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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 10,804,871 people in Portugal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 10,788,071 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 1.86 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +0.35% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.8M (2.53% growth).

Central African Republic vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Portugal
2100 19,061,127 9,079,610
2099 18,981,009 9,084,930
2098 18,896,319 9,089,064
2097 18,810,793 9,094,546
2096 18,719,993 9,100,755
2095 18,621,666 9,108,548
2094 18,521,650 9,113,366
2093 18,420,299 9,118,286
2092 18,311,751 9,123,579
2091 18,200,580 9,127,714
2090 18,083,097 9,132,140
2089 17,968,298 9,136,870
2088 17,844,377 9,141,647
2087 17,717,148 9,147,996
2086 17,581,447 9,152,804
2085 17,447,157 9,158,263
2084 17,306,435 9,165,158
2083 17,159,818 9,171,574
2082 17,010,036 9,179,958
2081 16,860,592 9,190,466
2080 16,704,486 9,201,621
2079 16,552,105 9,214,398
2078 16,392,201 9,228,555
2077 16,224,015 9,243,708
2076 16,051,483 9,262,542
2075 15,877,563 9,282,392
2074 15,706,759 9,305,608
2073 15,526,382 9,330,117
2072 15,346,626 9,353,771
2071 15,158,906 9,380,991
2070 14,964,276 9,409,668
2069 14,768,967 9,440,299
2068 14,572,130 9,473,457
2067 14,369,861 9,506,001
2066 14,167,129 9,539,597
2065 13,963,573 9,574,237
2064 13,758,257 9,611,738
2063 13,545,150 9,649,045
2062 13,332,625 9,686,737
2061 13,120,271 9,723,601
2060 12,903,195 9,762,379
2059 12,684,791 9,801,072
2058 12,464,271 9,841,936
2057 12,242,308 9,880,092
2056 12,020,446 9,918,643
2055 11,797,986 9,958,971
2054 11,575,058 9,997,570
2053 11,351,527 10,037,385
2052 11,128,939 10,076,095
2051 10,908,122 10,112,788
2050 10,686,324 10,149,626
2049 10,468,520 10,187,172
2048 10,249,810 10,221,034
2047 10,034,764 10,255,340
2046 9,819,986 10,289,266
2045 9,606,504 10,321,807
2044 9,394,614 10,353,338
2043 9,185,941 10,384,554
2042 8,980,018 10,412,950
2041 8,774,893 10,440,054
2040 8,567,893 10,469,380
2039 8,358,128 10,497,556
2038 8,149,514 10,523,869
2037 7,942,721 10,548,445
2036 7,734,436 10,573,361
2035 7,525,805 10,597,352
2034 7,314,741 10,621,955
2033 7,105,166 10,645,024
2032 6,897,152 10,668,384
2031 6,690,066 10,689,372
2030 6,486,667 10,708,819
2029 6,286,290 10,729,893
2028 6,085,426 10,752,023
2027 5,890,999 10,770,712
2026 5,700,718 10,788,071
2025 5,513,282 10,804,871
2024 5,330,690 10,694,681
2023 5,152,421 10,578,174
2022 5,098,039 10,434,332
2021 5,112,100 10,361,831
2020 5,026,628 10,297,081
2019 4,944,703 10,286,263
2018 4,878,657 10,283,822
2017 4,793,511 10,300,300
2016 4,713,663 10,325,452
2015 4,629,320 10,358,076
2014 4,623,182 10,401,062
2013 4,642,419 10,457,295
2012 4,610,848 10,514,844
2011 4,565,021 10,557,560
2010 4,492,995 10,573,100
2009 4,529,047 10,568,247
2008 4,558,984 10,558,177
2007 4,462,770 10,542,964
2006 4,377,579 10,522,288
2005 4,288,810 10,503,330
2004 4,192,826 10,483,861
2003 4,103,086 10,458,821
2002 4,006,077 10,419,631
2001 3,919,487 10,362,722
2000 3,833,416 10,289,898
1999 3,729,450 10,217,828
1998 3,628,827 10,160,196
1997 3,531,700 10,108,977
1996 3,435,965 10,063,945
1995 3,348,052 10,026,176
1994 3,257,954 9,991,525
1993 3,157,839 9,964,675
1992 3,058,831 9,952,494
1991 2,963,191 9,960,235
1990 2,871,910 9,983,218
