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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 1.9 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Central African Republic vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Papua New Guinea
2100 19,061,127 18,798,240
2099 18,981,009 18,786,145
2098 18,896,319 18,772,372
2097 18,810,793 18,755,008
2096 18,719,993 18,733,822
2095 18,621,666 18,710,340
2094 18,521,650 18,683,383
2093 18,420,299 18,654,365
2092 18,311,751 18,621,911
2091 18,200,580 18,586,147
2090 18,083,097 18,545,656
2089 17,968,298 18,506,626
2088 17,844,377 18,464,999
2087 17,717,148 18,420,558
2086 17,581,447 18,372,233
2085 17,447,157 18,321,842
2084 17,306,435 18,270,605
2083 17,159,818 18,214,932
2082 17,010,036 18,159,412
2081 16,860,592 18,100,531
2080 16,704,486 18,035,268
2079 16,552,105 17,972,052
2078 16,392,201 17,904,957
2077 16,224,015 17,837,082
2076 16,051,483 17,768,107
2075 15,877,563 17,695,759
2074 15,706,759 17,621,390
2073 15,526,382 17,544,490
2072 15,346,626 17,463,028
2071 15,158,906 17,377,995
2070 14,964,276 17,291,519
2069 14,768,967 17,201,936
2068 14,572,130 17,108,606
2067 14,369,861 17,011,562
2066 14,167,129 16,911,929
2065 13,963,573 16,809,460
2064 13,758,257 16,705,205
2063 13,545,150 16,600,853
2062 13,332,625 16,493,872
2061 13,120,271 16,383,508
2060 12,903,195 16,267,162
2059 12,684,791 16,149,265
2058 12,464,271 16,029,360
2057 12,242,308 15,906,350
2056 12,020,446 15,781,247
2055 11,797,986 15,653,296
2054 11,575,058 15,519,925
2053 11,351,527 15,386,054
2052 11,128,939 15,247,553
2051 10,908,122 15,107,257
2050 10,686,324 14,965,427
2049 10,468,520 14,818,793
2048 10,249,810 14,670,417
2047 10,034,764 14,519,915
2046 9,819,986 14,367,141
2045 9,606,504 14,210,639
2044 9,394,614 14,053,122
2043 9,185,941 13,894,884
2042 8,980,018 13,735,841
2041 8,774,893 13,574,567
2040 8,567,893 13,410,615
2039 8,358,128 13,244,740
2038 8,149,514 13,076,640
2037 7,942,721 12,907,059
2036 7,734,436 12,735,582
2035 7,525,805 12,563,938
2034 7,314,741 12,389,907
2033 7,105,166 12,215,713
2032 6,897,152 12,039,848
2031 6,690,066 11,862,856
2030 6,486,667 11,683,177
2029 6,286,290 11,502,504
2028 6,085,426 11,320,226
2027 5,890,999 11,136,100
2026 5,700,718 10,950,183
2025 5,513,282 10,762,817
2024 5,330,690 10,576,502
2023 5,152,421 10,389,635
2022 5,098,039 10,203,169
2021 5,112,100 10,012,896
2020 5,026,628 9,815,746
2019 4,944,703 9,609,010
2018 4,878,657 9,394,513
2017 4,793,511 9,178,714
2016 4,713,663 8,961,718
2015 4,629,320 8,743,246
2014 4,623,182 8,523,441
2013 4,642,419 8,302,698
2012 4,610,848 8,081,390
2011 4,565,021 7,859,346
2010 4,492,995 7,633,523
2009 4,529,047 7,406,438
2008 4,558,984 7,183,002
2007 4,462,770 6,963,345
2006 4,377,579 6,747,720
2005 4,288,810 6,535,905
2004 4,192,826 6,328,041
2003 4,103,086 6,123,997
2002 4,006,077 5,924,003
2001 3,919,487 5,728,435
2000 3,833,416 5,537,064
1999 3,729,450 5,349,333
1998 3,628,827 5,166,390
1997 3,531,700 4,987,883
1996 3,435,965 4,813,361
