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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 3.78 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Central African Republic vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Sri Lanka
2100 19,061,127 20,009,380
2099 18,981,009 20,121,095
2098 18,896,319 20,234,513
2097 18,810,793 20,345,619
2096 18,719,993 20,456,607
2095 18,621,666 20,566,246
2094 18,521,650 20,674,019
2093 18,420,299 20,780,946
2092 18,311,751 20,886,274
2091 18,200,580 20,990,047
2090 18,083,097 21,095,968
2089 17,968,298 21,198,788
2088 17,844,377 21,299,229
2087 17,717,148 21,398,269
2086 17,581,447 21,496,892
2085 17,447,157 21,594,661
2084 17,306,435 21,687,323
2083 17,159,818 21,778,597
2082 17,010,036 21,866,395
2081 16,860,592 21,954,337
2080 16,704,486 22,038,953
2079 16,552,105 22,122,744
2078 16,392,201 22,200,069
2077 16,224,015 22,274,355
2076 16,051,483 22,345,857
2075 15,877,563 22,414,609
2074 15,706,759 22,485,066
2073 15,526,382 22,550,427
2072 15,346,626 22,610,645
2071 15,158,906 22,669,042
2070 14,964,276 22,725,948
2069 14,768,967 22,779,050
2068 14,572,130 22,831,596
2067 14,369,861 22,885,941
2066 14,167,129 22,935,123
2065 13,963,573 22,985,942
2064 13,758,257 23,030,844
2063 13,545,150 23,071,114
2062 13,332,625 23,107,970
2061 13,120,271 23,139,924
2060 12,903,195 23,171,649
2059 12,684,791 23,199,387
2058 12,464,271 23,224,997
2057 12,242,308 23,247,211
2056 12,020,446 23,267,292
2055 11,797,986 23,278,653
2054 11,575,058 23,287,520
2053 11,351,527 23,297,347
2052 11,128,939 23,301,287
2051 10,908,122 23,302,108
2050 10,686,324 23,299,282
2049 10,468,520 23,293,630
2048 10,249,810 23,283,465
2047 10,034,764 23,267,251
2046 9,819,986 23,244,081
2045 9,606,504 23,212,221
2044 9,394,614 23,181,041
2043 9,185,941 23,144,217
2042 8,980,018 23,103,489
2041 8,774,893 23,056,478
2040 8,567,893 23,005,928
2039 8,358,128 22,948,866
2038 8,149,514 22,888,821
2037 7,942,721 22,822,943
2036 7,734,436 22,756,462
2035 7,525,805 22,685,766
2034 7,314,741 22,611,514
2033 7,105,166 22,532,374
2032 6,897,152 22,449,310
2031 6,690,066 22,364,063
2030 6,486,667 22,273,377
2029 6,286,290 22,181,300
2028 6,085,426 22,082,826
2027 5,890,999 21,979,196
2026 5,700,718 21,870,145
2025 5,513,282 21,756,000
2024 5,330,690 21,916,000
2023 5,152,421 22,037,000
2022 5,098,039 22,181,000
2021 5,112,100 22,156,000
2020 5,026,628 21,919,000
2019 4,944,703 21,803,000
2018 4,878,657 21,670,000
2017 4,793,511 21,453,000
2016 4,713,663 21,209,000
2015 4,629,320 20,970,000
2014 4,623,182 20,778,000
2013 4,642,419 20,585,000
2012 4,610,848 21,169,458
2011 4,565,021 21,009,048
2010 4,492,995 20,879,089
2009 4,529,047 20,756,435
2008 4,558,984 20,629,378
2007 4,462,770 20,492,545
2006 4,377,579 20,352,411
2005 4,288,810 20,216,524
2004 4,192,826 20,087,605
2003 4,103,086 19,951,521
2002 4,006,077 19,805,752
2001 3,919,487 19,600,362
2000 3,833,416 19,293,054
1999 3,729,450 18,944,731
1998 3,628,827 18,596,003
1997 3,531,700 18,248,200
1996 3,435,965 17,905,018
1995 3,348,052 17,564,068
1994 3,257,954 17,275,773
