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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Panama: 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 4,515,577 people in Panama in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 4,642,198 in Panama.

Population statistics:

  • The Central African Republic's population is 1.24 times bigger than Panama's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Panama is the 128th.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.06% for Panama.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +1.52% in Panama.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Panama has grown from 3.38M to 4.64M (37.5% growth).

Central African Republic vs Panama: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Panama
2100 19,066,004 5,947,731
2099 18,985,867 5,958,919
2098 18,901,154 5,969,676
2097 18,815,607 5,979,860
2096 18,724,783 5,989,615
2095 18,626,431 5,998,960
2094 18,526,390 6,007,655
2093 18,425,013 6,015,893
2092 18,316,437 6,023,482
2091 18,205,237 6,030,584
2090 18,087,725 6,037,116
2089 17,972,896 6,043,194
2088 17,848,943 6,048,506
2087 17,721,681 6,053,252
2086 17,585,946 6,057,347
2085 17,451,621 6,060,940
2084 17,310,863 6,063,735
2083 17,164,209 6,065,863
2082 17,014,388 6,067,171
2081 16,864,906 6,067,635
2080 16,708,761 6,067,317
2079 16,556,341 6,066,164
2078 16,396,395 6,064,127
2077 16,228,166 6,061,297
2076 16,055,590 6,057,645
2075 15,881,626 6,053,134
2074 15,710,778 6,047,620
2073 15,530,355 6,041,318
2072 15,350,553 6,034,065
2071 15,162,785 6,026,051
2070 14,968,105 6,017,288
2069 14,772,746 6,007,621
2068 14,575,859 5,997,109
2067 14,373,538 5,985,932
2066 14,170,754 5,973,853
2065 13,967,146 5,961,039
2064 13,761,777 5,947,320
2063 13,548,616 5,932,822
2062 13,336,037 5,917,367
2061 13,123,628 5,900,972
2060 12,906,496 5,883,654
2059 12,688,037 5,865,433
2058 12,467,461 5,846,037
2057 12,245,441 5,825,696
2056 12,023,522 5,804,369
2055 11,801,006 5,781,900
2054 11,578,020 5,758,339
2053 11,354,432 5,733,538
2052 11,131,786 5,707,562
2051 10,910,913 5,680,231
2050 10,689,058 5,651,617
2049 10,471,199 5,621,841
2048 10,252,433 5,590,701
2047 10,037,332 5,558,382
2046 9,822,499 5,524,843
2045 9,608,962 5,490,228
2044 9,397,018 5,454,371
2043 9,188,292 5,417,316
2042 8,982,316 5,379,169
2041 8,777,138 5,339,872
2040 8,570,085 5,299,492
2039 8,360,267 5,257,983
2038 8,151,599 5,215,284
2037 7,944,754 5,171,497
2036 7,736,415 5,126,814
2035 7,527,731 5,081,210
2034 7,316,613 5,034,708
2033 7,106,984 4,987,247
2032 6,898,917 4,938,646
2031 6,691,778 4,889,260
2030 6,488,327 4,838,970
2029 6,287,899 4,787,654
2028 6,086,983 4,735,214
2027 5,892,506 4,681,847
2026 5,702,177 4,627,497
2025 5,514,692 4,572,106
2024 5,330,690 4,515,577
2023 5,152,421 4,458,759
2022 5,098,039 4,400,773
2021 5,112,100 4,345,405
2020 5,026,628 4,293,261
2019 4,944,703 4,234,700
2018 4,878,657 4,167,860
2017 4,793,511 4,098,707
2016 4,713,663 4,029,086
2015 4,629,320 3,960,035
2014 4,623,182 3,892,101
2013 4,642,419 3,825,329
2012 4,610,848 3,759,256
2011 4,565,021 3,693,505
2010 4,492,995 3,628,535
2009 4,529,047 3,564,381
2008 4,558,984 3,500,648
2007 4,462,770 3,437,490
2006 4,377,579 3,375,024
2005 4,288,810 3,313,026
2004 4,192,826 3,251,155
2003 4,103,086 3,189,807
2002 4,006,077 3,129,344
2001 3,919,487 3,069,537
2000 3,833,416 3,010,369
1999 3,729,450 2,951,822
1998 3,628,827 2,893,914
1997 3,531,700 2,836,695
1996 3,435,965 2,780,227
1995 3,348,052 2,724,557
1994 3,257,954 2,669,546
1993 3,157,839 2,615,099
1992 3,058,831 2,561,336
1991 2,963,191 2,508,265
1990 2,871,910 2,455,583
1989 2,783,970 2,403,820
1988 2,713,965 2,352,848
1987 2,669,155 2,301,970
1986 2,634,258 2,251,325
1985 2,600,932 2,200,915
1984 2,568,610 2,150,782
1983 2,537,399 2,101,106
1982 2,507,375 2,052,271
1981 2,478,402 2,004,418
1980 2,450,535 1,957,534
1979 2,423,794 1,911,552
1978 2,397,961 1,866,311
1977 2,372,930 1,821,543
1976 2,348,566 1,776,935
1975 2,313,916 1,732,389
1974 2,269,338 1,687,926
1973 2,226,008 1,643,690
1972 2,183,769 1,599,723
1971 2,141,450 1,556,081
1970 2,097,505 1,513,070
1969 2,051,515 1,470,886
1968 2,005,100 1,429,447
1967 1,960,444 1,388,628
1966 1,918,082 1,348,388
1965 1,877,854 1,308,835
1964 1,839,583 1,270,065
1963 1,803,063 1,232,124
1962 1,768,115 1,195,301
1961 1,734,580 1,159,870
1960 1,702,346 1,126,005

