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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,330,690 in 2024 vs 56,432,944 people in Kenya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 58,955,623 in Kenya.

Population statistics:

  • Kenya's population is 10.2 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Kenya is the 25th.
  • The countries together account for 0.78% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.71% for Kenya.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +2.08% in Kenya.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Kenya has grown from 36.9M to 59M (59.8% growth).

Central African Republic vs Kenya: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Kenya
2100 19,066,004 105,238,162
2099 18,985,867 105,257,438
2098 18,901,154 105,257,489
2097 18,815,607 105,250,948
2096 18,724,783 105,220,085
2095 18,626,431 105,175,623
2094 18,526,390 105,118,372
2093 18,425,013 105,046,907
2092 18,316,437 104,955,024
2091 18,205,237 104,846,805
2090 18,087,725 104,718,130
2089 17,972,896 104,573,271
2088 17,848,943 104,414,197
2087 17,721,681 104,243,505
2086 17,585,946 104,056,143
2085 17,451,621 103,854,891
2084 17,310,863 103,640,244
2083 17,164,209 103,407,124
2082 17,014,388 103,158,580
2081 16,864,906 102,889,291
2080 16,708,761 102,594,978
2079 16,556,341 102,286,967
2078 16,396,395 101,961,280
2077 16,228,166 101,613,181
2076 16,055,590 101,239,843
2075 15,881,626 100,849,423
2074 15,710,778 100,436,632
2073 15,530,355 100,001,277
2072 15,350,553 99,533,234
2071 15,162,785 99,042,264
2070 14,968,105 98,529,166
2069 14,772,746 97,992,232
2068 14,575,859 97,428,138
2067 14,373,538 96,842,744
2066 14,170,754 96,230,345
2065 13,967,146 95,598,937
2064 13,761,777 94,942,874
2063 13,548,616 94,266,124
2062 13,336,037 93,561,519
2061 13,123,628 92,837,768
2060 12,906,496 92,098,717
2059 12,688,037 91,343,602
2058 12,467,461 90,569,828
2057 12,245,441 89,783,087
2056 12,023,522 88,994,126
2055 11,801,006 88,192,182
2054 11,578,020 87,379,992
2053 11,354,432 86,552,281
2052 11,131,786 85,710,403
2051 10,910,913 84,850,558
2050 10,689,058 83,976,685
2049 10,471,199 83,090,517
2048 10,252,433 82,191,119
2047 10,037,332 81,274,836
2046 9,822,499 80,340,592
2045 9,608,962 79,389,433
2044 9,397,018 78,414,158
2043 9,188,292 77,418,567
2042 8,982,316 76,399,781
2041 8,777,138 75,363,853
2040 8,570,085 74,308,480
2039 8,360,267 73,241,028
2038 8,151,599 72,153,876
2037 7,944,754 71,058,753
2036 7,736,415 69,949,421
2035 7,527,731 68,831,151
2034 7,316,613 67,705,051
2033 7,106,984 66,569,532
2032 6,898,917 65,431,402
2031 6,691,778 64,289,540
2030 6,488,327 63,153,520
2029 6,287,899 62,021,378
2028 6,086,983 60,894,078
2027 5,892,506 59,770,115
2026 5,702,177 58,653,621
2025 5,514,692 57,540,609
2024 5,330,690 56,432,944
2023 5,152,421 55,339,003
2022 5,098,039 54,252,461
2021 5,112,100 53,219,166
2020 5,026,628 52,217,334
2019 4,944,703 51,202,827
2018 4,878,657 50,207,107
2017 4,793,511 49,197,766
2016 4,713,663 48,139,687
2015 4,629,320 47,088,526
2014 4,623,182 46,051,440
2013 4,642,419 44,986,791
2012 4,610,848 43,888,303
2011 4,565,021 42,758,461
2010 4,492,995 41,598,567
2009 4,529,047 40,408,891
2008 4,558,984 39,206,351
2007 4,462,770 38,036,349
2006 4,377,579 36,904,008
2005 4,288,810 35,796,484
2004 4,192,826 34,713,455
2003 4,103,086 33,652,223
2002 4,006,077 32,629,808
2001 3,919,487 31,619,170
2000 3,833,416 30,642,890
1999 3,729,450 29,733,408
1998 3,628,827 28,888,057
1997 3,531,700 28,101,768
1996 3,435,965 27,344,211
1995 3,348,052 26,601,751
1994 3,257,954 25,857,130
1993 3,157,839 25,117,188
1992 3,058,831 24,382,460
1991 2,963,191 23,646,514
1990 2,871,910 22,892,651
1989 2,783,970 22,118,434
1988 2,713,965 21,356,219
1987 2,669,155 20,616,096
1986 2,634,258 19,901,646
1985 2,600,932 19,201,768
1984 2,568,610 18,514,906
1983 2,537,399 17,846,374
1982 2,507,375 17,206,175
1981 2,478,402 16,601,507
1980 2,450,535 16,018,459
1979 2,423,794 15,460,666
1978 2,397,961 14,934,126
1977 2,372,930 14,428,819
1976 2,348,566 13,957,623
1975 2,313,916 13,511,671
1974 2,269,338 13,070,078
1973 2,226,008 12,634,835
1972 2,183,769 12,206,060
1971 2,141,450 11,788,904
1970 2,097,505 11,368,791
1969 2,051,515 10,939,695
1968 2,005,100 10,518,823
1967 1,960,444 10,111,057
1966 1,918,082 9,717,816
1965 1,877,854 9,338,078
1964 1,839,583 8,973,535
1963 1,803,063 8,627,971
1962 1,768,115 8,299,308
1961 1,734,580 7,987,770
1960 1,702,346 7,695,307

