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Population in the Central African Republic compared to the DR Congo: 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 109,276,265 people in the DR 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 117,507,801 in the DR Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 20.4 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while the DR Congo is the 15th.
  • The countries together account for 1.49% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 1.42% for the DR Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +3.38% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (93.9% growth).

Central African Republic vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR DR Congo
2100 19,066,004 436,320,913
2099 18,985,867 433,372,904
2098 18,901,154 430,335,169
2097 18,815,607 427,231,271
2096 18,724,783 424,043,303
2095 18,626,431 420,759,430
2094 18,526,390 417,384,609
2093 18,425,013 413,946,692
2092 18,316,437 410,440,733
2091 18,205,237 406,841,757
2090 18,087,725 403,166,901
2089 17,972,896 399,411,004
2088 17,848,943 395,583,655
2087 17,721,681 391,688,383
2086 17,585,946 387,713,874
2085 17,451,621 383,678,330
2084 17,310,863 379,568,054
2083 17,164,209 375,402,379
2082 17,014,388 371,195,818
2081 16,864,906 366,948,626
2080 16,708,761 362,644,227
2079 16,556,341 358,295,825
2078 16,396,395 353,888,897
2077 16,228,166 349,435,210
2076 16,055,590 344,932,895
2075 15,881,626 340,403,800
2074 15,710,778 335,826,108
2073 15,530,355 331,220,816
2072 15,350,553 326,568,298
2071 15,162,785 321,892,514
2070 14,968,105 317,165,418
2069 14,772,746 312,409,702
2068 14,575,859 307,625,941
2067 14,373,538 302,820,577
2066 14,170,754 297,989,401
2065 13,967,146 293,137,514
2064 13,761,777 288,267,282
2063 13,548,616 283,369,365
2062 13,336,037 278,452,605
2061 13,123,628 273,517,380
2060 12,906,496 268,572,331
2059 12,688,037 263,620,905
2058 12,467,461 258,672,397
2057 12,245,441 253,733,756
2056 12,023,522 248,796,045
2055 11,801,006 243,861,631
2054 11,578,020 238,931,249
2053 11,354,432 234,016,357
2052 11,131,786 229,117,369
2051 10,910,913 224,240,788
2050 10,689,058 219,397,034
2049 10,471,199 214,588,560
2048 10,252,433 209,814,694
2047 10,037,332 205,079,870
2046 9,822,499 200,379,842
2045 9,608,962 195,731,078
2044 9,397,018 191,124,003
2043 9,188,292 186,569,843
2042 8,982,316 182,068,630
2041 8,777,138 177,617,360
2040 8,570,085 173,224,822
2039 8,360,267 168,878,834
2038 8,151,599 164,583,465
2037 7,944,754 160,347,349
2036 7,736,415 156,129,049
2035 7,527,731 151,953,443
2034 7,316,613 147,811,138
2033 7,106,984 143,712,496
2032 6,898,917 139,669,159
2031 6,691,778 135,660,570
2030 6,488,327 131,710,378
2029 6,287,899 127,818,130
2028 6,086,983 123,980,695
2027 5,892,506 120,212,011
2026 5,702,177 116,505,117
2025 5,514,692 112,854,120
2024 5,330,690 109,276,265
2023 5,152,421 105,789,731
2022 5,098,039 102,396,968
2021 5,112,100 99,148,932
2020 5,026,628 95,989,998
2019 4,944,703 92,947,442
2018 4,878,657 90,047,644
2017 4,793,511 87,083,398
2016 4,713,663 83,956,415
2015 4,629,320 81,035,531
2014 4,623,182 78,403,242
2013 4,642,419 75,789,395
2012 4,610,848 73,254,618
2011 4,565,021 70,849,311
2010 4,492,995 68,563,038
2009 4,529,047 66,412,044
2008 4,558,984 64,390,664
2007 4,462,770 62,477,752
2006 4,377,579 60,615,908
2005 4,288,810 58,775,724
2004 4,192,826 56,997,741
2003 4,103,086 55,343,867
2002 4,006,077 53,750,524
2001 3,919,487 52,132,646
2000 3,833,416 50,507,442
1999 3,729,450 48,912,971
1998 3,628,827 47,297,600
1997 3,531,700 46,029,902
1996 3,435,965 45,296,124
1995 3,348,052 44,433,704
1994 3,257,954 42,626,876
1993 3,157,839 40,656,336
1992 3,058,831 39,228,910
1991 2,963,191 37,925,817
1990 2,871,910 36,684,063
1989 2,783,970 35,486,866
1988 2,713,965 34,382,752
1987 2,669,155 33,298,904
1986 2,634,258 32,265,196
1985 2,600,932 31,264,816
1984 2,568,610 30,245,081
1983 2,537,399 29,250,963
1982 2,507,375 28,338,190
1981 2,478,402 27,500,515
1980 2,450,535 26,711,099
1979 2,423,794 25,886,782
1978 2,397,961 24,992,689
1977 2,372,930 24,229,061
1976 2,348,566 23,624,031
1975 2,313,916 23,021,101
1974 2,269,338 22,418,878
1973 2,226,008 21,827,665
1972 2,183,769 21,251,160
1971 2,141,450 20,695,569
1970 2,097,505 20,137,436
1969 2,051,515 19,570,445
1968 2,005,100 19,012,189
1967 1,960,444 18,462,782
1966 1,918,082 17,931,929
1965 1,877,854 17,427,802
1964 1,839,583 16,955,327
1963 1,803,063 16,507,599
1962 1,768,115 16,075,724
1961 1,734,580 15,662,374
1960 1,702,346 15,264,846