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/panama | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Panama gained 654,062 people (a 19.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Panama's population increased by 613,112 people (a 15.2% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Panama was ranked 128th in 2006 and still ranked 128th 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 Panama will increase by 21.7% to 5,651,617 people and rank change from 128th to 124th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 6.07M people in 2081 for Panama.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Panama
2100 0.42% -0.19%
2099 0.45% -0.18%
2098 0.45% -0.17%
2097 0.49% -0.16%
2096 0.53% -0.16%
2095 0.54% -0.14%
2094 0.55% -0.14%
2093 0.59% -0.13%
2092 0.61% -0.12%
2091 0.65% -0.11%
2090 0.64% -0.1%
2089 0.69% -0.09%
2088 0.72% -0.08%
2087 0.77% -0.07%
2086 0.77% -0.06%
2085 0.81% -0.05%
2084 0.85% -0.04%
2083 0.88% -0.02%
2082 0.89% -0.008%
2081 0.93% 0.005%
2080 0.92% 0.02%
2079 0.98% 0.03%
2078 1.04% 0.05%
2077 1.07% 0.06%
2076 1.1% 0.07%
2075 1.09% 0.09%
2074 1.16% 0.1%
2073 1.17% 0.12%
2072 1.24% 0.13%
2071 1.3% 0.15%
2070 1.32% 0.16%
2069 1.35% 0.18%
2068 1.41% 0.19%
2067 1.43% 0.2%
2066 1.46% 0.21%
2065 1.49% 0.23%
2064 1.57% 0.24%
2063 1.59% 0.26%
2062 1.62% 0.28%
2061 1.68% 0.29%
2060 1.72% 0.31%
2059 1.77% 0.33%
2058 1.81% 0.35%
2057 1.85% 0.37%
2056 1.89% 0.39%
2055 1.93% 0.41%
2054 1.97% 0.43%
2053 2% 0.46%
2052 2.02% 0.48%
2051 2.08% 0.51%
2050 2.08% 0.53%
2049 2.13% 0.56%
2048 2.14% 0.58%
2047 2.19% 0.61%
2046 2.22% 0.63%
2045 2.26% 0.66%
2044 2.27% 0.68%
2043 2.29% 0.71%
2042 2.34% 0.74%
2041 2.42% 0.76%
2040 2.51% 0.79%
2039 2.56% 0.82%
2038 2.6% 0.85%
2037 2.69% 0.87%
2036 2.77% 0.9%
2035 2.89% 0.92%
2034 2.95% 0.95%
2033 3.02% 0.98%
2032 3.1% 1.01%
2031 3.14% 1.04%
2030 3.19% 1.07%
2029 3.3% 1.11%
2028 3.3% 1.14%
2027 3.34% 1.17%
2026 3.4% 1.21%
2025 3.45% 1.25%
2024 3.46% 1.27%
2023 1.07% 1.32%
2022 -0.28% 1.27%
2021 1.7% 1.21%
2020 1.66% 1.38%
2019 1.35% 1.6%
2018 1.78% 1.69%
2017 1.69% 1.73%
2016 1.82% 1.74%
2015 0.13% 1.75%
2014 -0.41% 1.75%
2013 0.68% 1.76%
2012 1% 1.78%
2011 1.6% 1.79%
2010 -0.8% 1.8%
2009 -0.66% 1.82%
2008 2.16% 1.84%
2007 1.95% 1.85%
2006 2.07% 1.87%
2005 2.29% 1.9%
2004 2.19% 1.92%
2003 2.42% 1.93%
2002 2.21% 1.95%
2001 2.25% 1.97%
2000 2.79% 1.98%
1999 2.77% 2%
1998 2.75% 2.02%
1997 2.79% 2.03%
1996 2.63% 2.04%
1995 2.77% 2.06%
1994 3.17% 2.08%
1993 3.24% 2.1%
1992 3.23% 2.12%
1991 3.18% 2.15%
1990 3.16% 2.15%
1989 2.58% 2.17%
1988 1.68% 2.21%
1987 1.32% 2.25%
1986 1.28% 2.29%
1985 1.26% 2.33%
1984 1.23% 2.36%
1983 1.2% 2.38%
1982 1.17% 2.39%
1981 1.14% 2.4%
1980 1.1% 2.41%
1979 1.08% 2.42%
1978 1.05% 2.46%
1977 1.04% 2.51%
1976 1.5% 2.57%
1975 1.96% 2.63%
1974 1.95% 2.69%
1973 1.93% 2.75%
1972 1.98% 2.8%
1971 2.1% 2.84%
1970 2.24% 2.87%
1969 2.31% 2.9%
1968 2.28% 2.94%
1967 2.21% 2.98%
1966 2.14% 3.02%
1965 2.08% 3.05%
1964 2.03% 3.08%
1963 1.98% 3.08%
1962 1.93% 3.05%
1961 1.89% 3.01%

