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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Rwanda: 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 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.6 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Central African Republic vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Rwanda
2100 19,066,004 33,092,520
2099 18,985,867 32,987,847
2098 18,901,154 32,907,335
2097 18,815,607 32,832,706
2096 18,724,783 32,747,490
2095 18,626,431 32,615,044
2094 18,526,390 32,529,590
2093 18,425,013 32,396,544
2092 18,316,437 32,274,083
2091 18,205,237 32,171,077
2090 18,087,725 32,068,626
2089 17,972,896 31,872,593
2088 17,848,943 31,726,882
2087 17,721,681 31,533,364
2086 17,585,946 31,379,315
2085 17,451,621 31,235,000
2084 17,310,863 31,092,940
2083 17,164,209 30,917,707
2082 17,014,388 30,733,578
2081 16,864,906 30,557,819
2080 16,708,761 30,367,298
2079 16,556,341 30,176,627
2078 16,396,395 29,997,866
2077 16,228,166 29,800,561
2076 16,055,590 29,627,021
2075 15,881,626 29,423,503
2074 15,710,778 29,225,643
2073 15,530,355 29,007,777
2072 15,350,553 28,780,763
2071 15,162,785 28,560,382
2070 14,968,105 28,316,533
2069 14,772,746 28,103,541
2068 14,575,859 27,854,906
2067 14,373,538 27,591,747
2066 14,170,754 27,355,659
2065 13,967,146 27,084,704
2064 13,761,777 26,821,315
2063 13,548,616 26,543,184
2062 13,336,037 26,296,132
2061 13,123,628 25,985,356
2060 12,906,496 25,712,904
2059 12,688,037 25,437,446
2058 12,467,461 25,106,242
2057 12,245,441 24,837,928
2056 12,023,522 24,566,784
2055 11,801,006 24,266,669
2054 11,578,020 23,976,914
2053 11,354,432 23,690,426
2052 11,131,786 23,406,346
2051 10,910,913 23,099,207
2050 10,689,058 22,800,250
2049 10,471,199 22,484,698
2048 10,252,433 22,157,938
2047 10,037,332 21,834,786
2046 9,822,499 21,540,566
2045 9,608,962 21,215,262
2044 9,397,018 20,902,695
2043 9,188,292 20,535,605
2042 8,982,316 20,201,608
2041 8,777,138 19,832,577
2040 8,570,085 19,463,015
2039 8,360,267 19,096,860
2038 8,151,599 18,761,626
2037 7,944,754 18,421,864
2036 7,736,415 18,116,691
2035 7,527,731 17,753,910
2034 7,316,613 17,421,234
2033 7,106,984 17,089,349
2032 6,898,917 16,811,505
2031 6,691,778 16,485,559
2030 6,488,327 16,167,916
2029 6,287,899 15,858,862
2028 6,086,983 15,544,959
2027 5,892,506 15,207,733
2026 5,702,177 14,888,776
2025 5,514,692 14,560,205
2024 5,330,690 14,256,567
2023 5,152,421 13,954,471
2022 5,098,039 13,651,030
2021 5,112,100 13,355,260
2020 5,026,628 13,065,837
2019 4,944,703 12,776,103
2018 4,878,657 12,487,996
2017 4,793,511 12,202,060
2016 4,713,663 11,919,183
2015 4,629,320 11,640,022
2014 4,623,182 11,364,757
2013 4,642,419 11,093,340
2012 4,610,848 10,829,901
2011 4,565,021 10,573,733
2010 4,492,995 10,317,553
2009 4,529,047 10,060,432
2008 4,558,984 9,804,269
2007 4,462,770 9,549,933
2006 4,377,579 9,299,246
2005 4,288,810 9,054,528
2004 4,192,826 8,816,844
2003 4,103,086 8,586,875
2002 4,006,077 8,400,180
2001 3,919,487 8,287,094
2000 3,833,416 8,213,931
1999 3,729,450 8,147,912
1998 3,628,827 8,081,681
1997 3,531,700 7,755,238
