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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 3,607,003 people in Eritrea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 3,722,489 in Eritrea.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 1.56 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Eritrea is the 131st.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.04% for Eritrea.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +1.4% in Eritrea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Eritrea has grown from 2.7M to 3.72M (37.7% growth).

Central African Republic vs Eritrea: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Eritrea
2100 19,061,127 8,522,007
2099 18,981,009 8,497,228
2098 18,896,319 8,474,268
2097 18,810,793 8,451,733
2096 18,719,993 8,429,569
2095 18,621,666 8,403,309
2094 18,521,650 8,377,316
2093 18,420,299 8,351,585
2092 18,311,751 8,316,183
2091 18,200,580 8,285,983
2090 18,083,097 8,250,998
2089 17,968,298 8,216,946
2088 17,844,377 8,179,696
2087 17,717,148 8,143,016
2086 17,581,447 8,100,028
2085 17,447,157 8,053,737
2084 17,306,435 8,006,588
2083 17,159,818 7,963,231
2082 17,010,036 7,918,571
2081 16,860,592 7,878,525
2080 16,704,486 7,822,491
2079 16,552,105 7,772,358
2078 16,392,201 7,718,520
2077 16,224,015 7,662,894
2076 16,051,483 7,607,491
2075 15,877,563 7,545,398
2074 15,706,759 7,490,761
2073 15,526,382 7,426,955
2072 15,346,626 7,364,831
2071 15,158,906 7,302,386
2070 14,964,276 7,237,419
2069 14,768,967 7,171,047
2068 14,572,130 7,100,633
2067 14,369,861 7,032,045
2066 14,167,129 6,958,496
2065 13,963,573 6,890,246
2064 13,758,257 6,820,756
2063 13,545,150 6,739,056
2062 13,332,625 6,665,261
2061 13,120,271 6,586,585
2060 12,903,195 6,506,537
2059 12,684,791 6,427,830
2058 12,464,271 6,348,527
2057 12,242,308 6,270,841
2056 12,020,446 6,199,452
2055 11,797,986 6,119,360
2054 11,575,058 6,044,997
2053 11,351,527 5,962,464
2052 11,128,939 5,877,006
2051 10,908,122 5,796,079
2050 10,686,324 5,715,974
2049 10,468,520 5,637,011
2048 10,249,810 5,554,665
2047 10,034,764 5,473,222
2046 9,819,986 5,391,902
2045 9,606,504 5,305,072
2044 9,394,614 5,220,319
2043 9,185,941 5,136,101
2042 8,980,018 5,048,602
2041 8,774,893 4,964,690
2040 8,567,893 4,875,172
2039 8,358,128 4,786,431
2038 8,149,514 4,697,052
2037 7,942,721 4,603,709
2036 7,734,436 4,510,757
2035 7,525,805 4,424,170
2034 7,314,741 4,336,556
2033 7,105,166 4,251,927
2032 6,897,152 4,168,824
2031 6,690,066 4,087,276
2030 6,486,667 4,002,343
2029 6,286,290 3,921,145
2028 6,085,426 3,839,994
2027 5,890,999 3,759,928
2026 5,700,718 3,682,948
2025 5,513,282 3,607,003
2024 5,330,690 3,535,603
2023 5,152,421 3,470,390
2022 5,098,039 3,409,447
2021 5,112,100 3,350,183
2020 5,026,628 3,291,271
2019 4,944,703 3,240,194
2018 4,878,657 3,192,760
2017 4,793,511 3,150,347
2016 4,713,663 3,124,698
2015 4,629,320 3,105,546
2014 4,623,182 3,095,173
2013 4,642,419 3,074,360
2012 4,610,848 3,036,988
2011 4,565,021 2,998,485
2010 4,492,995 2,945,186
2009 4,529,047 2,887,885
2008 4,558,984 2,816,327
2007 4,462,770 2,743,222
2006 4,377,579 2,703,502
2005 4,288,810 2,661,215
2004 4,192,826 2,598,284
2003 4,103,086 2,493,903
2002 4,006,077 2,392,978
2001 3,919,487 2,312,079
2000 3,833,416 2,247,031
1999 3,729,450 2,212,780
1998 3,628,827 2,180,419
1997 3,531,700 2,152,135
1996 3,435,965 2,128,464
1995 3,348,052 2,025,267
1994 3,257,954 1,913,915
1993 3,157,839 1,856,006
1992 3,058,831 1,798,748
1991 2,963,191 1,919,571
1990 2,871,910 2,032,737
1989 2,783,970 1,987,017
1988 2,713,965 1,938,255
1987 2,669,155 1,888,669
1986 2,634,258 1,845,164
1985 2,600,932 1,807,816
1984 2,568,610 1,771,730
1983 2,537,399 1,736,160
1982 2,507,375 1,695,461
1981 2,478,402 1,649,939
1980 2,450,535 1,605,797
1979 2,423,794 1,563,332
1978 2,397,961 1,522,378
1977 2,372,930 1,482,565
1976 2,348,566 1,443,807
1975 2,313,916 1,408,210
1974 2,269,338 1,375,688
1973 2,226,008 1,342,669
1972 2,183,769 1,309,235
1971 2,141,450 1,276,154
1970 2,097,505 1,243,453
1969 2,051,515 1,212,005
1968 2,005,100 1,181,737
1967 1,960,444 1,152,339
1966 1,918,082 1,124,957
1965 1,877,854 1,098,335
1964 1,839,583 1,071,287
1963 1,803,063 1,045,092
1962 1,768,115 1,019,788
1961 1,734,580 995,573
1960 1,702,346 972,547

