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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 11.4 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Central African Republic vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR South Africa
2100 19,061,127 94,734,082
2099 18,981,009 94,523,360
2098 18,896,319 94,316,049
2097 18,810,793 94,125,043
2096 18,719,993 93,927,246
2095 18,621,666 93,719,451
2094 18,521,650 93,494,697
2093 18,420,299 93,267,274
2092 18,311,751 93,041,793
2091 18,200,580 92,793,249
2090 18,083,097 92,561,159
2089 17,968,298 92,322,396
2088 17,844,377 92,080,212
2087 17,717,148 91,833,409
2086 17,581,447 91,581,639
2085 17,447,157 91,352,906
2084 17,306,435 91,106,961
2083 17,159,818 90,845,161
2082 17,010,036 90,583,188
2081 16,860,592 90,313,417
2080 16,704,486 90,039,857
2079 16,552,105 89,770,116
2078 16,392,201 89,494,440
2077 16,224,015 89,217,520
2076 16,051,483 88,954,522
2075 15,877,563 88,681,719
2074 15,706,759 88,397,221
2073 15,526,382 88,118,589
2072 15,346,626 87,835,051
2071 15,158,906 87,509,098
2070 14,964,276 87,178,463
2069 14,768,967 86,870,660
2068 14,572,130 86,558,000
2067 14,369,861 86,237,764
2066 14,167,129 85,904,801
2065 13,963,573 85,573,984
2064 13,758,257 85,214,686
2063 13,545,150 84,845,370
2062 13,332,625 84,473,236
2061 13,120,271 84,103,016
2060 12,903,195 83,719,266
2059 12,684,791 83,325,330
2058 12,464,271 82,918,226
2057 12,242,308 82,508,742
2056 12,020,446 82,098,320
2055 11,797,986 81,669,191
2054 11,575,058 81,227,019
2053 11,351,527 80,789,939
2052 11,128,939 80,338,877
2051 10,908,122 79,858,310
2050 10,686,324 79,383,784
2049 10,468,520 78,897,472
2048 10,249,810 78,409,829
2047 10,034,764 77,894,547
2046 9,819,986 77,369,819
2045 9,606,504 76,852,544
2044 9,394,614 76,330,046
2043 9,185,941 75,800,788
2042 8,980,018 75,264,885
2041 8,774,893 74,721,871
2040 8,567,893 74,179,185
2039 8,358,128 73,636,894
2038 8,149,514 73,079,976
2037 7,942,721 72,506,991
2036 7,734,436 71,930,701
2035 7,525,805 71,337,219
2034 7,314,741 70,737,692
2033 7,105,166 70,128,299
2032 6,897,152 69,502,726
2031 6,690,066 68,865,544
2030 6,486,667 68,221,143
2029 6,286,290 67,549,189
2028 6,085,426 66,860,631
2027 5,890,999 66,166,759
2026 5,700,718 65,473,024
2025 5,513,282 64,747,319
2024 5,330,690 64,007,187
2023 5,152,421 63,212,384
2022 5,098,039 62,378,410
2021 5,112,100 61,502,603
2020 5,026,628 60,562,381
2019 4,944,703 59,587,885
2018 4,878,657 58,613,001
2017 4,793,511 57,635,162
2016 4,713,663 57,259,551
2015 4,629,320 56,723,537
2014 4,623,182 55,594,838
2013 4,642,419 54,678,791
2012 4,610,848 53,782,567
2011 4,565,021 52,995,205
2010 4,492,995 52,344,051
2009 4,529,047 51,728,516
2008 4,558,984 51,114,599
2007 4,462,770 50,528,584
2006 4,377,579 49,998,277
2005 4,288,810 49,490,033
2004 4,192,826 48,991,421
2003 4,103,086 48,500,348
2002 4,006,077 48,019,415
2001 3,919,487 47,566,800
2000 3,833,416 47,159,719
1999 3,729,450 46,730,335
1998 3,628,827 46,223,880
1997 3,531,700 45,666,838
1996 3,435,965 45,123,018
1995 3,348,052 44,541,554
