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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 3.15 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).

Central African Republic vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Netherlands
2100 19,061,127 17,329,352
2099 18,981,009 17,362,626
2098 18,896,319 17,395,665
2097 18,810,793 17,429,925
2096 18,719,993 17,465,162
2095 18,621,666 17,502,567
2094 18,521,650 17,540,959
2093 18,420,299 17,580,632
2092 18,311,751 17,619,384
2091 18,200,580 17,658,238
2090 18,083,097 17,700,204
2089 17,968,298 17,739,947
2088 17,844,377 17,779,324
2087 17,717,148 17,815,257
2086 17,581,447 17,854,371
2085 17,447,157 17,890,610
2084 17,306,435 17,926,885
2083 17,159,818 17,963,416
2082 17,010,036 17,998,527
2081 16,860,592 18,032,297
2080 16,704,486 18,062,716
2079 16,552,105 18,093,254
2078 16,392,201 18,121,649
2077 16,224,015 18,150,234
2076 16,051,483 18,175,683
2075 15,877,563 18,196,574
2074 15,706,759 18,214,405
2073 15,526,382 18,232,486
2072 15,346,626 18,249,136
2071 15,158,906 18,264,367
2070 14,964,276 18,279,781
2069 14,768,967 18,295,123
2068 14,572,130 18,310,300
2067 14,369,861 18,325,333
2066 14,167,129 18,343,435
2065 13,963,573 18,364,513
2064 13,758,257 18,386,352
2063 13,545,150 18,409,851
2062 13,332,625 18,433,299
2061 13,120,271 18,460,766
2060 12,903,195 18,488,598
2059 12,684,791 18,517,020
2058 12,464,271 18,545,884
2057 12,242,308 18,576,502
2056 12,020,446 18,606,997
2055 11,797,986 18,634,546
2054 11,575,058 18,660,585
2053 11,351,527 18,686,212
2052 11,128,939 18,709,643
2051 10,908,122 18,736,166
2050 10,686,324 18,757,302
2049 10,468,520 18,777,673
2048 10,249,810 18,795,411
2047 10,034,764 18,812,362
2046 9,819,986 18,823,628
2045 9,606,504 18,834,974
2044 9,394,614 18,844,772
2043 9,185,941 18,850,396
2042 8,980,018 18,853,495
2041 8,774,893 18,852,912
2040 8,567,893 18,847,238
2039 8,358,128 18,837,931
2038 8,149,514 18,823,220
2037 7,942,721 18,804,912
2036 7,734,436 18,779,656
2035 7,525,805 18,751,144
2034 7,314,741 18,718,013
2033 7,105,166 18,676,061
2032 6,897,152 18,630,094
2031 6,690,066 18,577,582
2030 6,486,667 18,517,866
2029 6,286,290 18,449,618
2028 6,085,426 18,372,676
2027 5,890,999 18,289,268
2026 5,700,718 18,196,186
2025 5,513,282 18,087,633
2024 5,330,690 17,993,485
2023 5,152,421 17,877,117
2022 5,098,039 17,700,982
2021 5,112,100 17,533,044
2020 5,026,628 17,441,500
2019 4,944,703 17,344,874
2018 4,878,657 17,231,624
2017 4,793,511 17,131,296
2016 4,713,663 17,030,314
2015 4,629,320 16,939,923
2014 4,623,182 16,865,008
2013 4,642,419 16,804,432
2012 4,610,848 16,754,962
2011 4,565,021 16,693,074
2010 4,492,995 16,615,394
2009 4,529,047 16,530,388
2008 4,558,984 16,445,593
2007 4,462,770 16,381,696
2006 4,377,579 16,346,101
2005 4,288,810 16,319,868
2004 4,192,826 16,281,779
2003 4,103,086 16,225,302
2002 4,006,077 16,148,929
2001 3,919,487 16,046,180
2000 3,833,416 15,925,513
1999 3,729,450 15,812,088
1998 3,628,827 15,707,209
1997 3,531,700 15,610,650
1996 3,435,965 15,530,498
1995 3,348,052 15,459,006
1994 3,257,954 15,382,838
1993 3,157,839 15,290,368
1992 3,058,831 15,184,166
1991 2,963,191 15,069,798
1990 2,871,910 14,951,510
1989 2,783,970 14,848,907
1988 2,713,965 14,760,094
