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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Saudi Arabia: 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 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 6.38 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.51% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% 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 19,066,004 74,230,118
2099 18,985,867 73,760,045
2098 18,901,154 73,287,526
2097 18,815,607 72,813,125
2096 18,724,783 72,336,039
2095 18,626,431 71,858,206
2094 18,526,390 71,379,928
2093 18,425,013 70,900,460
2092 18,316,437 70,420,464
2091 18,205,237 69,940,749
2090 18,087,725 69,462,214
2089 17,972,896 68,985,976
2088 17,848,943 68,510,277
2087 17,721,681 68,035,545
2086 17,585,946 67,562,521
2085 17,451,621 67,091,615
2084 17,310,863 66,621,667
2083 17,164,209 66,152,653
2082 17,014,388 65,684,321
2081 16,864,906 65,216,102
2080 16,708,761 64,749,128
2079 16,556,341 64,282,393
2078 16,396,395 63,815,918
2077 16,228,166 63,348,712
2076 16,055,590 62,880,120
2075 15,881,626 62,409,793
2074 15,710,778 61,937,628
2073 15,530,355 61,462,662
2072 15,350,553 60,984,202
2071 15,162,785 60,502,791
2070 14,968,105 60,018,216
2069 14,772,746 59,529,456
2068 14,575,859 59,036,086
2067 14,373,538 58,539,487
2066 14,170,754 58,039,687
2065 13,967,146 57,537,106
2064 13,761,777 57,032,172
2063 13,548,616 56,524,331
2062 13,336,037 56,014,549
2061 13,123,628 55,501,467
2060 12,906,496 54,986,901
2059 12,688,037 54,469,809
2058 12,467,461 53,950,469
2057 12,245,441 53,430,639
2056 12,023,522 52,909,061
2055 11,801,006 52,386,571
2054 11,578,020 51,862,312
2053 11,354,432 51,336,335
2052 11,131,786 50,809,100
2051 10,910,913 50,280,719
2050 10,689,058 49,751,739
2049 10,471,199 49,221,828
2048 10,252,433 48,690,143
2047 10,037,332 48,157,605
2046 9,822,499 47,623,246
2045 9,608,962 47,087,215
2044 9,397,018 46,550,306
2043 9,188,292 46,013,232
2042 8,982,316 45,475,200
2041 8,777,138 44,936,131
2040 8,570,085 44,396,093
2039 8,360,267 43,856,006
2038 8,151,599 43,314,707
2037 7,944,754 42,773,375
2036 7,736,415 42,231,639
2035 7,527,731 41,690,245
2034 7,316,613 41,150,029
2033 7,106,984 40,611,021
2032 6,898,917 40,073,144
2031 6,691,778 39,535,357
2030 6,488,327 38,998,581
2029 6,287,899 38,417,447
2028 6,086,983 37,810,902
2027 5,892,506 37,189,969
2026 5,702,177 36,566,201
2025 5,514,692 35,932,673
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 74.2M 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 3.45% 1.79%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

CAR Saudi Arabia
Current population
5753659
36734925
Population rank 118/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.44%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 4/197
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 - -15,357 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 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 (1960–2024, 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/saudi-arabia | 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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