1994 3,257,954 44,004,139
1993 3,157,839 43,297,156
1992 3,058,831 42,443,509
1991 2,963,191 41,687,898
1990 2,871,910 40,746,268
1989 2,783,970 39,628,575
1988 2,713,965 38,480,649
1987 2,669,155 37,326,190
1986 2,634,258 36,180,515
1985 2,600,932 35,042,093
1984 2,568,610 33,892,788
1983 2,537,399 32,739,304
1982 2,507,375 31,615,339
1981 2,478,402 30,541,044
1980 2,450,535 29,518,857
1979 2,423,794 28,634,162
1978 2,397,961 27,869,507
1977 2,372,930 27,118,952
1976 2,348,566 26,395,450
1975 2,313,916 25,690,940
1974 2,269,338 24,989,108
1973 2,226,008 24,294,263
1972 2,183,769 23,609,456
1971 2,141,450 22,942,143
1970 2,097,505 22,279,984
1969 2,051,515 21,614,676
1968 2,005,100 20,957,287
1967 1,960,444 20,314,066
1966 1,918,082 19,690,087
1965 1,877,854 19,089,380
1964 1,839,583 18,511,361
1963 1,803,063 17,954,564
1962 1,768,115 17,418,522
1961 1,734,580 16,908,035
1960 1,702,346 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR South Africa
2100 0.42% 0.22%
2099 0.45% 0.22%
2098 0.45% 0.2%
2097 0.49% 0.21%
2096 0.53% 0.22%
2095 0.54% 0.24%
2094 0.55% 0.24%
2093 0.59% 0.24%
2092 0.61% 0.27%
2091 0.65% 0.25%
2090 0.64% 0.26%
2089 0.69% 0.26%
2088 0.72% 0.27%
2087 0.77% 0.27%
2086 0.77% 0.25%
2085 0.81% 0.27%
2084 0.85% 0.29%
2083 0.88% 0.29%
2082 0.89% 0.3%
2081 0.93% 0.3%
2080 0.92% 0.3%
2079 0.98% 0.31%
2078 1.04% 0.31%
2077 1.07% 0.3%
2076 1.1% 0.31%
2075 1.09% 0.32%
2074 1.16% 0.32%
2073 1.17% 0.32%
2072 1.24% 0.37%
2071 1.3% 0.38%
2070 1.32% 0.35%
2069 1.35% 0.36%
2068 1.41% 0.37%
2067 1.43% 0.39%
2066 1.46% 0.39%
2065 1.49% 0.42%
2064 1.57% 0.44%
2063 1.59% 0.44%
2062 1.62% 0.44%
2061 1.68% 0.46%
2060 1.72% 0.47%
2059 1.77% 0.49%
2058 1.81% 0.5%
2057 1.85% 0.5%
2056 1.89% 0.53%
2055 1.93% 0.54%
2054 1.97% 0.54%
2053 2% 0.56%
2052 2.02% 0.6%
2051 2.08% 0.6%
2050 2.08% 0.62%
2049 2.13% 0.62%
2048 2.14% 0.66%
2047 2.19% 0.68%
2046 2.22% 0.67%
2045 2.26% 0.68%
2044 2.27% 0.7%
2043 2.29% 0.71%
2042 2.34% 0.73%
2041 2.42% 0.73%
2040 2.51% 0.74%
2039 2.56% 0.76%
2038 2.6% 0.79%
2037 2.69% 0.8%
2036 2.77% 0.83%
2035 2.89% 0.85%
2034 2.95% 0.87%
2033 3.02% 0.9%
2032 3.1% 0.93%
2031 3.14% 0.94%
2030 3.19% 0.99%
2029 3.3% 1.03%
2028 3.3% 1.05%
2027 3.34% 1.06%
2026 3.4% 1.12%
2025 3.43% 1.16%
2024 3.46% 1.26%
2023 1.07% 1.34%
2022 -0.28% 1.42%
2021 1.7% 1.55%
2020 1.66% 1.64%
2019 1.35% 1.66%
2018 1.78% 1.7%
2017 1.69% 0.66%
2016 1.82% 0.94%
2015 0.13% 2.03%
2014 -0.41% 1.68%
2013 0.68% 1.67%
2012 1% 1.49%
2011 1.6% 1.24%
2010 -0.8% 1.19%
2009 -0.66% 1.2%
2008 2.16% 1.16%
2007 1.95% 1.06%
2006 2.07% 1.03%
2005 2.29% 1.02%
2004 2.19% 1.01%
2003 2.42% 1%
2002 2.21% 0.95%
2001 2.25% 0.86%
2000 2.79% 0.92%
1999 2.77% 1.1%
1998 2.75% 1.22%
1997 2.79% 1.21%
1996 2.63% 1.31%
1995 2.77% 1.22%
1994 3.17% 1.63%
1993 3.24% 2.01%
1992 3.23% 1.81%
1991 3.18% 2.31%
1990 3.16% 2.82%
1989 2.58% 2.98%
1988 1.68% 3.09%
1987 1.32% 3.17%
1986 1.28% 3.25%
1985 1.26% 3.39%
1984 1.23% 3.52%
1983 1.2% 3.56%
1982 1.17% 3.52%
1981 1.14% 3.46%
1980 1.1% 3.09%
1979 1.08% 2.74%
1978 1.05% 2.77%
1977 1.04% 2.74%
1976 1.5% 2.74%