1993 3,157,839 17,025,918
1992 3,058,831 16,739,284
1991 2,963,191 16,475,354
1990 2,871,910 16,352,458
1989 2,783,970 16,248,557
1988 2,713,965 16,078,621
1987 2,669,155 15,916,576
1986 2,634,258 15,731,256
1985 2,600,932 15,544,154
1984 2,568,610 15,441,860
1983 2,537,399 15,388,794
1982 2,507,375 15,286,567
1981 2,478,402 15,099,414
1980 2,450,535 14,847,974
1979 2,423,794 14,579,614
1978 2,397,961 14,310,128
1977 2,372,930 14,049,371
1976 2,348,566 13,796,770
1975 2,313,916 13,548,984
1974 2,269,338 13,305,693
1973 2,226,008 13,060,916
1972 2,183,769 12,809,205
1971 2,141,450 12,551,910
1970 2,097,505 12,287,110
1969 2,051,515 12,013,858
1968 2,005,100 11,736,088
1967 1,960,444 11,457,328
1966 1,918,082 11,183,928
1965 1,877,854 10,916,965
1964 1,839,583 10,653,397
1963 1,803,063 10,395,040
1962 1,768,115 10,143,754
1961 1,734,580 9,899,372
1960 1,702,346 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Sri Lanka
2100 0.42% -0.56%
2099 0.45% -0.56%
2098 0.45% -0.55%
2097 0.49% -0.54%
2096 0.53% -0.53%
2095 0.54% -0.52%
2094 0.55% -0.51%
2093 0.59% -0.5%
2092 0.61% -0.49%
2091 0.65% -0.5%
2090 0.64% -0.49%
2089 0.69% -0.47%
2088 0.72% -0.46%
2087 0.77% -0.46%
2086 0.77% -0.45%
2085 0.81% -0.43%
2084 0.85% -0.42%
2083 0.88% -0.4%
2082 0.89% -0.4%
2081 0.93% -0.38%
2080 0.92% -0.38%
2079 0.98% -0.35%
2078 1.04% -0.33%
2077 1.07% -0.32%
2076 1.1% -0.31%
2075 1.09% -0.31%
2074 1.16% -0.29%
2073 1.17% -0.27%
2072 1.24% -0.26%
2071 1.3% -0.25%
2070 1.32% -0.23%
2069 1.35% -0.23%
2068 1.41% -0.24%
2067 1.43% -0.21%
2066 1.46% -0.22%
2065 1.49% -0.19%
2064 1.57% -0.17%
2063 1.59% -0.16%
2062 1.62% -0.14%
2061 1.68% -0.14%
2060 1.72% -0.12%
2059 1.77% -0.11%
2058 1.81% -0.1%
2057 1.85% -0.09%
2056 1.89% -0.05%
2055 1.93% -0.04%
2054 1.97% -0.04%
2053 2% -0.02%
2052 2.02% -0.004%
2051 2.08% 0.01%
2050 2.08% 0.02%
2049 2.13% 0.04%
2048 2.14% 0.07%
2047 2.19% 0.1%
2046 2.22% 0.14%
2045 2.26% 0.13%
2044 2.27% 0.16%
2043 2.29% 0.18%
2042 2.34% 0.2%
2041 2.42% 0.22%
2040 2.51% 0.25%
2039 2.56% 0.26%
2038 2.6% 0.29%
2037 2.69% 0.29%
2036 2.77% 0.31%
2035 2.89% 0.33%
2034 2.95% 0.35%
2033 3.02% 0.37%
2032 3.1% 0.38%
2031 3.14% 0.41%
2030 3.19% 0.42%
2029 3.3% 0.45%
2028 3.3% 0.47%
2027 3.34% 0.5%
2026 3.4% 0.52%
2025 3.43% -0.73%
2024 3.46% -0.55%
2023 1.07% -0.65%
2022 -0.28% 0.11%
2021 1.7% 1.08%
2020 1.66% 0.53%
2019 1.35% 0.61%
2018 1.78% 1.01%
2017 1.69% 1.15%
2016 1.82% 1.14%
2015 0.13% 0.92%
2014 -0.41% 0.94%
2013 0.68% -2.76%
2012 1% 0.76%
2011 1.6% 0.62%
2010 -0.8% 0.59%
2009 -0.66% 0.62%
2008 2.16% 0.67%
2007 1.95% 0.69%
2006 2.07% 0.67%
2005 2.29% 0.64%
2004 2.19% 0.68%
2003 2.42% 0.74%
2002 2.21% 1.05%
2001 2.25% 1.59%
2000 2.79% 1.84%
1999 2.77% 1.88%
1998 2.75% 1.91%
1997 2.79% 1.92%
1996 2.63% 1.94%
1995 2.77% 1.67%
1994 3.17% 1.47%
1993 3.24% 1.71%
1992 3.23% 1.6%
1991 3.18% 0.75%
1990 3.16% 0.64%
1989 2.58% 1.06%
1988 1.68% 1.02%
1987 1.32% 1.18%
1986 1.28% 1.2%
1985 1.26% 0.66%
1984 1.23% 0.34%
1983 1.2% 0.67%
1982 1.17% 1.24%
1981 1.14% 1.69%
1980 1.1% 1.84%
1979 1.08% 1.88%
1978 1.05% 1.86%
1977 1.04% 1.83%
1976 1.5% 1.83%
