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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 122,704,252 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 21.2 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.55% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

Central African Republic vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Japan
2100 19,061,127 76,995,942
2099 18,981,009 77,380,486
2098 18,896,319 77,759,557
2097 18,810,793 78,135,569
2096 18,719,993 78,515,892
2095 18,621,666 78,892,606
2094 18,521,650 79,267,768
2093 18,420,299 79,645,584
2092 18,311,751 80,025,578
2091 18,200,580 80,401,222
2090 18,083,097 80,778,500
2089 17,968,298 81,158,413
2088 17,844,377 81,539,639
2087 17,717,148 81,926,401
2086 17,581,447 82,322,612
2085 17,447,157 82,727,738
2084 17,306,435 83,141,354
2083 17,159,818 83,562,394
2082 17,010,036 83,998,809
2081 16,860,592 84,447,888
2080 16,704,486 84,918,455
2079 16,552,105 85,406,042
2078 16,392,201 85,916,840
2077 16,224,015 86,453,316
2076 16,051,483 87,012,155
2075 15,877,563 87,597,053
2074 15,706,759 88,209,803
2073 15,526,382 88,854,316
2072 15,346,626 89,519,055
2071 15,158,906 90,204,314
2070 14,964,276 90,919,143
2069 14,768,967 91,645,589
2068 14,572,130 92,388,299
2067 14,369,861 93,133,993
2066 14,167,129 93,889,902
2065 13,963,573 94,654,259
2064 13,758,257 95,412,429
2063 13,545,150 96,169,244
2062 13,332,625 96,924,236
2061 13,120,271 97,675,525
2060 12,903,195 98,422,553
2059 12,684,791 99,166,038
2058 12,464,271 99,890,950
2057 12,242,308 100,607,740
2056 12,020,446 101,318,164
2055 11,797,986 102,012,184
2054 11,575,058 102,706,063
2053 11,351,527 103,381,833
2052 11,128,939 104,059,800
2051 10,908,122 104,729,745
2050 10,686,324 105,400,477
2049 10,468,520 106,076,354
2048 10,249,810 106,754,699
2047 10,034,764 107,442,881
2046 9,819,986 108,139,155
2045 9,606,504 108,844,934
2044 9,394,614 109,553,441
2043 9,185,941 110,269,851
2042 8,980,018 110,992,599
2041 8,774,893 111,729,216
2040 8,567,893 112,463,507
2039 8,358,128 113,200,859
2038 8,149,514 113,940,856
2037 7,942,721 114,687,611
2036 7,734,436 115,436,359
2035 7,525,805 116,187,949
2034 7,314,741 116,936,734
2033 7,105,166 117,678,572
2032 6,897,152 118,419,247
2031 6,690,066 119,153,646
2030 6,486,667 119,882,512
2029 6,286,290 120,600,781
2028 6,085,426 121,314,239
2027 5,890,999 122,015,984
2026 5,700,718 122,704,252
2025 5,513,282 123,366,734
2024 5,330,690 123,975,371
2023 5,152,421 124,516,650
2022 5,098,039 125,124,989
2021 5,112,100 125,681,593
2020 5,026,628 126,261,000
2019 4,944,703 126,633,000
2018 4,878,657 126,811,000
2017 4,793,511 126,972,000
2016 4,713,663 127,076,000
2015 4,629,320 127,141,000
2014 4,623,182 127,276,000
2013 4,642,419 127,445,000
2012 4,610,848 127,629,000
2011 4,565,021 127,833,000
2010 4,492,995 128,070,000
2009 4,529,047 128,047,000
2008 4,558,984 128,063,000
2007 4,462,770 128,001,000
2006 4,377,579 127,854,000
2005 4,288,810 127,773,000
2004 4,192,826 127,761,000
2003 4,103,086 127,718,000
2002 4,006,077 127,445,000
2001 3,919,487 127,149,000
2000 3,833,416 126,843,000
1999 3,729,450 126,631,000
1998 3,628,827 126,400,000
1997 3,531,700 126,057,000
1996 3,435,965 125,757,000
1995 3,348,052 125,472,000
1994 3,257,954 125,178,000
1993 3,157,839 124,829,000
1992 3,058,831 124,425,000
1991 2,963,191 123,964,000
1990 2,871,910 123,478,000
