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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Sierra Leone: 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 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.57 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Central African Republic vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Sierra Leone
2100 19,066,004 16,111,324
2099 18,985,867 16,126,181
2098 18,901,154 16,139,280
2097 18,815,607 16,154,153
2096 18,724,783 16,164,923
2095 18,626,431 16,173,557
2094 18,526,390 16,173,155
2093 18,425,013 16,177,864
2092 18,316,437 16,175,032
2091 18,205,237 16,168,153
2090 18,087,725 16,158,415
2089 17,972,896 16,146,773
2088 17,848,943 16,133,018
2087 17,721,681 16,116,823
2086 17,585,946 16,089,780
2085 17,451,621 16,068,438
2084 17,310,863 16,044,782
2083 17,164,209 16,011,134
2082 17,014,388 15,975,073
2081 16,864,906 15,935,071
2080 16,708,761 15,896,846
2079 16,556,341 15,854,898
2078 16,396,395 15,805,607
2077 16,228,166 15,754,551
2076 16,055,590 15,699,439
2075 15,881,626 15,639,458
2074 15,710,778 15,584,377
2073 15,530,355 15,516,736
2072 15,350,553 15,446,543
2071 15,162,785 15,374,790
2070 14,968,105 15,297,449
2069 14,772,746 15,216,666
2068 14,575,859 15,128,048
2067 14,373,538 15,032,144
2066 14,170,754 14,935,222
2065 13,967,146 14,837,697
2064 13,761,777 14,740,749
2063 13,548,616 14,642,031
2062 13,336,037 14,529,557
2061 13,123,628 14,423,861
2060 12,906,496 14,311,215
2059 12,688,037 14,198,706
2058 12,467,461 14,080,827
2057 12,245,441 13,960,869
2056 12,023,522 13,836,132
2055 11,801,006 13,706,113
2054 11,578,020 13,579,802
2053 11,354,432 13,444,465
2052 11,131,786 13,303,409
2051 10,910,913 13,156,370
2050 10,689,058 13,010,109
2049 10,471,199 12,867,021
2048 10,252,433 12,716,015
2047 10,037,332 12,570,250
2046 9,822,499 12,414,307
2045 9,608,962 12,257,874
2044 9,397,018 12,092,075
2043 9,188,292 11,931,531
2042 8,982,316 11,770,467
2041 8,777,138 11,602,993
2040 8,570,085 11,431,337
2039 8,360,267 11,262,807
2038 8,151,599 11,100,099
2037 7,944,754 10,931,629
2036 7,736,415 10,760,758
2035 7,527,731 10,585,702
2034 7,316,613 10,413,826
2033 7,106,984 10,241,196
2032 6,898,917 10,062,575
2031 6,691,778 9,883,708
2030 6,488,327 9,708,038
2029 6,287,899 9,532,000
2028 6,086,983 9,360,873
2027 5,892,506 9,179,702
2026 5,702,177 9,001,269
2025 5,514,692 8,822,114
2024 5,330,690 8,642,022
2023 5,152,421 8,460,512
2022 5,098,039 8,276,807
2021 5,112,100 8,094,602
2020 5,026,628 7,912,558
2019 4,944,703 7,731,991
2018 4,878,657 7,554,563
2017 4,793,511 7,379,299
2016 4,713,663 7,205,328
2015 4,629,320 7,037,655
2014 4,623,182 6,876,385
2013 4,642,419 6,714,051
2012 4,610,848 6,551,080
2011 4,565,021 6,387,251
2010 4,492,995 6,222,714
2009 4,529,047 6,055,646
2008 4,558,984 5,894,722
2007 4,462,770 5,749,352
2006 4,377,579 5,624,466
2005 4,288,810 5,501,712
2004 4,192,826 5,355,717
2003 4,103,086 5,177,687
2002 4,006,077 4,971,435
2001 3,919,487 4,692,716
2000 3,833,416 4,423,611
1999 3,729,450 4,318,043
1998 3,628,827 4,295,785
