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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 3.98 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Central African Republic vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Malawi
2100 19,061,127 59,773,923
2099 18,981,009 59,515,624
2098 18,896,319 59,263,165
2097 18,810,793 59,015,654
2096 18,719,993 58,749,288
2095 18,621,666 58,495,699
2094 18,521,650 58,227,933
2093 18,420,299 57,954,358
2092 18,311,751 57,660,371
2091 18,200,580 57,364,786
2090 18,083,097 57,048,240
2089 17,968,298 56,727,243
2088 17,844,377 56,385,237
2087 17,717,148 56,041,651
2086 17,581,447 55,694,983
2085 17,447,157 55,336,839
2084 17,306,435 54,985,304
2083 17,159,818 54,593,349
2082 17,010,036 54,194,853
2081 16,860,592 53,783,781
2080 16,704,486 53,361,334
2079 16,552,105 52,936,889
2078 16,392,201 52,510,645
2077 16,224,015 52,052,767
2076 16,051,483 51,589,339
2075 15,877,563 51,130,762
2074 15,706,759 50,673,499
2073 15,526,382 50,218,991
2072 15,346,626 49,759,232
2071 15,158,906 49,276,570
2070 14,964,276 48,787,471
2069 14,768,967 48,291,287
2068 14,572,130 47,782,059
2067 14,369,861 47,267,335
2066 14,167,129 46,741,998
2065 13,963,573 46,218,226
2064 13,758,257 45,692,044
2063 13,545,150 45,169,634
2062 13,332,625 44,629,192
2061 13,120,271 44,067,259
2060 12,903,195 43,499,372
2059 12,684,791 42,907,491
2058 12,464,271 42,335,782
2057 12,242,308 41,753,105
2056 12,020,446 41,175,330
2055 11,797,986 40,576,247
2054 11,575,058 39,986,120
2053 11,351,527 39,369,178
2052 11,128,939 38,758,577
2051 10,908,122 38,145,141
2050 10,686,324 37,537,814
2049 10,468,520 36,928,354
2048 10,249,810 36,332,040
2047 10,034,764 35,717,466
2046 9,819,986 35,099,651
2045 9,606,504 34,484,520
2044 9,394,614 33,855,018
2043 9,185,941 33,240,675
2042 8,980,018 32,629,513
2041 8,774,893 32,012,581
2040 8,567,893 31,395,572
2039 8,358,128 30,775,878
2038 8,149,514 30,160,239
2037 7,942,721 29,521,489
2036 7,734,436 28,890,318
2035 7,525,805 28,261,909
2034 7,314,741 27,637,439
2033 7,105,166 27,012,311
2032 6,897,152 26,398,409
2031 6,690,066 25,790,366
2030 6,486,667 25,176,420
2029 6,286,290 24,561,210
2028 6,085,426 23,962,931
2027 5,890,999 23,369,575
2026 5,700,718 22,786,713
2025 5,513,282 22,216,120
2024 5,330,690 21,655,286
2023 5,152,421 21,104,482
2022 5,098,039 20,568,728
2021 5,112,100 20,047,258
2020 5,026,628 19,533,888
2019 4,944,703 19,025,752
2018 4,878,657 18,528,081
2017 4,793,511 18,039,715
2016 4,713,663 17,557,739
2015 4,629,320 17,085,587
2014 4,623,182 16,621,538
2013 4,642,419 16,161,816
2012 4,610,848 15,709,577
2011 4,565,021 15,265,022
2010 4,492,995 14,826,463
2009 4,529,047 14,395,788
2008 4,558,984 13,976,417
2007 4,462,770 13,576,343
2006 4,377,579 13,198,701
2005 4,288,810 12,840,031
2004 4,192,826 12,500,737
2003 4,103,086 12,181,574
2002 4,006,077 11,880,440
2001 3,919,487 11,593,058
2000 3,833,416 11,315,942
1999 3,729,450 11,047,804
1998 3,628,827 10,792,876
1997 3,531,700 10,562,035
1996 3,435,965 10,352,228
1995 3,348,052 10,150,117
1994 3,257,954 10,164,894
1993 3,157,839 10,284,024
1992 3,058,831 10,135,079
1991 2,963,191 9,844,227
