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Population in the Central African Republic compared to New Zealand: 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 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 1.07 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Central African Republic vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR New Zealand
2100 19,066,004 5,918,837
2099 18,985,867 5,923,132
2098 18,901,154 5,927,206
2097 18,815,607 5,930,263
2096 18,724,783 5,932,907
2095 18,626,431 5,934,847
2094 18,526,390 5,936,183
2093 18,425,013 5,938,804
2092 18,316,437 5,939,085
2091 18,205,237 5,940,665
2090 18,087,725 5,941,752
2089 17,972,896 5,944,871
2088 17,848,943 5,945,635
2087 17,721,681 5,948,586
2086 17,585,946 5,951,745
2085 17,451,621 5,955,275
2084 17,310,863 5,959,115
2083 17,164,209 5,963,613
2082 17,014,388 5,966,943
2081 16,864,906 5,968,511
2080 16,708,761 5,971,082
2079 16,556,341 5,972,331
2078 16,396,395 5,972,928
2077 16,228,166 5,971,804
2076 16,055,590 5,971,386
2075 15,881,626 5,970,985
2074 15,710,778 5,969,834
2073 15,530,355 5,968,506
2072 15,350,553 5,964,548
2071 15,162,785 5,964,493
2070 14,968,105 5,963,811
2069 14,772,746 5,962,551
2068 14,575,859 5,960,918
2067 14,373,538 5,958,438
2066 14,170,754 5,954,539
2065 13,967,146 5,950,378
2064 13,761,777 5,946,851
2063 13,548,616 5,944,910
2062 13,336,037 5,940,838
2061 13,123,628 5,939,601
2060 12,906,496 5,936,094
2059 12,688,037 5,931,426
2058 12,467,461 5,925,816
2057 12,245,441 5,919,823
2056 12,023,522 5,913,287
2055 11,801,006 5,904,352
2054 11,578,020 5,894,795
2053 11,354,432 5,884,875
2052 11,131,786 5,876,162
2051 10,910,913 5,864,176
2050 10,689,058 5,852,896
2049 10,471,199 5,844,165
2048 10,252,433 5,833,178
2047 10,037,332 5,822,035
2046 9,822,499 5,809,860
2045 9,608,962 5,795,785
2044 9,397,018 5,780,884
2043 9,188,292 5,764,579
2042 8,982,316 5,746,528
2041 8,777,138 5,727,253
2040 8,570,085 5,708,874
2039 8,360,267 5,690,018
2038 8,151,599 5,669,959
2037 7,944,754 5,650,253
2036 7,736,415 5,630,126
2035 7,527,731 5,609,155
2034 7,316,613 5,588,315
2033 7,106,984 5,565,507
2032 6,898,917 5,542,488
2031 6,691,778 5,517,391
2030 6,488,327 5,491,320
2029 6,287,899 5,462,926
2028 6,086,983 5,432,752
2027 5,892,506 5,399,898
2026 5,702,177 5,364,771
2025 5,514,692 5,327,462
2024 5,330,690 5,287,500
2023 5,152,421 5,200,000
2022 5,098,039 5,081,700
2021 5,112,100 5,084,600
2020 5,026,628 5,072,400
2019 4,944,703 4,970,300
2018 4,878,657 4,900,600
2017 4,793,511 4,813,600
2016 4,713,663 4,714,100
2015 4,629,320 4,609,400
2014 4,623,182 4,516,500
2013 4,642,419 4,442,100
2012 4,610,848 4,408,100
2011 4,565,021 4,384,000
2010 4,492,995 4,350,700
2009 4,529,047 4,302,600
2008 4,558,984 4,259,800
2007 4,462,770 4,223,800
2006 4,377,579 4,184,600
2005 4,288,810 4,133,900
2004 4,192,826 4,087,500
2003 4,103,086 4,027,200
2002 4,006,077 3,948,500
2001 3,919,487 3,880,500
2000 3,833,416 3,857,700
1999 3,729,450 3,835,100
1998 3,628,827 3,815,000
1997 3,531,700 3,781,300
1996 3,435,965 3,732,000
