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Population in the Central African Republic compared to South Sudan: 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 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 2.17 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.27% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

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

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR South Sudan
2100 19,066,004 24,086,901
2099 18,985,867 24,081,477
2098 18,901,154 24,063,461
2097 18,815,607 24,065,268
2096 18,724,783 24,054,483
2095 18,626,431 24,046,345
2094 18,526,390 24,047,776
2093 18,425,013 24,039,017
2092 18,316,437 24,019,054
2091 18,205,237 24,000,308
2090 18,087,725 23,978,496
2089 17,972,896 23,937,487
2088 17,848,943 23,892,166
2087 17,721,681 23,857,250
2086 17,585,946 23,803,312
2085 17,451,621 23,759,178
2084 17,310,863 23,687,109
2083 17,164,209 23,617,646
2082 17,014,388 23,541,119
2081 16,864,906 23,466,449
2080 16,708,761 23,391,758
2079 16,556,341 23,294,252
2078 16,396,395 23,197,067
2077 16,228,166 23,086,584
2076 16,055,590 22,987,331
2075 15,881,626 22,868,587
2074 15,710,778 22,726,189
2073 15,530,355 22,583,672
2072 15,350,553 22,438,943
2071 15,162,785 22,288,026
2070 14,968,105 22,151,650
2069 14,772,746 22,003,659
2068 14,575,859 21,829,800
2067 14,373,538 21,662,211
2066 14,170,754 21,496,881
2065 13,967,146 21,317,455
2064 13,761,777 21,142,002
2063 13,548,616 20,965,122
2062 13,336,037 20,785,055
2061 13,123,628 20,608,964
2060 12,906,496 20,430,857
2059 12,688,037 20,235,022
2058 12,467,461 20,048,974
2057 12,245,441 19,853,696
2056 12,023,522 19,659,362
2055 11,801,006 19,464,297
2054 11,578,020 19,257,481
2053 11,354,432 19,060,517
2052 11,131,786 18,840,461
2051 10,910,913 18,633,198
2050 10,689,058 18,434,212
2049 10,471,199 18,230,881
2048 10,252,433 18,021,026
2047 10,037,332 17,806,282
2046 9,822,499 17,579,173
2045 9,608,962 17,355,041
2044 9,397,018 17,121,972
2043 9,188,292 16,888,278
2042 8,982,316 16,645,354
2041 8,777,138 16,396,768
2040 8,570,085 16,142,816
2039 8,360,267 15,889,952
2038 8,151,599 15,628,043
2037 7,944,754 15,363,975
2036 7,736,415 15,091,275
2035 7,527,731 14,815,307
2034 7,316,613 14,543,511
2033 7,106,984 14,278,180
2032 6,898,917 14,007,134
2031 6,691,778 13,730,637
2030 6,488,327 13,465,615
2029 6,287,899 13,206,477
2028 6,086,983 12,947,082
2027 5,892,506 12,692,769
2026 5,702,177 12,439,296
2025 5,514,692 12,193,102
2024 5,330,690 11,943,408
2023 5,152,421 11,483,374
2022 5,098,039 11,021,177
2021 5,112,100 10,865,780
2020 5,026,628 10,698,467
2019 4,944,703 10,423,384
2018 4,878,657 10,122,977
2017 4,793,511 10,259,154
2016 4,713,663 10,830,102
2015 4,629,320 11,107,561
2014 4,623,182 11,235,073
2013 4,642,419 11,166,275
2012 4,610,848 10,756,240
2011 4,565,021 10,288,109
2010 4,492,995 9,745,953
2009 4,529,047 9,243,556
2008 4,558,984 8,817,647
2007 4,462,770 8,388,788
2006 4,377,579 7,976,526
2005 4,288,810 7,590,143
2004 4,192,826 7,233,041
2003 4,103,086 6,903,127
2002 4,006,077 6,596,806
2001 3,919,487 6,308,391
2000 3,833,416 6,032,267
1999 3,729,450 5,771,628
1998 3,628,827 5,620,068
1997 3,531,700 5,509,136
1996 3,435,965 5,356,925
1995 3,348,052 5,225,836
1994 3,257,954 5,071,184
1993 3,157,839 4,956,002
1992 3,058,831 4,909,749
1991 2,963,191 4,836,677
1990 2,871,910 4,737,633
1989 2,783,970 4,713,229
1988 2,713,965 4,848,029
1987 2,669,155 4,962,395
1986 2,634,258 4,921,240
1985 2,600,932 4,834,296
1984 2,568,610 4,750,627
1983 2,537,399 4,661,574
1982 2,507,375 4,557,686
1981 2,478,402 4,447,272
1980 2,450,535 4,339,030
1979 2,423,794 4,232,605
1978 2,397,961 4,127,657
1977 2,372,930 4,024,032
1976 2,348,566 3,921,910
1975 2,313,916 3,821,494
1974 2,269,338 3,723,259
1973 2,226,008 3,627,383
1972 2,183,769 3,542,497
1971 2,141,450 3,468,646
1970 2,097,505 3,409,614
1969 2,051,515 3,365,533
1968 2,005,100 3,321,528
1967 1,960,444 3,277,648
1966 1,918,082 3,236,423
1965 1,877,854 3,189,835
1964 1,839,583 3,129,918
1963 1,803,063 3,072,669
1962 1,768,115 3,024,308
1961 1,734,580 2,976,724
1960 1,702,346 2,931,559

