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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 135,472,051 people in Ethiopia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 140,722,974 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 24.3 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 1.76% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +2.69% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 141M (74.4% growth).

Central African Republic vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Ethiopia
2100 19,061,127 371,078,260
2099 18,981,009 369,338,252
2098 18,896,319 367,513,542
2097 18,810,793 365,567,496
2096 18,719,993 363,536,294
2095 18,621,666 361,596,042
2094 18,521,650 359,531,317
2093 18,420,299 357,460,480
2092 18,311,751 355,389,829
2091 18,200,580 353,218,632
2090 18,083,097 350,960,021
2089 17,968,298 348,751,618
2088 17,844,377 346,517,326
2087 17,717,148 344,162,324
2086 17,581,447 341,671,994
2085 17,447,157 339,167,930
2084 17,306,435 336,649,520
2083 17,159,818 334,083,247
2082 17,010,036 331,401,460
2081 16,860,592 328,715,487
2080 16,704,486 326,013,981
2079 16,552,105 323,282,865
2078 16,392,201 320,422,535
2077 16,224,015 317,492,915
2076 16,051,483 314,518,328
2075 15,877,563 311,487,723
2074 15,706,759 308,416,133
2073 15,526,382 305,383,505
2072 15,346,626 302,258,564
2071 15,158,906 299,119,280
2070 14,964,276 295,963,235
2069 14,768,967 292,756,723
2068 14,572,130 289,522,748
2067 14,369,861 286,191,689
2066 14,167,129 282,905,709
2065 13,963,573 279,576,283
2064 13,758,257 276,197,958
2063 13,545,150 272,782,685
2062 13,332,625 269,340,926
2061 13,120,271 265,803,351
2060 12,903,195 262,269,354
2059 12,684,791 258,692,767
2058 12,464,271 255,205,644
2057 12,242,308 251,656,356
2056 12,020,446 248,002,497
2055 11,797,986 244,426,069
2054 11,575,058 240,794,405
2053 11,351,527 237,155,110
2052 11,128,939 233,479,314
2051 10,908,122 229,733,593
2050 10,686,324 226,055,085
2049 10,468,520 222,351,471
2048 10,249,810 218,627,197
2047 10,034,764 214,883,954
2046 9,819,986 211,161,780
2045 9,606,504 207,461,987
2044 9,394,614 203,749,820
2043 9,185,941 200,035,613
2042 8,980,018 196,351,202
2041 8,774,893 192,689,672
2040 8,567,893 189,023,384
2039 8,358,128 185,365,776
2038 8,149,514 181,733,067
2037 7,942,721 178,124,993
2036 7,734,436 174,515,366
2035 7,525,805 170,904,339
2034 7,314,741 167,316,305
2033 7,105,166 163,763,376
2032 6,897,152 160,167,364
2031 6,690,066 156,590,018
2030 6,486,667 153,023,174
2029 6,286,290 149,461,578
2028 6,085,426 145,944,350
2027 5,890,999 142,419,893
2026 5,700,718 138,930,724
2025 5,513,282 135,472,051
2024 5,330,690 132,059,767
2023 5,152,421 128,691,692
2022 5,098,039 125,384,287
2021 5,112,100 122,138,588
2020 5,026,628 118,917,671
2019 4,944,703 115,737,383
2018 4,878,657 112,664,152
2017 4,793,511 109,666,481
2016 4,713,663 106,718,162
2015 4,629,320 103,867,135
2014 4,623,182 101,115,610
2013 4,642,419 98,438,751
2012 4,610,848 95,798,767
2011 4,565,021 93,149,970
2010 4,492,995 90,538,514
2009 4,529,047 88,007,636
2008 4,558,984 85,543,668
2007 4,462,770 83,103,217
2006 4,377,579 80,703,490
2005 4,288,810 78,367,470
2004 4,192,826 76,077,206
2003 4,103,086 73,832,663
2002 4,006,077 71,635,517
2001 3,919,487 69,487,762
2000 3,833,416 67,411,494
1999 3,729,450 65,374,561
1998 3,628,827 63,363,524
1997 3,531,700 61,404,539
1996 3,435,965 59,467,635
1995 3,348,052 57,537,335
1994 3,257,954 55,611,508
1993 3,157,839 53,708,891
1992 3,058,831 51,853,747
1991 2,963,191 49,717,198
1990 2,871,910 47,609,755
1989 2,783,970 45,879,690
1988 2,713,965 44,150,825
1987 2,669,155 42,460,039
1986 2,634,258 41,037,656
1985 2,600,932 39,842,136
1984 2,568,610 38,735,722
1983 2,537,399 37,740,817
1982 2,507,375 36,701,290
1981 2,478,402 35,304,012
1980 2,450,535 34,428,514
1979 2,423,794 34,238,652
1978 2,397,961 33,734,592
1977 2,372,930 33,167,272
1976 2,348,566 32,534,418
1975 2,313,916 31,723,252
1974 2,269,338 30,957,273
1973 2,226,008 30,166,785
1972 2,183,769 29,374,608
1971 2,141,450 28,600,106
1970 2,097,505 27,829,128
1969 2,051,515 27,072,571
1968 2,005,100 26,337,930
1967 1,960,444 25,620,276
1966 1,918,082 24,952,689
1965 1,877,854 24,310,612
1964 1,839,583 23,666,548
1963 1,803,063 23,051,637
1962 1,768,115 22,465,126
1961 1,734,580 21,906,102
1960 1,702,346 21,376,693

