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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 6,365,503 people in El Salvador in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 6,404,781 in El Salvador.

Population statistics:

  • El Salvador's population is 1.1 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while El Salvador is the 111th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.08% for El Salvador.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +0.29% in El Salvador.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while El Salvador has grown from 6M to 6.4M (6.71% growth).

Central African Republic vs El Salvador: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR El Salvador
2100 19,061,127 5,105,420
2099 18,981,009 5,149,457
2098 18,896,319 5,194,156
2097 18,810,793 5,239,201
2096 18,719,993 5,285,584
2095 18,621,666 5,332,377
2094 18,521,650 5,379,380
2093 18,420,299 5,426,293
2092 18,311,751 5,473,168
2091 18,200,580 5,520,243
2090 18,083,097 5,567,316
2089 17,968,298 5,614,518
2088 17,844,377 5,661,216
2087 17,717,148 5,708,023
2086 17,581,447 5,754,535
2085 17,447,157 5,800,712
2084 17,306,435 5,846,470
2083 17,159,818 5,890,746
2082 17,010,036 5,933,965
2081 16,860,592 5,976,533
2080 16,704,486 6,018,220
2079 16,552,105 6,058,704
2078 16,392,201 6,097,568
2077 16,224,015 6,135,005
2076 16,051,483 6,171,552
2075 15,877,563 6,205,725
2074 15,706,759 6,238,209
2073 15,526,382 6,271,184
2072 15,346,626 6,300,399
2071 15,158,906 6,328,923
2070 14,964,276 6,356,884
2069 14,768,967 6,383,690
2068 14,572,130 6,409,808
2067 14,369,861 6,434,255
2066 14,167,129 6,457,592
2065 13,963,573 6,480,747
2064 13,758,257 6,502,689
2063 13,545,150 6,523,174
2062 13,332,625 6,541,955
2061 13,120,271 6,559,213
2060 12,903,195 6,576,220
2059 12,684,791 6,591,451
2058 12,464,271 6,605,091
2057 12,242,308 6,619,257
2056 12,020,446 6,632,447
2055 11,797,986 6,644,372
2054 11,575,058 6,655,028
2053 11,351,527 6,662,891
2052 11,128,939 6,669,204
2051 10,908,122 6,675,431
2050 10,686,324 6,678,745
2049 10,468,520 6,682,265
2048 10,249,810 6,683,689
2047 10,034,764 6,683,495
2046 9,819,986 6,682,835
2045 9,606,504 6,680,720
2044 9,394,614 6,678,277
2043 9,185,941 6,672,970
2042 8,980,018 6,666,915
2041 8,774,893 6,659,099
2040 8,567,893 6,649,797
2039 8,358,128 6,639,891
2038 8,149,514 6,627,081
2037 7,942,721 6,614,212
2036 7,734,436 6,599,632
2035 7,525,805 6,583,864
2034 7,314,741 6,567,581
2033 7,105,166 6,548,738
2032 6,897,152 6,529,775
2031 6,690,066 6,509,868
2030 6,486,667 6,489,300
2029 6,286,290 6,466,193
2028 6,085,426 6,442,242
2027 5,890,999 6,417,110
2026 5,700,718 6,391,761
2025 5,513,282 6,365,503
2024 5,330,690 6,338,193
2023 5,152,421 6,309,624
2022 5,098,039 6,280,319
2021 5,112,100 6,255,782
2020 5,026,628 6,234,673
2019 4,944,703 6,222,318
2018 4,878,657 6,219,807
2017 4,793,511 6,213,533
2016 4,713,663 6,200,800
2015 4,629,320 6,183,676
2014 4,623,182 6,162,955
2013 4,642,419 6,138,839
2012 4,610,848 6,113,975
2011 4,565,021 6,090,127
2010 4,492,995 6,068,249
2009 4,529,047 6,048,279
2008 4,558,984 6,029,297
2007 4,462,770 6,009,824
2006 4,377,579 6,002,319
2005 4,288,810 6,005,578
2004 4,192,826 6,004,671
2003 4,103,086 5,998,599
2002 4,006,077 5,986,631
2001 3,919,487 5,968,060
2000 3,833,416 5,943,366
1999 3,729,450 5,913,900
1998 3,628,827 5,880,781
1997 3,531,700 5,844,578
1996 3,435,965 5,805,286
1995 3,348,052 5,762,131
1994 3,257,954 5,714,129
1993 3,157,839 5,659,957
1992 3,058,831 5,585,609
1991 2,963,191 5,495,077
1990 2,871,910 5,399,726
1989 2,783,970 5,298,979
1988 2,713,965 5,195,833
1987 2,669,155 5,092,441
1986 2,634,258 4,992,769
1985 2,600,932 4,894,706
1984 2,568,610 4,798,003
1983 2,537,399 4,707,367
1982 2,507,375 4,622,477
1981 2,478,402 4,570,599
1980 2,450,535 4,540,382
1979 2,423,794 4,480,388
1978 2,397,961 4,394,114
1977 2,372,930 4,301,256
1976 2,348,566 4,210,310
1975 2,313,916 4,120,449
1974 2,269,338 4,029,671
1973 2,226,008 3,938,068
1972 2,183,769 3,846,830
1971 2,141,450 3,757,523
1970 2,097,505 3,668,796
1969 2,051,515 3,576,485
1968 2,005,100 3,480,773
1967 1,960,444 3,385,184
1966 1,918,082 3,290,961
1965 1,877,854 3,199,466
1964 1,839,583 3,111,883
1963 1,803,063 3,028,679
1962 1,768,115 2,949,204
1961 1,734,580 2,870,016
1960 1,702,346 2,791,459