1989 2,783,970 123,069,000
1988 2,713,965 122,578,000
1987 2,669,155 122,069,000
1986 2,634,258 121,482,000
1985 2,600,932 120,837,000
1984 2,568,610 120,083,000
1983 2,537,399 119,307,000
1982 2,507,375 118,480,000
1981 2,478,402 117,661,000
1980 2,450,535 116,807,000
1979 2,423,794 115,890,000
1978 2,397,961 114,913,000
1977 2,372,930 113,872,000
1976 2,348,566 112,775,000
1975 2,313,916 111,573,000
1974 2,269,338 110,162,000
1973 2,226,008 108,707,000
1972 2,183,769 107,188,000
1971 2,141,450 105,697,000
1970 2,097,505 103,403,000
1969 2,051,515 102,219,000
1968 2,005,100 101,011,000
1967 1,960,444 99,879,000
1966 1,918,082 98,851,000
1965 1,877,854 97,952,000
1964 1,839,583 96,903,000
1963 1,803,063 95,900,000
1962 1,768,115 94,933,000
1961 1,734,580 94,055,000
1960 1,702,346 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Japan
2100 0.42% -0.5%
2099 0.45% -0.49%
2098 0.45% -0.48%
2097 0.49% -0.48%
2096 0.53% -0.48%
2095 0.54% -0.47%
2094 0.55% -0.47%
2093 0.59% -0.47%
2092 0.61% -0.47%
2091 0.65% -0.47%
2090 0.64% -0.47%
2089 0.69% -0.47%
2088 0.72% -0.47%
2087 0.77% -0.48%
2086 0.77% -0.49%
2085 0.81% -0.5%
2084 0.85% -0.5%
2083 0.88% -0.52%
2082 0.89% -0.53%
2081 0.93% -0.55%
2080 0.92% -0.57%
2079 0.98% -0.59%
2078 1.04% -0.62%
2077 1.07% -0.64%
2076 1.1% -0.67%
2075 1.09% -0.69%
2074 1.16% -0.73%
2073 1.17% -0.74%
2072 1.24% -0.76%
2071 1.3% -0.79%
2070 1.32% -0.79%
2069 1.35% -0.8%
2068 1.41% -0.8%
2067 1.43% -0.81%
2066 1.46% -0.81%
2065 1.49% -0.79%
2064 1.57% -0.79%
2063 1.59% -0.78%
2062 1.62% -0.77%
2061 1.68% -0.76%
2060 1.72% -0.75%
2059 1.77% -0.73%
2058 1.81% -0.71%
2057 1.85% -0.7%
2056 1.89% -0.68%
2055 1.93% -0.68%
2054 1.97% -0.65%
2053 2% -0.65%
2052 2.02% -0.64%
2051 2.08% -0.64%
2050 2.08% -0.64%
2049 2.13% -0.64%
2048 2.14% -0.64%
2047 2.19% -0.64%
2046 2.22% -0.65%
2045 2.26% -0.65%
2044 2.27% -0.65%
2043 2.29% -0.65%
2042 2.34% -0.66%
2041 2.42% -0.65%
2040 2.51% -0.65%
2039 2.56% -0.65%
2038 2.6% -0.65%
2037 2.69% -0.65%
2036 2.77% -0.65%
2035 2.89% -0.64%
2034 2.95% -0.63%
2033 3.02% -0.63%
2032 3.1% -0.62%
2031 3.14% -0.61%
2030 3.19% -0.6%
2029 3.3% -0.59%
2028 3.3% -0.58%
2027 3.34% -0.56%
2026 3.4% -0.54%
2025 3.43% -0.49%
2024 3.46% -0.43%
2023 1.07% -0.49%
2022 -0.28% -0.44%
2021 1.7% -0.46%
2020 1.66% -0.29%
2019 1.35% -0.14%
2018 1.78% -0.13%
2017 1.69% -0.08%
2016 1.82% -0.05%
2015 0.13% -0.11%
2014 -0.41% -0.13%
2013 0.68% -0.14%
2012 1% -0.16%
2011 1.6% -0.19%
2010 -0.8% 0.02%
2009 -0.66% -0.01%
2008 2.16% 0.05%
2007 1.95% 0.11%
2006 2.07% 0.06%
2005 2.29% 0.009%
2004 2.19% 0.03%
2003 2.42% 0.21%
2002 2.21% 0.23%
2001 2.25% 0.24%
2000 2.79% 0.17%
1999 2.77% 0.18%
1998 2.75% 0.27%
1997 2.79% 0.24%
1996 2.63% 0.23%
1995 2.77% 0.23%
1994 3.17% 0.28%
1993 3.24% 0.32%
1992 3.23% 0.37%
1991 3.18% 0.39%
1990 3.16% 0.33%
1989 2.58% 0.4%
1988 1.68% 0.42%
1987 1.32% 0.48%
1986 1.28% 0.53%
1985 1.26% 0.63%
1984 1.23% 0.65%
1983 1.2% 0.7%
1982 1.17% 0.7%
1981 1.14% 0.73%
1980 1.1% 0.79%
1979 1.08% 0.85%
1978 1.05% 0.91%
1977 1.04% 0.97%
1976 1.5% 1.08%
1975 1.96% 1.28%
1974 1.95% 1.34%
1973 1.93% 1.42%
1972 1.98% 1.41%
1971 2.1% 2.22%
1970 2.24% 1.16%
1969 2.31% 1.2%
1968 2.28% 1.13%
1967 2.21% 1.04%
1966 2.14% 0.92%
1965 2.08% 1.08%
1964 2.03% 1.05%
1963 1.98% 1.02%
1962 1.93% 0.93%
1961 1.89% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

CAR Japan
Current population