1995 3,348,052 3,673,400
1994 3,257,954 3,620,000
1993 3,157,839 3,572,200
1992 3,058,831 3,531,700
1991 2,963,191 3,495,100
1990 2,871,910 3,329,800
1989 2,783,970 3,299,200
1988 2,713,965 3,283,400
1987 2,669,155 3,274,400
1986 2,634,258 3,246,300
1985 2,600,932 3,247,100
1984 2,568,610 3,227,100
1983 2,537,399 3,199,300
1982 2,507,375 3,156,100
1981 2,478,402 3,124,900
1980 2,450,535 3,112,900
1979 2,423,794 3,109,000
1978 2,397,961 3,121,200
1977 2,372,930 3,120,200
1976 2,348,566 3,110,500
1975 2,313,916 3,083,100
1974 2,269,338 3,023,700
1973 2,226,008 2,961,300
1972 2,183,769 2,903,900
1971 2,141,450 2,853,000
1970 2,097,505 2,810,700
1969 2,051,515 2,772,800
1968 2,005,100 2,748,100
1967 1,960,444 2,724,100
1966 1,918,082 2,675,900
1965 1,877,854 2,628,400
1964 1,839,583 2,585,400
1963 1,803,063 2,531,800
1962 1,768,115 2,482,000
1961 1,734,580 2,419,700
1960 1,702,346 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR New Zealand
2100 0.42% -0.07%
2099 0.45% -0.07%
2098 0.45% -0.05%
2097 0.49% -0.04%
2096 0.53% -0.03%
2095 0.54% -0.02%
2094 0.55% -0.04%
2093 0.59% -0.005%
2092 0.61% -0.03%
2091 0.65% -0.02%
2090 0.64% -0.05%
2089 0.69% -0.01%
2088 0.72% -0.05%
2087 0.77% -0.05%
2086 0.77% -0.06%
2085 0.81% -0.06%
2084 0.85% -0.08%
2083 0.88% -0.06%
2082 0.89% -0.03%
2081 0.93% -0.04%
2080 0.92% -0.02%
2079 0.98% -0.01%
2078 1.04% 0.02%
2077 1.07% 0.007%
2076 1.1% 0.007%
2075 1.09% 0.02%
2074 1.16% 0.02%
2073 1.17% 0.07%
2072 1.24% 0.001%
2071 1.3% 0.01%
2070 1.32% 0.02%
2069 1.35% 0.03%
2068 1.41% 0.04%
2067 1.43% 0.07%
2066 1.46% 0.07%
2065 1.49% 0.06%
2064 1.57% 0.03%
2063 1.59% 0.07%
2062 1.62% 0.02%
2061 1.68% 0.06%
2060 1.72% 0.08%
2059 1.77% 0.09%
2058 1.81% 0.1%
2057 1.85% 0.11%
2056 1.89% 0.15%
2055 1.93% 0.16%
2054 1.97% 0.17%
2053 2% 0.15%
2052 2.02% 0.2%
2051 2.08% 0.19%
2050 2.08% 0.15%
2049 2.13% 0.19%
2048 2.14% 0.19%
2047 2.19% 0.21%
2046 2.22% 0.24%
2045 2.26% 0.26%
2044 2.27% 0.28%
2043 2.29% 0.31%
2042 2.34% 0.34%
2041 2.42% 0.32%
2040 2.51% 0.33%
2039 2.56% 0.35%
2038 2.6% 0.35%
2037 2.69% 0.36%
2036 2.77% 0.37%
2035 2.89% 0.37%
2034 2.95% 0.41%
2033 3.02% 0.42%
2032 3.1% 0.45%
2031 3.14% 0.47%
2030 3.19% 0.52%
2029 3.3% 0.56%
2028 3.3% 0.61%
2027 3.34% 0.65%
2026 3.4% 0.7%
2025 3.45% 0.76%
2024 3.46% 1.68%
2023 1.07% 2.33%
2022 -0.28% -0.06%
2021 1.7% 0.24%
2020 1.66% 2.05%
2019 1.35% 1.42%
2018 1.78% 1.81%
2017 1.69% 2.11%
2016 1.82% 2.27%
2015 0.13% 2.06%
2014 -0.41% 1.67%
2013 0.68% 0.77%
2012 1% 0.55%
2011 1.6% 0.77%
2010 -0.8% 1.12%
2009 -0.66% 1%
2008 2.16% 0.85%
2007 1.95% 0.94%
2006 2.07% 1.23%
2005 2.29% 1.14%
2004 2.19% 1.5%
2003 2.42% 1.99%
2002 2.21% 1.75%
2001 2.25% 0.59%
2000 2.79% 0.59%
1999 2.77% 0.53%
1998 2.75% 0.89%
1997 2.79% 1.32%
1996 2.63% 1.6%
1995 2.77% 1.48%
1994 3.17% 1.34%
1993 3.24% 1.15%
1992 3.23% 1.05%
1991 3.18% 4.96%
1990 3.16% 0.93%
1989 2.58% 0.48%
1988 1.68% 0.27%
1987 1.32% 0.87%
1986 1.28% -0.02%
1985 1.26% 0.62%
1984 1.23% 0.87%
1983 1.2% 1.37%
1982 1.17% 1%
1981 1.14% 0.39%
1980 1.1% 0.13%
1979 1.08% -0.39%
1978 1.05% 0.03%
