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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Lesotho: 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 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 2.4 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Central African Republic vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Lesotho
2100 19,066,004 3,280,784
2099 18,985,867 3,286,697
2098 18,901,154 3,292,498
2097 18,815,607 3,298,102
2096 18,724,783 3,303,027
2095 18,626,431 3,307,947
2094 18,526,390 3,312,002
2093 18,425,013 3,315,757
2092 18,316,437 3,319,661
2091 18,205,237 3,322,573
2090 18,087,725 3,324,769
2089 17,972,896 3,326,847
2088 17,848,943 3,328,480
2087 17,721,681 3,329,964
2086 17,585,946 3,330,456
2085 17,451,621 3,331,259
2084 17,310,863 3,331,485
2083 17,164,209 3,331,492
2082 17,014,388 3,331,234
2081 16,864,906 3,330,412
2080 16,708,761 3,329,267
2079 16,556,341 3,327,166
2078 16,396,395 3,324,646
2077 16,228,166 3,321,422
2076 16,055,590 3,317,850
2075 15,881,626 3,314,237
2074 15,710,778 3,309,174
2073 15,530,355 3,303,860
2072 15,350,553 3,298,181
2071 15,162,785 3,291,492
2070 14,968,105 3,283,654
2069 14,772,746 3,275,244
2068 14,575,859 3,266,152
2067 14,373,538 3,256,626
2066 14,170,754 3,246,903
2065 13,967,146 3,237,153
2064 13,761,777 3,226,489
2063 13,548,616 3,215,103
2062 13,336,037 3,202,287
2061 13,123,628 3,188,933
2060 12,906,496 3,174,998
2059 12,688,037 3,160,204
2058 12,467,461 3,145,053
2057 12,245,441 3,129,261
2056 12,023,522 3,113,129
2055 11,801,006 3,095,904
2054 11,578,020 3,078,567
2053 11,354,432 3,060,152
2052 11,131,786 3,040,649
2051 10,910,913 3,020,109
2050 10,689,058 2,999,457
2049 10,471,199 2,978,037
2048 10,252,433 2,955,727
2047 10,037,332 2,932,688
2046 9,822,499 2,909,307
2045 9,608,962 2,885,537
2044 9,397,018 2,861,372
2043 9,188,292 2,836,777
2042 8,982,316 2,811,663
2041 8,777,138 2,786,147
2040 8,570,085 2,760,391
2039 8,360,267 2,734,400
2038 8,151,599 2,708,216
2037 7,944,754 2,681,863
2036 7,736,415 2,654,755
2035 7,527,731 2,627,701
2034 7,316,613 2,600,880
2033 7,106,984 2,574,065
2032 6,898,917 2,547,344
2031 6,691,778 2,520,831
2030 6,488,327 2,494,646
2029 6,287,899 2,468,268
2028 6,086,983 2,441,871
2027 5,892,506 2,415,830
2026 5,702,177 2,389,516
2025 5,514,692 2,363,516
2024 5,330,690 2,337,423
2023 5,152,421 2,311,472
2022 5,098,039 2,286,110
2021 5,112,100 2,261,542
2020 5,026,628 2,235,727
2019 4,944,703 2,209,405
2018 4,878,657 2,183,603
2017 4,793,511 2,157,110
2016 4,713,663 2,130,422
2015 4,629,320 2,104,611
2014 4,623,182 2,080,089
2013 4,642,419 2,056,504
2012 4,610,848 2,034,354
2011 4,565,021 2,014,009
2010 4,492,995 1,996,251
2009 4,529,047 1,980,883
2008 4,558,984 1,966,541
2007 4,462,770 1,953,268
2006 4,377,579 1,945,063
2005 4,288,810 1,953,076
2004 4,192,826 1,971,129
2003 4,103,086 1,985,059
2002 4,006,077 1,994,679
2001 3,919,487 2,000,853
2000 3,833,416 2,003,913
1999 3,729,450 2,003,234
1998 3,628,827 1,998,049
1997 3,531,700 1,988,130
1996 3,435,965 1,972,418
1995 3,348,052 1,951,437
