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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 2,822,093 people in the Gambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 2,916,990 in the Gambia.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 1.99 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while the Gambia is the 138th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.04% for the Gambia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +2.44% in the Gambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while the Gambia has grown from 1.72M to 2.92M (70.1% growth).

Central African Republic vs Gambia: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Gambia
2100 19,061,127 5,766,099
2099 18,981,009 5,764,092
2098 18,896,319 5,761,403
2097 18,810,793 5,758,064
2096 18,719,993 5,753,864
2095 18,621,666 5,748,821
2094 18,521,650 5,742,977
2093 18,420,299 5,735,465
2092 18,311,751 5,727,035
2091 18,200,580 5,717,851
2090 18,083,097 5,707,322
2089 17,968,298 5,695,590
2088 17,844,377 5,682,547
2087 17,717,148 5,668,415
2086 17,581,447 5,653,552
2085 17,447,157 5,637,112
2084 17,306,435 5,619,538
2083 17,159,818 5,600,932
2082 17,010,036 5,581,062
2081 16,860,592 5,559,781
2080 16,704,486 5,537,312
2079 16,552,105 5,513,586
2078 16,392,201 5,488,256
2077 16,224,015 5,461,819
2076 16,051,483 5,434,380
2075 15,877,563 5,405,474
2074 15,706,759 5,375,255
2073 15,526,382 5,343,873
2072 15,346,626 5,311,755
2071 15,158,906 5,278,538
2070 14,964,276 5,243,773
2069 14,768,967 5,207,961
2068 14,572,130 5,170,739
2067 14,369,861 5,132,640
2066 14,167,129 5,093,072
2065 13,963,573 5,051,871
2064 13,758,257 5,009,758
2063 13,545,150 4,966,686
2062 13,332,625 4,922,343
2061 13,120,271 4,876,639
2060 12,903,195 4,830,317
2059 12,684,791 4,783,233
2058 12,464,271 4,735,557
2057 12,242,308 4,686,764
2056 12,020,446 4,637,220
2055 11,797,986 4,586,935
2054 11,575,058 4,535,328
2053 11,351,527 4,483,472
2052 11,128,939 4,430,621
2051 10,908,122 4,376,942
2050 10,686,324 4,322,480
2049 10,468,520 4,267,374
2048 10,249,810 4,211,530
2047 10,034,764 4,154,844
2046 9,819,986 4,097,814
2045 9,606,504 4,040,118
2044 9,394,614 3,981,892
2043 9,185,941 3,923,058
2042 8,980,018 3,863,611
2041 8,774,893 3,804,282
2040 8,567,893 3,744,293
2039 8,358,128 3,684,045
2038 8,149,514 3,623,285
2037 7,942,721 3,562,776
2036 7,734,436 3,502,038
2035 7,525,805 3,441,138
2034 7,314,741 3,380,088
2033 7,105,166 3,318,743
2032 6,897,152 3,257,194
2031 6,690,066 3,195,735
2030 6,486,667 3,134,115
2029 6,286,290 3,072,145
2028 6,085,426 3,009,805
2027 5,890,999 2,947,443
2026 5,700,718 2,884,828
2025 5,513,282 2,822,093
2024 5,330,690 2,759,988
2023 5,152,421 2,697,845
2022 5,098,039 2,636,470
2021 5,112,100 2,576,010
2020 5,026,628 2,515,733
2019 4,944,703 2,456,844
2018 4,878,657 2,399,632
2017 4,793,511 2,342,189
2016 4,713,663 2,283,769
2015 4,629,320 2,224,529
2014 4,623,182 2,164,528
2013 4,642,419 2,103,820
2012 4,610,848 2,043,094
2011 4,565,021 1,983,784
2010 4,492,995 1,926,630
2009 4,529,047 1,871,422
2008 4,558,984 1,817,852
2007 4,462,770 1,765,774
2006 4,377,579 1,715,275
2005 4,288,810 1,667,037
2004 4,192,826 1,621,312
2003 4,103,086 1,577,611
2002 4,006,077 1,535,691
2001 3,919,487 1,495,011
2000 3,833,416 1,455,084
1999 3,729,450 1,415,779
1998 3,628,827 1,376,987
1997 3,531,700 1,338,889
1996 3,435,965 1,301,410
1995 3,348,052 1,264,313
1994 3,257,954 1,227,226
1993 3,157,839 1,188,365
1992 3,058,831 1,145,582
1991 2,963,191 1,099,959
1990 2,871,910 1,054,696
1989 2,783,970 1,011,357
1988 2,713,965 970,160
1987 2,669,155 931,091
1986 2,634,258 894,019
1985 2,600,932 858,874
1984 2,568,610 825,631
1983 2,537,399 794,525
1982 2,507,375 765,753
1981 2,478,402 739,125
1980 2,450,535 713,913
1979 2,423,794 689,781
1978 2,397,961 667,103
1977 2,372,930 645,770
1976 2,348,566 625,667
1975 2,313,916 606,821
1974 2,269,338 589,085
1973 2,226,008 571,991
1972 2,183,769 555,370
1971 2,141,450 539,388
1970 2,097,505 524,105
1969 2,051,515 509,440
1968 2,005,100 495,269
1967 1,960,444 481,588
1966 1,918,082 468,516
1965 1,877,854 455,952
1964 1,839,583 443,687
1963 1,803,063 431,757
1962 1,768,115 420,163
1961 1,734,580 408,930
1960 1,702,346 398,060