1996 3,435,965 6,708,764
1995 3,348,052 5,674,118
1994 3,257,954 6,792,352
1993 3,157,839 7,981,132
1992 3,058,831 7,683,266
1991 2,963,191 7,526,966
1990 2,871,910 7,375,307
1989 2,783,970 7,184,706
1988 2,713,965 6,968,071
1987 2,669,155 6,749,493
1986 2,634,258 6,531,881
1985 2,600,932 6,317,228
1984 2,568,610 6,107,627
1983 2,537,399 5,905,311
1982 2,507,375 5,711,549
1981 2,478,402 5,527,230
1980 2,450,535 5,353,259
1979 2,423,794 5,189,541
1978 2,397,961 5,035,171
1977 2,372,930 4,888,240
1976 2,348,566 4,745,954
1975 2,313,916 4,607,728
1974 2,269,338 4,474,228
1973 2,226,008 4,345,047
1972 2,183,769 4,220,335
1971 2,141,450 4,100,044
1970 2,097,505 3,980,669
1969 2,051,515 3,861,271
1968 2,005,100 3,744,010
1967 1,960,444 3,629,577
1966 1,918,082 3,521,626
1965 1,877,854 3,423,210
1964 1,839,583 3,334,834
1963 1,803,063 3,258,890
1962 1,768,115 3,186,025
1961 1,734,580 3,106,779
1960 1,702,346 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Rwanda
2100 0.42% 0.32%
2099 0.45% 0.24%
2098 0.45% 0.23%
2097 0.49% 0.26%
2096 0.53% 0.41%
2095 0.54% 0.26%
2094 0.55% 0.41%
2093 0.59% 0.38%
2092 0.61% 0.32%
2091 0.65% 0.32%
2090 0.64% 0.62%
2089 0.69% 0.46%
2088 0.72% 0.61%
2087 0.77% 0.49%
2086 0.77% 0.46%
2085 0.81% 0.46%
2084 0.85% 0.57%
2083 0.88% 0.6%
2082 0.89% 0.58%
2081 0.93% 0.63%
2080 0.92% 0.63%
2079 0.98% 0.6%
2078 1.04% 0.66%
2077 1.07% 0.59%
2076 1.1% 0.69%
2075 1.09% 0.68%
2074 1.16% 0.75%
2073 1.17% 0.79%
2072 1.24% 0.77%
2071 1.3% 0.86%
2070 1.32% 0.76%
2069 1.35% 0.89%
2068 1.41% 0.95%
2067 1.43% 0.86%
2066 1.46% 1%
2065 1.49% 0.98%
2064 1.57% 1.05%
2063 1.59% 0.94%
2062 1.62% 1.2%
2061 1.68% 1.06%
2060 1.72% 1.08%
2059 1.77% 1.32%
2058 1.81% 1.08%
2057 1.85% 1.1%
2056 1.89% 1.24%
2055 1.93% 1.21%
2054 1.97% 1.21%
2053 2% 1.21%
2052 2.02% 1.33%
2051 2.08% 1.31%
2050 2.08% 1.4%
2049 2.13% 1.47%
2048 2.14% 1.48%
2047 2.19% 1.37%
2046 2.22% 1.53%
2045 2.26% 1.5%
2044 2.27% 1.79%
2043 2.29% 1.65%
2042 2.34% 1.86%
2041 2.42% 1.9%
2040 2.51% 1.92%
2039 2.56% 1.79%
2038 2.6% 1.84%
2037 2.69% 1.68%
2036 2.77% 2.04%
2035 2.89% 1.91%
2034 2.95% 1.94%
2033 3.02% 1.65%
2032 3.1% 1.98%
2031 3.14% 1.96%
2030 3.19% 1.95%
2029 3.3% 2.02%
2028 3.3% 2.22%
2027 3.34% 2.14%
2026 3.4% 2.26%
2025 3.45% 2.13%
2024 3.46% 2.16%
2023 1.07% 2.22%
2022 -0.28% 2.21%
2021 1.7% 2.22%
2020 1.66% 2.27%
2019 1.35% 2.31%
2018 1.78% 2.34%
2017 1.69% 2.37%
2016 1.82% 2.4%
2015 0.13% 2.42%
2014 -0.41% 2.45%
2013 0.68% 2.43%
2012 1% 2.42%
2011 1.6% 2.48%
2010 -0.8% 2.56%
2009 -0.66% 2.61%
2008 2.16% 2.66%
2007 1.95% 2.7%
2006 2.07% 2.7%
2005 2.29% 2.7%
2004 2.19% 2.68%
2003 2.42% 2.22%
2002 2.21% 1.36%
2001 2.25% 0.89%
2000 2.79% 0.81%
1999 2.77% 0.82%
1998 2.75% 4.21%
1997 2.79% 15.6%
1996 2.63% 18.2%
1995 2.77% -16.5%
1994 3.17% -14.9%
1993 3.24% 3.88%
1992 3.23% 2.08%
1991 3.18% 2.06%
1990 3.16% 2.65%
1989 2.58% 3.11%
1988 1.68% 3.24%
1987 1.32% 3.33%
1986 1.28% 3.4%
1985 1.26% 3.43%
1984 1.23% 3.43%
1983 1.2% 3.39%
1982 1.17% 3.33%
1981 1.14% 3.25%
1980 1.1% 3.15%
1979 1.08% 3.07%
1978 1.05% 3.01%
1977 1.04% 3%
1976 1.5% 3%
1975 1.96% 2.98%
1974 1.95% 2.97%