1994 3,257,954 1,927,707
1993 3,157,839 1,901,793
1992 3,058,831 1,873,274
1991 2,963,191 1,842,379
1990 2,871,910 1,809,696
1989 2,783,970 1,775,436
1988 2,713,965 1,739,841
1987 2,669,155 1,703,390
1986 2,634,258 1,666,138
1985 2,600,932 1,624,379
1984 2,568,610 1,578,986
1983 2,537,399 1,534,413
1982 2,507,375 1,490,732
1981 2,478,402 1,448,069
1980 2,450,535 1,406,521
1979 2,423,794 1,366,169
1978 2,397,961 1,327,240
1977 2,372,930 1,289,967
1976 2,348,566 1,253,214
1975 2,313,916 1,213,643
1974 2,269,338 1,172,420
1973 2,226,008 1,132,697
1972 2,183,769 1,094,063
1971 2,141,450 1,056,246
1970 2,097,505 1,019,273
1969 2,051,515 983,202
1968 2,005,100 948,105
1967 1,960,444 913,982
1966 1,918,082 881,870
1965 1,877,854 854,090
1964 1,839,583 829,437
1963 1,803,063 805,373
1962 1,768,115 781,814
1961 1,734,580 758,824
1960 1,702,346 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Lesotho
2100 0.42% -0.18%
2099 0.45% -0.18%
2098 0.45% -0.17%
2097 0.49% -0.15%
2096 0.53% -0.15%
2095 0.54% -0.12%
2094 0.55% -0.11%
2093 0.59% -0.12%
2092 0.61% -0.09%
2091 0.65% -0.07%
2090 0.64% -0.06%
2089 0.69% -0.05%
2088 0.72% -0.04%
2087 0.77% -0.01%
2086 0.77% -0.02%
2085 0.81% -0.007%
2084 0.85% -0%
2083 0.88% 0.008%
2082 0.89% 0.02%
2081 0.93% 0.03%
2080 0.92% 0.06%
2079 0.98% 0.08%
2078 1.04% 0.1%
2077 1.07% 0.11%
2076 1.1% 0.11%
2075 1.09% 0.15%
2074 1.16% 0.16%
2073 1.17% 0.17%
2072 1.24% 0.2%
2071 1.3% 0.24%
2070 1.32% 0.26%
2069 1.35% 0.28%
2068 1.41% 0.29%
2067 1.43% 0.3%
2066 1.46% 0.3%
2065 1.49% 0.33%
2064 1.57% 0.35%
2063 1.59% 0.4%
2062 1.62% 0.42%
2061 1.68% 0.44%
2060 1.72% 0.47%
2059 1.77% 0.48%
2058 1.81% 0.5%
2057 1.85% 0.52%
2056 1.89% 0.56%
2055 1.93% 0.56%
2054 1.97% 0.6%
2053 2% 0.64%
2052 2.02% 0.68%
2051 2.08% 0.69%
2050 2.08% 0.72%
2049 2.13% 0.75%
2048 2.14% 0.79%
2047 2.19% 0.8%
2046 2.22% 0.82%
2045 2.26% 0.84%
2044 2.27% 0.87%
2043 2.29% 0.89%
2042 2.34% 0.92%
2041 2.42% 0.93%
2040 2.51% 0.95%
2039 2.56% 0.97%
2038 2.6% 0.98%
2037 2.69% 1.02%
2036 2.77% 1.03%
2035 2.89% 1.03%
2034 2.95% 1.04%
2033 3.02% 1.05%
2032 3.1% 1.05%
2031 3.14% 1.05%
2030 3.19% 1.07%
2029 3.3% 1.08%
2028 3.3% 1.08%
2027 3.34% 1.1%
2026 3.4% 1.1%
2025 3.45% 1.12%
2024 3.46% 1.12%
2023 1.07% 1.11%
2022 -0.28% 1.09%
2021 1.7% 1.15%
2020 1.66% 1.19%
2019 1.35% 1.18%
2018 1.78% 1.23%
2017 1.69% 1.25%
2016 1.82% 1.23%
2015 0.13% 1.18%
2014 -0.41% 1.15%
2013 0.68% 1.09%
2012 1% 1.01%
2011 1.6% 0.89%
2010 -0.8% 0.78%
2009 -0.66% 0.73%
2008 2.16% 0.68%
2007 1.95% 0.42%
2006 2.07% -0.41%
2005 2.29% -0.92%
2004 2.19% -0.7%
2003 2.42% -0.48%
2002 2.21% -0.31%
2001 2.25% -0.15%
2000 2.79% 0.03%
1999 2.77% 0.26%
1998 2.75% 0.5%
1997 2.79% 0.8%
1996 2.63% 1.08%
1995 2.77% 1.23%
1994 3.17% 1.36%
1993 3.24% 1.52%
1992 3.23% 1.68%
1991 3.18% 1.81%
1990 3.16% 1.93%
1989 2.58% 2.05%
1988 1.68% 2.14%
1987 1.32% 2.24%
1986 1.28% 2.57%
1985 1.26% 2.87%
1984 1.23% 2.9%
1983 1.2% 2.93%
1982 1.17% 2.95%
1981 1.14% 2.95%
1980 1.1% 2.95%
1979 1.08% 2.93%
1978 1.05% 2.89%
1977 1.04% 2.93%
1976 1.5% 3.26%
1975 1.96% 3.52%
1974 1.95% 3.51%
