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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Croatia: 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 3,866,200 people in Croatia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 3,812,193 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 1.51 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 129th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.05% for Croatia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs -0.82% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.81M (11.6% decline).

Central African Republic vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Croatia
2100 19,066,004 2,137,465
2099 18,985,867 2,155,186
2098 18,901,154 2,173,108
2097 18,815,607 2,190,995
2096 18,724,783 2,209,326
2095 18,626,431 2,227,698
2094 18,526,390 2,246,224
2093 18,425,013 2,264,550
2092 18,316,437 2,283,068
2091 18,205,237 2,301,556
2090 18,087,725 2,319,851
2089 17,972,896 2,338,604
2088 17,848,943 2,357,581
2087 17,721,681 2,376,274
2086 17,585,946 2,395,139
2085 17,451,621 2,414,304
2084 17,310,863 2,433,813
2083 17,164,209 2,453,361
2082 17,014,388 2,473,204
2081 16,864,906 2,493,128
2080 16,708,761 2,513,378
2079 16,556,341 2,534,101
2078 16,396,395 2,554,982
2077 16,228,166 2,576,370
2076 16,055,590 2,597,887
2075 15,881,626 2,619,688
2074 15,710,778 2,641,342
2073 15,530,355 2,663,253
2072 15,350,553 2,685,714
2071 15,162,785 2,708,053
2070 14,968,105 2,730,187
2069 14,772,746 2,753,302
2068 14,575,859 2,776,996
2067 14,373,538 2,800,742
2066 14,170,754 2,824,811
2065 13,967,146 2,848,913
2064 13,761,777 2,872,881
2063 13,548,616 2,897,651
2062 13,336,037 2,922,653
2061 13,123,628 2,947,832
2060 12,906,496 2,973,162
2059 12,688,037 2,998,389
2058 12,467,461 3,023,822
2057 12,245,441 3,049,085
2056 12,023,522 3,074,796
2055 11,801,006 3,100,195
2054 11,578,020 3,125,459
2053 11,354,432 3,151,016
2052 11,131,786 3,176,316
2051 10,910,913 3,201,973
2050 10,689,058 3,227,869
2049 10,471,199 3,253,597
2048 10,252,433 3,279,316
2047 10,037,332 3,305,051
2046 9,822,499 3,330,260
2045 9,608,962 3,355,638
2044 9,397,018 3,381,196
2043 9,188,292 3,406,105
2042 8,982,316 3,430,854
2041 8,777,138 3,455,487
2040 8,570,085 3,479,631
2039 8,360,267 3,503,577
2038 8,151,599 3,527,583
2037 7,944,754 3,551,581
2036 7,736,415 3,574,520
2035 7,527,731 3,596,996
2034 7,316,613 3,620,363
2033 7,106,984 3,643,692
2032 6,898,917 3,667,478
2031 6,691,778 3,691,842
2030 6,488,327 3,715,373
2029 6,287,899 3,739,203
2028 6,086,983 3,762,505
2027 5,892,506 3,787,023
2026 5,702,177 3,812,193
2025 5,514,692 3,838,346
2024 5,330,690 3,866,200
2023 5,152,421 3,859,686
2022 5,098,039 3,855,641
2021 5,112,100 3,878,981
2020 5,026,628 3,914,206
2019 4,944,703 3,949,390
2018 4,878,657 3,988,775
2017 4,793,511 4,041,407
2016 4,713,663 4,106,867
2015 4,629,320 4,151,725
2014 4,623,182 4,201,598
2013 4,642,419 4,233,922
2012 4,610,848 4,260,368
2011 4,565,021 4,280,622
2010 4,492,995 4,295,427
2009 4,529,047 4,305,181
2008 4,558,984 4,309,705
2007 4,462,770 4,310,217
2006 4,377,579 4,311,159
2005 4,288,810 4,310,145
2004 4,192,826 4,304,600
2003 4,103,086 4,303,399
2002 4,006,077 4,302,174
2001 3,919,487 4,299,642
2000 3,833,416 4,468,302
1999 3,729,450 4,512,597
1998 3,628,827 4,532,135
1997 3,531,700 4,534,920
1996 3,435,965 4,557,097
1995 3,348,052 4,620,030
1994 3,257,954 4,652,024
1993 3,157,839 4,600,463
1992 3,058,831 4,575,818
1991 2,963,191 4,689,022
1990 2,871,910 4,777,368
1989 2,783,970 4,767,260
1988 2,713,965 4,755,207
1987 2,669,155 4,739,745
1986 2,634,258 4,721,446
1985 2,600,932 4,701,417
1984 2,568,610 4,680,285
1983 2,537,399 4,658,254
1982 2,507,375 4,634,234
1981 2,478,402 4,611,509
1980 2,450,535 4,599,782
1979 2,423,794 4,594,778
1978 2,397,961 4,581,085
1977 2,372,930 4,559,571
1976 2,348,566 4,535,934
1975 2,313,916 4,512,082
1974 2,269,338 4,490,660
1973 2,226,008 4,470,161
1972 2,183,769 4,450,564
1971 2,141,450 4,431,275
1970 2,097,505 4,412,252
1969 2,051,515 4,391,490
1968 2,005,100 4,365,628
1967 1,960,444 4,338,683
1966 1,918,082 4,310,701
1965 1,877,854 4,280,923
1964 1,839,583 4,252,876
1963 1,803,063 4,225,675
1962 1,768,115 4,196,712
1961 1,734,580 4,167,292
1960 1,702,346 4,140,181