1995 3,348,052 4,644,278
1994 3,257,954 4,480,208
1993 3,157,839 4,320,872
1992 3,058,831 4,166,699
1991 2,963,191 4,021,837
1990 2,871,910 3,896,481
1989 2,783,970 3,796,078
1988 2,713,965 3,711,880
1987 2,669,155 3,632,543
1986 2,634,258 3,554,793
1985 2,600,932 3,478,936
1984 2,568,610 3,405,198
1983 2,537,399 3,333,633
1982 2,507,375 3,264,291
1981 2,478,402 3,197,019
1980 2,450,535 3,131,512
1979 2,423,794 3,067,341
1978 2,397,961 3,003,714
1977 2,372,930 2,940,327
1976 2,348,566 2,877,327
1975 2,313,916 2,814,820
1974 2,269,338 2,752,671
1973 2,226,008 2,690,629
1972 2,183,769 2,628,432
1971 2,141,450 2,566,421
1970 2,097,505 2,505,628
1969 2,051,515 2,446,927
1968 2,005,100 2,390,803
1967 1,960,444 2,337,532
1966 1,918,082 2,285,774
1965 1,877,854 2,235,820
1964 1,839,583 2,188,325
1963 1,803,063 2,141,376
1962 1,768,115 2,093,919
1961 1,734,580 2,046,127
1960 1,702,346 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Papua New Guinea
2100 0.42% 0.06%
2099 0.45% 0.07%
2098 0.45% 0.09%
2097 0.49% 0.11%
2096 0.53% 0.13%
2095 0.54% 0.14%
2094 0.55% 0.16%
2093 0.59% 0.17%
2092 0.61% 0.19%
2091 0.65% 0.22%
2090 0.64% 0.21%
2089 0.69% 0.23%
2088 0.72% 0.24%
2087 0.77% 0.26%
2086 0.77% 0.28%
2085 0.81% 0.28%
2084 0.85% 0.31%
2083 0.88% 0.31%
2082 0.89% 0.33%
2081 0.93% 0.36%
2080 0.92% 0.35%
2079 0.98% 0.37%
2078 1.04% 0.38%
2077 1.07% 0.39%
2076 1.1% 0.41%
2075 1.09% 0.42%
2074 1.16% 0.44%
2073 1.17% 0.47%
2072 1.24% 0.49%
2071 1.3% 0.5%
2070 1.32% 0.52%
2069 1.35% 0.55%
2068 1.41% 0.57%
2067 1.43% 0.59%
2066 1.46% 0.61%
2065 1.49% 0.62%
2064 1.57% 0.63%
2063 1.59% 0.65%
2062 1.62% 0.67%
2061 1.68% 0.72%
2060 1.72% 0.73%
2059 1.77% 0.75%
2058 1.81% 0.77%
2057 1.85% 0.79%
2056 1.89% 0.82%
2055 1.93% 0.86%
2054 1.97% 0.87%
2053 2% 0.91%
2052 2.02% 0.93%
2051 2.08% 0.95%
2050 2.08% 0.99%
2049 2.13% 1.01%
2048 2.14% 1.04%
2047 2.19% 1.06%
2046 2.22% 1.1%
2045 2.26% 1.12%
2044 2.27% 1.14%
2043 2.29% 1.16%
2042 2.34% 1.19%
2041 2.42% 1.22%
2040 2.51% 1.25%
2039 2.56% 1.29%
2038 2.6% 1.31%
2037 2.69% 1.35%
2036 2.77% 1.37%
2035 2.89% 1.4%
2034 2.95% 1.43%
2033 3.02% 1.46%
2032 3.1% 1.49%
2031 3.14% 1.54%
2030 3.19% 1.57%
2029 3.3% 1.61%
2028 3.3% 1.65%
2027 3.34% 1.7%
2026 3.4% 1.74%
2025 3.43% 1.76%
2024 3.46% 1.8%
2023 1.07% 1.83%
2022 -0.28% 1.9%
2021 1.7% 2.01%
2020 1.66% 2.15%
2019 1.35% 2.28%
2018 1.78% 2.35%
2017 1.69% 2.42%
2016 1.82% 2.5%
2015 0.13% 2.58%
2014 -0.41% 2.66%
2013 0.68% 2.74%
2012 1% 2.83%
2011 1.6% 2.96%
2010 -0.8% 3.07%
2009 -0.66% 3.11%
2008 2.16% 3.15%
2007 1.95% 3.2%
2006 2.07% 3.24%
2005 2.29% 3.28%
2004 2.19% 3.33%
2003 2.42% 3.38%
2002 2.21% 3.41%
2001 2.25% 3.46%
2000 2.79% 3.51%
1999 2.77% 3.54%
1998 2.75% 3.58%
1997 2.79% 3.63%
1996 2.63% 3.64%
1995 2.77% 3.66%
1994 3.17% 3.69%
1993 3.24% 3.7%
1992 3.23% 3.6%
1991 3.18% 3.22%
1990 3.16% 2.64%
1989 2.58% 2.27%
1988 1.68% 2.18%
1987 1.32% 2.19%
1986 1.28% 2.18%
1985 1.26% 2.17%
1984 1.23% 2.15%
1983 1.2% 2.12%
1982 1.17% 2.1%
1981 1.14% 2.09%
1980 1.1% 2.09%
1979 1.08% 2.12%