1990 2,871,910 9,545,852
1989 2,783,970 9,176,220
1988 2,713,965 8,753,262
1987 2,669,155 8,293,174
1986 2,634,258 7,906,480
1985 2,600,932 7,620,508
1984 2,568,610 7,332,810
1983 2,537,399 7,051,709
1982 2,507,375 6,778,879
1981 2,478,402 6,516,454
1980 2,450,535 6,265,529
1979 2,423,794 6,028,749
1978 2,397,961 5,810,132
1977 2,372,930 5,614,983
1976 2,348,566 5,443,384
1975 2,313,916 5,287,367
1974 2,269,338 5,141,337
1973 2,226,008 5,003,938
1972 2,183,769 4,874,475
1971 2,141,450 4,751,434
1970 2,097,505 4,633,944
1969 2,051,515 4,521,184
1968 2,005,100 4,411,054
1967 1,960,444 4,303,012
1966 1,918,082 4,197,926
1965 1,877,854 4,096,157
1964 1,839,583 3,997,305
1963 1,803,063 3,900,506
1962 1,768,115 3,806,307
1961 1,734,580 3,715,534
1960 1,702,346 3,628,134

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/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st 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 Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Malawi
2100 0.42% 0.43%
2099 0.45% 0.43%
2098 0.45% 0.42%
2097 0.49% 0.45%
2096 0.53% 0.43%
2095 0.54% 0.46%
2094 0.55% 0.47%
2093 0.59% 0.51%
2092 0.61% 0.52%
2091 0.65% 0.55%
2090 0.64% 0.57%
2089 0.69% 0.61%
2088 0.72% 0.61%
2087 0.77% 0.62%
2086 0.77% 0.65%
2085 0.81% 0.64%
2084 0.85% 0.72%
2083 0.88% 0.74%
2082 0.89% 0.76%
2081 0.93% 0.79%
2080 0.92% 0.8%
2079 0.98% 0.81%
2078 1.04% 0.88%
2077 1.07% 0.9%
2076 1.1% 0.9%
2075 1.09% 0.9%
2074 1.16% 0.91%
2073 1.17% 0.92%
2072 1.24% 0.98%
2071 1.3% 1%
2070 1.32% 1.03%
2069 1.35% 1.07%
2068 1.41% 1.09%
2067 1.43% 1.12%
2066 1.46% 1.13%
2065 1.49% 1.15%
2064 1.57% 1.16%
2063 1.59% 1.21%
2062 1.62% 1.28%
2061 1.68% 1.31%
2060 1.72% 1.38%
2059 1.77% 1.35%
2058 1.81% 1.4%
2057 1.85% 1.4%
2056 1.89% 1.48%
2055 1.93% 1.48%
2054 1.97% 1.57%
2053 2% 1.58%
2052 2.02% 1.61%
2051 2.08% 1.62%
2050 2.08% 1.65%
2049 2.13% 1.64%
2048 2.14% 1.72%
2047 2.19% 1.76%
2046 2.22% 1.78%
2045 2.26% 1.86%
2044 2.27% 1.85%
2043 2.29% 1.87%
2042 2.34% 1.93%
2041 2.42% 1.97%
2040 2.51% 2.01%
2039 2.56% 2.04%
2038 2.6% 2.16%
2037 2.69% 2.18%
2036 2.77% 2.22%
2035 2.89% 2.26%
2034 2.95% 2.31%
2033 3.02% 2.33%
2032 3.1% 2.36%
2031 3.14% 2.44%
2030 3.19% 2.5%
2029 3.3% 2.5%
2028 3.3% 2.54%
2027 3.34% 2.56%
2026 3.4% 2.57%
2025 3.43% 2.59%
2024 3.46% 2.61%
2023 1.07% 2.6%
2022 -0.28% 2.6%
2021 1.7% 2.63%
2020 1.66% 2.67%
2019 1.35% 2.69%
2018 1.78% 2.71%
2017 1.69% 2.75%
2016 1.82% 2.76%
2015 0.13% 2.79%
2014 -0.41% 2.84%
2013 0.68% 2.88%
2012 1% 2.91%
2011 1.6% 2.96%
2010 -0.8% 2.99%
2009 -0.66% 3%
2008 2.16% 2.95%
2007 1.95% 2.86%
2006 2.07% 2.79%
2005 2.29% 2.71%
2004 2.19% 2.62%
2003 2.42% 2.53%
2002 2.21% 2.48%
2001 2.25% 2.45%
2000 2.79% 2.43%
1999 2.77% 2.36%
1998 2.75% 2.19%
1997 2.79% 2.03%
1996 2.63% 1.99%
1995 2.77% -0.15%
1994 3.17% -1.16%
1993 3.24% 1.47%
1992 3.23% 2.95%
1991 3.18% 3.13%
1990 3.16% 4.03%
1989 2.58% 4.83%
1988 1.68% 5.55%
1987 1.32% 4.89%
1986 1.28% 3.75%
1985 1.26% 3.92%
1984 1.23% 3.99%
1983 1.2% 4.02%
1982 1.17% 4.03%
1981 1.14% 4%
1980 1.1% 3.93%
1979 1.08% 3.76%
1978 1.05% 3.48%
1977 1.04% 3.15%
1976 1.5% 2.95%
1975 1.96% 2.84%
1974 1.95% 2.75%
1973 1.93% 2.66%
1972 1.98% 2.59%
1971 2.1% 2.54%