1975 1.96% 1.83%
1974 1.95% 1.87%
1973 1.93% 1.97%
1972 1.98% 2.05%
1971 2.1% 2.16%
1970 2.24% 2.27%
1969 2.31% 2.37%
1968 2.28% 2.43%
1967 2.21% 2.44%
1966 2.14% 2.45%
1965 2.08% 2.47%
1964 2.03% 2.49%
1963 1.98% 2.48%
1962 1.93% 2.47%
1961 1.89% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

CAR Sri Lanka
Current population
5798457
21926160
Population rank 117/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.26%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 -438
Annual growth/decline +182,592 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 190/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -30,724
Net migration rank 143/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -30,724
2024 196,244 -15,357 50,407 -27,245
2023 190,325 -14,682 66,111 -28,011
2022 -49,456 -17,430 95,378 -27,435
2021 124,408 -85,646 121,858 -29,586
2020 156,911 -24,745 170,968 -29,875
2019 68,523 -36,849 172,243 -28,426
2018 153,361 -52,954 183,610 -28,607
2017 128,461 -58,584 187,993 -22,324
2016 142,419 -52,607 194,232 -18,388
2015 141,912 -63,045 201,815 -29,797
2014 107,448 -174,051 211,541 -33,672
2013 140,489 -112,382 221,021 -37,754
2012 146,791 -111,764 229,138 -41,955
2011 142,913 -86,281 224,461 -90,839
2010 130,539 -43,126 224,325 -98,060
2009 -130,613 -28,899 200,175 -81,130
2008 128,627 -28,983 232,225 -97,144
2007 123,137 -30,352 248,287 -109,695
2006 118,882 -41,282 248,706 -107,045
2005 113,534 -13,604 248,683 -118,594
2004 108,548 -16,510 212,527 -84,795
2003 105,540 -18,097 252,008 -107,573
2002 100,588 5,992 252,840 -105,718
2001 99,598 -33,006 244,377 19,273
2000 97,468 8,079 227,060 123,894
1999 96,108 6,284 206,876 138,799
1998 94,361 4,479 201,059 150,724
1997 93,378 2,034 208,193 135,636
1996 93,369 2,697 215,290 127,236
1995 92,748 -12,986 221,957 117,416
1994 90,943 9,496 228,904 8,323
1993 89,873 9,930 226,257 36,232
1992 88,939 9,269 222,230 88,542
1991 88,688 4,381 218,117 -1,047
1990 87,507 1,995 224,454 -195,736
1989 85,969 409 212,401 -33,305
1988 84,654 -31,016 219,184 -58,415
1987 83,408 -47,428 226,414 -63,105
1986 81,149 -47,332 233,782 -26,460
1985 79,266 -46,427 247,836 -80,950
1984 77,395 -45,591 263,175 -225,450
1983 75,399 -44,780 277,768 -209,362
1982 73,330 -43,908 300,030 -163,987
1981 71,391 -42,872 328,096 -89,824
1980 68,759 -41,539 328,155 -63,541
1979 66,104 -39,850 329,791 -57,683
1978 63,285 -37,874 317,055 -50,189
1977 60,436 -35,782 300,038 -45,383
1976 57,725 -33,645 291,816 -41,258
1975 55,106 -9,895 282,496 -37,475
1974 53,777 -9,838 275,521 -33,979
1973 52,525 -9,800 278,577 -30,582
1972 51,390 -9,634 282,494 -27,071
1971 50,142 -7,259 281,200 -22,021
1970 48,690 -3,693 286,719 -16,299
1969 47,066 -80 286,218 -10,152
1968 45,377 474 286,642 -7,163
1967 42,979 474 284,738 -6,696
1966 40,804 474 275,549 -6,794
1965 38,710 474 272,422 -7,249
1964 36,878 474 269,584 -7,614
1963 35,218 474 262,880 -8,118
1962 33,731 474 256,719 -8,909
1961 32,383 474 251,087 -10,144
1960 31,131 474 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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