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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Nigeria: 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 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 42.4 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.01% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Central African Republic vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Nigeria
2100 19,066,004 481,678,166
2099 18,985,867 481,494,914
2098 18,901,154 481,219,866
2097 18,815,607 480,876,108
2096 18,724,783 480,460,381
2095 18,626,431 479,976,454
2094 18,526,390 479,432,855
2093 18,425,013 478,807,152
2092 18,316,437 478,097,591
2091 18,205,237 477,274,569
2090 18,087,725 476,367,086
2089 17,972,896 475,363,859
2088 17,848,943 474,268,867
2087 17,721,681 473,072,894
2086 17,585,946 471,769,229
2085 17,451,621 470,365,292
2084 17,310,863 468,843,169
2083 17,164,209 467,224,322
2082 17,014,388 465,509,151
2081 16,864,906 463,679,779
2080 16,708,761 461,741,930
2079 16,556,341 459,680,797
2078 16,396,395 457,513,367
2077 16,228,166 455,254,796
2076 16,055,590 452,885,729
2075 15,881,626 450,402,898
2074 15,710,778 447,825,224
2073 15,530,355 445,152,156
2072 15,350,553 442,375,349
2071 15,162,785 439,499,004
2070 14,968,105 436,539,777
2069 14,772,746 433,472,204
2068 14,575,859 430,320,190
2067 14,373,538 427,066,199
2066 14,170,754 423,736,078
2065 13,967,146 420,318,527
2064 13,761,777 416,811,285
2063 13,548,616 413,231,409
2062 13,336,037 409,583,480
2061 13,123,628 405,859,509
2060 12,906,496 402,073,494
2059 12,688,037 398,228,736
2058 12,467,461 394,315,883
2057 12,245,441 390,341,867
2056 12,023,522 386,298,064
2055 11,801,006 382,193,151
2054 11,578,020 378,030,342
2053 11,354,432 373,799,276
2052 11,131,786 369,501,634
2051 10,910,913 365,149,555
2050 10,689,058 360,734,783
2049 10,471,199 356,271,401
2048 10,252,433 351,752,501
2047 10,037,332 347,169,674
2046 9,822,499 342,532,578
2045 9,608,962 337,834,528
2044 9,397,018 333,076,416
2043 9,188,292 328,256,555
2042 8,982,316 323,388,886
2041 8,777,138 318,469,120
2040 8,570,085 313,492,800
2039 8,360,267 308,474,350
2038 8,151,599 303,423,786
2037 7,944,754 298,351,344
2036 7,736,415 293,250,795
2035 7,527,731 288,138,368
2034 7,316,613 283,018,151
2033 7,106,984 277,897,810
2032 6,898,917 272,769,123
2031 6,691,778 267,666,779
2030 6,488,327 262,583,487
2029 6,287,899 257,504,936
2028 6,086,983 252,465,743
2027 5,892,506 247,457,208
2026 5,702,177 242,477,499
2025 5,514,692 237,546,527
2024 5,330,690 232,679,478
2023 5,152,421 227,882,945
2022 5,098,039 223,150,896
2021 5,112,100 218,529,286
2020 5,026,628 213,996,181
2019 4,944,703 209,485,641
2018 4,878,657 204,938,755
2017 4,793,511 200,254,579
2016 4,713,663 195,443,700
2015 4,629,320 190,671,878
2014 4,623,182 185,896,915
2013 4,642,419 181,049,443
2012 4,610,848 176,200,625
2011 4,565,021 171,379,598
2010 4,492,995 166,642,886
2009 4,529,047 162,049,464
2008 4,558,984 157,595,014
2007 4,462,770 153,267,261
2006 4,377,579 149,077,334
2005 4,288,810 145,017,253
2004 4,192,826 141,057,045
2003 4,103,086 137,202,644
2002 4,006,077 133,471,989
2001 3,919,487 129,862,595
2000 3,833,416 126,382,494
1999 3,729,450 123,047,320
1998 3,628,827 119,846,254
1997 3,531,700 116,754,792
1996 3,435,965 113,754,779
1995 3,348,052 110,819,428
