985,679
2033 7,105,166 7,805,748
2032 6,897,152 7,628,440
2031 6,690,066 7,453,476
2030 6,486,667 7,284,111
2029 6,286,290 7,117,929
2028 6,085,426 6,955,268
2027 5,890,999 6,794,778
2026 5,700,718 6,638,532
2025 5,513,282 6,484,437
2024 5,330,690 6,332,961
2023 5,152,421 6,182,885
2022 5,098,039 6,035,104
2021 5,112,100 5,892,183
2020 5,026,628 5,752,791
2019 4,944,703 5,616,661
2018 4,878,657 5,483,118
2017 4,793,511 5,351,011
2016 4,713,663 5,222,536
2015 4,629,320 5,097,581
2014 4,623,182 4,975,880
2013 4,642,419 4,857,099
2012 4,610,848 4,740,450
2011 4,565,021 4,609,724
2010 4,492,995 4,462,290
2009 4,529,047 4,281,219
2008 4,558,984 4,113,517
2007 4,462,770 3,980,430
2006 4,377,579 3,837,409
2005 4,288,810 3,696,393
2004 4,192,826 3,565,554
2003 4,103,086 3,445,753
2002 4,006,077 3,350,771
2001 3,919,487 3,272,537
2000 3,833,416 3,151,345
1999 3,729,450 3,032,874
1998 3,628,827 2,952,061
1997 3,531,700 2,887,862
1996 3,435,965 2,826,785
1995 3,348,052 2,749,461
1994 3,257,954 2,673,144
1993 3,157,839 2,595,124
1992 3,058,831 2,519,465
1991 2,963,191 2,449,229
1990 2,871,910 2,380,560
1989 2,783,970 2,313,558
1988 2,713,965 2,247,653
1987 2,669,155 2,183,473
1986 2,634,258 2,120,602
1985 2,600,932 2,059,311
1984 2,568,610 1,999,528
1983 2,537,399 1,950,321
1982 2,507,375 1,910,430
1981 2,478,402 1,869,759
1980 2,450,535 1,828,985
1979 2,423,794 1,788,524
1978 2,397,961 1,748,089
1977 2,372,930 1,707,568
1976 2,348,566 1,667,225
1975 2,313,916 1,627,032
1974 2,269,338 1,582,301
1973 2,226,008 1,533,680
1972 2,183,769 1,486,468
1971 2,141,450 1,441,039
1970 2,097,505 1,397,638
1969 2,051,515 1,356,182
1968 2,005,100 1,316,519
1967 1,960,444 1,278,691
1966 1,918,082 1,242,534
1965 1,877,854 1,207,880
1964 1,839,583 1,174,816
1963 1,803,063 1,143,263
1962 1,768,115 1,113,175
1961 1,734,580 1,084,389
1960 1,702,346 1,056,732

