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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 5,646,436 people in Finland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 5,647,947 in Finland.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 1.03 times bigger than Finland's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Finland is the 120th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.07% for Finland.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +0.3% in Finland.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Finland has grown from 5.27M to 5.65M (7.25% growth).

Central African Republic vs Finland: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Finland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Finland
2100 19,061,127 4,629,053
2099 18,981,009 4,645,228
2098 18,896,319 4,661,258
2097 18,810,793 4,676,964
2096 18,719,993 4,692,260
2095 18,621,666 4,707,633
2094 18,521,650 4,722,751
2093 18,420,299 4,738,088
2092 18,311,751 4,753,259
2091 18,200,580 4,768,754
2090 18,083,097 4,784,445
2089 17,968,298 4,799,982
2088 17,844,377 4,815,528
2087 17,717,148 4,831,523
2086 17,581,447 4,847,503
2085 17,447,157 4,863,391
2084 17,306,435 4,878,695
2083 17,159,818 4,894,099
2082 17,010,036 4,909,902
2081 16,860,592 4,925,741
2080 16,704,486 4,941,601
2079 16,552,105 4,957,156
2078 16,392,201 4,972,238
2077 16,224,015 4,987,486
2076 16,051,483 5,002,755
2075 15,877,563 5,017,572
2074 15,706,759 5,032,306
2073 15,526,382 5,046,593
2072 15,346,626 5,060,464
2071 15,158,906 5,074,179
2070 14,964,276 5,087,802
2069 14,768,967 5,101,058
2068 14,572,130 5,114,493
2067 14,369,861 5,127,889
2066 14,167,129 5,141,202
2065 13,963,573 5,155,429
2064 13,758,257 5,169,525
2063 13,545,150 5,183,843
2062 13,332,625 5,198,043
2061 13,120,271 5,212,670
2060 12,903,195 5,227,697
2059 12,684,791 5,242,988
2058 12,464,271 5,257,844
2057 12,242,308 5,273,628
2056 12,020,446 5,289,765
2055 11,797,986 5,305,934
2054 11,575,058 5,321,736
2053 11,351,527 5,337,053
2052 11,128,939 5,352,244
2051 10,908,122 5,367,229
2050 10,686,324 5,381,479
2049 10,468,520 5,395,348
2048 10,249,810 5,408,876
2047 10,034,764 5,422,100
2046 9,819,986 5,434,914
2045 9,606,504 5,447,770
2044 9,394,614 5,460,322
2043 9,185,941 5,473,016
2042 8,980,018 5,485,319
2041 8,774,893 5,497,690
2040 8,567,893 5,509,866
2039 8,358,128 5,522,256
2038 8,149,514 5,534,448
2037 7,942,721 5,546,603
2036 7,734,436 5,558,413
2035 7,525,805 5,569,919
2034 7,314,741 5,580,966
2033 7,105,166 5,591,512
2032 6,897,152 5,601,550
2031 6,690,066 5,611,269
2030 6,486,667 5,620,291
2029 6,286,290 5,628,791
2028 6,085,426 5,636,422
2027 5,890,999 5,643,240
2026 5,700,718 5,647,947
2025 5,513,282 5,646,436
2024 5,330,690 5,619,911
2023 5,152,421 5,583,911
2022 5,098,039 5,556,106
2021 5,112,100 5,541,017
2020 5,026,628 5,529,543
2019 4,944,703 5,521,606
2018 4,878,657 5,515,525
2017 4,793,511 5,508,214
2016 4,713,663 5,495,303
2015 4,629,320 5,479,531
2014 4,623,182 5,461,512
2013 4,642,419 5,438,972
2012 4,610,848 5,413,971
2011 4,565,021 5,388,272
2010 4,492,995 5,363,352
2009 4,529,047 5,338,871
2008 4,558,984 5,313,399
2007 4,462,770 5,288,720
2006 4,377,579 5,266,268
2005 4,288,810 5,246,096
2004 4,192,826 5,228,172
2003 4,103,086 5,213,014
2002 4,006,077 5,200,598
2001 3,919,487 5,188,008
2000 3,833,416 5,176,209
1999 3,729,450 5,165,474
1998 3,628,827 5,153,498
1997 3,531,700 5,139,835
1996 3,435,965 5,124,573
1995 3,348,052 5,107,790
1994 3,257,954 5,088,333
1993 3,157,839 5,066,447
1992 3,058,831 5,041,992
1991 2,963,191 5,013,740
1990 2,871,910 4,986,431
1989 2,783,970 4,964,371
1988 2,713,965 4,946,481
1987 2,669,155 4,932,123
1986 2,634,258 4,918,154
1985 2,600,932 4,902,206
1984 2,568,610 4,881,803
1983 2,537,399 4,855,787
1982 2,507,375 4,826,933
1981 2,478,402 4,799,964
1980 2,450,535 4,779,535
1979 2,423,794 4,764,690
1978 2,397,961 4,752,528
1977 2,372,930 4,738,902
1976 2,348,566 4,725,664
1975 2,313,916 4,711,440
1974 2,269,338 4,690,574
1973 2,226,008 4,666,081
1972 2,183,769 4,639,657
1971 2,141,450 4,612,124
1970 2,097,505 4,606,307
1969 2,051,515 4,623,785
1968 2,005,100 4,626,469
1967 1,960,444 4,605,744
1966 1,918,082 4,580,869
1965 1,877,854 4,563,732
1964 1,839,583 4,548,543
1963 1,803,063 4,523,309
1962 1,768,115 4,491,443
1961 1,734,580 4,461,005
1960 1,702,346 4,429,634