1987 2,669,155 14,665,037
1986 2,634,258 14,572,278
1985 2,600,932 14,491,632
1984 2,568,610 14,424,211
1983 2,537,399 14,367,070
1982 2,507,375 14,312,690
1981 2,478,402 14,247,208
1980 2,450,535 14,149,800
1979 2,423,794 14,038,270
1978 2,397,961 13,941,700
1977 2,372,930 13,856,185
1976 2,348,566 13,774,037
1975 2,313,916 13,666,335
1974 2,269,338 13,545,056
1973 2,226,008 13,439,322
1972 2,183,769 13,328,593
1971 2,141,450 13,194,497
1970 2,097,505 13,038,526
1969 2,051,515 12,877,984
1968 2,005,100 12,729,721
1967 1,960,444 12,598,201
1966 1,918,082 12,456,251
1965 1,877,854 12,294,732
1964 1,839,583 12,127,120
1963 1,803,063 11,965,966
1962 1,768,115 11,805,689
1961 1,734,580 11,638,712
1960 1,702,346 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Netherlands
2100 0.42% -0.19%
2099 0.45% -0.19%
2098 0.45% -0.2%
2097 0.49% -0.2%
2096 0.53% -0.21%
2095 0.54% -0.22%
2094 0.55% -0.23%
2093 0.59% -0.22%
2092 0.61% -0.22%
2091 0.65% -0.24%
2090 0.64% -0.22%
2089 0.69% -0.22%
2088 0.72% -0.2%
2087 0.77% -0.22%
2086 0.77% -0.2%
2085 0.81% -0.2%
2084 0.85% -0.2%
2083 0.88% -0.2%
2082 0.89% -0.19%
2081 0.93% -0.17%
2080 0.92% -0.17%
2079 0.98% -0.16%
2078 1.04% -0.16%
2077 1.07% -0.14%
2076 1.1% -0.11%
2075 1.09% -0.1%
2074 1.16% -0.1%
2073 1.17% -0.09%
2072 1.24% -0.08%
2071 1.3% -0.08%
2070 1.32% -0.08%
2069 1.35% -0.08%
2068 1.41% -0.08%
2067 1.43% -0.1%
2066 1.46% -0.11%
2065 1.49% -0.12%
2064 1.57% -0.13%
2063 1.59% -0.13%
2062 1.62% -0.15%
2061 1.68% -0.15%
2060 1.72% -0.15%
2059 1.77% -0.16%
2058 1.81% -0.16%
2057 1.85% -0.16%
2056 1.89% -0.15%
2055 1.93% -0.14%
2054 1.97% -0.14%
2053 2% -0.13%
2052 2.02% -0.14%
2051 2.08% -0.11%
2050 2.08% -0.11%
2049 2.13% -0.09%
2048 2.14% -0.09%
2047 2.19% -0.06%
2046 2.22% -0.06%
2045 2.26% -0.05%
2044 2.27% -0.03%
2043 2.29% -0.02%
2042 2.34% 0.003%
2041 2.42% 0.03%
2040 2.51% 0.05%
2039 2.56% 0.08%
2038 2.6% 0.1%
2037 2.69% 0.13%
2036 2.77% 0.15%
2035 2.89% 0.18%
2034 2.95% 0.22%
2033 3.02% 0.25%
2032 3.1% 0.28%
2031 3.14% 0.32%
2030 3.19% 0.37%
2029 3.3% 0.42%
2028 3.3% 0.46%
2027 3.34% 0.51%
2026 3.4% 0.6%
2025 3.43% 0.52%
2024 3.46% 0.65%
2023 1.07% 1%
2022 -0.28% 0.96%
2021 1.7% 0.52%
2020 1.66% 0.56%
2019 1.35% 0.66%
2018 1.78% 0.59%
2017 1.69% 0.59%
2016 1.82% 0.53%
2015 0.13% 0.44%
2014 -0.41% 0.36%
2013 0.68% 0.3%
2012 1% 0.37%
2011 1.6% 0.47%
2010 -0.8% 0.51%
2009 -0.66% 0.52%
2008 2.16% 0.39%
2007 1.95% 0.22%
2006 2.07% 0.16%
2005 2.29% 0.23%
2004 2.19% 0.35%
2003 2.42% 0.47%
2002 2.21% 0.64%
2001 2.25% 0.76%
2000 2.79% 0.72%
1999 2.77% 0.67%
1998 2.75% 0.62%
1997 2.79% 0.52%
1996 2.63% 0.46%
1995 2.77% 0.5%
1994 3.17% 0.6%
1993 3.24% 0.7%
1992 3.23% 0.76%
1991 3.18% 0.79%
1990 3.16% 0.69%
1989 2.58% 0.6%
1988 1.68% 0.65%
1987 1.32% 0.64%
1986 1.28% 0.56%
1985 1.26% 0.47%
1984 1.23% 0.4%
1983 1.2% 0.38%
1982 1.17% 0.46%
1981 1.14% 0.69%
1980 1.1% 0.79%
1979 1.08% 0.69%
1978 1.05% 0.62%
1977 1.04% 0.6%
1976 1.5% 0.79%
1975 1.96% 0.9%
1974 1.95% 0.79%
1973 1.93% 0.83%
1972 1.98% 1.02%
1971 2.1% 1.2%
1970 2.24% 1.25%
1969 2.31% 1.16%
1968 2.28% 1.04%
1967 2.21% 1.14%
1966 2.14% 1.31%
1965 2.08% 1.38%
1964 2.03% 1.35%
1963 1.98% 1.36%
1962 1.93% 1.43%
1961 1.89% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.