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/eritrea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Eritrea gained 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Eritrea's population increased by 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Eritrea was ranked 135th in 2006 and ranked 131st 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 Eritrea will increase by 53.6% to 5,715,974 people and rank change from 131st to 123rd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 8.52M people in 2100 for Eritrea.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Eritrea
2100 0.42% 0.29%
2099 0.45% 0.27%
2098 0.45% 0.27%
2097 0.49% 0.26%
2096 0.53% 0.31%
2095 0.54% 0.31%
2094 0.55% 0.31%
2093 0.59% 0.43%
2092 0.61% 0.36%
2091 0.65% 0.42%
2090 0.64% 0.41%
2089 0.69% 0.46%
2088 0.72% 0.45%
2087 0.77% 0.53%
2086 0.77% 0.57%
2085 0.81% 0.59%
2084 0.85% 0.54%
2083 0.88% 0.56%
2082 0.89% 0.51%
2081 0.93% 0.72%
2080 0.92% 0.65%
2079 0.98% 0.7%
2078 1.04% 0.73%
2077 1.07% 0.73%
2076 1.1% 0.82%
2075 1.09% 0.73%
2074 1.16% 0.86%
2073 1.17% 0.84%
2072 1.24% 0.86%
2071 1.3% 0.9%
2070 1.32% 0.93%
2069 1.35% 0.99%
2068 1.41% 0.98%
2067 1.43% 1.06%
2066 1.46% 0.99%
2065 1.49% 1.02%
2064 1.57% 1.21%
2063 1.59% 1.11%
2062 1.62% 1.19%
2061 1.68% 1.23%
2060 1.72% 1.22%
2059 1.77% 1.25%
2058 1.81% 1.24%
2057 1.85% 1.15%
2056 1.89% 1.31%
2055 1.93% 1.23%
2054 1.97% 1.38%
2053 2% 1.45%
2052 2.02% 1.4%
2051 2.08% 1.4%
2050 2.08% 1.4%
2049 2.13% 1.48%
2048 2.14% 1.49%
2047 2.19% 1.51%
2046 2.22% 1.64%
2045 2.26% 1.62%
2044 2.27% 1.64%
2043 2.29% 1.73%
2042 2.34% 1.69%
2041 2.42% 1.84%
2040 2.51% 1.85%
2039 2.56% 1.9%
2038 2.6% 2.03%
2037 2.69% 2.06%
2036 2.77% 1.96%
2035 2.89% 2.02%
2034 2.95% 1.99%
2033 3.02% 1.99%
2032 3.1% 2%
2031 3.14% 2.12%
2030 3.19% 2.07%
2029 3.3% 2.11%
2028 3.3% 2.13%
2027 3.34% 2.09%
2026 3.4% 2.11%
2025 3.43% 2.02%
2024 3.46% 1.88%
2023 1.07% 1.79%
2022 -0.28% 1.77%
2021 1.7% 1.79%
2020 1.66% 1.58%
2019 1.35% 1.49%
2018 1.78% 1.35%
2017 1.69% 0.82%
2016 1.82% 0.62%
2015 0.13% 0.34%
2014 -0.41% 0.68%
2013 0.68% 1.23%
2012 1% 1.28%
2011 1.6% 1.81%
2010 -0.8% 1.98%
2009 -0.66% 2.54%
2008 2.16% 2.66%
2007 1.95% 1.47%
2006 2.07% 1.59%
2005 2.29% 2.42%
2004 2.19% 4.19%
2003 2.42% 4.22%
2002 2.21% 3.5%
2001 2.25% 2.89%
2000 2.79% 1.55%
1999 2.77% 1.48%
1998 2.75% 1.31%
1997 2.79% 1.11%
1996 2.63% 5.1%
1995 2.77% 5.82%
1994 3.17% 3.12%
1993 3.24% 3.18%
1992 3.23% -6.29%
1991 3.18% -5.57%
1990 3.16% 2.3%
1989 2.58% 2.52%
1988 1.68% 2.63%
1987 1.32% 2.36%
1986 1.28% 2.07%
1985 1.26% 2.04%
1984 1.23% 2.05%
1983 1.2% 2.4%
1982 1.17% 2.76%
1981 1.14% 2.75%
1980 1.1% 2.72%
1979 1.08% 2.69%
1978 1.05% 2.69%
1977 1.04% 2.68%
1976 1.5% 2.53%
1975 1.96% 2.36%
1974 1.95% 2.46%
1973 1.93% 2.55%
1972 1.98% 2.59%
1971 2.1% 2.63%
1970 2.24% 2.59%
1969 2.31% 2.56%
1968 2.28% 2.55%
1967 2.21% 2.43%
1966 2.14% 2.42%
1965 2.08% 2.52%
1964 2.03% 2.51%
1963 1.98% 2.48%
1962 1.93% 2.43%
1961 1.89% 2.37%

