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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Spain: 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 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 8.48 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th 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 +1.27% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% 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 19,066,004 33,862,981
2099 18,985,867 34,039,965
2098 18,901,154 34,215,187
2097 18,815,607 34,387,116
2096 18,724,783 34,552,002
2095 18,626,431 34,719,411
2094 18,526,390 34,882,039
2093 18,425,013 35,044,043
2092 18,316,437 35,204,657
2091 18,205,237 35,366,895
2090 18,087,725 35,535,838
2089 17,972,896 35,707,942
2088 17,848,943 35,877,681
2087 17,721,681 36,043,209
2086 17,585,946 36,210,710
2085 17,451,621 36,386,207
2084 17,310,863 36,564,622
2083 17,164,209 36,749,680
2082 17,014,388 36,936,644
2081 16,864,906 37,133,976
2080 16,708,761 37,337,517
2079 16,556,341 37,551,557
2078 16,396,395 37,771,135
2077 16,228,166 38,002,963
2076 16,055,590 38,249,247
2075 15,881,626 38,506,040
2074 15,710,778 38,777,715
2073 15,530,355 39,056,249
2072 15,350,553 39,348,447
2071 15,162,785 39,642,346
2070 14,968,105 39,949,413
2069 14,772,746 40,256,590
2068 14,575,859 40,575,543
2067 14,373,538 40,893,798
2066 14,170,754 41,218,263
2065 13,967,146 41,543,254
2064 13,761,777 41,878,338
2063 13,548,616 42,208,320
2062 13,336,037 42,542,893
2061 13,123,628 42,874,096
2060 12,906,496 43,191,452
2059 12,688,037 43,506,737
2058 12,467,461 43,809,907
2057 12,245,441 44,112,668
2056 12,023,522 44,415,689
2055 11,801,006 44,691,749
2054 11,578,020 44,958,971
2053 11,354,432 45,223,225
2052 11,131,786 45,470,541
2051 10,910,913 45,695,307
2050 10,689,058 45,911,520
2049 10,471,199 46,127,777
2048 10,252,433 46,322,244
2047 10,037,332 46,510,152
2046 9,822,499 46,687,914
2045 9,608,962 46,858,778
2044 9,397,018 47,016,278
2043 9,188,292 47,158,325
2042 8,982,316 47,301,091
2041 8,777,138 47,434,593
2040 8,570,085 47,563,236
2039 8,360,267 47,685,343
2038 8,151,599 47,798,797
2037 7,944,754 47,910,899
2036 7,736,415 48,020,350
2035 7,527,731 48,124,430
2034 7,316,613 48,220,051
2033 7,106,984 48,311,842
2032 6,898,917 48,402,470
2031 6,691,778 48,495,278
2030 6,488,327 48,579,920
2029 6,287,899 48,648,699
2028 6,086,983 48,707,969
2027 5,892,506 48,758,200
2026 5,702,177 48,806,901
2025 5,514,692 48,838,057
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th 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 85.8% to 10,689,058 people with a rank change from 118th to 96th. The population of Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M 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 3.45% -0.02%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

CAR Spain
Current population
5753659
48806901
Population rank 118/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.59%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
2.2 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 100/197
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 - -15,357 - 111,674
2023 190,325 -14,682 -111,211 119,099
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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 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 (1960–2024, 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/spain | 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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