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/central-african-republic/congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while the Congo gained 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while the Congo's population increased by 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. The Congo was ranked 125th in 2006 and ranked 109th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Central African Republic's population will grow by 84.3% to 10,686,324 people with a rank change from 117th to 96th. The population of the Congo will increase by 64.3% to 11,039,311 people and rank change from 109th to 95th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 20.2M people in 2100 for the Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Congo
2100 0.42% 0.7%
2099 0.45% 0.74%
2098 0.45% 0.74%
2097 0.49% 0.76%
2096 0.53% 0.78%
2095 0.54% 0.79%
2094 0.55% 0.81%
2093 0.59% 0.85%
2092 0.61% 0.86%
2091 0.65% 0.88%
2090 0.64% 0.89%
2089 0.69% 0.94%
2088 0.72% 0.95%
2087 0.77% 0.97%
2086 0.77% 0.97%
2085 0.81% 1%
2084 0.85% 1.02%
2083 0.88% 1.06%
2082 0.89% 1.04%
2081 0.93% 1.08%
2080 0.92% 1.09%
2079 0.98% 1.13%
2078 1.04% 1.13%
2077 1.07% 1.14%
2076 1.1% 1.2%
2075 1.09% 1.2%
2074 1.16% 1.25%
2073 1.17% 1.27%
2072 1.24% 1.29%
2071 1.3% 1.31%
2070 1.32% 1.36%
2069 1.35% 1.36%
2068 1.41% 1.37%
2067 1.43% 1.42%
2066 1.46% 1.43%
2065 1.49% 1.45%
2064 1.57% 1.48%
2063 1.59% 1.53%
2062 1.62% 1.52%
2061 1.68% 1.53%
2060 1.72% 1.55%
2059 1.77% 1.56%
2058 1.81% 1.58%
2057 1.85% 1.6%
2056 1.89% 1.62%
2055 1.93% 1.67%
2054 1.97% 1.69%
2053 2% 1.72%
2052 2.02% 1.75%
2051 2.08% 1.77%
2050 2.08% 1.79%
2049 2.13% 1.83%
2048 2.14% 1.88%
2047 2.19% 1.9%
2046 2.22% 1.93%
2045 2.26% 1.95%
2044 2.27% 2.02%
2043 2.29% 2.04%
2042 2.34% 2.1%
2041 2.42% 2.1%
2040 2.51% 2.13%
2039 2.56% 2.16%
2038 2.6% 2.18%
2037 2.69% 2.21%
2036 2.77% 2.23%
2035 2.89% 2.27%
2034 2.95% 2.31%
2033 3.02% 2.32%
2032 3.1% 2.35%
2031 3.14% 2.33%
2030 3.19% 2.33%
2029 3.3% 2.34%
2028 3.3% 2.36%
2027 3.34% 2.35%
2026 3.4% 2.38%
2025 3.43% 2.39%
2024 3.46% 2.43%
2023 1.07% 2.45%
2022 -0.28% 2.43%
2021 1.7% 2.42%
2020 1.66% 2.42%
2019 1.35% 2.44%
2018 1.78% 2.47%
2017 1.69% 2.46%
2016 1.82% 2.45%
2015 0.13% 2.45%
2014 -0.41% 2.45%
2013 0.68% 2.46%
2012 1% 2.84%
2011 1.6% 3.3%
2010 -0.8% 4.23%
2009 -0.66% 4.08%
2008 2.16% 3.34%
2007 1.95% 3.73%
2006 2.07% 3.81%
2005 2.29% 3.67%
2004 2.19% 3.48%
2003 2.42% 2.83%
2002 2.21% 2.39%
2001 2.25% 3.85%
2000 2.79% 3.91%
1999 2.77% 2.74%
1998 2.75% 2.22%
1997 2.79% 2.16%
1996 2.63% 2.81%
1995 2.77% 2.85%
1994 3.17% 3.01%
1993 3.24% 3%
1992 3.23% 2.87%
1991 3.18% 2.88%
1990 3.16% 2.9%
1989 2.58% 2.93%
1988 1.68% 2.94%
1987 1.32% 2.96%
1986 1.28% 2.98%
1985 1.26% 2.99%
1984 1.23% 2.52%
1983 1.2% 2.09%
1982 1.17% 2.18%
1981 1.14% 2.23%
1980 1.1% 2.26%
1979 1.08% 2.31%
1978 1.05% 2.37%
1977 1.04% 2.42%
1976 1.5% 2.47%
1975 1.96% 2.83%
1974 1.95% 3.17%
1973 1.93% 3.18%
1972 1.98% 3.15%
1971 2.1% 3.11%
1970 2.24% 3.06%
1969 2.31% 3.01%
1968 2.28% 2.96%
1967 2.21% 2.91%
1966 2.14% 2.87%
1965 2.08% 2.81%
1964 2.03% 2.76%
1963 1.98% 2.7%
1962 1.93% 2.65%
1961 1.89% 2.62%

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/central-african-republic/congo | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while the Congo's population grew by 2.39%.

