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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Somalia: 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 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 3.56 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Central African Republic vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Somalia
2100 19,066,004 68,384,185
2099 18,985,867 68,040,371
2098 18,901,154 67,702,230
2097 18,815,607 67,362,336
2096 18,724,783 66,972,933
2095 18,626,431 66,585,659
2094 18,526,390 66,179,819
2093 18,425,013 65,760,590
2092 18,316,437 65,324,261
2091 18,205,237 64,852,843
2090 18,087,725 64,362,727
2089 17,972,896 63,922,797
2088 17,848,943 63,464,036
2087 17,721,681 62,987,028
2086 17,585,946 62,447,029
2085 17,451,621 61,873,597
2084 17,310,863 61,318,916
2083 17,164,209 60,761,800
2082 17,014,388 60,187,980
2081 16,864,906 59,676,722
2080 16,708,761 59,100,915
2079 16,556,341 58,477,428
2078 16,396,395 57,852,528
2077 16,228,166 57,211,821
2076 16,055,590 56,602,463
2075 15,881,626 56,005,600
2074 15,710,778 55,330,165
2073 15,530,355 54,651,918
2072 15,350,553 53,978,548
2071 15,162,785 53,284,016
2070 14,968,105 52,573,210
2069 14,772,746 51,878,214
2068 14,575,859 51,197,653
2067 14,373,538 50,493,028
2066 14,170,754 49,779,172
2065 13,967,146 49,024,665
2064 13,761,777 48,265,876
2063 13,548,616 47,522,361
2062 13,336,037 46,785,920
2061 13,123,628 46,037,526
2060 12,906,496 45,220,507
2059 12,688,037 44,397,936
2058 12,467,461 43,659,021
2057 12,245,441 42,897,422
2056 12,023,522 42,121,542
2055 11,801,006 41,318,179
2054 11,578,020 40,513,141
2053 11,354,432 39,744,995
2052 11,131,786 38,992,177
2051 10,910,913 38,228,872
2050 10,689,058 37,471,735
2049 10,471,199 36,739,905
2048 10,252,433 35,984,999
2047 10,037,332 35,218,863
2046 9,822,499 34,462,403
2045 9,608,962 33,717,596
2044 9,397,018 32,977,674
2043 9,188,292 32,247,710
2042 8,982,316 31,537,272
2041 8,777,138 30,794,853
2040 8,570,085 30,032,324
2039 8,360,267 29,312,883
2038 8,151,599 28,583,386
2037 7,944,754 27,838,646
2036 7,736,415 27,114,453
2035 7,527,731 26,385,421
2034 7,316,613 25,687,629
2033 7,106,984 25,018,509
2032 6,898,917 24,338,597
2031 6,691,778 23,657,353
2030 6,488,327 22,965,742
2029 6,287,899 22,299,610
2028 6,086,983 21,651,582
2027 5,892,506 20,991,860
2026 5,702,177 20,322,668
2025 5,514,692 19,666,990
2024 5,330,690 19,009,151
2023 5,152,421 18,358,615
2022 5,098,039 17,801,897
2021 5,112,100 17,271,431
2020 5,026,628 16,651,191
2019 4,944,703 16,030,971
2018 4,878,657 15,452,487
2017 4,793,511 14,916,629
2016 4,713,663 14,348,740
2015 4,629,320 13,806,963
2014 4,623,182 13,339,491
2013 4,642,419 12,869,594
2012 4,610,848 12,461,160
2011 4,565,021 12,348,830
2010 4,492,995 12,261,756
2009 4,529,047 11,961,201
2008 4,558,984 11,663,084
2007 4,462,770 11,322,582
2006 4,377,579 10,975,502
2005 4,288,810 10,644,228
2004 4,192,826 10,280,998
2003 4,103,086 9,909,157
2002 4,006,077 9,550,063
2001 3,919,487 9,198,493
2000 3,833,416 8,838,713