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/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th 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 Ethiopia will increase by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 371M people in 2100 for Ethiopia.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Ethiopia
2100 0.42% 0.47%
2099 0.45% 0.5%
2098 0.45% 0.53%
2097 0.49% 0.56%
2096 0.53% 0.54%
2095 0.54% 0.57%
2094 0.55% 0.58%
2093 0.59% 0.58%
2092 0.61% 0.61%
2091 0.65% 0.64%
2090 0.64% 0.63%
2089 0.69% 0.64%
2088 0.72% 0.68%
2087 0.77% 0.73%
2086 0.77% 0.74%
2085 0.81% 0.75%
2084 0.85% 0.77%
2083 0.88% 0.81%
2082 0.89% 0.82%
2081 0.93% 0.83%
2080 0.92% 0.84%
2079 0.98% 0.89%
2078 1.04% 0.92%
2077 1.07% 0.95%
2076 1.1% 0.97%
2075 1.09% 1%
2074 1.16% 0.99%
2073 1.17% 1.03%
2072 1.24% 1.05%
2071 1.3% 1.07%
2070 1.32% 1.1%
2069 1.35% 1.12%
2068 1.41% 1.16%
2067 1.43% 1.16%
2066 1.46% 1.19%
2065 1.49% 1.22%
2064 1.57% 1.25%
2063 1.59% 1.28%
2062 1.62% 1.33%
2061 1.68% 1.35%
2060 1.72% 1.38%
2059 1.77% 1.37%
2058 1.81% 1.41%
2057 1.85% 1.47%
2056 1.89% 1.46%
2055 1.93% 1.51%
2054 1.97% 1.53%
2053 2% 1.57%
2052 2.02% 1.63%
2051 2.08% 1.63%
2050 2.08% 1.67%
2049 2.13% 1.7%
2048 2.14% 1.74%
2047 2.19% 1.76%
2046 2.22% 1.78%
2045 2.26% 1.82%
2044 2.27% 1.86%
2043 2.29% 1.88%
2042 2.34% 1.9%
2041 2.42% 1.94%
2040 2.51% 1.97%
2039 2.56% 2%
2038 2.6% 2.03%
2037 2.69% 2.07%
2036 2.77% 2.11%
2035 2.89% 2.14%
2034 2.95% 2.17%
2033 3.02% 2.25%
2032 3.1% 2.28%
2031 3.14% 2.33%
2030 3.19% 2.38%
2029 3.3% 2.41%
2028 3.3% 2.47%
2027 3.34% 2.51%
2026 3.4% 2.55%
2025 3.43% 2.58%
2024 3.46% 2.62%
2023 1.07% 2.64%
2022 -0.28% 2.66%
2021 1.7% 2.71%
2020 1.66% 2.75%
2019 1.35% 2.73%
2018 1.78% 2.73%
2017 1.69% 2.76%
2016 1.82% 2.74%
2015 0.13% 2.72%
2014 -0.41% 2.72%
2013 0.68% 2.76%
2012 1% 2.84%
2011 1.6% 2.88%
2010 -0.8% 2.88%
2009 -0.66% 2.88%
2008 2.16% 2.94%
2007 1.95% 2.97%
2006 2.07% 2.98%
2005 2.29% 3.01%
2004 2.19% 3.04%
2003 2.42% 3.07%
2002 2.21% 3.09%
2001 2.25% 3.08%
2000 2.79% 3.12%
1999 2.77% 3.17%
1998 2.75% 3.19%
1997 2.79% 3.26%
1996 2.63% 3.35%
1995 2.77% 3.46%
1994 3.17% 3.54%
1993 3.24% 3.58%
1992 3.23% 4.3%
1991 3.18% 4.43%
1990 3.16% 3.77%
1989 2.58% 3.92%
1988 1.68% 3.98%
1987 1.32% 3.47%
1986 1.28% 3%
1985 1.26% 2.86%
1984 1.23% 2.64%
1983 1.2% 2.83%
1982 1.17% 3.96%
1981 1.14% 2.54%
1980 1.1% 0.55%
1979 1.08% 1.49%
1978 1.05% 1.71%
1977 1.04% 1.95%
1976 1.5% 2.56%
1975 1.96% 2.47%
1974 1.95% 2.62%
1973 1.93% 2.7%
1972 1.98% 2.71%
1971 2.1% 2.77%
1970 2.24% 2.79%
1969 2.31% 2.79%
1968 2.28% 2.8%
1967 2.21% 2.68%
1966 2.14% 2.64%
1965 2.08% 2.72%
1964 2.03% 2.67%
1963 1.98% 2.61%
1962 1.93% 2.55%
1961 1.89% 2.48%

