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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 6,549,143 people in Serbia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 6,500,256 in Serbia.

Population statistics:

  • Serbia's population is 1.12 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Serbia is the 110th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.08% for Serbia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs -0.77% in Serbia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Serbia has declined from 7.41M to 6.5M (12.3% decline).

Central African Republic vs Serbia: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Serbia
2100 19,061,127 3,624,616
2099 18,981,009 3,652,806
2098 18,896,319 3,681,036
2097 18,810,793 3,709,552
2096 18,719,993 3,738,231
2095 18,621,666 3,767,093
2094 18,521,650 3,796,201
2093 18,420,299 3,825,522
2092 18,311,751 3,855,267
2091 18,200,580 3,885,260
2090 18,083,097 3,915,419
2089 17,968,298 3,946,052
2088 17,844,377 3,976,782
2087 17,717,148 4,008,021
2086 17,581,447 4,039,630
2085 17,447,157 4,071,614
2084 17,306,435 4,104,024
2083 17,159,818 4,137,041
2082 17,010,036 4,170,603
2081 16,860,592 4,204,520
2080 16,704,486 4,239,046
2079 16,552,105 4,274,213
2078 16,392,201 4,310,048
2077 16,224,015 4,346,216
2076 16,051,483 4,382,620
2075 15,877,563 4,419,404
2074 15,706,759 4,456,820
2073 15,526,382 4,494,554
2072 15,346,626 4,532,671
2071 15,158,906 4,571,200
2070 14,964,276 4,610,279
2069 14,768,967 4,649,626
2068 14,572,130 4,689,227
2067 14,369,861 4,728,969
2066 14,167,129 4,768,652
2065 13,963,573 4,808,648
2064 13,758,257 4,848,712
2063 13,545,150 4,888,888
2062 13,332,625 4,929,248
2061 13,120,271 4,969,370
2060 12,903,195 5,009,557
2059 12,684,791 5,049,580
2058 12,464,271 5,089,783
2057 12,242,308 5,130,427
2056 12,020,446 5,171,093
2055 11,797,986 5,211,735
2054 11,575,058 5,252,427
2053 11,351,527 5,293,039
2052 11,128,939 5,334,193
2051 10,908,122 5,376,024
2050 10,686,324 5,417,847
2049 10,468,520 5,460,219
2048 10,249,810 5,502,886
2047 10,034,764 5,546,051
2046 9,819,986 5,589,756
2045 9,606,504 5,634,078
2044 9,394,614 5,678,918
2043 9,185,941 5,724,337
2042 8,980,018 5,770,492
2041 8,774,893 5,817,068
2040 8,567,893 5,863,637
2039 8,358,128 5,910,619
2038 8,149,514 5,957,363
2037 7,942,721 6,004,061
2036 7,734,436 6,050,436
2035 7,525,805 6,096,764
2034 7,314,741 6,142,866
2033 7,105,166 6,188,997
2032 6,897,152 6,234,637
2031 6,690,066 6,279,936
2030 6,486,667 6,325,002
2029 6,286,290 6,369,418
2028 6,085,426 6,413,572
2027 5,890,999 6,457,306
2026 5,700,718 6,500,256
2025 5,513,282 6,549,143
2024 5,330,690 6,586,476
2023 5,152,421 6,623,183
2022 5,098,039 6,664,449
2021 5,112,100 6,834,326
2020 5,026,628 6,899,126
2019 4,944,703 6,945,235
2018 4,878,657 6,982,604
2017 4,793,511 7,020,858
2016 4,713,663 7,058,322
2015 4,629,320 7,095,383
2014 4,623,182 7,131,787
2013 4,642,419 7,166,553
2012 4,610,848 7,201,497
2011 4,565,021 7,236,519
2010 4,492,995 7,291,436
2009 4,529,047 7,320,807
2008 4,558,984 7,350,222
2007 4,462,770 7,381,579
2006 4,377,579 7,411,569
2005 4,288,810 7,440,769
2004 4,192,826 7,463,157
2003 4,103,086 7,480,591
2002 4,006,077 7,500,031
2001 3,919,487 7,503,433
2000 3,833,416 7,516,346
1999 3,729,450 7,540,401
1998 3,628,827 7,567,745
1997 3,531,700 7,598,538
1996 3,435,965 7,622,185
1995 3,348,052 7,628,264
1994 3,257,954 7,622,711
1993 3,157,839 7,614,328
1992 3,058,831 7,604,063
1991 2,963,191 7,595,636
1990 2,871,910 7,897,937
1989 2,783,970 7,893,787
1988 2,713,965 7,884,218
1987 2,669,155 7,868,027
1986 2,634,258 7,853,824
1985 2,600,932 7,835,902
1984 2,568,610 7,813,549
1983 2,537,399 7,788,100
1982 2,507,375 7,763,335
1981 2,478,402 7,736,787
1980 2,450,535 7,709,544
1979 2,423,794 7,541,997
1978 2,397,961 7,504,017
1977 2,372,930 7,462,783
1976 2,348,566 7,418,973
1975 2,313,916 7,368,717
1974 2,269,338 7,326,043
1973 2,226,008 7,283,902
1972 2,183,769 7,252,012
1971 2,141,450 7,211,716
1970 2,097,505 7,164,993
1969 2,051,515 7,123,249
1968 2,005,100 7,007,586
1967 1,960,444 6,966,522
1966 1,918,082 6,927,969
1965 1,877,854 6,876,624
1964 1,839,583 6,832,855
1963 1,803,063 6,787,950
1962 1,768,115 6,740,264
1961 1,734,580 6,689,077
1960 1,702,346 6,638,992