1999 3,729,450 8,492,059
1998 3,628,827 8,155,417
1997 3,531,700 7,824,525
1996 3,435,965 7,554,474
1995 3,348,052 7,285,007
1994 3,257,954 7,026,797
1993 3,157,839 6,681,399
1992 3,058,831 6,495,107
1991 2,963,191 6,813,760
1990 2,871,910 7,082,811
1989 2,783,970 7,114,817
1988 2,713,965 7,235,360
1987 2,669,155 7,228,302
1986 2,634,258 6,974,788
1985 2,600,932 6,693,289
1984 2,568,610 6,428,389
1983 2,537,399 6,198,430
1982 2,507,375 6,003,840
1981 2,478,402 5,982,849
1980 2,450,535 5,936,154
1979 2,423,794 5,449,117
1978 2,397,961 4,814,892
1977 2,372,930 4,484,050
1976 2,348,566 4,365,812
1975 2,313,916 4,257,535
1974 2,269,338 4,151,842
1973 2,226,008 4,045,592
1972 2,183,769 3,939,436
1971 2,141,450 3,837,691
1970 2,097,505 3,738,448
1969 2,051,515 3,641,015
1968 2,005,100 3,546,590
1967 1,960,444 3,454,537
1966 1,918,082 3,365,106
1965 1,877,854 3,277,874
1964 1,839,583 3,192,796
1963 1,803,063 3,110,361
1962 1,768,115 3,030,091
1961 1,734,580 2,952,054
1960 1,702,346 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Somalia
2100 0.42% 0.51%
2099 0.45% 0.5%
2098 0.45% 0.5%
2097 0.49% 0.58%
2096 0.53% 0.58%
2095 0.54% 0.61%
2094 0.55% 0.64%
2093 0.59% 0.67%
2092 0.61% 0.73%
2091 0.65% 0.76%
2090 0.64% 0.69%
2089 0.69% 0.72%
2088 0.72% 0.76%
2087 0.77% 0.86%
2086 0.77% 0.93%
2085 0.81% 0.9%
2084 0.85% 0.92%
2083 0.88% 0.95%
2082 0.89% 0.86%
2081 0.93% 0.97%
2080 0.92% 1.07%
2079 0.98% 1.08%
2078 1.04% 1.12%
2077 1.07% 1.08%
2076 1.1% 1.07%
2075 1.09% 1.22%
2074 1.16% 1.24%
2073 1.17% 1.25%
2072 1.24% 1.3%
2071 1.3% 1.35%
2070 1.32% 1.34%
2069 1.35% 1.33%
2068 1.41% 1.4%
2067 1.43% 1.43%
2066 1.46% 1.54%
2065 1.49% 1.57%
2064 1.57% 1.56%
2063 1.59% 1.57%
2062 1.62% 1.63%
2061 1.68% 1.81%
2060 1.72% 1.85%
2059 1.77% 1.69%
2058 1.81% 1.78%
2057 1.85% 1.84%
2056 1.89% 1.94%
2055 1.93% 1.99%
2054 1.97% 1.93%
2053 2% 1.93%
2052 2.02% 2%
2051 2.08% 2.02%
2050 2.08% 1.99%
2049 2.13% 2.1%
2048 2.14% 2.18%
2047 2.19% 2.2%
2046 2.22% 2.21%
2045 2.26% 2.24%
2044 2.27% 2.26%
2043 2.29% 2.25%
2042 2.34% 2.41%
2041 2.42% 2.54%
2040 2.51% 2.45%
2039 2.56% 2.55%
2038 2.6% 2.68%
2037 2.69% 2.67%
2036 2.77% 2.76%
2035 2.89% 2.72%
2034 2.95% 2.67%
2033 3.02% 2.79%
2032 3.1% 2.88%
2031 3.14% 3.01%
2030 3.19% 2.99%
2029 3.3% 2.99%
2028 3.3% 3.14%
2027 3.34% 3.29%
2026 3.4% 3.33%
2025 3.45% 3.46%
2024 3.46% 3.54%
2023 1.07% 3.13%
2022 -0.28% 3.07%
2021 1.7% 3.72%
2020 1.66% 3.87%
2019 1.35% 3.74%
2018 1.78% 3.59%
2017 1.69% 3.96%
2016 1.82% 3.92%
2015 0.13% 3.5%
2014 -0.41% 3.65%
2013 0.68% 3.28%
2012 1% 0.91%
2011 1.6% 0.71%
2010 -0.8% 2.51%
2009 -0.66% 2.56%
2008 2.16% 3.01%
2007 1.95% 3.16%
2006 2.07% 3.11%
2005 2.29% 3.53%
2004 2.19% 3.75%
2003 2.42% 3.76%
2002 2.21% 3.82%
2001 2.25% 4.07%
2000 2.79% 4.08%
1999 2.77% 4.13%
1998 2.75% 4.23%
1997 2.79% 3.57%
1996 2.63% 3.7%
1995 2.77% 3.67%
1994 3.17% 5.17%
1993 3.24% 2.87%
1992 3.23% -4.68%
1991 3.18% -3.8%
1990 3.16% -0.45%
1989 2.58% -1.67%
1988 1.68% 0.1%
1987 1.32% 3.63%
1986 1.28% 4.21%
1985 1.26% 4.12%
1984 1.23% 3.71%
1983 1.2% 3.24%