1977 1.04% 0.31%
1976 1.5% 0.89%
1975 1.96% 1.96%
1974 1.95% 2.11%
1973 1.93% 1.98%
1972 1.98% 1.78%
1971 2.1% 1.5%
1970 2.24% 1.37%
1969 2.31% 0.9%
1968 2.28% 0.88%
1967 2.21% 1.8%
1966 2.14% 1.81%
1965 2.08% 1.66%
1964 2.03% 2.12%
1963 1.98% 2.01%
1962 1.93% 2.57%
1961 1.89% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

CAR New Zealand
Current population
5753659
5374272
Population rank 118/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.06%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
6.01 minutes
One birth every
2.2 minutes
9.31 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +240
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 65/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +17,403
Net migration rank 143/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 17,403
2024 - -15,357 - 18,766
2023 190,325 -14,682 18,876 21,404
2022 -49,456 -17,430 20,123 21,404
2021 124,408 -85,646 23,644 -14,944
2020 156,911 -24,745 24,905 42,124
2019 68,523 -36,849 25,299 69,770
2018 153,361 -52,954 24,797 59,139
2017 128,461 -58,584 26,282 68,349
2016 142,419 -52,607 28,237 75,512
2015 141,912 -63,045 29,408 70,870
2014 107,448 -174,051 26,196 57,974
2013 140,489 -112,382 29,096 26,385
2012 146,791 -111,764 31,077 -1,015
2011 142,913 -86,281 31,302 -2,196
2010 130,539 -43,126 35,458 6,722
2009 -130,613 -28,899 33,560 12,700
2008 128,627 -28,983 35,143 4,804
2007 123,137 -30,352 35,480 3,053
2006 118,882 -41,282 30,924 14,542
2005 113,534 -13,604 30,674 19,212
2004 108,548 -16,510 29,634 24,521
2003 105,540 -18,097 28,150 42,456
2002 100,588 5,992 25,941 48,195
2001 99,598 -33,006 27,939 17,793
2000 97,468 8,079 29,897 -6,604
1999 96,108 6,284 28,916 -7,634
1998 94,361 4,479 29,146 -1,387
1997 93,378 2,034 30,137 12,040
1996 93,369 2,697 28,997 25,169
1995 92,748 -12,986 29,828 26,743
1994 90,943 9,496 30,372 20,420
1993 89,873 9,930 31,685 12,638
1992 88,939 9,269 32,067 6,460
1991 88,688 4,381 33,518 31,156
1990 87,507 1,995 33,298 70,432
1989 85,969 409 30,749 -8,818
1988 84,654 -31,016 29,846 -17,005
1987 83,408 -47,428 27,603 -7,631
1986 81,149 -47,332 25,549 -10,234
1985 79,266 -46,427 24,126 -13,462
1984 77,395 -45,591 26,043 -901
1983 75,399 -44,780 24,315 11,464
1982 73,330 -43,908 24,207 7,982
1981 71,391 -42,872 25,374 -7,606
1980 68,759 -41,539 23,658 -15,423
1979 66,104 -39,850 26,675 -26,694
1978 63,285 -37,874 26,156 -28,783
1977 60,436 -35,782 28,020 -22,697
1976 57,725 -33,645 29,456 -9,138
1975 55,106 -9,895 31,355 13,196
1974 53,777 -9,838 33,896 27,580
1973 52,525 -9,800 35,239 28,261
1972 51,390 -9,634 38,244 17,779
1971 50,142 -7,259 40,000 7,547
1970 48,690 -3,693 37,101 4,511
1969 47,066 -80 38,098 -5,212
1968 45,377 474 37,594 -11,853
1967 42,979 474 37,974 -2,289
1966 40,804 474 36,151 9,161
1965 38,710 474 36,982 9,245
1964 36,878 474 39,375 9,806
1963 35,218 474 42,027 10,226
1962 33,731 474 42,865 12,697
1961 32,383 474 43,482 10,689
1960 31,131 474 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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