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/serbia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Serbia lost 353,247 people (a 4.77% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Serbia's population decreased by 558,066 people (a 7.91% decline).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Serbia was ranked 97th in 2006 and ranked 110th 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 Serbia will decrease by 16.7% to 5,417,847 people and rank change from 110th to 125th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people, while Serbia's population already peaked in 1990 at 7.9M people and is projected to decrease to 3.62M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Serbia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Serbia
2100 0.42% -0.77%
2099 0.45% -0.77%
2098 0.45% -0.77%
2097 0.49% -0.77%
2096 0.53% -0.77%
2095 0.54% -0.77%
2094 0.55% -0.77%
2093 0.59% -0.77%
2092 0.61% -0.77%
2091 0.65% -0.77%
2090 0.64% -0.78%
2089 0.69% -0.77%
2088 0.72% -0.78%
2087 0.77% -0.78%
2086 0.77% -0.79%
2085 0.81% -0.79%
2084 0.85% -0.8%
2083 0.88% -0.8%
2082 0.89% -0.81%
2081 0.93% -0.81%
2080 0.92% -0.82%
2079 0.98% -0.83%
2078 1.04% -0.83%
2077 1.07% -0.83%
2076 1.1% -0.83%
2075 1.09% -0.84%
2074 1.16% -0.84%
2073 1.17% -0.84%
2072 1.24% -0.84%
2071 1.3% -0.85%
2070 1.32% -0.85%
2069 1.35% -0.84%
2068 1.41% -0.84%
2067 1.43% -0.83%
2066 1.46% -0.83%
2065 1.49% -0.83%
2064 1.57% -0.82%
2063 1.59% -0.82%
2062 1.62% -0.81%
2061 1.68% -0.8%
2060 1.72% -0.79%
2059 1.77% -0.79%
2058 1.81% -0.79%
2057 1.85% -0.79%
2056 1.89% -0.78%
2055 1.93% -0.77%
2054 1.97% -0.77%
2053 2% -0.77%
2052 2.02% -0.78%
2051 2.08% -0.77%
2050 2.08% -0.78%
2049 2.13% -0.78%
2048 2.14% -0.78%
2047 2.19% -0.78%
2046 2.22% -0.79%
2045 2.26% -0.79%
2044 2.27% -0.79%
2043 2.29% -0.8%
2042 2.34% -0.8%
2041 2.42% -0.79%
2040 2.51% -0.79%
2039 2.56% -0.78%
2038 2.6% -0.78%
2037 2.69% -0.77%
2036 2.77% -0.76%
2035 2.89% -0.75%
2034 2.95% -0.75%
2033 3.02% -0.73%
2032 3.1% -0.72%
2031 3.14% -0.71%
2030 3.19% -0.7%
2029 3.3% -0.69%
2028 3.3% -0.68%
2027 3.34% -0.66%
2026 3.4% -0.75%
2025 3.43% -0.57%
2024 3.46% -0.55%
2023 1.07% -0.62%
2022 -0.28% -2.49%
2021 1.7% -0.94%
2020 1.66% -0.66%
2019 1.35% -0.54%
2018 1.78% -0.54%
2017 1.69% -0.53%
2016 1.82% -0.52%
2015 0.13% -0.51%
2014 -0.41% -0.49%
2013 0.68% -0.49%
2012 1% -0.48%
2011 1.6% -0.75%
2010 -0.8% -0.4%
2009 -0.66% -0.4%
2008 2.16% -0.42%
2007 1.95% -0.4%
2006 2.07% -0.39%
2005 2.29% -0.3%
2004 2.19% -0.23%
2003 2.42% -0.26%
2002 2.21% -0.05%
2001 2.25% -0.17%
2000 2.79% -0.32%
1999 2.77% -0.36%
1998 2.75% -0.41%
1997 2.79% -0.31%
1996 2.63% -0.08%
1995 2.77% 0.07%
1994 3.17% 0.11%
1993 3.24% 0.13%
1992 3.23% 0.11%
1991 3.18% -3.83%
1990 3.16% 0.05%
1989 2.58% 0.12%
1988 1.68% 0.21%
1987 1.32% 0.18%
1986 1.28% 0.23%
1985 1.26% 0.29%
1984 1.23% 0.33%
1983 1.2% 0.32%
1982 1.17% 0.34%
1981 1.14% 0.35%
1980 1.1% 2.22%
1979 1.08% 0.51%
1978 1.05% 0.55%
1977 1.04% 0.59%
1976 1.5% 0.68%
1975 1.96% 0.58%
1974 1.95% 0.58%
1973 1.93% 0.44%
1972 1.98% 0.56%
1971 2.1% 0.65%
1970 2.24% 0.59%
1969 2.31% 1.65%
1968 2.28% 0.59%
1967 2.21% 0.56%
1966 2.14% 0.75%
1965 2.08% 0.64%
1964 2.03% 0.66%
1963 1.98% 0.71%
1962 1.93% 0.77%
1961 1.89% 0.75%