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/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while El Salvador gained 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while El Salvador's population increased by 203,981 people (a 3.29% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. El Salvador was ranked 102nd in 2006 and ranked 111th 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 El Salvador will increase by 4.28% to 6,678,745 people and rank change from 111th to 116th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 6.68M people in 2048 for El Salvador.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR El Salvador
2100 0.42% -0.86%
2099 0.45% -0.86%
2098 0.45% -0.86%
2097 0.49% -0.88%
2096 0.53% -0.88%
2095 0.54% -0.87%
2094 0.55% -0.86%
2093 0.59% -0.86%
2092 0.61% -0.85%
2091 0.65% -0.85%
2090 0.64% -0.84%
2089 0.69% -0.82%
2088 0.72% -0.82%
2087 0.77% -0.81%
2086 0.77% -0.8%
2085 0.81% -0.78%
2084 0.85% -0.75%
2083 0.88% -0.73%
2082 0.89% -0.71%
2081 0.93% -0.69%
2080 0.92% -0.67%
2079 0.98% -0.64%
2078 1.04% -0.61%
2077 1.07% -0.59%
2076 1.1% -0.55%
2075 1.09% -0.52%
2074 1.16% -0.53%
2073 1.17% -0.46%
2072 1.24% -0.45%
2071 1.3% -0.44%
2070 1.32% -0.42%
2069 1.35% -0.41%
2068 1.41% -0.38%
2067 1.43% -0.36%
2066 1.46% -0.36%
2065 1.49% -0.34%
2064 1.57% -0.31%
2063 1.59% -0.29%
2062 1.62% -0.26%
2061 1.68% -0.26%
2060 1.72% -0.23%
2059 1.77% -0.21%
2058 1.81% -0.21%
2057 1.85% -0.2%
2056 1.89% -0.18%
2055 1.93% -0.16%
2054 1.97% -0.12%
2053 2% -0.09%
2052 2.02% -0.09%
2051 2.08% -0.05%
2050 2.08% -0.05%
2049 2.13% -0.02%
2048 2.14% 0.003%
2047 2.19% 0.01%
2046 2.22% 0.03%
2045 2.26% 0.04%
2044 2.27% 0.08%
2043 2.29% 0.09%
2042 2.34% 0.12%
2041 2.42% 0.14%
2040 2.51% 0.15%
2039 2.56% 0.19%
2038 2.6% 0.19%
2037 2.69% 0.22%
2036 2.77% 0.24%
2035 2.89% 0.25%
2034 2.95% 0.29%
2033 3.02% 0.29%
2032 3.1% 0.31%
2031 3.14% 0.32%
2030 3.19% 0.36%
2029 3.3% 0.37%
2028 3.3% 0.39%
2027 3.34% 0.4%
2026 3.4% 0.41%
2025 3.43% 0.43%
2024 3.46% 0.45%
2023 1.07% 0.47%
2022 -0.28% 0.39%
2021 1.7% 0.34%
2020 1.66% 0.2%
2019 1.35% 0.04%
2018 1.78% 0.1%
2017 1.69% 0.21%
2016 1.82% 0.28%
2015 0.13% 0.34%
2014 -0.41% 0.39%
2013 0.68% 0.41%
2012 1% 0.39%
2011 1.6% 0.36%
2010 -0.8% 0.33%
2009 -0.66% 0.31%
2008 2.16% 0.32%
2007 1.95% 0.13%
2006 2.07% -0.05%
2005 2.29% 0.02%
2004 2.19% 0.1%
2003 2.42% 0.2%
2002 2.21% 0.31%
2001 2.25% 0.42%
2000 2.79% 0.5%
1999 2.77% 0.56%
1998 2.75% 0.62%
1997 2.79% 0.68%
1996 2.63% 0.75%
1995 2.77% 0.84%
1994 3.17% 0.96%
1993 3.24% 1.33%
1992 3.23% 1.65%
1991 3.18% 1.77%
1990 3.16% 1.9%
1989 2.58% 1.99%
1988 1.68% 2.03%
1987 1.32% 2%
1986 1.28% 2%
1985 1.26% 2.02%
1984 1.23% 1.93%
1983 1.2% 1.84%
1982 1.17% 1.14%
1981 1.14% 0.67%
1980 1.1% 1.34%
1979 1.08% 1.96%
1978 1.05% 2.16%
1977 1.04% 2.16%
1976 1.5% 2.18%
1975 1.96% 2.25%
1974 1.95% 2.33%
1973 1.93% 2.37%
1972 1.98% 2.38%
1971 2.1% 2.42%
1970 2.24% 2.58%
1969 2.31% 2.75%
1968 2.28% 2.82%
1967 2.21% 2.86%
1966 2.14% 2.86%
1965 2.08% 2.81%
1964 2.03% 2.75%
1963 1.98% 2.69%
1962 1.93% 2.76%
1961 1.89% 2.81%