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/dr-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 DR Congo gained 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% 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 DR Congo's population increased by 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. The DR Congo was ranked 22nd in 2006 and ranked 15th 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 DR Congo will increase by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people and rank change from 15th to 8th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 436M people in 2100 for the DR Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR DR Congo
2100 0.42% 0.68%
2099 0.45% 0.71%
2098 0.45% 0.73%
2097 0.49% 0.75%
2096 0.53% 0.78%
2095 0.54% 0.81%
2094 0.55% 0.83%
2093 0.59% 0.85%
2092 0.61% 0.88%
2091 0.65% 0.91%
2090 0.64% 0.94%
2089 0.69% 0.97%
2088 0.72% 0.99%
2087 0.77% 1.03%
2086 0.77% 1.05%
2085 0.81% 1.08%
2084 0.85% 1.11%
2083 0.88% 1.13%
2082 0.89% 1.16%
2081 0.93% 1.19%
2080 0.92% 1.21%
2079 0.98% 1.25%
2078 1.04% 1.27%
2077 1.07% 1.31%
2076 1.1% 1.33%
2075 1.09% 1.36%
2074 1.16% 1.39%
2073 1.17% 1.42%
2072 1.24% 1.45%
2071 1.3% 1.49%
2070 1.32% 1.52%
2069 1.35% 1.56%
2068 1.41% 1.59%
2067 1.43% 1.62%
2066 1.46% 1.66%
2065 1.49% 1.69%
2064 1.57% 1.73%
2063 1.59% 1.77%
2062 1.62% 1.8%
2061 1.68% 1.84%
2060 1.72% 1.88%
2059 1.77% 1.91%
2058 1.81% 1.95%
2057 1.85% 1.98%
2056 1.89% 2.02%
2055 1.93% 2.06%
2054 1.97% 2.1%
2053 2% 2.14%
2052 2.02% 2.17%
2051 2.08% 2.21%
2050 2.08% 2.24%
2049 2.13% 2.28%
2048 2.14% 2.31%
2047 2.19% 2.35%
2046 2.22% 2.38%
2045 2.26% 2.41%
2044 2.27% 2.44%
2043 2.29% 2.47%
2042 2.34% 2.51%
2041 2.42% 2.54%
2040 2.51% 2.57%
2039 2.56% 2.61%
2038 2.6% 2.64%
2037 2.69% 2.7%
2036 2.77% 2.75%
2035 2.89% 2.8%
2034 2.95% 2.85%
2033 3.02% 2.89%
2032 3.1% 2.95%
2031 3.14% 3%
2030 3.19% 3.05%
2029 3.3% 3.1%
2028 3.3% 3.14%
2027 3.34% 3.18%
2026 3.4% 3.24%
2025 3.45% 3.27%
2024 3.46% 3.3%
2023 1.07% 3.31%
2022 -0.28% 3.28%
2021 1.7% 3.29%
2020 1.66% 3.27%
2019 1.35% 3.22%
2018 1.78% 3.4%
2017 1.69% 3.72%
2016 1.82% 3.6%
2015 0.13% 3.36%
2014 -0.41% 3.45%
2013 0.68% 3.46%
2012 1% 3.39%
2011 1.6% 3.33%
2010 -0.8% 3.24%
2009 -0.66% 3.14%
2008 2.16% 3.06%
2007 1.95% 3.07%
2006 2.07% 3.13%
2005 2.29% 3.12%
2004 2.19% 2.99%
2003 2.42% 2.96%
2002 2.21% 3.1%
2001 2.25% 3.22%
2000 2.79% 3.26%
1999 2.77% 3.42%
1998 2.75% 2.75%
1997 2.79% 1.62%
1996 2.63% 1.94%
1995 2.77% 4.24%
1994 3.17% 4.85%
1993 3.24% 3.64%
1992 3.23% 3.44%
1991 3.18% 3.38%
1990 3.16% 3.37%
1989 2.58% 3.21%
1988 1.68% 3.25%
1987 1.32% 3.2%
1986 1.28% 3.2%
1985 1.26% 3.37%
1984 1.23% 3.4%
1983 1.2% 3.22%
1982 1.17% 3.05%
1981 1.14% 2.96%
1980 1.1% 3.18%
1979 1.08% 3.58%
1978 1.05% 3.15%
1977 1.04% 2.56%
1976 1.5% 2.62%
1975 1.96% 2.69%
1974 1.95% 2.71%
1973 1.93% 2.71%
1972 1.98% 2.68%
1971 2.1% 2.77%
1970 2.24% 2.9%
1969 2.31% 2.94%
1968 2.28% 2.98%
1967 2.21% 2.96%
1966 2.14% 2.89%
1965 2.08% 2.79%
1964 2.03% 2.71%
1963 1.98% 2.69%
1962 1.93% 2.64%
1961 1.89% 2.6%

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/dr-congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.3%.