1994 3,257,954 107,935,714
1993 3,157,839 105,122,069
1992 3,058,831 102,372,770
1991 2,963,191 99,720,162
1990 2,871,910 97,120,925
1989 2,783,970 94,531,014
1988 2,713,965 92,020,090
1987 2,669,155 89,591,716
1986 2,634,258 87,235,953
1985 2,600,932 84,897,973
1984 2,568,610 82,526,443
1983 2,537,399 80,438,260
1982 2,507,375 78,378,701
1981 2,478,402 76,068,103
1980 2,450,535 73,764,641
1979 2,423,794 71,498,242
1978 2,397,961 69,326,532
1977 2,372,930 67,234,590
1976 2,348,566 65,258,009
1975 2,313,916 63,410,815
1974 2,269,338 61,679,144
1973 2,226,008 60,082,139
1972 2,183,769 58,601,748
1971 2,141,450 57,214,684
1970 2,097,505 55,893,838
1969 2,051,515 54,631,914
1968 2,005,100 53,432,783
1967 1,960,444 52,293,065
1966 1,918,082 51,188,234
1965 1,877,854 50,086,764
1964 1,839,583 49,012,016
1963 1,803,063 47,973,575
1962 1,768,115 46,965,292
1961 1,734,580 45,989,310
1960 1,702,346 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Nigeria
2100 0.42% 0.04%
2099 0.45% 0.06%
2098 0.45% 0.07%
2097 0.49% 0.09%
2096 0.53% 0.1%
2095 0.54% 0.11%
2094 0.55% 0.13%
2093 0.59% 0.15%
2092 0.61% 0.17%
2091 0.65% 0.19%
2090 0.64% 0.21%
2089 0.69% 0.23%
2088 0.72% 0.25%
2087 0.77% 0.28%
2086 0.77% 0.3%
2085 0.81% 0.32%
2084 0.85% 0.35%
2083 0.88% 0.37%
2082 0.89% 0.39%
2081 0.93% 0.42%
2080 0.92% 0.45%
2079 0.98% 0.47%
2078 1.04% 0.5%
2077 1.07% 0.52%
2076 1.1% 0.55%
2075 1.09% 0.58%
2074 1.16% 0.6%
2073 1.17% 0.63%
2072 1.24% 0.65%
2071 1.3% 0.68%
2070 1.32% 0.71%
2069 1.35% 0.73%
2068 1.41% 0.76%
2067 1.43% 0.79%
2066 1.46% 0.81%
2065 1.49% 0.84%
2064 1.57% 0.87%
2063 1.59% 0.89%
2062 1.62% 0.92%
2061 1.68% 0.94%
2060 1.72% 0.97%
2059 1.77% 0.99%
2058 1.81% 1.02%
2057 1.85% 1.05%
2056 1.89% 1.07%
2055 1.93% 1.1%
2054 1.97% 1.13%
2053 2% 1.16%
2052 2.02% 1.19%
2051 2.08% 1.22%
2050 2.08% 1.25%
2049 2.13% 1.28%
2048 2.14% 1.32%
2047 2.19% 1.35%
2046 2.22% 1.39%
2045 2.26% 1.43%
2044 2.27% 1.47%
2043 2.29% 1.51%
2042 2.34% 1.54%
2041 2.42% 1.59%
2040 2.51% 1.63%
2039 2.56% 1.66%
2038 2.6% 1.7%
2037 2.69% 1.74%
2036 2.77% 1.77%
2035 2.89% 1.81%
2034 2.95% 1.84%
2033 3.02% 1.88%
2032 3.1% 1.91%
2031 3.14% 1.94%
2030 3.19% 1.97%
2029 3.3% 2%
2028 3.3% 2.02%
2027 3.34% 2.05%
2026 3.4% 2.08%
2025 3.45% 2.09%
2024 3.46% 2.1%
2023 1.07% 2.12%
2022 -0.28% 2.11%
2021 1.7% 2.12%
2020 1.66% 2.15%
2019 1.35% 2.22%
2018 1.78% 2.34%
2017 1.69% 2.46%
2016 1.82% 2.5%
2015 0.13% 2.57%
2014 -0.41% 2.68%
2013 0.68% 2.75%
2012 1% 2.81%
2011 1.6% 2.84%
2010 -0.8% 2.83%
2009 -0.66% 2.83%
2008 2.16% 2.82%
2007 1.95% 2.81%
2006 2.07% 2.8%
2005 2.29% 2.81%
2004 2.19% 2.81%
2003 2.42% 2.8%
2002 2.21% 2.78%
2001 2.25% 2.75%
2000 2.79% 2.71%
1999 2.77% 2.67%
1998 2.75% 2.65%
1997 2.79% 2.64%
1996 2.63% 2.65%
1995 2.77% 2.67%
1994 3.17% 2.68%
1993 3.24% 2.69%
1992 3.23% 2.66%
1991 3.18% 2.68%
1990 3.16% 2.74%
1989 2.58% 2.73%
1988 1.68% 2.71%
1987 1.32% 2.7%
1986 1.28% 2.75%
1985 1.26% 2.87%
1984 1.23% 2.6%
1983 1.2% 2.63%
1982 1.17% 3.04%
1981 1.14% 3.12%
1980 1.1% 3.17%
1979 1.08% 3.13%
1978 1.05% 3.11%
1977 1.04% 3.03%
1976 1.5% 2.91%
1975 1.96% 2.81%
1974 1.95% 2.66%
1973 1.93% 2.53%
1972 1.98% 2.42%
1971 2.1% 2.36%
1970 2.24% 2.31%
1969 2.31% 2.24%
1968 2.28% 2.18%
1967 2.21% 2.16%
1966 2.14% 2.2%
1965 2.08% 2.19%
1964 2.03% 2.16%
1963 1.98% 2.15%
1962 1.93% 2.12%
1961 1.89% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

