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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 15,062,056 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 117th 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 +1.62% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% 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 19,061,127 33,113,283
2099 18,981,009 33,008,545
2098 18,896,319 32,927,982
2097 18,810,793 32,853,307
2096 18,719,993 32,768,037
2095 18,621,666 32,635,508
2094 18,521,650 32,550,001
2093 18,420,299 32,416,870
2092 18,311,751 32,294,333
2091 18,200,580 32,191,262
2090 18,083,097 32,088,747
2089 17,968,298 31,892,591
2088 17,844,377 31,746,789
2087 17,717,148 31,553,150
2086 17,581,447 31,399,004
2085 17,447,157 31,254,597
2084 17,306,435 31,112,448
2083 17,159,818 30,937,106
2082 17,010,036 30,752,861
2081 16,860,592 30,576,992
2080 16,704,486 30,386,351
2079 16,552,105 30,195,560
2078 16,392,201 30,016,688
2077 16,224,015 29,819,259
2076 16,051,483 29,645,610
2075 15,877,563 29,441,964
2074 15,706,759 29,243,980
2073 15,526,382 29,025,977
2072 15,346,626 28,798,822
2071 15,158,906 28,578,302
2070 14,964,276 28,334,300
2069 14,768,967 28,121,174
2068 14,572,130 27,872,383
2067 14,369,861 27,609,059
2066 14,167,129 27,372,823
2065 13,963,573 27,101,698
2064 13,758,257 26,838,144
2063 13,545,150 26,559,838
2062 13,332,625 26,312,631
2061 13,120,271 26,001,660
2060 12,903,195 25,729,037
2059 12,684,791 25,453,407
2058 12,464,271 25,121,995
2057 12,242,308 24,853,512
2056 12,020,446 24,582,198
2055 11,797,986 24,281,895
2054 11,575,058 23,991,958
2053 11,351,527 23,705,290
2052 11,128,939 23,421,032
2051 10,908,122 23,113,700
2050 10,686,324 22,814,556
2049 10,468,520 22,498,806
2048 10,249,810 22,171,841
2047 10,034,764 21,848,486
2046 9,819,986 21,554,082
2045 9,606,504 21,228,573
2044 9,394,614 20,915,810
2043 9,185,941 20,548,490
2042 8,980,018 20,214,283
2041 8,774,893 19,845,021
2040 8,567,893 19,475,227
2039 8,358,128 19,108,842
2038 8,149,514 18,773,398
2037 7,942,721 18,433,422
2036 7,734,436 18,128,058
2035 7,525,805 17,765,049
2034 7,314,741 17,432,165
2033 7,105,166 17,100,072
2032 6,897,152 16,822,053
2031 6,690,066 16,495,903
2030 6,486,667 16,178,061
2029 6,286,290 15,868,812
2028 6,085,426 15,554,713
2027 5,890,999 15,217,275
2026 5,700,718 14,898,118
2025 5,513,282 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th 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 84.3% to 10,686,324 people with a rank change from 117th to 96th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 3.43% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/rwanda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

CAR Rwanda
Current population
5798457
15062056
Population rank 117/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.18%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +857
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 40/197
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 196,244 -15,357 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda | 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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