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/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.58%.

Live population counters

CAR Ethiopia
Current population
5798457
140722974
Population rank 117/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 1.69%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
9.27 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
7.59 seconds
One death every
10.5 minutes
40.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +500 +9,349
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +3,412,284
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +2.58%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 24/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +24,054
Net migration rank 143/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 24,054
2024 196,244 -15,357 3,379,409 30,069
2023 190,325 -14,682 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 -49,456 -17,430 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 124,408 -85,646 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 156,911 -24,745 3,199,718 38,866
2019 68,523 -36,849 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 153,361 -52,954 3,015,231 9,302
2017 128,461 -58,584 2,899,143 71,766
2016 142,419 -52,607 2,809,889 115,823
2015 141,912 -63,045 2,713,529 62,785
2014 107,448 -174,051 2,623,647 103,122
2013 140,489 -112,382 2,546,020 80,955
2012 146,791 -111,764 2,533,398 119,517
2011 142,913 -86,281 2,527,811 116,793
2010 130,539 -43,126 2,498,048 80,213
2009 -130,613 -28,899 2,467,118 16,315
2008 128,627 -28,983 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 123,137 -30,352 2,436,753 -381
2006 118,882 -41,282 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 113,534 -13,604 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 108,548 -16,510 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 105,540 -18,097 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 100,588 5,992 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 99,598 -33,006 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 97,468 8,079 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 96,108 6,284 2,010,987 29,142
1998 94,361 4,479 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 93,378 2,034 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 93,369 2,697 1,896,364 41,456
1995 92,748 -12,986 1,831,068 91,727
1994 90,943 9,496 1,788,133 140,715
1993 89,873 9,930 1,734,851 141,545
1992 88,939 9,269 1,673,839 160,106
1991 88,688 4,381 1,579,416 859,737
1990 87,507 1,995 1,479,663 296,014
1989 85,969 409 1,441,769 242,614
1988 84,654 -31,016 1,393,356 379,966
1987 83,408 -47,428 1,356,853 251,387
1986 81,149 -47,332 1,050,277 186,227
1985 79,266 -46,427 997,050 157,476
1984 77,395 -45,591 920,670 137,632
1983 75,399 -44,780 863,472 68,022
1982 73,330 -43,908 1,080,853 66,702
1981 71,391 -42,872 1,018,838 628,135
1980 68,759 -41,539 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 66,104 -39,850 987,203 -711,455
1978 63,285 -37,874 943,388 -210,991
1977 60,436 -35,782 929,381 -527,133
1976 57,725 -33,645 899,577 -36,125
1975 55,106 -9,895 801,425 -42,540
1974 53,777 -9,838 777,306 -4,232
1973 52,525 -9,800 807,535 347
1972 51,390 -9,634 779,808 -3,375
1971 50,142 -7,259 787,047 -14,510
1970 48,690 -3,693 760,821 8,589
1969 47,066 -80 736,428 7,258
1968 45,377 474 715,602 9,992
1967 42,979 474 695,283 14,437
1966 40,804 474 616,281 9,160
1965 38,710 474 642,359 16,348
1964 36,878 474 618,667 10,749
1963 35,218 474 590,998 9,418
1962 33,731 474 563,650 8,960
1961 32,383 474 538,518 6,938
1960 31,131 474 511,694 1,696

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/ethiopia | 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 Ethiopia 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/ethiopia | 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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