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/croatia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Croatia lost 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Croatia's population decreased by 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 129th 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 Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,227,869 people and rank change from 129th to 139th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people, while Croatia's population already peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and is projected to decrease to 2.14M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Croatia
2100 0.42% -0.82%
2099 0.45% -0.82%
2098 0.45% -0.82%
2097 0.49% -0.83%
2096 0.53% -0.82%
2095 0.54% -0.82%
2094 0.55% -0.81%
2093 0.59% -0.81%
2092 0.61% -0.8%
2091 0.65% -0.79%
2090 0.64% -0.8%
2089 0.69% -0.8%
2088 0.72% -0.79%
2087 0.77% -0.79%
2086 0.77% -0.79%
2085 0.81% -0.8%
2084 0.85% -0.8%
2083 0.88% -0.8%
2082 0.89% -0.8%
2081 0.93% -0.81%
2080 0.92% -0.82%
2079 0.98% -0.82%
2078 1.04% -0.83%
2077 1.07% -0.83%
2076 1.1% -0.83%
2075 1.09% -0.82%
2074 1.16% -0.82%
2073 1.17% -0.84%
2072 1.24% -0.82%
2071 1.3% -0.81%
2070 1.32% -0.84%
2069 1.35% -0.85%
2068 1.41% -0.85%
2067 1.43% -0.85%
2066 1.46% -0.85%
2065 1.49% -0.83%
2064 1.57% -0.85%
2063 1.59% -0.86%
2062 1.62% -0.85%
2061 1.68% -0.85%
2060 1.72% -0.84%
2059 1.77% -0.84%
2058 1.81% -0.83%
2057 1.85% -0.84%
2056 1.89% -0.82%
2055 1.93% -0.81%
2054 1.97% -0.81%
2053 2% -0.8%
2052 2.02% -0.8%
2051 2.08% -0.8%
2050 2.08% -0.79%
2049 2.13% -0.78%
2048 2.14% -0.78%
2047 2.19% -0.76%
2046 2.22% -0.76%
2045 2.26% -0.76%
2044 2.27% -0.73%
2043 2.29% -0.72%
2042 2.34% -0.71%
2041 2.42% -0.69%
2040 2.51% -0.68%
2039 2.56% -0.68%
2038 2.6% -0.68%
2037 2.69% -0.64%
2036 2.77% -0.62%
2035 2.89% -0.65%
2034 2.95% -0.64%
2033 3.02% -0.65%
2032 3.1% -0.66%
2031 3.14% -0.63%
2030 3.19% -0.64%
2029 3.3% -0.62%
2028 3.3% -0.65%
2027 3.34% -0.66%
2026 3.4% -0.68%
2025 3.45% -0.72%
2024 3.46% 0.17%
2023 1.07% 0.1%
2022 -0.28% -0.6%
2021 1.7% -0.9%
2020 1.66% -0.89%
2019 1.35% -0.99%
2018 1.78% -1.3%
2017 1.69% -1.59%
2016 1.82% -1.08%
2015 0.13% -1.19%
2014 -0.41% -0.76%
2013 0.68% -0.62%
2012 1% -0.47%
2011 1.6% -0.34%
2010 -0.8% -0.23%
2009 -0.66% -0.1%
2008 2.16% -0.01%
2007 1.95% -0.02%
2006 2.07% 0.02%
2005 2.29% 0.13%
2004 2.19% 0.03%
2003 2.42% 0.03%
2002 2.21% 0.06%
2001 2.25% -3.77%
2000 2.79% -0.98%
1999 2.77% -0.43%
1998 2.75% -0.06%
1997 2.79% -0.49%
1996 2.63% -1.36%
1995 2.77% -0.69%
1994 3.17% 1.12%
1993 3.24% 0.54%
1992 3.23% -2.41%
1991 3.18% -1.85%
1990 3.16% 0.21%
1989 2.58% 0.25%
1988 1.68% 0.33%
1987 1.32% 0.39%
1986 1.28% 0.43%
1985 1.26% 0.45%
1984 1.23% 0.47%
1983 1.2% 0.52%
1982 1.17% 0.49%
1981 1.14% 0.25%
1980 1.1% 0.11%
1979 1.08% 0.3%
1978 1.05% 0.47%
1977 1.04% 0.52%
1976 1.5% 0.53%
1975 1.96% 0.48%
1974 1.95% 0.46%
1973 1.93% 0.44%
1972 1.98% 0.44%
1971 2.1% 0.43%
1970 2.24% 0.47%
1969 2.31% 0.59%
1968 2.28% 0.62%
1967 2.21% 0.65%
1966 2.14% 0.7%
1965 2.08% 0.66%
1964 2.03% 0.64%
1963 1.98% 0.69%
1962 1.93% 0.71%
1961 1.89% 0.65%

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/croatia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.17%.