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/el-salvador | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while El Salvador's population grew by 0.43%.

Live population counters

CAR El Salvador
Current population
5798457
6404781
Population rank 117/197 111/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.08%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
19.3 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
5.32 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
11.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +75
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +27,310
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +0.43%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 137/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
22 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -23,934
Net migration rank 143/196 155/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 43,342
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 155/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 164/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
El Salvador
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR El Salvador
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -23,934
2024 196,244 -15,357 51,510 -23,102
2023 190,325 -14,682 51,985 -23,253
2022 -49,456 -17,430 53,138 -23,255
2021 124,408 -85,646 46,530 -27,343
2020 156,911 -24,745 48,244 -25,213
2019 68,523 -36,849 56,816 -55,144
2018 153,361 -52,954 57,509 -54,163
2017 128,461 -58,584 59,824 -50,608
2016 142,419 -52,607 63,751 -47,491
2015 141,912 -63,045 69,263 -51,278
2014 107,448 -174,051 72,581 -49,126
2013 140,489 -112,382 73,869 -49,087
2012 146,791 -111,764 75,495 -50,546
2011 142,913 -86,281 76,182 -53,433
2010 130,539 -43,126 75,695 -54,688
2009 -130,613 -28,899 74,908 -55,966
2008 128,627 -28,983 75,107 -56,086
2007 123,137 -30,352 76,776 -56,857
2006 118,882 -41,282 80,887 -85,789
2005 113,534 -13,604 84,883 -86,501
2004 108,548 -16,510 90,905 -87,466
2003 105,540 -18,097 97,849 -89,146
2002 100,588 5,992 106,137 -90,908
2001 99,598 -33,006 114,313 -92,389
2000 97,468 8,079 122,315 -94,861
1999 96,108 6,284 128,947 -97,475
1998 94,361 4,479 134,065 -99,293
1997 93,378 2,034 134,448 -96,820
1996 93,369 2,697 136,929 -95,977
1995 92,748 -12,986 138,268 -92,912
1994 90,943 9,496 137,974 -87,318
1993 89,873 9,930 138,432 -80,736
1992 88,939 9,269 139,221 -48,232
1991 88,688 4,381 140,691 -50,622
1990 87,507 1,995 140,311 -39,689
1989 85,969 409 139,093 -38,211
1988 84,654 -31,016 136,230 -30,806
1987 83,408 -47,428 133,667 -32,308
1986 81,149 -47,332 130,177 -32,181
1985 79,266 -46,427 127,248 -29,111
1984 77,395 -45,591 125,036 -29,767
1983 75,399 -44,780 121,700 -35,694
1982 73,330 -43,908 120,938 -37,159
1981 71,391 -42,872 117,346 -97,365
1980 68,759 -41,539 111,771 -71,318
1979 66,104 -39,850 123,838 -44,302
1978 63,285 -37,874 124,468 -31,463
1977 60,436 -35,782 121,446 -28,742
1976 57,725 -33,645 120,511 -31,317
1975 55,106 -9,895 116,737 -26,198
1974 53,777 -9,838 113,846 -22,844
1973 52,525 -9,800 111,546 -19,347
1972 51,390 -9,634 107,604 -17,317
1971 50,142 -7,259 104,714 -16,389
1970 48,690 -3,693 100,499 -11,367
1969 47,066 -80 99,848 -4,355
1968 45,377 474 98,851 -2,919
1967 42,979 474 98,424 -3,192
1966 40,804 474 97,156 -3,945
1965 38,710 474 95,341 -5,560
1964 36,878 474 93,328 -7,937
1963 35,218 474 90,794 -9,774
1962 33,731 474 88,237 -10,307
1961 32,383 474 84,614 -4,159
1960 31,131 474 81,544 -4,885

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/el-salvador | 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 El Salvador 59.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 558,570 people) and 40.5% is from migration (a loss of 380,850 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 43,342 people or 0.7% in El Salvador.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/el-salvador | 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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