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/eritrea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Eritrea's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

CAR Eritrea
Current population
5798457
3722489
Population rank 117/197 131/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.04%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
7.38 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
5.18 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
24.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +196
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +71,400
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 49/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.31 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 -6,698
Net migration rank 143/196 122/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 12,512
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 176/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 178/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Eritrea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Eritrea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -6,698
2024 196,244 -15,357 80,343 -12,696
2023 190,325 -14,682 78,073 -15,284
2022 -49,456 -17,430 76,221 -17,134
2021 124,408 -85,646 74,394 -14,966
2020 156,911 -24,745 73,362 -14,967
2019 68,523 -36,849 73,572 -29,818
2018 153,361 -52,954 72,511 -21,403
2017 128,461 -58,584 72,291 -38,579
2016 142,419 -52,607 73,002 -55,431
2015 141,912 -63,045 73,682 -52,965
2014 107,448 -174,051 75,729 -75,696
2013 140,489 -112,382 75,562 -33,974
2012 146,791 -111,764 76,416 -43,269
2011 142,913 -86,281 76,806 -32,949
2010 130,539 -43,126 76,098 -13,361
2009 -130,613 -28,899 76,206 -24,348
2008 128,627 -28,983 73,391 17,855
2007 123,137 -30,352 73,101 -18,131
2006 118,882 -41,282 74,470 -49,998
2005 113,534 -13,604 72,930 -12,835
2004 108,548 -16,510 72,147 -6,374
2003 105,540 -18,097 66,291 76,703
2002 100,588 5,992 65,436 -6,574
2001 99,598 -33,006 61,180 41,760
2000 97,468 8,079 60,274 -33,133
1999 96,108 6,284 45,120 -3,769
1998 94,361 4,479 55,332 -31,951
1997 93,378 2,034 63,953 -30,768
1996 93,369 2,697 66,557 -52,421
1995 92,748 -12,986 56,157 136,105
1994 90,943 9,496 56,288 -25,841
1993 89,873 9,930 51,679 33,688
1992 88,939 9,269 51,443 -22,293
1991 88,688 4,381 57,741 -328,546
1990 87,507 1,995 56,903 -12,425
1989 85,969 409 54,299 -7,330
1988 84,654 -31,016 54,163 -3,612
1987 83,408 -47,428 52,229 -3,613
1986 81,149 -47,332 39,470 -1,073
1985 79,266 -46,427 37,362 -1,073
1984 77,395 -45,591 35,101 772
1983 75,399 -44,780 33,420 1,853
1982 73,330 -43,908 44,146 1,985
1981 71,391 -42,872 42,924 1,985
1980 68,759 -41,539 41,392 1,985
1979 66,104 -39,850 39,577 1,985
1978 63,285 -37,874 38,353 1,985
1977 60,436 -35,782 37,295 1,985
1976 57,725 -33,645 36,250 1,985
1975 55,106 -9,895 30,971 1,985
1974 53,777 -9,838 30,111 1,985
1973 52,525 -9,800 31,969 1,985
1972 51,390 -9,634 30,951 1,953
1971 50,142 -7,259 31,490 1,758
1970 48,690 -3,693 30,686 1,480
1969 47,066 -80 29,535 1,199
1968 45,377 474 28,777 1,013
1967 42,979 474 27,992 1,004
1966 40,804 474 24,713 1,063
1965 38,710 474 26,285 1,188
1964 36,878 474 25,327 1,300
1963 35,218 474 24,393 1,368
1962 33,731 474 23,478 1,364
1961 32,383 474 22,351 1,235
1960 31,131 474 21,424 1,045

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/eritrea | 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 Eritrea 73.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 747,451 people) and 26.8% is from migration (a loss of 273,243 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 12,512 people or 0.4% in Eritrea.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K

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/eritrea | 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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