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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 49,355,143 people in Spain in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 49,323,658 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 8.51 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +0.55% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 49.3M (11.1% growth).

Central African Republic vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Spain
2100 19,061,127 34,221,514
2099 18,981,009 34,400,373
2098 18,896,319 34,577,450
2097 18,810,793 34,751,199
2096 18,719,993 34,917,831
2095 18,621,666 35,087,012
2094 18,521,650 35,251,362
2093 18,420,299 35,415,082
2092 18,311,751 35,577,396
2091 18,200,580 35,741,351
2090 18,083,097 35,912,083
2089 17,968,298 36,086,009
2088 17,844,377 36,257,546
2087 17,717,148 36,424,826
2086 17,581,447 36,594,101
2085 17,447,157 36,771,456
2084 17,306,435 36,951,760
2083 17,159,818 37,138,777
2082 17,010,036 37,327,720
2081 16,860,592 37,527,142
2080 16,704,486 37,732,838
2079 16,552,105 37,949,144
2078 16,392,201 38,171,047
2077 16,224,015 38,405,329
2076 16,051,483 38,654,221
2075 15,877,563 38,913,733
2074 15,706,759 39,188,284
2073 15,526,382 39,469,767
2072 15,346,626 39,765,059
2071 15,158,906 40,062,070
2070 14,964,276 40,372,388
2069 14,768,967 40,682,818
2068 14,572,130 41,005,148
2067 14,369,861 41,326,772
2066 14,167,129 41,654,672
2065 13,963,573 41,983,104
2064 13,758,257 42,321,736
2063 13,545,150 42,655,212
2062 13,332,625 42,993,328
2061 13,120,271 43,328,037
2060 12,903,195 43,648,753
2059 12,684,791 43,967,376
2058 12,464,271 44,273,756
2057 12,242,308 44,579,723
2056 12,020,446 44,885,952
2055 11,797,986 45,164,935
2054 11,575,058 45,434,986
2053 11,351,527 45,702,038
2052 11,128,939 45,951,973
2051 10,908,122 46,179,119
2050 10,686,324 46,397,620
2049 10,468,520 46,616,167
2048 10,249,810 46,812,693
2047 10,034,764 47,002,591
2046 9,819,986 47,182,235
2045 9,606,504 47,354,908
2044 9,394,614 47,514,076
2043 9,185,941 47,657,627
2042 8,980,018 47,801,904
2041 8,774,893 47,936,819
2040 8,567,893 48,066,825
2039 8,358,128 48,190,225
2038 8,149,514 48,304,880
2037 7,942,721 48,418,168
2036 7,734,436 48,528,778
2035 7,525,805 48,633,960
2034 7,314,741 48,730,594
2033 7,105,166 48,823,356
2032 6,897,152 48,914,944
2031 6,690,066 49,008,735
2030 6,486,667 49,094,273
2029 6,286,290 49,163,780
2028 6,085,426 49,223,677
2027 5,890,999 49,274,441
2026 5,700,718 49,323,658
2025 5,513,282 49,355,143
2024 5,330,690 48,848,840
2023 5,152,421 48,352,528
2022 5,098,039 47,786,102
2021 5,112,100 47,443,821
2020 5,026,628 47,359,424
2019 4,944,703 47,118,501
2018 4,878,657 46,782,011
2017 4,793,511 46,571,232
2016 4,713,663 46,458,139
2015 4,629,320 46,422,303
2014 4,623,182 46,460,733
2013 4,642,419 46,604,197
2012 4,610,848 46,773,055
2011 4,565,021 46,742,697
2010 4,492,995 46,576,897
2009 4,529,047 46,362,946
2008 4,558,984 45,954,106
2007 4,462,770 45,226,803
2006 4,377,579 44,397,319
2005 4,288,810 43,653,155
2004 4,192,826 42,921,895
2003 4,103,086 42,187,645
2002 4,006,077 41,431,558
2001 3,919,487 40,850,412
2000 3,833,416 40,567,864
1999 3,729,450 40,386,875
1998 3,628,827 40,223,509
1997 3,531,700 40,057,389
1996 3,435,965 39,889,852
1995 3,348,052 39,724,050
1994 3,257,954 39,549,108
1993 3,157,839 39,361,262
1992 3,058,831 39,157,685
1991 2,963,191 38,966,376
1990 2,871,910 38,867,322
1989 2,783,970 38,827,764
1988 2,713,965 38,766,939
1987 2,669,155 38,684,815
1986 2,634,258 38,584,624