1970 2.24% 2.49%
1969 2.31% 2.5%
1968 2.28% 2.51%
1967 2.21% 2.5%
1966 2.14% 2.48%
1965 2.08% 2.47%
1964 2.03% 2.48%
1963 1.98% 2.47%
1962 1.93% 2.44%
1961 1.89% 2.41%

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/malawi | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

CAR Malawi
Current population
5798457
23086106
Population rank 117/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.28%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
56.4 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
46.8 seconds
One death every
10.5 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 23/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 -5,628
Net migration rank 143/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -5,628
2024 196,244 -15,357 559,811 -1,507
2023 190,325 -14,682 549,096 -5,811
2022 -49,456 -17,430 533,450 -5,231
2021 124,408 -85,646 517,400 -2,666
2020 156,911 -24,745 514,659 -2,655
2019 68,523 -36,849 506,104 -1,837
2018 153,361 -52,954 494,348 -3,267
2017 128,461 -58,584 484,655 982
2016 142,419 -52,607 474,779 3,505
2015 141,912 -63,045 472,484 -6,471
2014 107,448 -174,051 472,418 -10,317
2013 140,489 -112,382 470,293 -12,934
2012 146,791 -111,764 460,684 -13,561
2011 142,913 -86,281 454,149 -12,170
2010 130,539 -43,126 444,468 -9,327
2009 -130,613 -28,899 434,811 -8,590
2008 128,627 -28,983 421,781 -9,264
2007 123,137 -30,352 410,290 -22,680
2006 118,882 -41,282 397,123 -29,450
2005 113,534 -13,604 381,130 -31,462
2004 108,548 -16,510 361,133 -32,221
2003 105,540 -18,097 341,133 -31,729
2002 100,588 5,992 322,863 -30,013
2001 99,598 -33,006 310,833 -28,933
2000 97,468 8,079 300,439 -28,098
1999 96,108 6,284 295,629 -31,686
1998 94,361 4,479 285,407 -39,491
1997 93,378 2,034 277,433 -61,646
1996 93,369 2,697 270,048 -66,212
1995 92,748 -12,986 266,745 -66,366
1994 90,943 9,496 275,439 -505,365
1993 89,873 9,930 276,538 -284,867
1992 88,939 9,269 269,066 37,142
1991 88,688 4,381 260,193 15,291
1990 87,507 1,995 250,159 71,111
1989 85,969 409 237,967 180,031
1988 84,654 -31,016 226,911 201,011
1987 83,408 -47,428 220,566 271,693
1986 81,149 -47,332 218,519 62,615
1985 79,266 -46,427 216,179 74,625
1984 77,395 -45,591 212,146 72,435
1983 75,399 -44,780 209,422 68,197
1982 73,330 -43,908 205,386 62,661
1981 71,391 -42,872 199,436 57,376
1980 68,759 -41,539 192,746 52,294
1979 66,104 -39,850 182,123 46,388
1978 63,285 -37,874 172,503 36,225
1977 60,436 -35,782 161,930 19,638
1976 57,725 -33,645 153,422 8,206
1975 55,106 -9,895 145,254 5,162
1974 53,777 -9,838 137,819 3,833
1973 52,525 -9,800 131,529 1,623
1972 51,390 -9,634 125,728 48
1971 50,142 -7,259 121,015 -710
1970 48,690 -3,693 116,822 -2,147
1969 47,066 -80 113,120 -2,266
1968 45,377 474 110,329 -924
1967 42,979 474 106,668 0
1966 40,804 474 103,512 0
1965 38,710 474 100,040 0
1964 36,878 474 97,658 0
1963 35,218 474 95,933 0
1962 33,731 474 92,463 0
1961 32,383 474 89,091 0
1960 31,131 474 85,718 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

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/malawi | 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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