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/gambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while the Gambia gained 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while the Gambia's population increased by 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. The Gambia was ranked 146th in 2006 and ranked 138th 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 the Gambia will increase by 48.2% to 4,322,480 people and rank change from 138th to 132nd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 5.77M people in 2100 for the Gambia.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Gambia
2100 0.42% 0.03%
2099 0.45% 0.05%
2098 0.45% 0.06%
2097 0.49% 0.07%
2096 0.53% 0.09%
2095 0.54% 0.1%
2094 0.55% 0.13%
2093 0.59% 0.15%
2092 0.61% 0.16%
2091 0.65% 0.18%
2090 0.64% 0.21%
2089 0.69% 0.23%
2088 0.72% 0.25%
2087 0.77% 0.26%
2086 0.77% 0.29%
2085 0.81% 0.31%
2084 0.85% 0.33%
2083 0.88% 0.36%
2082 0.89% 0.38%
2081 0.93% 0.41%
2080 0.92% 0.43%
2079 0.98% 0.46%
2078 1.04% 0.48%
2077 1.07% 0.5%
2076 1.1% 0.53%
2075 1.09% 0.56%
2074 1.16% 0.59%
2073 1.17% 0.6%
2072 1.24% 0.63%
2071 1.3% 0.66%
2070 1.32% 0.69%
2069 1.35% 0.72%
2068 1.41% 0.74%
2067 1.43% 0.78%
2066 1.46% 0.82%
2065 1.49% 0.84%
2064 1.57% 0.87%
2063 1.59% 0.9%
2062 1.62% 0.94%
2061 1.68% 0.96%
2060 1.72% 0.98%
2059 1.77% 1.01%
2058 1.81% 1.04%
2057 1.85% 1.07%
2056 1.89% 1.1%
2055 1.93% 1.14%
2054 1.97% 1.16%
2053 2% 1.19%
2052 2.02% 1.23%
2051 2.08% 1.26%
2050 2.08% 1.29%
2049 2.13% 1.33%
2048 2.14% 1.36%
2047 2.19% 1.39%
2046 2.22% 1.43%
2045 2.26% 1.46%
2044 2.27% 1.5%
2043 2.29% 1.54%
2042 2.34% 1.56%
2041 2.42% 1.6%
2040 2.51% 1.64%
2039 2.56% 1.68%
2038 2.6% 1.7%
2037 2.69% 1.73%
2036 2.77% 1.77%
2035 2.89% 1.81%
2034 2.95% 1.85%
2033 3.02% 1.89%
2032 3.1% 1.92%
2031 3.14% 1.97%
2030 3.19% 2.02%
2029 3.3% 2.07%
2028 3.3% 2.12%
2027 3.34% 2.17%
2026 3.4% 2.22%
2025 3.43% 2.25%
2024 3.46% 2.3%
2023 1.07% 2.33%
2022 -0.28% 2.35%
2021 1.7% 2.4%
2020 1.66% 2.4%
2019 1.35% 2.38%
2018 1.78% 2.45%
2017 1.69% 2.56%
2016 1.82% 2.66%
2015 0.13% 2.77%
2014 -0.41% 2.89%
2013 0.68% 2.97%
2012 1% 2.99%
2011 1.6% 2.97%
2010 -0.8% 2.95%
2009 -0.66% 2.95%
2008 2.16% 2.95%
2007 1.95% 2.94%
2006 2.07% 2.89%
2005 2.29% 2.82%
2004 2.19% 2.77%
2003 2.42% 2.73%
2002 2.21% 2.72%
2001 2.25% 2.74%
2000 2.79% 2.78%
1999 2.77% 2.82%
1998 2.75% 2.85%
1997 2.79% 2.88%
1996 2.63% 2.93%
1995 2.77% 3.02%
1994 3.17% 3.27%
1993 3.24% 3.73%
1992 3.23% 4.15%
1991 3.18% 4.29%
1990 3.16% 4.29%
1989 2.58% 4.25%
1988 1.68% 4.2%
1987 1.32% 4.15%
1986 1.28% 4.09%
1985 1.26% 4.03%
1984 1.23% 3.92%
1983 1.2% 3.76%
1982 1.17% 3.6%
1981 1.14% 3.53%
1980 1.1% 3.5%
1979 1.08% 3.4%
1978 1.05% 3.3%
1977 1.04% 3.21%
1976 1.5% 3.11%
1975 1.96% 3.01%
1974 1.95% 2.99%
1973 1.93% 2.99%
1972 1.98% 2.96%
1971 2.1% 2.92%
1970 2.24% 2.88%
1969 2.31% 2.86%
1968 2.28% 2.84%
1967 2.21% 2.79%
1966 2.14% 2.76%
1965 2.08% 2.76%
1964 2.03% 2.76%
1963 1.98% 2.76%
1962 1.93% 2.75%
1961 1.89% 2.73%