1973 1.93% 3.53%
1972 1.98% 3.58%
1971 2.1% 3.63%
1970 2.24% 3.67%
1969 2.31% 3.7%
1968 2.28% 3.73%
1967 2.21% 3.64%
1966 2.14% 3.25%
1965 2.08% 2.97%
1964 2.03% 2.99%
1963 1.98% 3.01%
1962 1.93% 3.03%
1961 1.89% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

CAR Lesotho
Current population
5753659
2396633
Population rank 118/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.03%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
2.2 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +71
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 93/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 -5,192
Net migration rank 143/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -5,192
2024 - -15,357 - -5,107
2023 190,325 -14,682 31,115 -5,168
2022 -49,456 -17,430 30,803 -6,023
2021 124,408 -85,646 27,806 -3,449
2020 156,911 -24,745 30,721 -3,449
2019 68,523 -36,849 32,279 -6,896
2018 153,361 -52,954 33,112 -6,892
2017 128,461 -58,584 33,601 -6,850
2016 142,419 -52,607 33,390 -6,766
2015 141,912 -63,045 32,087 -7,087
2014 107,448 -174,051 30,922 -6,877
2013 140,489 -112,382 29,789 -6,659
2012 146,791 -111,764 27,592 -6,425
2011 142,913 -86,281 25,647 -6,118
2010 130,539 -43,126 21,877 -5,886
2009 -130,613 -28,899 20,335 -5,599
2008 128,627 -28,983 19,349 -5,392
2007 123,137 -30,352 17,763 -5,179
2006 118,882 -41,282 15,234 -11,416
2005 113,534 -13,604 15,831 -35,679
2004 108,548 -16,510 17,271 -33,530
2003 105,540 -18,097 20,133 -31,723
2002 100,588 5,992 22,274 -29,924
2001 99,598 -33,006 23,190 -27,874
2000 97,468 8,079 24,786 -26,220
1999 96,108 6,284 27,393 -24,610
1998 94,361 4,479 30,889 -23,299
1997 93,378 2,034 34,637 -22,396
1996 93,369 2,697 36,228 -17,042
1995 92,748 -12,986 37,370 -14,588
1994 90,943 9,496 38,629 -13,953
1993 89,873 9,930 40,505 -13,347
1992 88,939 9,269 42,579 -12,707
1991 88,688 4,381 44,026 -12,114
1990 87,507 1,995 45,060 -11,598
1989 85,969 409 46,264 -11,207
1988 84,654 -31,016 47,158 -11,028
1987 83,408 -47,428 47,718 -10,946
1986 81,149 -47,332 45,232 -7,501
1985 79,266 -46,427 44,575 1,222
1984 77,395 -45,591 43,785 1,199
1983 75,399 -44,780 42,899 1,253
1982 73,330 -43,908 41,941 1,281
1981 71,391 -42,872 40,808 1,307
1980 68,759 -41,539 39,617 1,361
1979 66,104 -39,850 38,440 1,285
1978 63,285 -37,874 37,084 1,047
1977 60,436 -35,782 35,654 746
1976 57,725 -33,645 34,117 2,986
1975 55,106 -9,895 32,311 9,723
1974 53,777 -9,838 30,444 9,972
1973 52,525 -9,800 28,859 10,183
1972 51,390 -9,634 27,841 10,386
1971 50,142 -7,259 26,838 10,563
1970 48,690 -3,693 25,935 10,605
1969 47,066 -80 25,137 10,465
1968 45,377 474 24,490 10,108
1967 42,979 474 23,911 9,734
1966 40,804 474 23,326 7,248
1965 38,710 474 22,755 2,239
1964 36,878 474 22,116 2,198
1963 35,218 474 21,585 2,220
1962 33,731 474 21,132 2,172
1961 32,383 474 20,581 2,100
1960 31,131 474 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

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/lesotho | 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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