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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Malawi: 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 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 3.99 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th 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 +1.27% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% 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 19,066,004 59,786,744
2099 18,985,867 59,528,389
2098 18,901,154 59,275,876
2097 18,815,607 59,028,312
2096 18,724,783 58,761,888
2095 18,626,431 58,508,246
2094 18,526,390 58,240,422
2093 18,425,013 57,966,788
2092 18,316,437 57,672,738
2091 18,205,237 57,377,090
2090 18,087,725 57,060,476
2089 17,972,896 56,739,410
2088 17,848,943 56,397,330
2087 17,721,681 56,053,671
2086 17,585,946 55,706,928
2085 17,451,621 55,348,708
2084 17,310,863 54,997,097
2083 17,164,209 54,605,058
2082 17,014,388 54,206,477
2081 16,864,906 53,795,317
2080 16,708,761 53,372,779
2079 16,556,341 52,948,243
2078 16,396,395 52,521,908
2077 16,228,166 52,063,931
2076 16,055,590 51,600,404
2075 15,881,626 51,141,728
2074 15,710,778 50,684,368
2073 15,530,355 50,229,762
2072 15,350,553 49,769,904
2071 15,162,785 49,287,139
2070 14,968,105 48,797,935
2069 14,772,746 48,301,644
2068 14,575,859 47,792,308
2067 14,373,538 47,277,473
2066 14,170,754 46,752,024
2065 13,967,146 46,228,139
2064 13,761,777 45,701,844
2063 13,548,616 45,179,322
2062 13,336,037 44,638,764
2061 13,123,628 44,076,711
2060 12,906,496 43,508,702
2059 12,688,037 42,916,694
2058 12,467,461 42,344,863
2057 12,245,441 41,762,060
2056 12,023,522 41,184,161
2055 11,801,006 40,584,950
2054 11,578,020 39,994,696
2053 11,354,432 39,377,622
2052 11,131,786 38,766,890
2051 10,910,913 38,153,322
2050 10,689,058 37,545,865
2049 10,471,199 36,936,275
2048 10,252,433 36,339,833
2047 10,037,332 35,725,127
2046 9,822,499 35,107,179
2045 9,608,962 34,491,916
2044 9,397,018 33,862,279
2043 9,188,292 33,247,804
2042 8,982,316 32,636,511
2041 8,777,138 32,019,447
2040 8,570,085 31,402,305
2039 8,360,267 30,782,479
2038 8,151,599 30,166,708
2037 7,944,754 29,527,821
2036 7,736,415 28,896,515
2035 7,527,731 28,267,970
2034 7,316,613 27,643,367
2033 7,106,984 27,018,105
2032 6,898,917 26,404,071
2031 6,691,778 25,795,897
2030 6,488,327 25,181,820
2029 6,287,899 24,566,478
2028 6,086,983 23,968,071
2027 5,892,506 23,374,588
2026 5,702,177 22,791,601
2025 5,514,692 22,220,885
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th 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 85.8% to 10,689,058 people with a rank change from 118th to 96th. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 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 3.45% 2.61%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

CAR Malawi
Current population
5753659
22949294
Population rank 118/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.28%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
57.3 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
47.6 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 26/197
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 - -15,357 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 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
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
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 (1960–2024, 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/malawi | 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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