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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 6.55 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.53% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% growth).

Central African Republic vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Saudi Arabia
2100 19,061,127 76,380,382
2099 18,981,009 75,896,692
2098 18,896,319 75,410,485
2097 18,810,793 74,922,342
2096 18,719,993 74,431,436
2095 18,621,666 73,939,761
2094 18,521,650 73,447,628
2093 18,420,299 72,954,272
2092 18,311,751 72,460,372
2091 18,200,580 71,966,760
2090 18,083,097 71,474,363
2089 17,968,298 70,984,330
2088 17,844,377 70,494,851
2087 17,717,148 70,006,368
2086 17,581,447 69,519,641
2085 17,447,157 69,035,093
2084 17,306,435 68,551,533
2083 17,159,818 68,068,933
2082 17,010,036 67,587,034
2081 16,860,592 67,105,252
2080 16,704,486 66,624,751
2079 16,552,105 66,144,495
2078 16,392,201 65,664,508
2077 16,224,015 65,183,768
2076 16,051,483 64,701,603
2075 15,877,563 64,217,651
2074 15,706,759 63,731,809
2073 15,526,382 63,243,084
2072 15,346,626 62,750,764
2071 15,158,906 62,255,408
2070 14,964,276 61,756,796
2069 14,768,967 61,253,878
2068 14,572,130 60,746,216
2067 14,369,861 60,235,232
2066 14,167,129 59,720,954
2065 13,963,573 59,203,814
2064 13,758,257 58,684,254
2063 13,545,150 58,161,702
2062 13,332,625 57,637,152
2061 13,120,271 57,109,207
2060 12,903,195 56,579,736
2059 12,684,791 56,047,666
2058 12,464,271 55,513,281
2057 12,242,308 54,978,393
2056 12,020,446 54,441,706
2055 11,797,986 53,904,081
2054 11,575,058 53,364,635
2053 11,351,527 52,823,422
2052 11,128,939 52,280,914
2051 10,908,122 51,737,228
2050 10,686,324 51,192,924
2049 10,468,520 50,647,663
2048 10,249,810 50,100,576
2047 10,034,764 49,552,613
2046 9,819,986 49,002,774
2045 9,606,504 48,451,215
2044 9,394,614 47,898,754
2043 9,185,941 47,346,122
2042 8,980,018 46,792,504
2041 8,774,893 46,237,820
2040 8,567,893 45,682,139
2039 8,358,128 45,126,407
2038 8,149,514 44,569,427
2037 7,942,721 44,012,415
2036 7,734,436 43,454,985
2035 7,525,805 42,897,909
2034 7,314,741 42,342,044
2033 7,105,166 41,787,423
2032 6,897,152 41,233,964
2031 6,690,066 40,680,599
2030 6,486,667 40,128,273
2029 6,286,290 39,530,306
2028 6,085,426 38,906,191
2027 5,890,999 38,267,271
2026 5,700,718 37,625,434
2025 5,513,282 36,973,555
2024 5,330,690 35,300,280
2023 5,152,421 33,702,731
2022 5,098,039 32,175,224
2021 5,112,100 30,784,383
2020 5,026,628 31,552,510
2019 4,944,703 30,063,799
2018 4,878,657 30,196,281
2017 4,793,511 30,977,355
2016 4,713,663 30,954,198
2015 4,629,320 29,816,382
2014 4,623,182 28,309,273
2013 4,642,419 27,624,004
2012 4,610,848 26,168,861
2011 4,565,021 25,091,867
2010 4,492,995 23,978,487
2009 4,529,047 24,217,654
2008 4,558,984 23,287,877
2007 4,462,770 22,368,313
2006 4,377,579 21,459,144
2005 4,288,810 20,559,890
2004 4,192,826 19,669,480
2003 4,103,086 18,786,767
2002 4,006,077 17,910,910
2001 3,919,487 17,041,397
2000 3,833,416 16,177,722
1999 3,729,450 15,472,075
1998 3,628,827 14,922,185
1997 3,531,700 14,374,943
1996 3,435,965 13,831,009