1982 1.17% 0.35%
1981 1.14% 0.79%
1980 1.1% 8.94%
1979 1.08% 13.2%
1978 1.05% 7.38%
1977 1.04% 2.71%
1976 1.5% 2.54%
1975 1.96% 2.55%
1974 1.95% 2.63%
1973 1.93% 2.69%
1972 1.98% 2.65%
1971 2.1% 2.65%
1970 2.24% 2.68%
1969 2.31% 2.66%
1968 2.28% 2.66%
1967 2.21% 2.66%
1966 2.14% 2.66%
1965 2.08% 2.66%
1964 2.03% 2.65%
1963 1.98% 2.65%
1962 1.93% 2.64%
1961 1.89% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

CAR Somalia
Current population
5753659
20503678
Population rank 118/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.25%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 8/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +12,077
Net migration rank 143/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 12,077
2024 - -15,357 - 26,859
2023 190,325 -14,682 608,203 46,217
2022 -49,456 -17,430 551,450 -92,434
2021 124,408 -85,646 566,399 35,506
2020 156,911 -24,745 561,311 77,259
2019 68,523 -36,849 548,756 53,124
2018 153,361 -52,954 514,244 40,844
2017 128,461 -58,584 478,556 38,067
2016 142,419 -52,607 495,132 124,017
2015 141,912 -63,045 481,573 -17,178
2014 107,448 -174,051 464,481 6,065
2013 140,489 -112,382 448,518 20,723
2012 146,791 -111,764 399,468 -51,833
2011 142,913 -86,281 203,213 -326,192
2010 130,539 -43,126 385,571 -88,448
2009 -130,613 -28,899 405,784 -101,795
2008 128,627 -28,983 394,258 -102,035
2007 123,137 -30,352 380,303 8,476
2006 118,882 -41,282 372,597 -67,200
2005 113,534 -13,604 363,117 -5,955
2004 108,548 -16,510 351,959 17,353
2003 105,540 -18,097 341,192 33,174
2002 100,588 5,992 331,215 12,603
2001 99,598 -33,006 319,059 40,274
2000 97,468 8,079 306,651 53,580
1999 96,108 6,284 295,523 37,548
1998 94,361 4,479 284,779 55,426
1997 93,378 2,034 271,894 49,692
1996 93,369 2,697 264,807 -46,291
1995 92,748 -12,986 254,509 65,888
1994 90,943 9,496 246,950 -50,921
1993 89,873 9,930 232,960 261,815
1992 88,939 9,269 57,495 -179,675
1991 88,688 4,381 53,052 -568,166
1990 87,507 1,995 225,162 -248,155
1989 85,969 409 225,255 -266,281
1988 84,654 -31,016 215,599 -415,660
1987 83,408 -47,428 231,580 -17,391
1986 81,149 -47,332 218,416 74,424
1985 79,266 -46,427 207,960 62,183
1984 77,395 -45,591 199,017 60,630
1983 75,399 -44,780 190,775 9,505
1982 73,330 -43,908 182,793 6,115
1981 71,391 -42,872 185,211 -332,129
1980 68,759 -41,539 174,790 65,519
1979 66,104 -39,850 151,016 582,746
1978 63,285 -37,874 132,689 402,005
1977 60,436 -35,782 124,818 2,170
1976 57,725 -33,645 113,319 -3,831
1975 55,106 -9,895 108,998 -1,934
1974 53,777 -9,838 104,813 -495
1973 52,525 -9,800 108,038 143
1972 51,390 -9,634 104,493 -351
1971 50,142 -7,259 101,196 -1,850
1970 48,690 -3,693 98,025 1,104
1969 47,066 -80 95,045 690
1968 45,377 474 92,208 906
1967 42,979 474 89,497 1,498
1966 40,804 474 86,930 941
1965 38,710 474 84,448 2,142
1964 36,878 474 82,042 1,518
1963 35,218 474 79,859 1,449
1962 33,731 474 77,737 1,496
1961 32,383 474 75,513 1,336
1960 31,131 474 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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