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Kenya gained 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Kenya's population increased by 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Kenya was ranked 33rd in 2006 and ranked 25th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Central African Republic's population will grow by 85.8% to 10,689,058 people with a rank change from 118th to 96th. The population of Kenya will increase by 42.4% to 83,976,685 people and rank change from 25th to 22nd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 105M people in 2098 for Kenya.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Kenya
2100 0.42% -0.02%
2099 0.45% -0%
2098 0.45% 0.006%
2097 0.49% 0.03%
2096 0.53% 0.04%
2095 0.54% 0.05%
2094 0.55% 0.07%
2093 0.59% 0.09%
2092 0.61% 0.1%
2091 0.65% 0.12%
2090 0.64% 0.14%
2089 0.69% 0.15%
2088 0.72% 0.16%
2087 0.77% 0.18%
2086 0.77% 0.19%
2085 0.81% 0.21%
2084 0.85% 0.23%
2083 0.88% 0.24%
2082 0.89% 0.26%
2081 0.93% 0.29%
2080 0.92% 0.3%
2079 0.98% 0.32%
2078 1.04% 0.34%
2077 1.07% 0.37%
2076 1.1% 0.39%
2075 1.09% 0.41%
2074 1.16% 0.44%
2073 1.17% 0.47%
2072 1.24% 0.5%
2071 1.3% 0.52%
2070 1.32% 0.55%
2069 1.35% 0.58%
2068 1.41% 0.6%
2067 1.43% 0.64%
2066 1.46% 0.66%
2065 1.49% 0.69%
2064 1.57% 0.72%
2063 1.59% 0.75%
2062 1.62% 0.78%
2061 1.68% 0.8%
2060 1.72% 0.83%
2059 1.77% 0.85%
2058 1.81% 0.88%
2057 1.85% 0.89%
2056 1.89% 0.91%
2055 1.93% 0.93%
2054 1.97% 0.96%
2053 2% 0.98%
2052 2.02% 1.01%
2051 2.08% 1.04%
2050 2.08% 1.07%
2049 2.13% 1.09%
2048 2.14% 1.13%
2047 2.19% 1.16%
2046 2.22% 1.2%
2045 2.26% 1.24%
2044 2.27% 1.29%
2043 2.29% 1.33%
2042 2.34% 1.37%
2041 2.42% 1.42%
2040 2.51% 1.46%
2039 2.56% 1.51%
2038 2.6% 1.54%
2037 2.69% 1.59%
2036 2.77% 1.62%
2035 2.89% 1.66%
2034 2.95% 1.71%
2033 3.02% 1.74%
2032 3.1% 1.78%
2031 3.14% 1.8%
2030 3.19% 1.83%
2029 3.3% 1.85%
2028 3.3% 1.88%
2027 3.34% 1.9%
2026 3.4% 1.93%
2025 3.45% 1.96%
2024 3.46% 1.98%
2023 1.07% 2%
2022 -0.28% 1.94%
2021 1.7% 1.92%
2020 1.66% 1.98%
2019 1.35% 1.98%
2018 1.78% 2.05%
2017 1.69% 2.2%
2016 1.82% 2.23%
2015 0.13% 2.25%
2014 -0.41% 2.37%
2013 0.68% 2.5%
2012 1% 2.64%
2011 1.6% 2.79%
2010 -0.8% 2.94%
2009 -0.66% 3.07%
2008 2.16% 3.08%
2007 1.95% 3.07%
2006 2.07% 3.09%
2005 2.29% 3.12%
2004 2.19% 3.15%
2003 2.42% 3.13%
2002 2.21% 3.2%
2001 2.25% 3.19%
2000 2.79% 3.06%
1999 2.77% 2.93%
1998 2.75% 2.8%
1997 2.79% 2.77%
1996 2.63% 2.79%
1995 2.77% 2.88%
1994 3.17% 2.95%
1993 3.24% 3.01%
1992 3.23% 3.11%
1991 3.18% 3.29%
1990 3.16% 3.5%
1989 2.58% 3.57%
1988 1.68% 3.59%
1987 1.32% 3.59%
1986 1.28% 3.64%
1985 1.26% 3.71%
1984 1.23% 3.75%
1983 1.2% 3.72%
1982 1.17% 3.64%
1981 1.14% 3.64%
1980 1.1% 3.61%
1979 1.08% 3.53%
1978 1.05% 3.5%
1977 1.04% 3.38%
1976 1.5% 3.3%
1975 1.96% 3.38%
1974 1.95% 3.44%
1973 1.93% 3.51%
1972 1.98% 3.54%
1971 2.1% 3.7%
1970 2.24% 3.92%
1969 2.31% 4%
1968 2.28% 4.03%
1967 2.21% 4.05%
1966 2.14% 4.07%
1965 2.08% 4.06%
1964 2.03% 4.01%
1963 1.98% 3.96%
1962 1.93% 3.9%
1961 1.89% 3.8%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/kenya | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Kenya's population grew by 1.98%.