1995 3,348,052 13,289,245
1994 3,257,954 12,750,040
1993 3,157,839 12,215,862
1992 3,058,831 11,686,676
1991 2,963,191 11,160,744
1990 2,871,910 10,640,691
1989 2,783,970 10,128,394
1988 2,713,965 9,629,165
1987 2,669,155 9,130,194
1986 2,634,258 8,628,639
1985 2,600,932 8,151,779
1984 2,568,610 7,697,307
1983 2,537,399 7,252,941
1982 2,507,375 6,824,486
1981 2,478,402 6,420,551
1980 2,450,535 6,047,997
1979 2,423,794 5,703,698
1978 2,397,961 5,381,902
1977 2,372,930 5,083,048
1976 2,348,566 4,807,933
1975 2,313,916 4,556,287
1974 2,269,338 4,323,632
1973 2,226,008 4,106,344
1972 2,183,769 3,905,722
1971 2,141,450 3,724,031
1970 2,097,505 3,562,470
1969 2,051,515 3,417,114
1968 2,005,100 3,282,711
1967 1,960,444 3,157,242
1966 1,918,082 3,039,887
1965 1,877,854 2,928,771
1964 1,839,583 2,821,968
1963 1,803,063 2,719,341
1962 1,768,115 2,620,910
1961 1,734,580 2,526,347
1960 1,702,346 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 43rd 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Saudi Arabia
2100 0.42% 0.64%
2099 0.45% 0.64%
2098 0.45% 0.65%
2097 0.49% 0.66%
2096 0.53% 0.66%
2095 0.54% 0.67%
2094 0.55% 0.68%
2093 0.59% 0.68%
2092 0.61% 0.69%
2091 0.65% 0.69%
2090 0.64% 0.69%
2089 0.69% 0.69%
2088 0.72% 0.7%
2087 0.77% 0.7%
2086 0.77% 0.7%
2085 0.81% 0.71%
2084 0.85% 0.71%
2083 0.88% 0.71%
2082 0.89% 0.72%
2081 0.93% 0.72%
2080 0.92% 0.73%
2079 0.98% 0.73%
2078 1.04% 0.74%
2077 1.07% 0.75%
2076 1.1% 0.75%
2075 1.09% 0.76%
2074 1.16% 0.77%
2073 1.17% 0.78%
2072 1.24% 0.8%
2071 1.3% 0.81%
2070 1.32% 0.82%
2069 1.35% 0.84%
2068 1.41% 0.85%
2067 1.43% 0.86%
2066 1.46% 0.87%
2065 1.49% 0.89%
2064 1.57% 0.9%
2063 1.59% 0.91%
2062 1.62% 0.92%
2061 1.68% 0.94%
2060 1.72% 0.95%
2059 1.77% 0.96%
2058 1.81% 0.97%
2057 1.85% 0.99%
2056 1.89% 1%
2055 1.93% 1.01%
2054 1.97% 1.02%
2053 2% 1.04%
2052 2.02% 1.05%
2051 2.08% 1.06%
2050 2.08% 1.08%
2049 2.13% 1.09%
2048 2.14% 1.11%
2047 2.19% 1.12%
2046 2.22% 1.14%
2045 2.26% 1.15%
2044 2.27% 1.17%
2043 2.29% 1.18%
2042 2.34% 1.2%
2041 2.42% 1.22%
2040 2.51% 1.23%
2039 2.56% 1.25%
2038 2.6% 1.27%
2037 2.69% 1.28%
2036 2.77% 1.3%
2035 2.89% 1.31%
2034 2.95% 1.33%
2033 3.02% 1.34%
2032 3.1% 1.36%
2031 3.14% 1.38%
2030 3.19% 1.51%
2029 3.3% 1.6%
2028 3.3% 1.67%
2027 3.34% 1.71%
2026 3.4% 1.76%
2025 3.43% 4.74%
2024 3.46% 4.74%
2023 1.07% 4.75%
2022 -0.28% 4.52%
2021 1.7% -2.43%
2020 1.66% 4.95%
2019 1.35% -0.44%
2018 1.78% -2.52%
2017 1.69% 0.07%
2016 1.82% 3.82%
2015 0.13% 5.32%
2014 -0.41% 2.48%
2013 0.68% 5.56%
2012 1% 4.29%
2011 1.6% 4.64%
2010 -0.8% -0.99%
2009 -0.66% 3.99%
2008 2.16% 4.11%
2007 1.95% 4.24%
2006 2.07% 4.37%
2005 2.29% 4.53%
2004 2.19% 4.7%
2003 2.42% 4.89%
2002 2.21% 5.1%
2001 2.25% 5.34%
2000 2.79% 4.56%
1999 2.77% 3.69%
1998 2.75% 3.81%
1997 2.79% 3.93%
1996 2.63% 4.08%
1995 2.77% 4.23%
1994 3.17% 4.37%
1993 3.24% 4.53%
1992 3.23% 4.71%
1991 3.18% 4.89%
1990 3.16% 5.06%
1989 2.58% 5.18%
1988 1.68% 5.47%
1987 1.32% 5.81%
1986 1.28% 5.85%
1985 1.26% 5.9%
1984 1.23% 6.13%
1983 1.2% 6.28%
1982 1.17% 6.29%
1981 1.14% 6.16%
1980 1.1% 6.04%
1979 1.08% 5.98%
1978 1.05% 5.88%
1977 1.04% 5.72%
1976 1.5% 5.52%