1997 3,531,700 4,253,716
1996 3,435,965 4,199,210
1995 3,348,052 4,179,179
1994 3,257,954 4,173,105
1993 3,157,839 4,157,130
1992 3,058,831 4,166,366
1991 2,963,191 4,246,267
1990 2,871,910 4,196,828
1989 2,783,970 4,034,037
1988 2,713,965 3,934,517
1987 2,669,155 3,829,718
1986 2,634,258 3,728,380
1985 2,600,932 3,638,438
1984 2,568,610 3,558,758
1983 2,537,399 3,481,646
1982 2,507,375 3,408,183
1981 2,478,402 3,338,940
1980 2,450,535 3,272,089
1979 2,423,794 3,207,499
1978 2,397,961 3,145,517
1977 2,372,930 3,085,354
1976 2,348,566 3,028,820
1975 2,313,916 2,974,657
1974 2,269,338 2,920,459
1973 2,226,008 2,866,955
1972 2,183,769 2,814,388
1971 2,141,450 2,763,222
1970 2,097,505 2,712,286
1969 2,051,515 2,661,365
1968 2,005,100 2,611,532
1967 1,960,444 2,562,384
1966 1,918,082 2,514,638
1965 1,877,854 2,468,666
1964 1,839,583 2,424,390
1963 1,803,063 2,382,258
1962 1,768,115 2,342,242
1961 1,734,580 2,304,227
1960 1,702,346 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Sierra Leone
2100 0.42% -0.09%
2099 0.45% -0.08%
2098 0.45% -0.09%
2097 0.49% -0.07%
2096 0.53% -0.05%
2095 0.54% 0.002%
2094 0.55% -0.03%
2093 0.59% 0.02%
2092 0.61% 0.04%
2091 0.65% 0.06%
2090 0.64% 0.07%
2089 0.69% 0.09%
2088 0.72% 0.1%
2087 0.77% 0.17%
2086 0.77% 0.13%
2085 0.81% 0.15%
2084 0.85% 0.21%
2083 0.88% 0.23%
2082 0.89% 0.25%
2081 0.93% 0.24%
2080 0.92% 0.26%
2079 0.98% 0.31%
2078 1.04% 0.32%
2077 1.07% 0.35%
2076 1.1% 0.38%
2075 1.09% 0.35%
2074 1.16% 0.44%
2073 1.17% 0.45%
2072 1.24% 0.47%
2071 1.3% 0.51%
2070 1.32% 0.53%
2069 1.35% 0.59%
2068 1.41% 0.64%
2067 1.43% 0.65%
2066 1.46% 0.66%
2065 1.49% 0.66%
2064 1.57% 0.67%
2063 1.59% 0.77%
2062 1.62% 0.73%
2061 1.68% 0.79%
2060 1.72% 0.79%
2059 1.77% 0.84%
2058 1.81% 0.86%
2057 1.85% 0.9%
2056 1.89% 0.95%
2055 1.93% 0.93%
2054 1.97% 1.01%
2053 2% 1.06%
2052 2.02% 1.12%
2051 2.08% 1.12%
2050 2.08% 1.11%
2049 2.13% 1.19%
2048 2.14% 1.16%
2047 2.19% 1.26%
2046 2.22% 1.28%
2045 2.26% 1.37%
2044 2.27% 1.35%
2043 2.29% 1.37%
2042 2.34% 1.44%
2041 2.42% 1.5%
2040 2.51% 1.5%
2039 2.56% 1.47%
2038 2.6% 1.54%
2037 2.69% 1.59%
2036 2.77% 1.65%
2035 2.89% 1.65%
2034 2.95% 1.69%
2033 3.02% 1.78%
2032 3.1% 1.81%
2031 3.14% 1.81%
2030 3.19% 1.85%
2029 3.3% 1.83%
2028 3.3% 1.97%
2027 3.34% 1.98%
2026 3.4% 2.03%
2025 3.45% 2.08%
2024 3.46% 2.15%
2023 1.07% 2.22%
2022 -0.28% 2.25%
2021 1.7% 2.3%
2020 1.66% 2.34%
2019 1.35% 2.35%
2018 1.78% 2.38%
2017 1.69% 2.41%
2016 1.82% 2.38%
2015 0.13% 2.35%
2014 -0.41% 2.42%
2013 0.68% 2.49%
2012 1% 2.56%
2011 1.6% 2.64%
2010 -0.8% 2.76%
2009 -0.66% 2.73%
2008 2.16% 2.53%
2007 1.95% 2.22%
2006 2.07% 2.23%
2005 2.29% 2.73%
2004 2.19% 3.44%
2003 2.42% 4.15%
2002 2.21% 5.94%
2001 2.25% 6.08%
2000 2.79% 2.44%
1999 2.77% 0.52%
1998 2.75% 0.99%
1997 2.79% 1.3%
1996 2.63% 0.48%
1995 2.77% 0.15%
1994 3.17% 0.38%
1993 3.24% -0.22%
1992 3.23% -1.88%
1991 3.18% 1.18%
1990 3.16% 4.04%
1989 2.58% 2.53%
1988 1.68% 2.74%
1987 1.32% 2.72%
1986 1.28% 2.47%
1985 1.26% 2.24%
1984 1.23% 2.21%
1983 1.2% 2.16%
1982 1.17% 2.07%
1981 1.14% 2.04%
1980 1.1% 2.01%
1979 1.08% 1.97%