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/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR South Sudan
2100 0.42% 0.02%
2099 0.45% 0.07%
2098 0.45% -0.008%
2097 0.49% 0.04%
2096 0.53% 0.03%
2095 0.54% -0.006%
2094 0.55% 0.04%
2093 0.59% 0.08%
2092 0.61% 0.08%
2091 0.65% 0.09%
2090 0.64% 0.17%
2089 0.69% 0.19%
2088 0.72% 0.15%
2087 0.77% 0.23%
2086 0.77% 0.19%
2085 0.81% 0.3%
2084 0.85% 0.29%
2083 0.88% 0.33%
2082 0.89% 0.32%
2081 0.93% 0.32%
2080 0.92% 0.42%
2079 0.98% 0.42%
2078 1.04% 0.48%
2077 1.07% 0.43%
2076 1.1% 0.52%
2075 1.09% 0.63%
2074 1.16% 0.63%
2073 1.17% 0.64%
2072 1.24% 0.68%
2071 1.3% 0.62%
2070 1.32% 0.67%
2069 1.35% 0.8%
2068 1.41% 0.77%
2067 1.43% 0.77%
2066 1.46% 0.84%
2065 1.49% 0.83%
2064 1.57% 0.84%
2063 1.59% 0.87%
2062 1.62% 0.85%
2061 1.68% 0.87%
2060 1.72% 0.97%
2059 1.77% 0.93%
2058 1.81% 0.98%
2057 1.85% 0.99%
2056 1.89% 1%
2055 1.93% 1.07%
2054 1.97% 1.03%
2053 2% 1.17%
2052 2.02% 1.11%
2051 2.08% 1.08%
2050 2.08% 1.12%
2049 2.13% 1.16%
2048 2.14% 1.21%
2047 2.19% 1.29%
2046 2.22% 1.29%
2045 2.26% 1.36%
2044 2.27% 1.38%
2043 2.29% 1.46%
2042 2.34% 1.52%
2041 2.42% 1.57%
2040 2.51% 1.59%
2039 2.56% 1.68%
2038 2.6% 1.72%
2037 2.69% 1.81%
2036 2.77% 1.86%
2035 2.89% 1.87%
2034 2.95% 1.86%
2033 3.02% 1.94%
2032 3.1% 2.01%
2031 3.14% 1.97%
2030 3.19% 1.96%
2029 3.3% 2%
2028 3.3% 2%
2027 3.34% 2.04%
2026 3.4% 2.02%
2025 3.45% 2.09%
2024 3.46% 4.01%
2023 1.07% 4.19%
2022 -0.28% 1.43%
2021 1.7% 1.56%
2020 1.66% 2.64%
2019 1.35% 2.97%
2018 1.78% -1.33%
2017 1.69% -5.27%
2016 1.82% -2.5%
2015 0.13% -1.13%
2014 -0.41% 0.62%
2013 0.68% 3.81%
2012 1% 4.55%
2011 1.6% 5.56%
2010 -0.8% 5.44%
2009 -0.66% 4.83%
2008 2.16% 5.11%
2007 1.95% 5.17%
2006 2.07% 5.09%
2005 2.29% 4.94%
2004 2.19% 4.78%
2003 2.42% 4.64%
2002 2.21% 4.57%
2001 2.25% 4.58%
2000 2.79% 4.52%
1999 2.77% 2.7%
1998 2.75% 2.01%
1997 2.79% 2.84%
1996 2.63% 2.51%
1995 2.77% 3.05%
1994 3.17% 2.32%
1993 3.24% 0.94%
1992 3.23% 1.51%
1991 3.18% 2.09%
1990 3.16% 0.52%
1989 2.58% -2.78%
1988 1.68% -2.3%
1987 1.32% 0.84%
1986 1.28% 1.8%
1985 1.26% 1.76%
1984 1.23% 1.91%
1983 1.2% 2.28%
1982 1.17% 2.48%
1981 1.14% 2.49%
1980 1.1% 2.51%
1979 1.08% 2.54%
1978 1.05% 2.58%
1977 1.04% 2.6%
1976 1.5% 2.63%
1975 1.96% 2.64%
1974 1.95% 2.64%
1973 1.93% 2.4%
1972 1.98% 2.13%
1971 2.1% 1.73%
1970 2.24% 1.31%
1969 2.31% 1.32%
1968 2.28% 1.34%
1967 2.21% 1.27%
1966 2.14% 1.46%
1965 2.08% 1.91%
1964 2.03% 1.86%
1963 1.98% 1.6%
1962 1.93% 1.6%
1961 1.89% 1.54%