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/serbia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Serbia's population declined by 0.57%.

Live population counters

CAR Serbia
Current population
5798457
6500256
Population rank 117/197 110/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.08%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
14.1 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
8.67 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
5.36 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 -102
Annual growth/decline +182,592 -37,333
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% -0.57%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 187/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
40.3 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -13,086
Net migration rank 143/196 140/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 712,550
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 70/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 64/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Serbia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Serbia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -13,086
2024 196,244 -15,357 -37,543 -8,132
2023 190,325 -14,682 -36,427 4,348
2022 -49,456 -17,430 -46,651 40,118
2021 124,408 -85,646 -74,494 -8,974
2020 156,911 -24,745 -55,193 -10,220
2019 68,523 -36,849 -36,810 -18,891
2018 153,361 -52,954 -37,707 -18,883
2017 128,461 -58,584 -39,317 -18,651
2016 142,419 -52,607 -35,998 -18,322
2015 141,912 -63,045 -37,605 -18,789
2014 107,448 -174,051 -34,946 -18,846
2013 140,489 -112,382 -34,399 -17,866
2012 146,791 -111,764 -35,288 -18,513
2011 142,913 -86,281 -36,906 611
2010 130,539 -43,126 -34,999 3,632
2009 -130,613 -28,899 -33,676 6,043
2008 128,627 -28,983 -33,590 7,070
2007 123,137 -30,352 -34,693 7,045
2006 118,882 -41,282 -31,870 8,018
2005 113,534 -13,604 -34,227 7,945
2004 108,548 -16,510 -26,121 7,300
2003 105,540 -18,097 -24,686 6,854
2002 100,588 5,992 -24,750 1,562
2001 99,598 -33,006 -20,259 -12,007
2000 97,468 8,079 -30,065 -14,368
1999 96,108 6,284 -29,408 -4,073
1998 94,361 4,479 -23,006 -5,665
1997 93,378 2,034 -18,389 -5,817
1996 93,369 2,697 -16,007 -5,598
1995 92,748 -12,986 -7,628 -6,019
1994 90,943 9,496 -7,157 -5,934
1993 89,873 9,930 -5,703 -5,972
1992 88,939 9,269 -3,779 -4,415
1991 88,688 4,381 2,210 -8,483
1990 87,507 1,995 7,416 -16,260
1989 85,969 409 11,872 -16,360
1988 84,654 -31,016 13,852 -15,715
1987 83,408 -47,428 16,711 -16,686
1986 81,149 -47,332 19,407 -17,990
1985 79,266 -46,427 22,090 -17,646
1984 77,395 -45,591 23,815 -15,567
1983 75,399 -44,780 27,515 -15,301
1982 73,330 -43,908 30,603 -13,550
1981 71,391 -42,872 34,304 -8,531
1980 68,759 -41,539 36,273 287
1979 66,104 -39,850 39,022 -960
1978 63,285 -37,874 43,636 -1,481
1977 60,436 -35,782 48,105 -1,953
1976 57,725 -33,645 51,399 -2,744
1975 55,106 -9,895 52,502 -3,490
1974 53,777 -9,838 51,583 -3,525
1973 52,525 -9,800 49,596 -2,396
1972 51,390 -9,634 48,248 -348
1971 50,142 -7,259 47,424 1,655
1970 48,690 -3,693 48,343 1,861
1969 47,066 -80 50,304 4,112
1968 45,377 474 51,653 5,430
1967 42,979 474 53,120 6,114
1966 40,804 474 53,338 7,037
1965 38,710 474 53,383 7,957
1964 36,878 474 54,185 8,045
1963 35,218 474 55,580 8,276
1962 33,731 474 59,307 6,064
1961 32,383 474 61,065 6,422
1960 31,131 474 63,642 4,377

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/serbia | 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 Serbia 85.1% is from natural causes (a loss of 437,745 people) and 14.9% is from migration (a loss of 76,396 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 712,550 people or 10.6% in Serbia.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Serbia
City Population
Belgrade 1.2M
Novi Sad 260K
Pristina 227K
Nis 183K
Kragujevac 151K
Subotica 106K
Valjevo 90.3K
Cacak 71.9K
Mitrovica 71.6K
Novi Pazar 66.5K

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/serbia | 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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