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/gambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while the Gambia's population grew by 2.25%.

Live population counters

CAR Gambia
Current population
5798457
2916990
Population rank 117/197 138/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.04%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
8.49 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
6.38 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
30.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +170
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +62,105
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +2.25%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 37/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
2.94 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 -2,984
Net migration rank 143/196 107/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 236,137
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 107/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 8.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 72/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Gambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Gambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -2,984
2024 196,244 -15,357 65,157 -2,989
2023 190,325 -14,682 65,118 -3,000
2022 -49,456 -17,430 63,634 -3,000
2021 124,408 -85,646 62,239 -1,949
2020 156,911 -24,745 62,209 -1,949
2019 68,523 -36,849 61,701 -4,186
2018 153,361 -52,954 60,854 -3,944
2017 128,461 -58,584 61,665 -3,696
2016 142,419 -52,607 62,358 -3,486
2015 141,912 -63,045 62,832 -3,224
2014 107,448 -174,051 63,185 -2,793
2013 140,489 -112,382 63,510 -2,476
2012 146,791 -111,764 62,745 -2,332
2011 142,913 -86,281 60,571 -2,360
2010 130,539 -43,126 58,554 -2,456
2009 -130,613 -28,899 56,575 -2,259
2008 128,627 -28,983 55,032 -2,204
2007 123,137 -30,352 53,653 -2,320
2006 118,882 -41,282 52,335 -2,666
2005 113,534 -13,604 50,010 -3,209
2004 108,548 -16,510 48,276 -3,636
2003 105,540 -18,097 46,473 -3,713
2002 100,588 5,992 45,156 -4,067
2001 99,598 -33,006 44,154 -3,882
2000 97,468 8,079 43,249 -3,670
1999 96,108 6,284 42,533 -3,493
1998 94,361 4,479 41,842 -3,291
1997 93,378 2,034 40,742 -3,098
1996 93,369 2,697 40,253 -2,948
1995 92,748 -12,986 39,681 -2,797
1994 90,943 9,496 38,880 -1,586
1993 89,873 9,930 37,302 3,131
1992 88,939 9,269 35,951 9,182
1991 88,688 4,381 34,584 11,530
1990 87,507 1,995 33,163 11,242
1989 85,969 409 31,504 10,765
1988 84,654 -31,016 29,938 10,187
1987 83,408 -47,428 28,452 9,563
1986 81,149 -47,332 27,195 8,934
1985 79,266 -46,427 25,795 8,373
1984 77,395 -45,591 24,586 7,733
1983 75,399 -44,780 23,175 6,713
1982 73,330 -43,908 21,894 5,757
1981 71,391 -42,872 20,156 5,438
1980 68,759 -41,539 19,566 5,268
1979 66,104 -39,850 18,543 4,898
1978 63,285 -37,874 17,424 4,493
1977 60,436 -35,782 16,773 3,969
1976 57,725 -33,645 16,032 3,436
1975 55,106 -9,895 15,256 2,979
1974 53,777 -9,838 14,628 2,610
1973 52,525 -9,800 14,046 2,907
1972 51,390 -9,634 13,432 2,861
1971 50,142 -7,259 12,842 2,817
1970 48,690 -3,693 12,128 2,777
1969 47,066 -80 11,670 2,757
1968 45,377 474 11,215 2,705
1967 42,979 474 10,823 2,617
1966 40,804 474 10,422 2,272
1965 38,710 474 10,162 2,272
1964 36,878 474 9,825 2,272
1963 35,218 474 9,493 2,272
1962 33,731 474 9,150 2,272
1961 32,383 474 8,778 2,272
1960 31,131 474 8,420 2,272

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/gambia | 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 the Gambia 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 236,137 people or 8.6% in the Gambia.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K

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/gambia | 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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