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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 12,565,048 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 117th 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 +1.62% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% 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 19,061,127 24,078,379
2099 18,981,009 24,072,957
2098 18,896,319 24,054,947
2097 18,810,793 24,056,753
2096 18,719,993 24,045,972
2095 18,621,666 24,037,837
2094 18,521,650 24,039,267
2093 18,420,299 24,030,512
2092 18,311,751 24,010,555
2091 18,200,580 23,991,816
2090 18,083,097 23,970,012
2089 17,968,298 23,929,017
2088 17,844,377 23,883,712
2087 17,717,148 23,848,809
2086 17,581,447 23,794,890
2085 17,447,157 23,750,772
2084 17,306,435 23,678,728
2083 17,159,818 23,609,290
2082 17,010,036 23,532,790
2081 16,860,592 23,458,146
2080 16,704,486 23,383,482
2079 16,552,105 23,286,011
2078 16,392,201 23,188,860
2077 16,224,015 23,078,416
2076 16,051,483 22,979,198
2075 15,877,563 22,860,496
2074 15,706,759 22,718,148
2073 15,526,382 22,575,682
2072 15,346,626 22,431,004
2071 15,158,906 22,280,140
2070 14,964,276 22,143,813
2069 14,768,967 21,995,874
2068 14,572,130 21,822,076
2067 14,369,861 21,654,546
2066 14,167,129 21,489,275
2065 13,963,573 21,309,913
2064 13,758,257 21,134,522
2063 13,545,150 20,957,705
2062 13,332,625 20,777,701
2061 13,120,271 20,601,672
2060 12,903,195 20,423,629
2059 12,684,791 20,227,862
2058 12,464,271 20,041,880
2057 12,242,308 19,846,671
2056 12,020,446 19,652,407
2055 11,797,986 19,457,411
2054 11,575,058 19,250,667
2053 11,351,527 19,053,773
2052 11,128,939 18,833,795
2051 10,908,122 18,626,605
2050 10,686,324 18,427,690
2049 10,468,520 18,224,430
2048 10,249,810 18,014,650
2047 10,034,764 17,799,982
2046 9,819,986 17,572,953
2045 9,606,504 17,348,901
2044 9,394,614 17,115,914
2043 9,185,941 16,882,303
2042 8,980,018 16,639,465
2041 8,774,893 16,390,966
2040 8,567,893 16,137,104
2039 8,358,128 15,884,330
2038 8,149,514 15,622,514
2037 7,942,721 15,358,539
2036 7,734,436 15,085,936
2035 7,525,805 14,810,066
2034 7,314,741 14,538,365
2033 7,105,166 14,273,128
2032 6,897,152 14,002,178
2031 6,690,066 13,725,779
2030 6,486,667 13,460,850
2029 6,286,290 13,201,804
2028 6,085,426 12,942,501
2027 5,890,999 12,688,278
2026 5,700,718 12,434,895
2025 5,513,282 12,188,788
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th 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 84.3% to 10,686,324 people with a rank change from 117th to 96th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 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 3.43% 2.05%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

CAR South Sudan
Current population
5798457
12565048
Population rank 117/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.15%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
2.15 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
1.51 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +672
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 48/197
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 196,244 -15,357 231,714 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 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 (1960–2025, 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-sudan | 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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