The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,330,690 in 2024 vs 6,332,961 people in the Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 6,681,829 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 118th 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 +1.27% per year vs +2.44% in the Congo.
- Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while the Congo has grown from 3.84M to 6.68M (74.1% growth).
Central African Republic vs Congo: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
CAR
|
Congo
|
|
| 2100 | 19,066,004 | 20,197,393 |
| 2099 | 18,985,867 | 20,056,338 |
| 2098 | 18,901,154 | 19,909,990 |
| 2097 | 18,815,607 | 19,763,169 |
| 2096 | 18,724,783 | 19,613,556 |
| 2095 | 18,626,431 | 19,462,505 |
| 2094 | 18,526,390 | 19,309,823 |
| 2093 | 18,425,013 | 19,154,254 |
| 2092 | 18,316,437 | 18,993,517 |
| 2091 | 18,205,237 | 18,831,137 |
| 2090 | 18,087,725 | 18,666,035 |
| 2089 | 17,972,896 | 18,500,705 |
| 2088 | 17,848,943 | 18,328,408 |
| 2087 | 17,721,681 | 18,156,542 |
| 2086 | 17,585,946 | 17,982,556 |
| 2085 | 17,451,621 | 17,810,599 |
| 2084 | 17,310,863 | 17,634,115 |
| 2083 | 17,164,209 | 17,455,922 |
| 2082 | 17,014,388 | 17,273,447 |
| 2081 | 16,864,906 | 17,095,916 |
| 2080 | 16,708,761 | 16,913,187 |
| 2079 | 16,556,341 | 16,731,545 |
| 2078 | 16,396,395 | 16,545,390 |
| 2077 | 16,228,166 | 16,360,458 |
| 2076 | 16,055,590 | 16,175,508 |
| 2075 | 15,881,626 | 15,984,378 |
| 2074 | 15,710,778 | 15,794,071 |
| 2073 | 15,530,355 | 15,599,735 |
| 2072 | 15,350,553 | 15,404,494 |
| 2071 | 15,162,785 | 15,207,921 |
| 2070 | 14,968,105 | 15,011,471 |
| 2069 | 14,772,746 | 14,810,543 |
| 2068 | 14,575,859 | 14,612,051 |
| 2067 | 14,373,538 | 14,415,033 |
| 2066 | 14,170,754 | 14,213,222 |
| 2065 | 13,967,146 | 14,012,829 |
| 2064 | 13,761,777 | 13,813,071 |
| 2063 | 13,548,616 | 13,611,733 |
| 2062 | 13,336,037 | 13,407,155 |
| 2061 | 13,123,628 | 13,206,406 |
| 2060 | 12,906,496 | 13,006,970 |
| 2059 | 12,688,037 | 12,808,144 |
| 2058 | 12,467,461 | 12,611,185 |
| 2057 | 12,245,441 | 12,415,316 |
| 2056 | 12,023,522 | 12,219,298 |
| 2055 | 11,801,006 | 12,024,601 |
| 2054 | 11,578,020 | 11,826,644 |
| 2053 | 11,354,432 | 11,629,783 |
| 2052 | 11,131,786 | 11,433,645 |
| 2051 | 10,910,913 | 11,236,927 |
| 2050 | 10,689,058 | 11,041,020 |
| 2049 | 10,471,199 | 10,846,652 |
| 2048 | 10,252,433 | 10,651,879 |
| 2047 | 10,037,332 | 10,455,019 |
| 2046 | 9,822,499 | 10,260,138 |
| 2045 | 9,608,962 | 10,065,444 |
| 2044 | 9,397,018 | 9,872,742 |
| 2043 | 9,188,292 | 9,677,498 |
| 2042 | 8,982,316 | 9,483,953 |
| 2041 | 8,777,138 | 9,288,673 |
| 2040 | 8,570,085 | 9,097,986 |
| 2039 | 8,360,267 | 8,908,556 |
| 2038 | 8,151,599 | 8,720,599 |
| 2037 | 7,944,754 | 8,534,256 |
| 2036 | 7,736,415 | 8,350,011 |
| 2035 | 7,527,731 | 8,167,940 |
| 2034 | 7,316,613 | 7,986,915 |
| 2033 | 7,106,984 | 7,806,956 |
| 2032 | 6,898,917 | 7,629,621 |
| 2031 | 6,691,778 | 7,454,630 |
| 2030 | 6,488,327 | 7,285,238 |
| 2029 | 6,287,899 | 7,119,031 |
| 2028 | 6,086,983 | 6,956,345 |
| 2027 | 5,892,506 | 6,795,830 |
| 2026 | 5,702,177 | 6,639,560 |
| 2025 | 5,514,692 | 6,485,440 |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
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 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while the Congo's population increased by 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth).
The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th 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 85.8% to 10,689,058 people with a rank change from 118th to 96th. The population of the Congo will increase by 65.2% to 11,041,020 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
| 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 | 3.45% | 2.41% |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/congo | CC BY
In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while the Congo's population grew by 2.43%.
Live population counters
|
CAR
|
Congo
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5753659
|
6681829
|
| Population rank | 118/197 | 109/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.07% | 0.08% |
| One net population change |
2.95 minutes
|
3.5 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2.2 minutes
|
2.78 minutes
|
| One death every |
10.8 minutes
|
13.5 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +488 | +411 |
| Annual growth/decline | +178,269 | +150,076 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +3.46% | +2.43% |
| Population growth rate rank | 9/197 | 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
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CAR
|
Congo
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -14,693 | - | -2,999 |
| 2024 | - | -15,357 | - | -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 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/congo | 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 the Congo 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,434,056 people) and 6.04% is from migration (a loss of 92,251 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
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Population differences between the Central African Republic and the Congo
|
CAR
|
Congo
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 58.2 years | 66.4 years |
| Average age | 19.8 years | 24.2 years |
| Median age | 15.4 years | 19.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48:52 | 50:50 |
| Fertility rate | 6.01 births per woman | 4.16 births per woman |
| Population density | 23.7 ppl/mi² | 50.4 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/congo | 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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