1978 1.05% 2.16%
1977 1.04% 2.19%
1976 1.5% 2.22%
1975 1.96% 2.26%
1974 1.95% 2.31%
1973 1.93% 2.37%
1972 1.98% 2.42%
1971 2.1% 2.43%
1970 2.24% 2.4%
1969 2.31% 2.35%
1968 2.28% 2.28%
1967 2.21% 2.26%
1966 2.14% 2.23%
1965 2.08% 2.17%
1964 2.03% 2.19%
1963 1.98% 2.27%
1962 1.93% 2.34%
1961 1.89% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

CAR Papua New Guinea
Current population
5798457
11045681
Population rank 117/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +510
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 59/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change -14,693 -284
Net migration rank 143/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -284
2024 196,244 -15,357 187,595 -707
2023 190,325 -14,682 187,637 -787
2022 -49,456 -17,430 186,861 -787
2021 124,408 -85,646 183,766 10,703
2020 156,911 -24,745 189,130 10,703
2019 68,523 -36,849 190,662 22,978
2018 153,361 -52,954 190,662 24,684
2017 128,461 -58,584 189,715 26,513
2016 142,419 -52,607 189,281 28,473
2015 141,912 -63,045 188,600 30,580
2014 107,448 -174,051 187,592 32,840
2013 140,489 -112,382 185,790 35,280
2012 146,791 -111,764 183,658 37,893
2011 142,913 -86,281 181,842 40,690
2010 130,539 -43,126 178,998 50,106
2009 -130,613 -28,899 175,421 49,647
2008 128,627 -28,983 172,823 48,985
2007 123,137 -30,352 169,306 48,203
2006 118,882 -41,282 166,540 47,191
2005 113,534 -13,604 163,888 46,014
2004 108,548 -16,510 161,023 44,811
2003 105,540 -18,097 158,611 43,639
2002 100,588 5,992 155,091 42,657
2001 99,598 -33,006 151,431 41,962
2000 97,468 8,079 147,496 41,855
1999 96,108 6,284 143,592 42,519
1998 94,361 4,479 136,677 43,091
1997 93,378 2,034 134,458 42,787
1996 93,369 2,697 129,802 41,994
1995 92,748 -12,986 125,410 40,962
1994 90,943 9,496 122,113 39,669
1993 89,873 9,930 118,668 38,220
1992 88,939 9,269 114,818 36,622
1991 88,688 4,381 111,453 26,830
1990 87,507 1,995 110,033 2,398
1989 85,969 409 108,199 -19,824
1988 84,654 -31,016 106,256 -26,232
1987 83,408 -47,428 104,367 -25,720
1986 81,149 -47,332 102,346 -25,495
1985 79,266 -46,427 100,333 -25,470
1984 77,395 -45,591 98,103 -25,487
1983 75,399 -44,780 95,982 -25,465
1982 73,330 -43,908 93,522 -25,355
1981 71,391 -42,872 91,767 -25,383
1980 68,759 -41,539 90,266 -25,638
1979 66,104 -39,850 89,330 -25,618
1978 63,285 -37,874 88,747 -25,208
1977 60,436 -35,782 87,954 -24,722
1976 57,725 -33,645 86,965 -24,198
1975 55,106 -9,895 85,809 -23,562
1974 53,777 -9,838 84,829 -22,771
1973 52,525 -9,800 83,821 -21,803
1972 51,390 -9,634 82,672 -20,303
1971 50,142 -7,259 80,599 -18,945
1970 48,690 -3,693 78,712 -18,773
1969 47,066 -80 76,454 -18,994
1968 45,377 474 73,983 -19,188
1967 42,979 474 71,519 -19,767
1966 40,804 474 69,206 -17,454
1965 38,710 474 66,693 -18,532
1964 36,878 474 64,558 -17,730
1963 35,218 474 62,260 -15,189
1962 33,731 474 59,974 -12,141
1961 32,383 474 58,151 -10,409
1960 31,131 474 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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