1985 2,600,932 38,469,512
1984 2,568,610 38,330,364
1983 2,537,399 38,171,525
1982 2,507,375 37,986,012
1981 2,478,402 37,758,631
1980 2,450,535 37,491,165
1979 2,423,794 37,191,330
1978 2,397,961 36,864,898
1977 2,372,930 36,511,638
1976 2,348,566 36,137,812
1975 2,313,916 35,757,900
1974 2,269,338 35,373,335
1973 2,226,008 34,988,947
1972 2,183,769 34,604,469
1971 2,141,450 34,224,490
1970 2,097,505 33,814,531
1969 2,051,515 33,441,054
1968 2,005,100 33,113,134
1967 1,960,444 32,682,947
1966 1,918,082 32,283,194
1965 1,877,854 31,954,292
1964 1,839,583 31,609,195
1963 1,803,063 31,296,651
1962 1,768,115 31,023,366
1961 1,734,580 30,739,250
1960 1,702,346 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,865,519 people (a 6.17% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 46,397,620 people and rank change from 32nd to 46th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2025 at 49.4M people and is projected to decrease to 34.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Spain
2100 0.42% -0.52%
2099 0.45% -0.51%
2098 0.45% -0.5%
2097 0.49% -0.48%
2096 0.53% -0.48%
2095 0.54% -0.47%
2094 0.55% -0.46%
2093 0.59% -0.46%
2092 0.61% -0.46%
2091 0.65% -0.48%
2090 0.64% -0.48%
2089 0.69% -0.47%
2088 0.72% -0.46%
2087 0.77% -0.46%
2086 0.77% -0.48%
2085 0.81% -0.49%
2084 0.85% -0.5%
2083 0.88% -0.51%
2082 0.89% -0.53%
2081 0.93% -0.55%
2080 0.92% -0.57%
2079 0.98% -0.58%
2078 1.04% -0.61%
2077 1.07% -0.64%
2076 1.1% -0.67%
2075 1.09% -0.7%
2074 1.16% -0.71%
2073 1.17% -0.74%
2072 1.24% -0.74%
2071 1.3% -0.77%
2070 1.32% -0.76%
2069 1.35% -0.79%
2068 1.41% -0.78%
2067 1.43% -0.79%
2066 1.46% -0.78%
2065 1.49% -0.8%
2064 1.57% -0.78%
2063 1.59% -0.79%
2062 1.62% -0.77%
2061 1.68% -0.73%
2060 1.72% -0.72%
2059 1.77% -0.69%
2058 1.81% -0.69%
2057 1.85% -0.68%
2056 1.89% -0.62%
2055 1.93% -0.59%
2054 1.97% -0.58%
2053 2% -0.54%
2052 2.02% -0.49%
2051 2.08% -0.47%
2050 2.08% -0.47%
2049 2.13% -0.42%
2048 2.14% -0.4%
2047 2.19% -0.38%
2046 2.22% -0.36%
2045 2.26% -0.33%
2044 2.27% -0.3%
2043 2.29% -0.3%
2042 2.34% -0.28%
2041 2.42% -0.27%
2040 2.51% -0.26%
2039 2.56% -0.24%
2038 2.6% -0.23%
2037 2.69% -0.23%
2036 2.77% -0.22%
2035 2.89% -0.2%
2034 2.95% -0.19%
2033 3.02% -0.19%
2032 3.1% -0.19%
2031 3.14% -0.17%
2030 3.19% -0.14%
2029 3.3% -0.12%
2028 3.3% -0.1%
2027 3.34% -0.1%
2026 3.4% -0.06%
2025 3.43% 1.04%
2024 3.46% 1.03%
2023 1.07% 1.19%
2022 -0.28% 0.72%
2021 1.7% 0.18%
2020 1.66% 0.51%
2019 1.35% 0.72%
2018 1.78% 0.45%
2017 1.69% 0.24%
2016 1.82% 0.08%
2015 0.13% -0.08%
2014 -0.41% -0.31%
2013 0.68% -0.36%
2012 1% 0.06%
2011 1.6% 0.36%
2010 -0.8% 0.46%
2009 -0.66% 0.89%
2008 2.16% 1.61%
2007 1.95% 1.87%
2006 2.07% 1.7%
2005 2.29% 1.7%
2004 2.19% 1.74%
2003 2.42% 1.82%
2002 2.21% 1.42%
2001 2.25% 0.7%
2000 2.79% 0.45%
1999 2.77% 0.41%
1998 2.75% 0.41%
1997 2.79% 0.42%
1996 2.63% 0.42%
1995 2.77% 0.44%
1994 3.17% 0.48%
1993 3.24% 0.52%
1992 3.23% 0.49%
1991 3.18% 0.25%
1990 3.16% 0.1%
1989 2.58% 0.16%
1988 1.68% 0.21%
1987 1.32% 0.26%
1986 1.28% 0.3%
1985 1.26% 0.36%
1984 1.23% 0.42%
1983 1.2% 0.49%
1982 1.17% 0.6%
1981 1.14% 0.71%
1980 1.1% 0.81%
1979 1.08% 0.89%
1978 1.05% 0.97%
1977 1.04% 1.03%
1976 1.5% 1.06%
1975 1.96% 1.09%
1974 1.95% 1.1%
1973 1.93% 1.11%
1972 1.98% 1.11%
1971 2.1% 1.21%
1970 2.24% 1.12%
1969 2.31% 0.99%
1968 2.28% 1.32%
1967 2.21% 1.24%
1966 2.14% 1.03%
1965 2.08% 1.09%
1964 2.03% 1%
1963 1.98% 0.88%
1962 1.93% 0.92%
1961 1.89% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Spain's population grew by 1.04%.