1975 1.96% 5.38%
1974 1.95% 5.29%
1973 1.93% 5.14%
1972 1.98% 4.88%
1971 2.1% 4.54%
1970 2.24% 4.25%
1969 2.31% 4.09%
1968 2.28% 3.97%
1967 2.21% 3.86%
1966 2.14% 3.79%
1965 2.08% 3.78%
1964 2.03% 3.77%
1963 1.98% 3.76%
1962 1.93% 3.74%
1961 1.89% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

CAR Saudi Arabia
Current population
5798457
37955120
Population rank 117/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.46%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
10.5 minutes
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +4,584
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 2/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +119,738
Net migration rank 143/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 119,738
2024 196,244 -15,357 499,782 122,170
2023 190,325 -14,682 474,366 325,691
2022 -49,456 -17,430 406,920 977,072
2021 124,408 -85,646 409,032 -106,287
2020 156,911 -24,745 447,036 -74,725
2019 68,523 -36,849 474,407 191,582
2018 153,361 -52,954 528,767 -988,751
2017 128,461 -58,584 546,751 -920,812
2016 142,419 -52,607 537,829 -26,997
2015 141,912 -63,045 511,023 465,292
2014 107,448 -174,051 493,431 469,144
2013 140,489 -112,382 475,299 485,794
2012 146,791 -111,764 465,649 479,206
2011 142,913 -86,281 443,675 491,253
2010 130,539 -43,126 418,641 504,955
2009 -130,613 -28,899 438,557 496,229
2008 128,627 -28,983 433,457 491,337
2007 123,137 -30,352 425,199 489,136
2006 118,882 -41,282 399,333 504,661
2005 113,534 -13,604 375,938 518,565
2004 108,548 -16,510 362,843 523,472
2003 105,540 -18,097 364,520 514,606
2002 100,588 5,992 372,099 500,508
2001 99,598 -33,006 382,153 484,252
2000 97,468 8,079 392,407 468,515
1999 96,108 6,284 390,112 160,263
1998 94,361 4,479 389,499 159,898
1997 93,378 2,034 385,033 160,066
1996 93,369 2,697 382,248 160,532
1995 92,748 -12,986 380,231 160,512
1994 90,943 9,496 377,351 160,306
1993 89,873 9,930 372,621 158,074
1992 88,939 9,269 366,763 160,908
1991 88,688 4,381 361,329 162,857
1990 87,507 1,995 355,495 160,416
1989 85,969 409 349,399 159,273
1988 84,654 -31,016 342,865 146,918
1987 83,408 -47,428 333,088 175,075
1986 81,149 -47,332 322,340 172,606
1985 79,266 -46,427 310,558 148,208
1984 77,395 -45,591 296,615 153,562
1983 75,399 -44,780 280,616 157,930
1982 73,330 -43,908 264,831 153,528
1981 71,391 -42,872 249,156 140,355
1980 68,759 -41,539 234,372 121,220
1979 66,104 -39,850 220,186 112,826
1978 63,285 -37,874 205,331 105,263
1977 60,436 -35,782 191,103 96,015
1976 57,725 -33,645 178,024 85,083
1975 55,106 -9,895 166,223 73,960
1974 53,777 -9,838 155,478 69,653
1973 52,525 -9,800 145,450 63,995
1972 51,390 -9,634 136,360 55,439
1971 50,142 -7,259 127,600 43,989
1970 48,690 -3,693 120,440 31,097
1969 47,066 -80 113,859 25,312
1968 45,377 474 108,281 21,366
1967 42,979 474 103,343 17,947
1966 40,804 474 98,361 15,054
1965 38,710 474 93,820 15,000
1964 36,878 474 89,776 15,000
1963 35,218 474 85,480 15,000
1962 33,731 474 81,393 15,000
1961 32,383 474 77,743 15,000
1960 31,131 474 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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