1989 2,783,970 10,005,000
1988 2,713,965 10,019,610
1987 2,669,155 10,030,031
1986 2,634,258 10,032,734
1985 2,600,932 10,023,613
1984 2,568,610 9,996,232
1983 2,537,399 9,957,865
1982 2,507,375 9,911,771
1981 2,478,402 9,851,362
1980 2,450,535 9,766,312
1979 2,423,794 9,661,265
1978 2,397,961 9,558,250
1977 2,372,930 9,455,675
1976 2,348,566 9,355,810
1975 2,313,916 9,093,470
1974 2,269,338 8,754,365
1973 2,226,008 8,633,100
1972 2,183,769 8,630,430
1971 2,141,450 8,643,756
1970 2,097,505 8,680,431
1969 2,051,515 8,757,705
1968 2,005,100 8,836,650
1967 1,960,444 8,874,520
1966 1,918,082 8,930,990
1965 1,877,854 8,998,595
1964 1,839,583 9,035,365
1963 1,803,063 9,030,355
1962 1,768,115 8,993,985
1961 1,734,580 8,929,316
1960 1,702,346 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 462,619 people (a 4.48% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,149,626 people and rank change from 91st to 97th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2025 at 10.8M people and is projected to decrease to 9.08M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Portugal
2100 0.42% -0.06%
2099 0.45% -0.05%
2098 0.45% -0.06%
2097 0.49% -0.07%
2096 0.53% -0.09%
2095 0.54% -0.05%
2094 0.55% -0.05%
2093 0.59% -0.06%
2092 0.61% -0.05%
2091 0.65% -0.05%
2090 0.64% -0.05%
2089 0.69% -0.05%
2088 0.72% -0.07%
2087 0.77% -0.05%
2086 0.77% -0.06%
2085 0.81% -0.08%
2084 0.85% -0.07%
2083 0.88% -0.09%
2082 0.89% -0.11%
2081 0.93% -0.12%
2080 0.92% -0.14%
2079 0.98% -0.15%
2078 1.04% -0.16%
2077 1.07% -0.2%
2076 1.1% -0.21%
2075 1.09% -0.25%
2074 1.16% -0.26%
2073 1.17% -0.25%
2072 1.24% -0.29%
2071 1.3% -0.3%
2070 1.32% -0.32%
2069 1.35% -0.35%
2068 1.41% -0.34%
2067 1.43% -0.35%
2066 1.46% -0.36%
2065 1.49% -0.39%
2064 1.57% -0.39%
2063 1.59% -0.39%
2062 1.62% -0.38%
2061 1.68% -0.4%
2060 1.72% -0.39%
2059 1.77% -0.42%
2058 1.81% -0.39%
2057 1.85% -0.39%
2056 1.89% -0.4%
2055 1.93% -0.39%
2054 1.97% -0.4%
2053 2% -0.38%
2052 2.02% -0.36%
2051 2.08% -0.36%
2050 2.08% -0.37%
2049 2.13% -0.33%
2048 2.14% -0.33%
2047 2.19% -0.33%
2046 2.22% -0.32%
2045 2.26% -0.3%
2044 2.27% -0.3%
2043 2.29% -0.27%
2042 2.34% -0.26%
2041 2.42% -0.28%
2040 2.51% -0.27%
2039 2.56% -0.25%
2038 2.6% -0.23%
2037 2.69% -0.24%
2036 2.77% -0.23%
2035 2.89% -0.23%
2034 2.95% -0.22%
2033 3.02% -0.22%
2032 3.1% -0.2%
2031 3.14% -0.18%
2030 3.19% -0.2%
2029 3.3% -0.21%
2028 3.3% -0.17%
2027 3.34% -0.16%
2026 3.4% -0.16%
2025 3.43% 1.03%
2024 3.46% 1.1%
2023 1.07% 1.38%
2022 -0.28% 0.7%
2021 1.7% 0.63%
2020 1.66% 0.11%
2019 1.35% 0.02%
2018 1.78% -0.16%
2017 1.69% -0.24%
2016 1.82% -0.31%
2015 0.13% -0.41%
2014 -0.41% -0.54%
2013 0.68% -0.55%
2012 1% -0.4%
2011 1.6% -0.15%
2010 -0.8% 0.05%
2009 -0.66% 0.1%
2008 2.16% 0.14%
2007 1.95% 0.2%
2006 2.07% 0.18%
2005 2.29% 0.19%
2004 2.19% 0.24%
2003 2.42% 0.38%
2002 2.21% 0.55%
2001 2.25% 0.71%
2000 2.79% 0.71%
1999 2.77% 0.57%
1998 2.75% 0.51%
1997 2.79% 0.45%
1996 2.63% 0.38%
1995 2.77% 0.35%
1994 3.17% 0.27%
1993 3.24% 0.12%
1992 3.23% -0.08%
1991 3.18% -0.23%
1990 3.16% -0.22%
1989 2.58% -0.15%
1988 1.68% -0.1%
1987 1.32% -0.03%
1986 1.28% 0.09%
1985 1.26% 0.27%
1984 1.23% 0.39%
1983 1.2% 0.47%
1982 1.17% 0.61%
1981 1.14% 0.87%
1980 1.1% 1.09%
1979 1.08% 1.08%
1978 1.05% 1.08%
1977 1.04% 1.07%
1976 1.5% 2.88%
1975 1.96% 3.87%
1974 1.95% 1.4%
1973 1.93% 0.03%
1972 1.98% -0.15%
1971 2.1% -0.42%
1970 2.24% -0.88%
