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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 47,020,774 people in Iraq in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 48,531,417 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 8.37 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +2.32% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.5M (69.6% growth).

Central African Republic vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Iraq
2100 19,061,127 101,633,126
2099 18,981,009 101,421,797
2098 18,896,319 101,213,066
2097 18,810,793 100,981,364
2096 18,719,993 100,724,968
2095 18,621,666 100,465,117
2094 18,521,650 100,194,566
2093 18,420,299 99,876,697
2092 18,311,751 99,532,563
2091 18,200,580 99,204,350
2090 18,083,097 98,887,474
2089 17,968,298 98,513,541
2088 17,844,377 98,144,553
2087 17,717,148 97,768,049
2086 17,581,447 97,325,536
2085 17,447,157 96,873,514
2084 17,306,435 96,449,107
2083 17,159,818 95,991,669
2082 17,010,036 95,510,163
2081 16,860,592 95,009,824
2080 16,704,486 94,507,711
2079 16,552,105 93,960,720
2078 16,392,201 93,417,874
2077 16,224,015 92,904,470
2076 16,051,483 92,360,076
2075 15,877,563 91,825,735
2074 15,706,759 91,229,744
2073 15,526,382 90,571,495
2072 15,346,626 89,918,845
2071 15,158,906 89,266,016
2070 14,964,276 88,596,956
2069 14,768,967 87,909,934
2068 14,572,130 87,220,950
2067 14,369,861 86,514,449
2066 14,167,129 85,734,979
2065 13,963,573 84,972,344
2064 13,758,257 84,191,791
2063 13,545,150 83,388,388
2062 13,332,625 82,605,010
2061 13,120,271 81,801,066
2060 12,903,195 80,951,432
2059 12,684,791 80,142,288
2058 12,464,271 79,319,959
2057 12,242,308 78,477,750
2056 12,020,446 77,609,609
2055 11,797,986 76,740,326
2054 11,575,058 75,857,522
2053 11,351,527 74,953,340
2052 11,128,939 74,072,968
2051 10,908,122 73,150,617
2050 10,686,324 72,236,317
2049 10,468,520 71,272,496
2048 10,249,810 70,317,228
2047 10,034,764 69,348,186
2046 9,819,986 68,401,022
2045 9,606,504 67,436,306
2044 9,394,614 66,447,658
2043 9,185,941 65,453,908
2042 8,980,018 64,434,168
2041 8,774,893 63,409,041
2040 8,567,893 62,360,444
2039 8,358,128 61,289,676
2038 8,149,514 60,253,388
2037 7,942,721 59,221,968
2036 7,734,436 58,156,294
2035 7,525,805 57,128,298
2034 7,314,741 56,087,988
2033 7,105,166 55,051,428
2032 6,897,152 54,002,572
2031 6,690,066 52,991,720
2030 6,486,667 51,987,045
2029 6,286,290 50,982,830
2028 6,085,426 50,001,395
2027 5,890,999 49,015,079
2026 5,700,718 48,020,585
2025 5,513,282 47,020,774
2024 5,330,690 46,042,015
2023 5,152,421 45,074,049
2022 5,098,039 44,070,551
2021 5,112,100 43,071,211
2020 5,026,628 42,116,605
2019 4,944,703 41,192,171
2018 4,878,657 40,265,624
2017 4,793,511 39,337,353
2016 4,713,663 38,469,627
2015 4,629,320 37,560,535
2014 4,623,182 36,550,059
2013 4,642,419 35,281,989
2012 4,610,848 33,654,842
2011 4,565,021 32,161,424
2010 4,492,995 31,045,366
2009 4,529,047 30,058,206
2008 4,558,984 28,971,036
2007 4,462,770 28,391,607
2006 4,377,579 28,616,515
2005 4,288,810 28,407,448
2004 4,192,826 27,577,878
2003 4,103,086 26,802,659
2002 4,006,077 26,006,559
2001 3,919,487 25,197,840
2000 3,833,416 24,424,056
1999 3,729,450 23,636,527
1998 3,628,827 22,884,399
1997 3,531,700 22,176,593
1996 3,435,965 21,501,321
1995 3,348,052 20,825,860
1994 3,257,954 20,139,807
1993 3,157,839 19,201,195
1992 3,058,831 18,300,845