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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

CAR South Sudan
Current population
5753659
12507858
Population rank 118/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.15%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
2.2 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 7/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 +6,145
Net migration rank 143/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 6,145
2024 - -15,357 - 15,374
2023 190,325 -14,682 217,966 455,000
2022 -49,456 -17,430 211,166 40,259
2021 124,408 -85,646 213,567 -154,359
2020 156,911 -24,745 212,332 62,935
2019 68,523 -36,849 209,708 65,198
2018 153,361 -52,954 168,497 157,408
2017 128,461 -58,584 72,193 -670,477
2016 142,419 -52,607 110,553 -654,225
2015 141,912 -63,045 148,542 -159,822
2014 107,448 -174,051 227,611 -471,523
2013 140,489 -112,382 315,983 65,337
2012 146,791 -111,764 312,974 125,771
2011 142,913 -86,281 303,181 194,325
2010 130,539 -43,126 287,409 299,402
2009 -130,613 -28,899 278,859 139,129
2008 128,627 -28,983 268,268 165,557
2007 123,137 -30,352 256,546 167,350
2006 118,882 -41,282 246,706 153,926
2005 113,534 -13,604 239,272 132,869
2004 108,548 -16,510 231,877 110,182
2003 105,540 -18,097 225,822 91,951
2002 100,588 5,992 212,014 82,847
2001 99,598 -33,006 204,108 77,856
2000 97,468 8,079 196,055 74,227
1999 96,108 6,284 180,721 70,271
1998 94,361 4,479 -12,157 64,285
1997 93,378 2,034 121,454 48,280
1996 93,369 2,697 116,728 17,953
1995 92,748 -12,986 110,417 17,077
1994 90,943 9,496 165,407 16,407
1993 89,873 9,930 32,779 15,772
1992 88,939 9,269 28,874 15,077
1991 88,688 4,381 87,873 14,327
1990 87,507 1,995 82,900 12,988
1989 85,969 409 83,735 -130,821
1988 84,654 -31,016 -125,447 -97,065
1987 83,408 -47,428 5,756 -11,976
1986 81,149 -47,332 99,502 -10,973
1985 79,266 -46,427 95,342 -9,986
1984 77,395 -45,591 90,970 -8,984
1983 75,399 -44,780 104,107 -7,986
1982 73,330 -43,908 118,641 -6,983
1981 71,391 -42,872 115,163 -5,994
1980 68,759 -41,539 112,307 -4,997
1979 66,104 -39,850 109,540 -3,997
1978 63,285 -37,874 107,352 -2,998
1977 60,436 -35,782 104,886 -1,997
1976 57,725 -33,645 102,346 -995
1975 55,106 -9,895 99,882 -395
1974 53,777 -9,838 97,181 -192
1973 52,525 -9,800 94,765 0
1972 51,390 -9,634 74,803 193
1971 50,142 -7,259 72,308 394
1970 48,690 -3,693 44,776 587
1969 47,066 -80 42,015 786
1968 45,377 474 44,213 995
1967 42,979 474 41,357 1,194
1966 40,804 474 38,523 1,386
1965 38,710 474 51,682 1,591
1964 36,878 474 64,786 1,785
1963 35,218 474 46,333 1,591
1962 33,731 474 47,406 1,386
1961 32,383 474 45,186 1,194
1960 31,131 474 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/south-sudan | 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 South Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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/south-sudan | 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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