Live population counters

CAR Netherlands
Current population
5798457
18243998
Population rank 117/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.22%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
5.6 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
3.18 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
3.04 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +258
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +94,148
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +0.52%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 127/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +104,681
Net migration rank 143/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 104,681
2024 196,244 -15,357 -7,197 121,628
2023 190,325 -14,682 -5,363 144,558
2022 -49,456 -17,430 -1,770 224,472
2021 124,408 -85,646 7,014 106,416
2020 156,911 -24,745 0 67,598
2019 68,523 -36,849 17,345 109,003
2018 153,361 -52,954 15,508 87,197
2017 128,461 -58,584 18,844 86,332
2016 142,419 -52,607 23,843 88,743
2015 141,912 -63,045 23,716 55,585
2014 107,448 -174,051 35,417 36,591
2013 140,489 -112,382 30,248 19,973
2012 146,791 -111,764 35,186 14,861
2011 142,913 -86,281 45,072 31,224
2010 130,539 -43,126 48,184 33,703
2009 -130,613 -28,899 51,244 39,832
2008 128,627 -28,983 49,337 32,406
2007 123,137 -30,352 49,145 -304
2006 118,882 -41,282 49,038 -25,401
2005 113,534 -13,604 50,592 -22,496
2004 108,548 -16,510 56,987 -9,230
2003 105,540 -18,097 58,411 7,937
2002 100,588 5,992 59,751 28,824
2001 99,598 -33,006 62,580 56,096
2000 97,468 8,079 66,887 59,308
1999 96,108 6,284 60,086 47,179
1998 94,361 4,479 61,258 52,058
1997 93,378 2,034 56,198 31,302
1996 93,369 2,697 51,251 21,792
1995 92,748 -12,986 54,106 15,056
1994 90,943 9,496 61,532 20,193
1993 89,873 9,930 58,103 44,514
1992 88,939 9,269 66,811 50,148
1991 88,688 4,381 69,321 51,670
1990 87,507 1,995 68,777 53,564
1989 85,969 409 59,396 31,165
1988 84,654 -31,016 61,993 31,026
1987 83,408 -47,428 64,526 39,559
1986 81,149 -47,332 59,746 30,380
1985 79,266 -46,427 55,069 27,356
1984 77,395 -45,591 54,812 12,902
1983 75,399 -44,780 51,722 11,007
1982 73,330 -43,908 54,388 7,644
1981 71,391 -42,872 62,688 17,643
1980 68,759 -41,539 66,504 54,010
1979 66,104 -39,850 63,172 42,772
1978 63,285 -37,874 61,344 26,639
1977 60,436 -35,782 63,739 19,809
1976 57,725 -33,645 63,361 18,774
1975 55,106 -9,895 64,232 68,569
1974 53,777 -9,838 75,853 31,645
1973 52,525 -9,800 84,668 18,705
1972 51,390 -9,634 101,297 17,470
1971 50,142 -7,259 116,112 32,756
1970 48,690 -3,693 129,082 32,438
1969 47,066 -80 139,082 21,850
1968 45,377 474 132,389 7,243
1967 42,979 474 138,580 -10,673
1966 40,804 474 138,265 20,740
1965 38,710 474 146,308 19,444
1964 36,878 474 157,653 15,014
1963 35,218 474 154,361 -21
1962 33,731 474 153,474 18,024
1961 32,383 474 159,450 8,258
1960 31,131 474 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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