Live population counters

CAR Congo
Current population
5798457
6718789
Population rank 117/197 109/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.08%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
3.48 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
2.73 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
13.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +415
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +151,476
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +2.39%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 31/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
2.93 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 -2,999
Net migration rank 143/196 108/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 385,589
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 91/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 6.1%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 86/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -2,999
2024 196,244 -15,357 153,150 -2,491
2023 190,325 -14,682 150,486 -995
2022 -49,456 -17,430 147,076 -995
2021 124,408 -85,646 144,241 -4,476
2020 156,911 -24,745 143,492 -4,472
2019 68,523 -36,849 139,513 -6,268
2018 153,361 -52,954 142,704 -8,856
2017 128,461 -58,584 141,973 -11,601
2016 142,419 -52,607 141,358 -14,783
2015 141,912 -63,045 141,539 -18,207
2014 107,448 -174,051 141,674 -21,598
2013 140,489 -112,382 142,080 -24,605
2012 146,791 -111,764 142,464 -26,643
2011 142,913 -86,281 140,371 5,262
2010 130,539 -43,126 136,908 12,318
2009 -130,613 -28,899 126,904 86,014
2008 128,627 -28,983 120,711 1,774
2007 123,137 -30,352 112,459 31,239
2006 118,882 -41,282 106,876 35,475
2005 113,534 -13,604 101,344 38,337
2004 108,548 -16,510 96,577 25,412
2003 105,540 -18,097 91,326 26,280
2002 100,588 5,992 88,497 -16,140
2001 99,598 -33,006 84,876 -764
2000 97,468 8,079 78,491 79,780
1999 96,108 6,284 76,204 2,470
1998 94,361 4,479 72,450 10,500
1997 93,378 2,034 66,149 -20,704
1996 93,369 2,697 75,628 1,085
1995 92,748 -12,986 74,189 3,747
1994 90,943 9,496 72,857 1,850
1993 89,873 9,930 71,119 10,218
1992 88,939 9,269 69,973 0
1991 88,688 4,381 68,534 1,966
1990 87,507 1,995 67,241 -395
1989 85,969 409 65,944 1,214
1988 84,654 -31,016 64,629 22
1987 83,408 -47,428 63,183 525
1986 81,149 -47,332 61,669 367
1985 79,266 -46,427 60,359 182
1984 77,395 -45,591 59,028 0
1983 75,399 -44,780 58,120 -18,720
1982 73,330 -43,908 57,036 -16,664
1981 71,391 -42,872 56,603 -15,630
1980 68,759 -41,539 55,550 -14,972
1979 66,104 -39,850 54,723 -14,378
1978 63,285 -37,874 53,885 -13,356
1977 60,436 -35,782 53,179 -12,673
1976 57,725 -33,645 52,148 -11,971
1975 55,106 -9,895 51,155 -10,944
1974 53,777 -9,838 49,563 -312
1973 52,525 -9,800 48,017 -22
1972 51,390 -9,634 46,427 0
1971 50,142 -7,259 44,431 0
1970 48,690 -3,693 42,374 0
1969 47,066 -80 40,532 0
1968 45,377 474 38,786 0
1967 42,979 474 36,866 0
1966 40,804 474 35,452 0
1965 38,710 474 33,865 0
1964 36,878 474 32,270 0
1963 35,218 474 30,832 0
1962 33,731 474 29,342 0
1961 32,383 474 28,220 0
1960 31,131 474 27,094 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 74.8% of the population change in the Central African Republic is from natural causes (a gain of 1,253,108 people) and 25.2% is from migration (a loss of 421,899 people). In the Congo 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,445,532 people) and 4.82% is from migration (a loss of 73,144 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 385,589 people or 6.1% in the Congo.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 127K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K

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/central-african-republic/congo | CC BY

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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)

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