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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 20,653,532 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 117th 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 +1.62% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% 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 19,061,127 68,341,587
2099 18,981,009 67,997,987
2098 18,896,319 67,660,056
2097 18,810,793 67,320,374
2096 18,719,993 66,931,214
2095 18,621,666 66,544,181
2094 18,521,650 66,138,594
2093 18,420,299 65,719,626
2092 18,311,751 65,283,569
2091 18,200,580 64,812,444
2090 18,083,097 64,322,633
2089 17,968,298 63,882,977
2088 17,844,377 63,424,502
2087 17,717,148 62,947,792
2086 17,581,447 62,408,129
2085 17,447,157 61,835,054
2084 17,306,435 61,280,718
2083 17,159,818 60,723,949
2082 17,010,036 60,150,487
2081 16,860,592 59,639,547
2080 16,704,486 59,064,099
2079 16,552,105 58,441,001
2078 16,392,201 57,816,490
2077 16,224,015 57,176,183
2076 16,051,483 56,567,204
2075 15,877,563 55,970,712
2074 15,706,759 55,295,699
2073 15,526,382 54,617,874
2072 15,346,626 53,944,923
2071 15,158,906 53,250,824
2070 14,964,276 52,540,460
2069 14,768,967 51,845,897
2068 14,572,130 51,165,760
2067 14,369,861 50,461,574
2066 14,167,129 49,748,163
2065 13,963,573 48,994,126
2064 13,758,257 48,235,809
2063 13,545,150 47,492,758
2062 13,332,625 46,756,776
2061 13,120,271 46,008,848
2060 12,903,195 45,192,338
2059 12,684,791 44,370,279
2058 12,464,271 43,631,825
2057 12,242,308 42,870,700
2056 12,020,446 42,095,303
2055 11,797,986 41,292,441
2054 11,575,058 40,487,904
2053 11,351,527 39,720,236
2052 11,128,939 38,967,888
2051 10,908,122 38,205,058
2050 10,686,324 37,448,393
2049 10,468,520 36,717,019
2048 10,249,810 35,962,583
2047 10,034,764 35,196,924
2046 9,819,986 34,440,935
2045 9,606,504 33,696,593
2044 9,394,614 32,957,131
2043 9,185,941 32,227,622
2042 8,980,018 31,517,627
2041 8,774,893 30,775,671
2040 8,567,893 30,013,616
2039 8,358,128 29,294,623
2038 8,149,514 28,565,580
2037 7,942,721 27,821,304
2036 7,734,436 27,097,563
2035 7,525,805 26,368,985
2034 7,314,741 25,671,628
2033 7,105,166 25,002,924
2032 6,897,152 24,323,435
2031 6,690,066 23,642,617
2030 6,486,667 22,951,436
2029 6,286,290 22,285,719
2028 6,085,426 21,638,095
2027 5,890,999 20,978,784
2026 5,700,718 20,310,008
2025 5,513,282 19,654,739
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th 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 84.3% to 10,686,324 people with a rank change from 117th to 96th. The population of Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 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 68.3M 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 3.43% 3.4%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

CAR Somalia
Current population
5798457
20653532
Population rank 117/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.25%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
49 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
39.2 seconds
One death every
10.5 minutes
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 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 196,244 -15,357 619,793 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 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 (1960–2025, 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/somalia | 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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