1969 2.31% -0.89%
1968 2.28% -0.43%
1967 2.21% -0.63%
1966 2.14% -0.75%
1965 2.08% -0.41%
1964 2.03% 0.06%
1963 1.98% 0.4%
1962 1.93% 0.72%
1961 1.89% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

CAR Portugal
Current population
5798457
10788071
Population rank 117/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
4.78 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
6.22 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
4.43 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +302
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +110,190
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 99/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
32 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +16,472
Net migration rank 143/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 16,472
2024 196,244 -15,357 -34,223 20,648
2023 190,325 -14,682 -32,792 29,102
2022 -49,456 -17,430 -40,694 68,696
2021 124,408 -85,646 -45,592 69,606
2020 156,911 -24,745 -39,129 54,076
2019 68,523 -36,849 -24,687 63,031
2018 153,361 -52,954 -25,709 22,495
2017 128,461 -58,584 -23,691 13,979
2016 142,419 -52,607 -23,749 -775
2015 141,912 -63,045 -23,823 -3,209
2014 107,448 -174,051 -22,882 -26,447
2013 140,489 -112,382 -24,052 -36,342
2012 146,791 -111,764 -17,875 -37,083
2011 142,913 -86,281 -5,279 -31,513
2010 130,539 -43,126 -4,230 -5,627
2009 -130,613 -28,899 -5,284 14,532
2008 128,627 -28,983 0 9,478
2007 123,137 -30,352 -1,055 21,064
2006 118,882 -41,282 3,156 16,754
2005 113,534 -13,604 2,101 15,537
2004 108,548 -16,510 7,339 13,928
2003 105,540 -18,097 4,184 24,740
2002 100,588 5,992 8,335 42,169
2001 99,598 -33,006 8,290 55,565
2000 97,468 8,079 15,435 60,586
1999 96,108 6,284 8,175 49,572
1998 94,361 4,479 7,112 40,931
1997 93,378 2,034 8,087 36,922
1996 93,369 2,697 4,026 32,640
1995 92,748 -12,986 4,011 26,971
1994 90,943 9,496 9,991 20,761
1993 89,873 9,930 7,972 8,561
1992 88,939 9,269 13,933 -11,847
1991 88,688 4,381 12,948 -37,914
1990 87,507 1,995 13,976 -34,855
1989 85,969 409 22,011 -30,615
1988 84,654 -31,016 24,047 -26,595
1987 83,408 -47,428 28,084 -23,142
1986 81,149 -47,332 31,102 -20,000
1985 79,266 -46,427 33,077 -19,183
1984 77,395 -45,591 45,983 -16,658
1983 75,399 -44,780 47,798 -16,568
1982 73,330 -43,908 58,479 -15,006
1981 71,391 -42,872 56,152 -7,938
1980 68,759 -41,539 63,481 29,881
1979 66,104 -39,850 67,628 32,434
1978 63,285 -37,874 70,731 34,345
1977 60,436 -35,782 84,156 37,779
1976 57,725 -33,645 85,138 40,490
1975 55,106 -9,895 81,841 42,262
1974 53,777 -9,838 74,412 41,254
1973 52,525 -9,800 76,835 39,748
1972 51,390 -9,634 83,715 39,058
1971 50,142 -7,259 82,980 48,944
1970 48,690 -3,693 87,672 -191,862
1969 47,066 -80 89,329 -161,114
1968 45,377 474 100,737 -145,200
1967 42,979 474 106,495 -136,232
1966 40,804 474 107,171 -129,233
1965 38,710 474 115,182 -123,855
1964 36,878 474 120,170 -118,763
1963 35,218 474 113,783 -116,874
1962 33,731 474 123,217 -113,947
1961 32,383 474 117,867 -112,768
1960 31,131 474 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/portugal | 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 Portugal 48.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 314,089 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 337,649 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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