1991 2,963,191 17,767,253
1990 2,871,910 17,581,206
1989 2,783,970 17,364,542
1988 2,713,965 16,908,819
1987 2,669,155 16,521,049
1986 2,634,258 16,074,145
1985 2,600,932 15,683,430
1984 2,568,610 15,310,733
1983 2,537,399 14,840,555
1982 2,507,375 14,406,083
1981 2,478,402 14,006,381
1980 2,450,535 13,591,992
1979 2,423,794 13,170,365
1978 2,397,961 12,753,355
1977 2,372,930 12,331,046
1976 2,348,566 11,927,651
1975 2,313,916 11,543,639
1974 2,269,338 11,167,761
1973 2,226,008 10,795,869
1972 2,183,769 10,430,164
1971 2,141,450 10,077,809
1970 2,097,505 9,735,611
1969 2,051,515 9,403,356
1968 2,005,100 9,085,016
1967 1,960,444 8,778,869
1966 1,918,082 8,485,104
1965 1,877,854 8,202,140
1964 1,839,583 7,929,566
1963 1,803,063 7,667,928
1962 1,768,115 7,413,875
1961 1,734,580 7,194,553
1960 1,702,346 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 48.8% to 72,236,317 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Iraq
2100 0.42% 0.21%
2099 0.45% 0.21%
2098 0.45% 0.23%
2097 0.49% 0.25%
2096 0.53% 0.26%
2095 0.54% 0.27%
2094 0.55% 0.32%
2093 0.59% 0.35%
2092 0.61% 0.33%
2091 0.65% 0.32%
2090 0.64% 0.38%
2089 0.69% 0.38%
2088 0.72% 0.39%
2087 0.77% 0.45%
2086 0.77% 0.47%
2085 0.81% 0.44%
2084 0.85% 0.48%
2083 0.88% 0.5%
2082 0.89% 0.53%
2081 0.93% 0.53%
2080 0.92% 0.58%
2079 0.98% 0.58%
2078 1.04% 0.55%
2077 1.07% 0.59%
2076 1.1% 0.58%
2075 1.09% 0.65%
2074 1.16% 0.73%
2073 1.17% 0.73%
2072 1.24% 0.73%
2071 1.3% 0.76%
2070 1.32% 0.78%
2069 1.35% 0.79%
2068 1.41% 0.82%
2067 1.43% 0.91%
2066 1.46% 0.9%
2065 1.49% 0.93%
2064 1.57% 0.96%
2063 1.59% 0.95%
2062 1.62% 0.98%
2061 1.68% 1.05%
2060 1.72% 1.01%
2059 1.77% 1.04%
2058 1.81% 1.07%
2057 1.85% 1.12%
2056 1.89% 1.13%
2055 1.93% 1.16%
2054 1.97% 1.21%
2053 2% 1.19%
2052 2.02% 1.26%
2051 2.08% 1.27%
2050 2.08% 1.35%
2049 2.13% 1.36%
2048 2.14% 1.4%
2047 2.19% 1.38%
2046 2.22% 1.43%
2045 2.26% 1.49%
2044 2.27% 1.52%
2043 2.29% 1.58%
2042 2.34% 1.62%
2041 2.42% 1.68%
2040 2.51% 1.75%
2039 2.56% 1.72%
2038 2.6% 1.74%
2037 2.69% 1.83%
2036 2.77% 1.8%
2035 2.89% 1.85%
2034 2.95% 1.88%
2033 3.02% 1.94%
2032 3.1% 1.91%
2031 3.14% 1.93%
2030 3.19% 1.97%
2029 3.3% 1.96%
2028 3.3% 2.01%
2027 3.34% 2.07%
2026 3.4% 2.13%
2025 3.43% 2.13%
2024 3.46% 2.15%
2023 1.07% 2.28%
2022 -0.28% 2.32%
2021 1.7% 2.27%
2020 1.66% 2.24%
2019 1.35% 2.3%
2018 1.78% 2.36%
2017 1.69% 2.26%
2016 1.82% 2.42%
2015 0.13% 2.76%
2014 -0.41% 3.59%
2013 0.68% 4.83%
2012 1% 4.64%
2011 1.6% 3.59%
2010 -0.8% 3.28%
2009 -0.66% 3.75%
2008 2.16% 2.04%
2007 1.95% -0.79%
2006 2.07% 0.74%
2005 2.29% 3.01%
2004 2.19% 2.89%
2003 2.42% 3.06%
2002 2.21% 3.21%
2001 2.25% 3.17%
2000 2.79% 3.33%
1999 2.77% 3.29%
1998 2.75% 3.19%
1997 2.79% 3.14%
1996 2.63% 3.24%
1995 2.77% 3.41%
1994 3.17% 4.89%
1993 3.24% 4.92%
1992 3.23% 3%
1991 3.18% 1.06%
1990 3.16% 1.25%
1989 2.58% 2.7%
1988 1.68% 2.35%
1987 1.32% 2.78%
1986 1.28% 2.49%
1985 1.26% 2.43%
1984 1.23% 3.17%
1983 1.2% 3.02%
1982 1.17% 2.85%
1981 1.14% 3.05%
1980 1.1% 3.2%
1979 1.08% 3.27%
1978 1.05% 3.42%
1977 1.04% 3.38%
1976 1.5% 3.33%
1975 1.96% 3.37%
1974 1.95% 3.44%
1973 1.93% 3.51%
1972 1.98% 3.5%
1971 2.1% 3.51%
1970 2.24% 3.53%
1969 2.31% 3.5%
1968 2.28% 3.49%
1967 2.21% 3.46%
1966 2.14% 3.45%
1965 2.08% 3.44%
1964 2.03% 3.41%
1963 1.98% 3.43%
1962 1.93% 3.05%
1961 1.89% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.13%.