Live population counters

CAR Kenya
Current population
5753659
58955623
Population rank 118/197 25/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.71%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
28.8 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
21 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
1.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +2,997
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +1,093,941
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +1.98%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 53/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -27,330
Net migration rank 143/196 160/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 992,536
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 61/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 136/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Kenya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Kenya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -27,330
2024 - -15,357 - -19,781
2023 190,325 -14,682 1,100,970 -10,003
2022 -49,456 -17,430 1,092,102 -10,003
2021 124,408 -85,646 1,037,082 -52,552
2020 156,911 -24,745 1,036,253 -17,111
2019 68,523 -36,849 1,071,777 -61,949
2018 153,361 -52,954 1,097,075 -115,436
2017 128,461 -58,584 1,105,769 -68,702
2016 142,419 -52,607 1,108,801 -29,728
2015 141,912 -63,045 1,119,200 -95,977
2014 107,448 -174,051 1,123,333 -72,415
2013 140,489 -112,382 1,136,006 -57,634
2012 146,791 -111,764 1,161,548 -42,928
2011 142,913 -86,281 1,185,863 -44,795
2010 130,539 -43,126 1,199,786 -21,069
2009 -130,613 -28,899 1,193,598 7,096
2008 128,627 -28,983 1,174,818 29,612
2007 123,137 -30,352 1,147,063 -11,495
2006 118,882 -41,282 1,113,357 15,767
2005 113,534 -13,604 1,080,446 5,501
2004 108,548 -16,510 1,048,590 31,525
2003 105,540 -18,097 1,018,182 24,175
2002 100,588 5,992 992,044 10,431
2001 99,598 -33,006 963,721 55,052
2000 97,468 8,079 928,357 5,407
1999 96,108 6,284 898,484 -13,257
1998 94,361 4,479 875,511 -70,023
1997 93,378 2,034 847,493 -80,443
1996 93,369 2,697 827,326 -79,276
1995 92,748 -12,986 812,391 -75,506
1994 90,943 9,496 792,702 -40,367
1993 89,873 9,930 788,579 -61,054
1992 88,939 9,269 785,018 -43,085
1991 88,688 4,381 790,030 -60,087
1990 87,507 1,995 789,087 -11,338
1989 85,969 409 795,622 -24,949
1988 84,654 -31,016 785,652 -31,894
1987 83,408 -47,428 775,124 -48,633
1986 81,149 -47,332 755,606 -53,183
1985 79,266 -46,427 732,739 -35,400
1984 77,395 -45,591 709,639 -33,253
1983 75,399 -44,780 684,587 -23,905
1982 73,330 -43,908 663,109 -43,382
1981 71,391 -42,872 642,379 -52,761
1980 68,759 -41,539 616,390 -39,920
1979 66,104 -39,850 595,390 -56,280
1978 63,285 -37,874 574,695 -60,718
1977 60,436 -35,782 554,124 -57,493
1976 57,725 -33,645 536,740 -90,990
1975 55,106 -9,895 517,579 -71,421
1974 53,777 -9,838 500,008 -62,973
1973 52,525 -9,800 485,556 -52,102
1972 51,390 -9,634 472,557 -48,466
1971 50,142 -7,259 459,897 -49,671
1970 48,690 -3,693 443,065 -13,064
1969 47,066 -80 427,819 369
1968 45,377 474 411,948 1,611
1967 42,979 474 396,920 5,060
1966 40,804 474 382,891 1,616
1965 38,710 474 366,444 8,524
1964 36,878 474 349,322 4,788
1963 35,218 474 332,763 4,246
1962 33,731 474 315,797 4,521
1961 32,383 474 298,463 4,296
1960 31,131 474 280,032 2,134

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/kenya | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 66.7% of the population change in the Central African Republic is from natural causes (a gain of 1,164,312 people) and 33.3% is from migration (a loss of 580,593 people). In Kenya 95.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,892,362 people) and 4.67% is from migration (a loss of 533,876 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 992,536 people or 1.8% in Kenya.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
Meru 42.7K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/kenya | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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