1975 1.96% 2.81%
1974 1.95% 2.86%
1973 1.93% 2.9%
1972 1.98% 2.91%
1971 2.1% 2.97%
1970 2.24% 3.08%
1969 2.31% 3.14%
1968 2.28% 3.17%
1967 2.21% 3.17%
1966 2.14% 3.15%
1965 2.08% 3.12%
1964 2.03% 3.1%
1963 1.98% 3.08%
1962 1.93% 3.02%
1961 1.89% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

CAR South Africa
Current population
5798457
65829368
Population rank 117/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
10.5 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +500 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 91/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +146,370
Net migration rank 143/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 146,370
2024 196,244 -15,357 591,618 166,972
2023 190,325 -14,682 602,793 228,222
2022 -49,456 -17,430 603,636 233,284
2021 124,408 -85,646 456,411 458,246
2020 156,911 -24,745 595,873 369,901
2019 68,523 -36,849 652,130 331,124
2018 153,361 -52,954 648,319 318,260
2017 128,461 -58,584 645,975 343,146
2016 142,419 -52,607 641,365 -879,235
2015 141,912 -63,045 668,771 641,150
2014 107,448 -174,051 674,754 272,697
2013 140,489 -112,382 652,427 232,230
2012 146,791 -111,764 643,723 264,091
2011 142,913 -86,281 601,708 65,166
2010 130,539 -43,126 566,834 68,563
2009 -130,613 -28,899 554,115 41,528
2008 128,627 -28,983 595,332 36,869
2007 123,137 -30,352 503,567 36,339
2006 118,882 -41,282 487,584 33,159
2005 113,534 -13,604 464,464 31,286
2004 108,548 -16,510 442,540 58,924
2003 105,540 -18,097 415,018 65,604
2002 100,588 5,992 430,926 50,313
2001 99,598 -33,006 484,801 -60,793
2000 97,468 8,079 526,963 -136,794
1999 96,108 6,284 594,643 -126,011
1998 94,361 4,479 627,027 -82,722
1997 93,378 2,034 667,969 -98,181
1996 93,369 2,697 710,868 -193,007
1995 92,748 -12,986 743,488 -98,403
1994 90,943 9,496 698,609 -268,849
1993 89,873 9,930 789,220 194,977
1992 88,939 9,269 794,415 -71,342
1991 88,688 4,381 827,296 -39,131
1990 87,507 1,995 835,421 259,718
1989 85,969 409 884,629 255,605
1988 84,654 -31,016 909,221 246,382
1987 83,408 -47,428 922,330 231,009
1986 81,149 -47,332 903,644 234,378
1985 79,266 -46,427 893,889 244,940
1984 77,395 -45,591 869,011 290,789
1983 75,399 -44,780 837,013 310,172
1982 73,330 -43,908 807,550 293,195
1981 71,391 -42,872 767,833 279,985
1980 68,759 -41,539 738,415 258,127
1979 66,104 -39,850 716,541 56,323
1978 63,285 -37,874 694,341 62,121
1977 60,436 -35,782 680,929 63,739
1976 57,725 -33,645 675,011 27,333
1975 55,106 -9,895 667,862 38,809
1974 53,777 -9,838 658,438 38,518
1973 52,525 -9,800 651,596 41,125
1972 51,390 -9,634 638,754 38,163
1971 50,142 -7,259 624,761 32,961
1970 48,690 -3,693 605,102 61,514
1969 47,066 -80 590,794 73,225
1968 45,377 474 571,841 78,932
1967 42,979 474 553,741 81,932
1966 40,804 474 534,862 77,417
1965 38,710 474 506,632 82,514
1964 36,878 474 490,606 76,298
1963 35,218 474 473,821 72,844
1962 33,731 474 455,634 69,771
1961 32,383 474 437,851 57,728
1960 31,131 474 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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