Live population counters

CAR Iraq
Current population
5798457
48531417
Population rank 117/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.58%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
32.3 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
26.8 seconds
One death every
10.5 minutes
2.74 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +2,682
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +978,759
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +2.13%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 43/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 -1,064
Net migration rank 143/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -1,064
2024 196,244 -15,357 985,943 -17,735
2023 190,325 -14,682 973,420 -5,710
2022 -49,456 -17,430 962,501 76,821
2021 124,408 -85,646 941,924 17,474
2020 156,911 -24,745 919,953 29,858
2019 68,523 -36,849 942,972 -43,919
2018 153,361 -52,954 938,310 15,775
2017 128,461 -58,584 924,507 -21,998
2016 142,419 -52,607 946,968 -113,980
2015 141,912 -63,045 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 107,448 -174,051 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 140,489 -112,382 1,026,036 474,379
2012 146,791 -111,764 999,987 753,907
2011 142,913 -86,281 971,082 261,880
2010 130,539 -43,126 906,369 92,779
2009 -130,613 -28,899 855,096 120,092
2008 128,627 -28,983 802,382 396,792
2007 123,137 -30,352 784,119 -824,428
2006 118,882 -41,282 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 113,534 -13,604 776,603 51,019
2004 108,548 -16,510 761,563 69,948
2003 105,540 -18,097 746,159 -27,236
2002 100,588 5,992 739,419 133,839
2001 99,598 -33,006 729,704 14,451
2000 97,468 8,079 715,771 87,624
1999 96,108 6,284 702,170 69,491
1998 94,361 4,479 684,152 48,446
1997 93,378 2,034 667,582 15,429
1996 93,369 2,697 652,866 14,652
1995 92,748 -12,986 642,977 40,424
1994 90,943 9,496 634,344 54,355
1993 89,873 9,930 606,700 581,818
1992 88,939 9,269 591,886 20,292
1991 88,688 4,381 550,146 -95,155
1990 87,507 1,995 518,575 -601,469
1989 85,969 409 496,852 19,392
1988 84,654 -31,016 476,778 -81,562
1987 83,408 -47,428 488,742 -108,426
1986 81,149 -47,332 474,348 39,136
1985 79,266 -46,427 467,445 -199,505
1984 77,395 -45,591 455,740 21,709
1983 75,399 -44,780 439,800 23,115
1982 73,330 -43,908 428,336 -22,302
1981 71,391 -42,872 416,998 -23,640
1980 68,759 -41,539 419,653 15,757
1979 66,104 -39,850 428,458 -20,617
1978 63,285 -37,874 418,756 7,434
1977 60,436 -35,782 410,229 8,204
1976 57,725 -33,645 402,260 -13,915
1975 55,106 -9,895 385,916 -6,237
1974 53,777 -9,838 376,197 -4,090
1973 52,525 -9,800 373,191 -1,507
1972 51,390 -9,634 362,334 -2,600
1971 50,142 -7,259 351,464 -6,479
1970 48,690 -3,693 338,030 1,377
1969 47,066 -80 324,792 312
1968 45,377 474 310,644 928
1967 42,979 474 298,192 2,531
1966 40,804 474 285,507 1,298
1965 38,710 474 274,551 4,555
1964 36,878 474 262,825 3,224
1963 35,218 474 254,046 3,197
1962 33,731 474 247,520 3,343
1961 32,383 474 184,792 2,981
1960 31,131 474 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,544,059 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a loss of 85,752 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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