Live population counters

CAR DR Congo
Current population
5753659
117507801
Population rank 118/197 15/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 1.42%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
9.05 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
7.22 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
35 seconds
Daily growth/decline +488 +9,552
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +3,486,534
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +3.3%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 11/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -27,309
Net migration rank 143/196 159/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 1,085,090
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
DR Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR DR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -27,309
2024 - -15,357 - -26,968
2023 190,325 -14,682 3,467,787 -14,992
2022 -49,456 -17,430 3,347,664 -14,991
2021 124,408 -85,646 3,227,992 -64,639
2020 156,911 -24,745 3,156,152 -1,633
2019 68,523 -36,849 3,075,538 -144,920
2018 153,361 -52,954 2,993,184 -124,246
2017 128,461 -58,584 2,883,245 176,290
2016 142,419 -52,607 2,753,687 440,748
2015 141,912 -63,045 2,665,016 -17,711
2014 107,448 -174,051 2,580,251 36,966
2013 140,489 -112,382 2,489,378 121,097
2012 146,791 -111,764 2,405,462 53,668
2011 142,913 -86,281 2,310,679 40,891
2010 130,539 -43,126 2,212,255 8,823
2009 -130,613 -28,899 2,126,912 -46,009
2008 128,627 -28,983 2,044,210 -82,339
2007 123,137 -30,352 1,963,738 -99,742
2006 118,882 -41,282 1,889,398 -29,715
2005 113,534 -13,604 1,800,300 20,384
2004 108,548 -16,510 1,731,022 4,260
2003 105,540 -18,097 1,679,188 -106,731
2002 100,588 5,992 1,631,597 -17,358
2001 99,598 -33,006 1,594,999 26,523
2000 97,468 8,079 1,549,518 79,340
1999 96,108 6,284 1,450,318 109,761
1998 94,361 4,479 1,375,130 295,560
1997 93,378 2,034 1,392,037 -527,356
1996 93,369 2,697 1,380,490 -777,833
1995 92,748 -12,986 1,395,440 -273,434
1994 90,943 9,496 1,259,539 1,232,105
1993 89,873 9,930 1,209,242 240,176
1992 88,939 9,269 1,152,781 252,666
1991 88,688 4,381 1,114,033 86,721
1990 87,507 1,995 1,063,508 219,270
1989 85,969 409 1,027,238 84,415
1988 84,654 -31,016 995,278 101,314
1987 83,408 -47,428 959,875 111,220
1986 81,149 -47,332 925,334 70,988
1985 79,266 -46,427 885,670 118,791
1984 77,395 -45,591 844,956 190,045
1983 75,399 -44,780 807,122 146,095
1982 73,330 -43,908 774,823 97,495
1981 71,391 -42,872 748,371 54,656
1980 68,759 -41,539 724,111 51,685
1979 66,104 -39,850 691,773 181,028
1978 63,285 -37,874 646,411 268,974
1977 60,436 -35,782 638,242 -26,355
1976 57,725 -33,645 624,147 -25,965
1975 55,106 -9,895 608,655 -972
1974 53,777 -9,838 593,539 3,216
1973 52,525 -9,800 578,280 7,414
1972 51,390 -9,634 564,495 2,840
1971 50,142 -7,259 549,343 -5,497
1970 48,690 -3,693 533,300 39,116
1969 47,066 -80 514,800 46,778
1968 45,377 474 497,682 57,274
1967 42,979 474 479,552 64,307
1966 40,804 474 463,397 54,443
1965 38,710 474 429,002 61,397
1964 36,878 474 406,334 48,207
1963 35,218 474 398,972 41,960
1962 33,731 474 383,406 39,431
1961 32,383 474 368,207 35,654
1960 31,131 474 363,517 27,673

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/dr-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 DR Congo 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,150,516 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a gain of 270,872 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 1,085,090 people or 1% in the DR Congo.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
DR Congo
City Population
Kinshasa 14.6M
Mbuji-Mayi 2.89M
Kananga 1.97M
Lubumbashi 1.79M
Kisangani 1.37M
Tshikapa 1.01M
Uvira 726K
Bukavu 707K
Kolwezi 480K
Mbandaka 470K

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/dr-congo | 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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