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/finland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Finland gained 229,035 people (a 4.35% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Finland's population increased by 152,644 people (a 2.78% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Finland was ranked 111th in 2006 and ranked 120th 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 Finland will decrease by 4.72% to 5,381,479 people and rank change from 120th to 126th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 5.65M people in 2026 for Finland.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Finland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Finland
2100 0.42% -0.35%
2099 0.45% -0.34%
2098 0.45% -0.34%
2097 0.49% -0.33%
2096 0.53% -0.33%
2095 0.54% -0.32%
2094 0.55% -0.32%
2093 0.59% -0.32%
2092 0.61% -0.32%
2091 0.65% -0.33%
2090 0.64% -0.32%
2089 0.69% -0.32%
2088 0.72% -0.33%
2087 0.77% -0.33%
2086 0.77% -0.33%
2085 0.81% -0.31%
2084 0.85% -0.31%
2083 0.88% -0.32%
2082 0.89% -0.32%
2081 0.93% -0.32%
2080 0.92% -0.31%
2079 0.98% -0.3%
2078 1.04% -0.31%
2077 1.07% -0.31%
2076 1.1% -0.3%
2075 1.09% -0.29%
2074 1.16% -0.28%
2073 1.17% -0.27%
2072 1.24% -0.27%
2071 1.3% -0.27%
2070 1.32% -0.26%
2069 1.35% -0.26%
2068 1.41% -0.26%
2067 1.43% -0.26%
2066 1.46% -0.28%
2065 1.49% -0.27%
2064 1.57% -0.28%
2063 1.59% -0.27%
2062 1.62% -0.28%
2061 1.68% -0.29%
2060 1.72% -0.29%
2059 1.77% -0.28%
2058 1.81% -0.3%
2057 1.85% -0.31%
2056 1.89% -0.3%
2055 1.93% -0.3%
2054 1.97% -0.29%
2053 2% -0.28%
2052 2.02% -0.28%
2051 2.08% -0.26%
2050 2.08% -0.26%
2049 2.13% -0.25%
2048 2.14% -0.24%
2047 2.19% -0.24%
2046 2.22% -0.24%
2045 2.26% -0.23%
2044 2.27% -0.23%
2043 2.29% -0.22%
2042 2.34% -0.23%
2041 2.42% -0.22%
2040 2.51% -0.22%
2039 2.56% -0.22%
2038 2.6% -0.22%
2037 2.69% -0.21%
2036 2.77% -0.21%
2035 2.89% -0.2%
2034 2.95% -0.19%
2033 3.02% -0.18%
2032 3.1% -0.17%
2031 3.14% -0.16%
2030 3.19% -0.15%
2029 3.3% -0.14%
2028 3.3% -0.12%
2027 3.34% -0.08%
2026 3.4% 0.03%
2025 3.43% 0.47%
2024 3.46% 0.64%
2023 1.07% 0.5%
2022 -0.28% 0.27%
2021 1.7% 0.21%
2020 1.66% 0.14%
2019 1.35% 0.11%
2018 1.78% 0.13%
2017 1.69% 0.23%
2016 1.82% 0.29%
2015 0.13% 0.33%
2014 -0.41% 0.41%
2013 0.68% 0.46%
2012 1% 0.48%
2011 1.6% 0.46%
2010 -0.8% 0.46%
2009 -0.66% 0.48%
2008 2.16% 0.47%
2007 1.95% 0.43%
2006 2.07% 0.38%
2005 2.29% 0.34%
2004 2.19% 0.29%
2003 2.42% 0.24%
2002 2.21% 0.24%
2001 2.25% 0.23%
2000 2.79% 0.21%
1999 2.77% 0.23%
1998 2.75% 0.27%
1997 2.79% 0.3%
1996 2.63% 0.33%
1995 2.77% 0.38%
1994 3.17% 0.43%
1993 3.24% 0.49%
1992 3.23% 0.56%
1991 3.18% 0.55%
1990 3.16% 0.44%
1989 2.58% 0.36%
1988 1.68% 0.29%
1987 1.32% 0.28%
1986 1.28% 0.33%
1985 1.26% 0.42%
1984 1.23% 0.54%
1983 1.2% 0.6%
1982 1.17% 0.56%
1981 1.14% 0.43%
1980 1.1% 0.31%
1979 1.08% 0.26%
1978 1.05% 0.29%
1977 1.04% 0.28%
1976 1.5% 0.3%
1975 1.96% 0.44%
1974 1.95% 0.52%
1973 1.93% 0.57%
1972 1.98% 0.6%
1971 2.1% 0.13%
1970 2.24% -0.38%
1969 2.31% -0.06%
1968 2.28% 0.45%
1967 2.21% 0.54%
1966 2.14% 0.38%
1965 2.08% 0.33%
1964 2.03% 0.56%
1963 1.98% 0.71%
1962 1.93% 0.68%
1961 1.89% 0.71%