Live population counters

CAR Spain
Current population
5798457
49323658
Population rank 117/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.59%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
1.04 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
1.66 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +1,387
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +506,303
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +1.04%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 98/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +96,630
Net migration rank 143/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 96,630
2024 196,244 -15,357 -117,237 111,674
2023 190,325 -14,682 -116,046 119,099
2022 -49,456 -17,430 -133,801 299,779
2021 124,408 -85,646 -113,865 144,385
2020 156,911 -24,745 -151,551 236,854
2019 68,523 -36,849 -56,542 464,783
2018 153,361 -52,954 -56,139 337,467
2017 128,461 -58,584 -32,600 201,135
2016 142,419 -52,607 0 106,474
2015 141,912 -63,045 -4,642 -1,979
2014 107,448 -174,051 32,522 -97,870
2013 140,489 -112,382 37,284 -250,741
2012 146,791 -111,764 51,450 -153,486
2011 142,913 -86,281 84,137 60,761
2010 130,539 -43,126 102,469 69,406
2009 -130,613 -28,899 106,635 129,557
2008 128,627 -28,983 133,267 434,135
2007 123,137 -30,352 108,545 772,317
2006 118,882 -41,282 110,994 659,720
2005 113,534 -13,604 78,576 629,803
2004 108,548 -16,510 85,844 661,158
2003 105,540 -18,097 54,844 658,428
2002 100,588 5,992 53,861 737,880
2001 99,598 -33,006 44,936 181,307
2000 97,468 8,079 36,512 176,269
1999 96,108 6,284 8,077 178,559
1998 94,361 4,479 4,022 182,926
1997 93,378 2,034 20,028 165,345
1996 93,369 2,697 11,967 162,704
1995 92,748 -12,986 15,889 162,434
1994 90,943 9,496 31,639 160,407
1993 89,873 9,930 47,234 160,907
1992 88,939 9,269 62,652 177,544
1991 88,688 4,381 58,450 122,841
1990 87,507 1,995 66,075 -30,684
1989 85,969 409 81,538 -25,892
1988 84,654 -31,016 100,794 -17,663
1987 83,408 -47,428 116,054 -12,681
1986 81,149 -47,332 131,188 -13,540
1985 79,266 -46,427 146,184 -589
1984 77,395 -45,591 172,487 2,754
1983 75,399 -44,780 183,223 1,241
1982 73,330 -43,908 231,714 -7,384
1981 71,391 -42,872 237,879 2,563
1980 68,759 -41,539 281,184 20,166
1979 66,104 -39,850 312,407 -5,929
1978 63,285 -37,874 339,157 -2,504
1977 60,436 -35,782 361,465 -1,332
1976 57,725 -33,645 375,834 2,804
1975 55,106 -9,895 371,882 -218
1974 53,777 -9,838 396,182 105,838
1973 52,525 -9,800 374,381 8,624
1972 51,390 -9,634 391,030 7,935
1971 50,142 -7,259 369,625 7,363
1970 48,690 -3,693 378,723 -60,580
1969 47,066 -80 367,851 -49,956
1968 45,377 474 387,423 -46,088
1967 42,979 474 402,001 -42,344
1966 40,804 474 397,084 -41,467
1965 38,710 474 405,819 -42,476
1964 36,878 474 429,885 -41,461
1963 35,218 474 394,338 -44,446
1962 33,731 474 384,690 -45,211
1961 32,383 474 396,537 -46,517
1960 31,131 474 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/spain | 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 Spain 27.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 782,423 people) and 72.1% is from migration (a gain of 2,019,671 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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