1978 1.05% 1.95%
1977 1.04% 1.87%
1976 1.5% 1.82%
1975 1.96% 1.86%
1974 1.95% 1.87%
1973 1.93% 1.87%
1972 1.98% 1.85%
1971 2.1% 1.88%
1970 2.24% 1.91%
1969 2.31% 1.91%
1968 2.28% 1.92%
1967 2.21% 1.9%
1966 2.14% 1.86%
1965 2.08% 1.83%
1964 2.03% 1.77%
1963 1.98% 1.71%
1962 1.93% 1.65%
1961 1.89% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

CAR Sierra Leone
Current population
5753659
9049533
Population rank 118/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.11%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
2.2 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +497
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 47/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -11,309
Net migration rank 143/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -11,309
2024 - -15,357 - -11,000
2023 190,325 -14,682 188,788 -4,000
2022 -49,456 -17,430 186,625 -4,000
2021 124,408 -85,646 183,326 -1,544
2020 156,911 -24,745 181,015 1,292
2019 68,523 -36,849 181,068 -2,238
2018 153,361 -52,954 178,772 -2,741
2017 128,461 -58,584 173,259 1,234
2016 142,419 -52,607 168,784 4,657
2015 141,912 -63,045 162,275 -356
2014 107,448 -174,051 160,137 485
2013 140,489 -112,382 161,265 2,773
2012 146,791 -111,764 160,915 988
2011 142,913 -86,281 158,858 6,895
2010 130,539 -43,126 155,338 7,983
2009 -130,613 -28,899 152,669 18,145
2008 128,627 -28,983 149,855 1,182
2007 123,137 -30,352 145,740 -6,042
2006 118,882 -41,282 144,127 -34,052
2005 113,534 -13,604 137,234 -1,805
2004 108,548 -16,510 132,661 23,897
2003 105,540 -18,097 130,312 69,185
2002 100,588 5,992 126,429 86,578
2001 99,598 -33,006 116,647 227,791
2000 97,468 8,079 110,754 83,013
1999 96,108 6,284 102,295 -84,926
1998 94,361 4,479 103,906 -76,766
1997 93,378 2,034 105,433 -48,437
1996 93,369 2,697 104,140 -52,110
1995 92,748 -12,986 100,885 -112,857
1994 90,943 9,496 101,486 -77,371
1993 89,873 9,930 103,317 -95,476
1992 88,939 9,269 103,251 -129,565
1991 88,688 4,381 105,477 -238,965
1990 87,507 1,995 100,778 131,587
1989 85,969 409 98,298 -5,079
1988 84,654 -31,016 96,344 9,470
1987 83,408 -47,428 94,235 9,558
1986 81,149 -47,332 90,902 7,992
1985 79,266 -46,427 88,869 -7,873
1984 77,395 -45,591 87,072 -8,708
1983 75,399 -44,780 84,628 -8,783
1982 73,330 -43,908 82,457 -11,379
1981 71,391 -42,872 80,111 -12,699
1980 68,759 -41,539 77,932 -11,641
1979 66,104 -39,850 75,992 -13,095
1978 63,285 -37,874 74,130 -13,073
1977 60,436 -35,782 71,663 -12,399
1976 57,725 -33,645 69,506 -15,686
1975 55,106 -9,895 67,560 -13,058
1974 53,777 -9,838 65,357 -11,473
1973 52,525 -9,800 62,443 -9,322
1972 51,390 -9,634 60,279 -8,267
1971 50,142 -7,259 58,484 -8,162
1970 48,690 -3,693 56,513 -4,957
1969 47,066 -80 54,768 -4,485
1968 45,377 474 53,126 -3,743
1967 42,979 474 51,734 -2,819
1966 40,804 474 49,486 -2,911
1965 38,710 474 47,223 -1,851
1964 36,878 474 45,487 -2,308
1963 35,218 474 43,569 -2,480
1962 33,731 474 41,603 -2,658
1961 32,383 474 40,022 -2,947
1960 31,131 474 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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