1973 1.93% 2.96%
1972 1.98% 2.93%
1971 2.1% 3%
1970 2.24% 3.09%
1969 2.31% 3.13%
1968 2.28% 3.15%
1967 2.21% 3.07%
1966 2.14% 2.87%
1965 2.08% 2.65%
1964 2.03% 2.33%
1963 1.98% 2.29%
1962 1.93% 2.55%
1961 1.89% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

CAR Rwanda
Current population
5753659
14975051
Population rank 118/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.18%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
2.2 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +828
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 45/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 +6,282
Net migration rank 143/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 6,282
2024 - -15,357 - -15,582
2023 190,325 -14,682 312,762 -9,001
2022 -49,456 -17,430 312,145 -9,001
2021 124,408 -85,646 309,895 -21,492
2020 156,911 -24,745 312,692 -22,251
2019 68,523 -36,849 313,525 -24,492
2018 153,361 -52,954 312,512 -25,323
2017 128,461 -58,584 310,323 -25,634
2016 142,419 -52,607 305,549 -24,474
2015 141,912 -63,045 299,114 -21,862
2014 107,448 -174,051 292,779 -19,505
2013 140,489 -112,382 286,331 -16,779
2012 146,791 -111,764 282,584 -25,260
2011 142,913 -86,281 282,922 -27,915
2010 130,539 -43,126 286,848 -29,501
2009 -130,613 -28,899 287,034 -30,128
2008 128,627 -28,983 287,334 -31,913
2007 123,137 -30,352 285,791 -32,537
2006 118,882 -41,282 282,149 -34,008
2005 113,534 -13,604 275,121 -33,830
2004 108,548 -16,510 265,273 -31,214
2003 105,540 -18,097 251,243 -25,355
2002 100,588 5,992 239,036 -91,518
2001 99,598 -33,006 230,845 -152,197
2000 97,468 8,079 221,276 -153,588
1999 96,108 6,284 210,518 -146,162
1998 94,361 4,479 197,185 -129,089
1997 93,378 2,034 174,687 410,106
1996 93,369 2,697 140,455 1,367,700
1995 92,748 -12,986 121,137 439,995
1994 90,943 9,496 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 89,873 9,930 183,926 236,110
1992 88,939 9,269 188,025 -12,334
1991 88,688 4,381 196,431 -59,519
1990 87,507 1,995 207,895 -41,483
1989 85,969 409 217,632 -2,826
1988 84,654 -31,016 223,759 -5,285
1987 83,408 -47,428 225,744 -7,062
1986 81,149 -47,332 225,526 -8,982
1985 79,266 -46,427 223,794 -11,031
1984 77,395 -45,591 219,337 -12,899
1983 75,399 -44,780 212,750 -14,560
1982 73,330 -43,908 205,147 -15,818
1981 71,391 -42,872 195,769 -16,453
1980 68,759 -41,539 184,988 -16,359
1979 66,104 -39,850 174,477 -15,669
1978 63,285 -37,874 163,779 -13,838
1977 60,436 -35,782 155,011 -11,084
1976 57,725 -33,645 147,665 -7,027
1975 55,106 -9,895 140,596 -4,791
1974 53,777 -9,838 135,743 -4,535
1973 52,525 -9,800 131,021 -3,862
1972 51,390 -9,634 126,403 -4,156
1971 50,142 -7,259 122,567 -4,230
1970 48,690 -3,693 119,273 1,149
1969 47,066 -80 115,394 2,983
1968 45,377 474 111,422 4,728
1967 42,979 474 108,053 4,655
1966 40,804 474 105,128 -1,930
1965 38,710 474 103,422 -9,774
1964 36,878 474 102,562 -19,458
1963 35,218 474 94,296 -25,524
1962 33,731 474 102,548 -25,594
1961 32,383 474 102,051 -20,508
1960 31,131 474 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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