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/panama | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Panama's population grew by 1.27%.

Live population counters

CAR Panama
Current population
5753659
4642198
Population rank 118/197 128/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.06%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
9.25 minutes
One birth every
2.2 minutes
7.35 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
24.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +156
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +56,818
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +1.27%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 83/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 +6,151
Net migration rank 143/196 49/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 477,749
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 81/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 63/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Panama
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Panama
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 6,151
2024 - -15,357 - 6,706
2023 190,325 -14,682 50,197 7,262
2022 -49,456 -17,430 50,556 7,967
2021 124,408 -85,646 46,747 5,473
2020 156,911 -24,745 46,599 5,473
2019 68,523 -36,849 54,420 10,623
2018 153,361 -52,954 57,508 11,130
2017 128,461 -58,584 58,607 11,059
2016 142,419 -52,607 59,454 10,109
2015 141,912 -63,045 59,896 8,648
2014 107,448 -174,051 60,227 7,105
2013 140,489 -112,382 60,295 5,926
2012 146,791 -111,764 60,471 5,447
2011 142,913 -86,281 60,411 5,167
2010 130,539 -43,126 59,418 4,953
2009 -130,613 -28,899 59,168 4,765
2008 128,627 -28,983 58,961 4,568
2007 123,137 -30,352 58,454 4,330
2006 118,882 -41,282 58,067 4,087
2005 113,534 -13,604 58,014 3,843
2004 108,548 -16,510 58,281 3,596
2003 105,540 -18,097 57,458 3,352
2002 100,588 5,992 57,011 3,099
2001 99,598 -33,006 56,654 2,856
2000 97,468 8,079 56,236 2,602
1999 96,108 6,284 55,911 2,341
1998 94,361 4,479 55,482 2,084
1997 93,378 2,034 55,060 1,820
1996 93,369 2,697 54,512 1,533
1995 92,748 -12,986 54,069 1,221
1994 90,943 9,496 53,845 899
1993 89,873 9,930 53,591 560
1992 88,939 9,269 53,186 182
1991 88,688 4,381 53,079 -305
1990 87,507 1,995 53,451 -854
1989 85,969 409 52,295 -1,368
1988 84,654 -31,016 52,767 -1,750
1987 83,408 -47,428 52,690 -1,953
1986 81,149 -47,332 52,681 -2,136
1985 79,266 -46,427 52,573 -2,297
1984 77,395 -45,591 52,436 -2,435
1983 75,399 -44,780 51,880 -2,518
1982 73,330 -43,908 50,858 -2,554
1981 71,391 -42,872 50,018 -2,620
1980 68,759 -41,539 49,077 -2,701
1979 66,104 -39,850 48,362 -2,772
1978 63,285 -37,874 47,694 -2,811
1977 60,436 -35,782 47,438 -2,792
1976 57,725 -33,645 47,307 -2,727
1975 55,106 -9,895 47,149 -2,635
1974 53,777 -9,838 46,932 -2,531
1973 52,525 -9,800 46,540 -2,464
1972 51,390 -9,634 46,311 -2,448
1971 50,142 -7,259 45,867 -2,454
1970 48,690 -3,693 45,075 -2,476
1969 47,066 -80 44,278 -2,510
1968 45,377 474 43,641 -2,528
1967 42,979 474 43,054 -2,528
1966 40,804 474 42,457 -2,500
1965 38,710 474 41,604 -2,454
1964 36,878 474 40,806 -2,418
1963 35,218 474 39,872 -2,380
1962 33,731 474 38,537 -2,377
1961 32,383 474 37,100 -2,394
1960 31,131 474 35,431 -2,409

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/panama | 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 Panama 86.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 544,211 people) and 13.5% is from migration (a gain of 84,849 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 477,749 people or 10.6% in Panama.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Panama
City Population
Panama 410K
Colon 242K
Santiago de Veraguas 110K
Tocumen 103K
David 82.9K
La Chorrera 68.9K
Pacora 52.5K
Penonome 21.7K
Balboa 10K
Chitre 9.02K

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/panama | 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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