Live population counters

CAR Croatia
Current population
5753659
3812193
Population rank 118/197 129/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.05%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
1.34 hours
One birth every
2.2 minutes
16.4 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
10.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +18
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +6,514
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +0.17%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 157/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
2.52 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 -3,481
Net migration rank 143/196 112/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 527,831
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 78/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 13.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 50/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Croatia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Croatia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -3,481
2024 - -15,357 - -5,186
2023 190,325 -14,682 -19,298 10,202
2022 -49,456 -17,430 -23,134 11,681
2021 124,408 -85,646 -26,377 -4,517
2020 156,911 -24,745 -20,354 -8,552
2019 68,523 -36,849 -15,008 -13,239
2018 153,361 -52,954 -15,557 -25,016
2017 128,461 -58,584 -16,570 -44,557
2016 142,419 -52,607 -13,553 -32,144
2015 141,912 -63,045 -16,607 -27,501
2014 107,448 -174,051 -11,345 -13,127
2013 140,489 -112,382 -10,162 -6,245
2012 146,791 -111,764 -9,799 -4,794
2011 142,913 -86,281 -9,846 -17,463
2010 130,539 -43,126 -8,591 -3,995
2009 -130,613 -28,899 -7,319 1,358
2008 128,627 -28,983 -8,188 6,495
2007 123,137 -30,352 -10,335 8,893
2006 118,882 -41,282 -8,669 10,852
2005 113,534 -13,604 -9,022 10,629
2004 108,548 -16,510 -9,040 15,445
2003 105,540 -18,097 -12,480 12,556
2002 100,588 5,992 -10,325 10,306
2001 99,598 -33,006 -8,599 19,298
2000 97,468 8,079 -6,255 -47,629
1999 96,108 6,284 -6,769 -47,418
1998 94,361 4,479 -4,985 -47,931
1997 93,378 2,034 3,175 -52,897
1996 93,369 2,697 3,190 -53,688
1995 92,748 -12,986 0 -51,882
1994 90,943 9,496 -930 -50,444
1993 89,873 9,930 -2,301 -49,615
1992 88,939 9,269 -4,576 -47,865
1991 88,688 4,381 -2,813 -31,968
1990 87,507 1,995 3,344 9,538
1989 85,969 409 3,337 8,471
1988 84,654 -31,016 5,707 7,242
1987 83,408 -47,428 6,161 6,956
1986 81,149 -47,332 8,499 6,261
1985 79,266 -46,427 10,343 5,550
1984 77,395 -45,591 10,764 5,757
1983 75,399 -44,780 10,714 6,323
1982 73,330 -43,908 15,756 7,475
1981 71,391 -42,872 15,680 4,872
1980 68,759 -41,539 17,939 -5,486
1979 66,104 -39,850 21,136 -5,740
1978 63,285 -37,874 20,157 -7,329
1977 60,436 -35,782 22,798 -7,339
1976 57,725 -33,645 22,226 -7,400
1975 55,106 -9,895 21,658 -7,366
1974 53,777 -9,838 22,453 -8,076
1973 52,525 -9,800 21,904 -8,335
1972 51,390 -9,634 17,802 -7,277
1971 50,142 -7,259 19,941 -5,608
1970 48,690 -3,693 16,767 -2,359
1969 47,066 -80 16,688 -2,796
1968 45,377 474 21,828 -2,799
1967 42,979 474 26,032 -3,518
1966 40,804 474 33,192 -6,341
1965 38,710 474 31,251 -5,253
1964 36,878 474 25,942 -2,090
1963 35,218 474 31,270 -1,289
1962 33,731 474 30,216 -2,176
1961 32,383 474 36,255 -6,567
1960 31,131 474 34,778 -21,768

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/croatia | 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 Croatia 54.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 177,803 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a loss of 146,770 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 527,831 people or 13.6% in Croatia.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Croatia
City Population
Zagreb 767K
Split 161K
Rijeka 108K
Osijek 96.3K
Zadar 70.8K
Velika Gorica 61.1K
Pula 52.2K
Slavonski Brod 49.9K
Karlovac 49.4K
Sibenik 42.6K

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/croatia | 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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