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/finland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Finland's population grew by 0.47%.

Live population counters

CAR Finland
Current population
5798457
5647947
Population rank 117/197 120/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.07%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
19.9 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
12 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
8.99 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +73
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +26,525
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +0.47%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 130/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
28.9 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +18,246
Net migration rank 143/196 33/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 514,432
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 79/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 9.2%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 69/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Finland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Finland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 18,246
2024 196,244 -15,357 -14,612 26,894
2023 190,325 -14,682 -17,869 38,156
2022 -49,456 -17,430 -18,335 60,353
2021 124,408 -85,646 -7,757 22,484
2020 156,911 -24,745 -8,847 17,504
2019 68,523 -36,849 -8,282 15,671
2018 153,361 -52,954 -7,170 11,822
2017 128,461 -58,584 -3,856 13,356
2016 142,419 -52,607 -1,099 17,321
2015 141,912 -63,045 2,740 12,655
2014 107,448 -174,051 4,915 15,915
2013 140,489 -112,382 6,527 18,164
2012 146,791 -111,764 7,579 17,894
2011 142,913 -86,281 9,160 16,798
2010 130,539 -43,126 10,191 14,080
2009 -130,613 -28,899 10,678 14,877
2008 128,627 -28,983 10,627 15,626
2007 123,137 -30,352 9,519 14,027
2006 118,882 -41,282 11,059 10,820
2005 113,534 -13,604 9,968 9,251
2004 108,548 -16,510 9,933 6,956
2003 105,540 -18,097 7,819 5,929
2002 100,588 5,992 6,241 5,255
2001 99,598 -33,006 7,263 6,241
2000 97,468 8,079 7,765 2,497
1999 96,108 6,284 7,748 3,604
1998 94,361 4,479 7,730 4,417
1997 93,378 2,034 9,766 4,925
1996 93,369 2,697 11,274 3,757
1995 92,748 -12,986 13,791 4,325
1994 90,943 9,496 17,300 3,834
1993 89,873 9,930 13,679 9,036
1992 88,939 9,269 16,639 9,356
1991 88,688 4,381 16,044 14,515
1990 87,507 1,995 15,458 8,920
1989 85,969 409 14,396 5,775
1988 84,654 -31,016 14,344 1,765
1987 83,408 -47,428 11,837 831
1986 81,149 -47,332 13,279 1,491
1985 79,266 -46,427 14,707 2,416
1984 77,395 -45,591 20,015 3,972
1983 75,399 -44,780 21,851 6,925
1982 73,330 -43,908 22,686 7,109
1981 71,391 -42,872 18,720 5,287
1980 68,759 -41,539 18,640 -2,212
1979 66,104 -39,850 19,535 -6,612
1978 63,285 -37,874 20,436 -9,348
1977 60,436 -35,782 21,799 -5,697
1976 57,725 -33,645 21,738 -11,843
1975 55,106 -9,895 21,673 -3,807
1974 53,777 -9,838 17,824 5,891
1973 52,525 -9,800 13,532 11,558
1972 51,390 -9,634 14,847 12,613
1971 50,142 -7,259 15,220 12,286
1970 48,690 -3,693 20,268 -36,579
1969 47,066 -80 21,732 -42,207
1968 45,377 474 28,684 -15,561
1967 42,979 474 33,622 -5,353
1966 40,804 474 34,356 -12,059
1965 38,710 474 33,771 -21,731
1964 36,878 474 38,208 -20,414
1963 35,218 474 40,258 -7,624
1962 33,731 474 38,627 -6,852
1961 32,383 474 41,487 -11,828
1960 31,131 474 42,082 -9,489

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/finland | 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 Finland 26.5% is from natural causes (a loss of 85,087 people) and 73.5% is from migration (a gain of 236,216 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 514,432 people or 9.2% in Finland.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Finland
City Population
Helsinki 694K
Espoo 326K
Tampere 255K
Vantaa 248K
Oulu 217K
Turku 210K
Jyvaskyla 150K
Kuopio 127K
Lahti 122K
Pori 83K

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/finland | 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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