CAR Nigeria
Current population
5753659
243824469
Population rank 118/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 2.94%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +488 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 48/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -15,258
Net migration rank 143/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -15,258
2024 - -15,357 - -35,202
2023 190,325 -14,682 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 -49,456 -17,430 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 124,408 -85,646 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 156,911 -24,745 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 68,523 -36,849 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 153,361 -52,954 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 128,461 -58,584 4,706,183 78,685
2016 142,419 -52,607 4,761,594 75,265
2015 141,912 -63,045 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 107,448 -174,051 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 140,489 -112,382 4,811,751 40,201
2012 146,791 -111,764 4,774,508 71,138
2011 142,913 -86,281 4,728,363 67,808
2010 130,539 -43,126 4,629,173 47,966
2009 -130,613 -28,899 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 128,627 -28,983 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 123,137 -30,352 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 118,882 -41,282 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 113,534 -13,604 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 108,548 -16,510 3,877,376 46,370
2003 105,540 -18,097 3,751,120 33,857
2002 100,588 5,992 3,606,814 69,594
2001 99,598 -33,006 3,478,370 64,163
2000 97,468 8,079 3,343,196 74,535
1999 96,108 6,284 3,155,425 97,195
1998 94,361 4,479 3,003,946 145,575
1997 93,378 2,034 2,936,500 96,885
1996 93,369 2,697 2,882,205 84,448
1995 92,748 -12,986 2,830,771 73,243
1994 90,943 9,496 2,735,198 128,134
1993 89,873 9,930 2,673,675 90,200
1992 88,939 9,269 2,596,173 138,412
1991 88,688 4,381 2,527,807 42,760
1990 87,507 1,995 2,491,928 135,959
1989 85,969 409 2,452,324 99,588
1988 84,654 -31,016 2,376,419 93,510
1987 83,408 -47,428 2,322,397 64,418
1986 81,149 -47,332 2,295,003 29,682
1985 79,266 -46,427 2,289,784 61,514
1984 77,395 -45,591 2,278,060 113,758
1983 75,399 -44,780 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 73,330 -43,908 2,233,401 101,116
1981 71,391 -42,872 2,179,884 106,723
1980 68,759 -41,539 2,121,618 198,672
1979 66,104 -39,850 2,074,807 137,721
1978 63,285 -37,874 2,019,621 111,258
1977 60,436 -35,782 1,923,917 129,075
1976 57,725 -33,645 1,827,289 72,889
1975 55,106 -9,895 1,718,623 75,603
1974 53,777 -9,838 1,624,813 44,281
1973 52,525 -9,800 1,525,485 -618
1972 51,390 -9,634 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 50,142 -7,259 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 48,690 -3,693 1,295,507 7,953
1969 47,066 -80 1,213,484 6,912
1968 45,377 474 1,168,254 9,615
1967 42,979 474 1,082,884 18,683
1966 40,804 474 1,095,582 12,513
1965 38,710 474 1,061,840 32,988
1964 36,878 474 1,028,272 26,411
1963 35,218 474 995,116 27,115
1962 33,731 474 966,452 27,906
1961 32,383 474 932,111 25,515
1960 31,131 474 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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