5798457
122704252
Population rank 117/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 1.48%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
52 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
44.6 seconds
One death every
10.5 minutes
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +500 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +182,592 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 183/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +140,579
Net migration rank 143/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 140,579
2024 196,244 -15,357 -942,213 153,357
2023 190,325 -14,682 -871,617 175,003
2022 -49,456 -17,430 -825,825 175,003
2021 124,408 -85,646 -640,976 -34,996
2020 156,911 -24,745 -542,923 42,001
2019 68,523 -36,849 -531,858 318,190
2018 153,361 -52,954 -456,520 320,601
2017 128,461 -58,584 -406,310 322,564
2016 142,419 -52,607 -343,106 314,732
2015 141,912 -63,045 -292,424 168,896
2014 107,448 -174,051 -267,279 58,109
2013 140,489 -112,382 -242,146 66,449
2012 146,791 -111,764 -229,733 67,904
2011 142,913 -86,281 -204,533 97,720
2010 130,539 -43,126 -128,070 131,860
2009 -130,613 -28,899 -76,828 125,450
2008 128,627 -28,983 -51,225 142,605
2007 123,137 -30,352 -25,600 138,024
2006 118,882 -41,282 12,785 130,065
2005 113,534 -13,604 -25,554 113,017
2004 108,548 -16,510 76,656 69,014
2003 105,540 -18,097 114,946 74,875
2002 100,588 5,992 178,423 60,864
2001 99,598 -33,006 203,438 59,563
2000 97,468 8,079 228,317 23,468
1999 96,108 6,284 202,610 56,901
1998 94,361 4,479 265,440 45,912
1997 93,378 2,034 277,325 43,366
1996 93,369 2,697 314,392 25,030
1995 92,748 -12,986 276,039 87,714
1994 90,943 9,496 363,017 154,214
1993 89,873 9,930 312,073 168,836
1992 88,939 9,269 360,833 170,878
1991 88,688 4,381 396,685 161,331
1990 87,507 1,995 407,478 124,582
1989 85,969 409 467,662 31,202
1988 84,654 -31,016 527,085 51,154
1987 83,408 -47,428 598,138 28,001
1986 81,149 -47,332 631,706 27,987
1985 79,266 -46,427 676,687 -141,323
1984 77,395 -45,591 756,523 -273,686
1983 75,399 -44,780 775,495 -269,755
1982 73,330 -43,908 805,664 -288,550
1981 71,391 -42,872 811,861 -278,525
1980 68,759 -41,539 864,372 -92,314
1979 66,104 -39,850 950,298 -57,692
1978 63,285 -37,874 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 60,436 -35,782 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 57,725 -33,645 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 55,106 -9,895 1,204,989 107
1974 53,777 -9,838 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 52,525 -9,800 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 51,390 -9,634 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 50,142 -7,259 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 48,690 -3,693 1,230,496 33,731
1969 47,066 -80 1,195,962 49,447
1968 45,377 474 1,191,930 43,593
1967 42,979 474 1,258,475 29,632
1966 40,804 474 682,072 68,934
1965 38,710 474 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 36,878 474 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 35,218 474 987,770 -100,742
1962 33,731 474 901,864 -57,075
1961 32,383 474 893,522 -58,882
1960 31,131 474 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/japan | 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 Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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