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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 9,092,436 people in Switzerland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 9,155,878 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 1.58 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 99th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +0.96% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.16M (22.3% growth).

Central African Republic vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Switzerland
2100 19,061,127 9,273,514
2099 18,981,009 9,265,656
2098 18,896,319 9,259,266
2097 18,810,793 9,251,854
2096 18,719,993 9,248,107
2095 18,621,666 9,242,564
2094 18,521,650 9,238,163
2093 18,420,299 9,235,730
2092 18,311,751 9,233,129
2091 18,200,580 9,230,180
2090 18,083,097 9,228,148
2089 17,968,298 9,227,779
2088 17,844,377 9,229,133
2087 17,717,148 9,228,792
2086 17,581,447 9,230,530
2085 17,447,157 9,234,782
2084 17,306,435 9,239,056
2083 17,159,818 9,244,001
2082 17,010,036 9,249,813
2081 16,860,592 9,256,210
2080 16,704,486 9,262,647
2079 16,552,105 9,270,123
2078 16,392,201 9,276,881
2077 16,224,015 9,284,565
2076 16,051,483 9,289,534
2075 15,877,563 9,295,062
2074 15,706,759 9,305,809
2073 15,526,382 9,314,832
2072 15,346,626 9,322,610
2071 15,158,906 9,332,380
2070 14,964,276 9,343,357
2069 14,768,967 9,351,483
2068 14,572,130 9,359,919
2067 14,369,861 9,367,355
2066 14,167,129 9,379,120
2065 13,963,573 9,391,197
2064 13,758,257 9,402,175
2063 13,545,150 9,412,246
2062 13,332,625 9,423,109
2061 13,120,271 9,434,937
2060 12,903,195 9,443,858
2059 12,684,791 9,454,223
2058 12,464,271 9,462,577
2057 12,242,308 9,468,254
2056 12,020,446 9,475,514
2055 11,797,986 9,483,998
2054 11,575,058 9,491,408
2053 11,351,527 9,496,551
2052 11,128,939 9,496,579
2051 10,908,122 9,496,556
2050 10,686,324 9,494,698
2049 10,468,520 9,491,222
2048 10,249,810 9,484,200
2047 10,034,764 9,477,140
2046 9,819,986 9,471,007
2045 9,606,504 9,465,183
2044 9,394,614 9,458,151
2043 9,185,941 9,450,730
2042 8,980,018 9,440,733
2041 8,774,893 9,433,753
2040 8,567,893 9,422,510
2039 8,358,128 9,413,795
2038 8,149,514 9,404,803
2037 7,942,721 9,393,982
2036 7,734,436 9,382,127
2035 7,525,805 9,368,526
2034 7,314,741 9,351,603
2033 7,105,166 9,334,357
2032 6,897,152 9,315,617
2031 6,690,066 9,292,331
2030 6,486,667 9,267,380
2029 6,286,290 9,240,823
2028 6,085,426 9,209,567
2027 5,890,999 9,174,540
2026 5,700,718 9,136,169
2025 5,513,282 9,092,436
2024 5,330,690 9,005,582
2023 5,152,421 8,888,822
2022 5,098,039 8,777,088
2021 5,112,100 8,704,546
2020 5,026,628 8,638,167
2019 4,944,703 8,575,280
2018 4,878,657 8,514,329
2017 4,793,511 8,451,840
2016 4,713,663 8,373,338
2015 4,629,320 8,282,396
2014 4,623,182 8,188,649
2013 4,642,419 8,089,346
2012 4,610,848 7,996,861
2011 4,565,021 7,912,398
2010 4,492,995 7,824,909
2009 4,529,047 7,743,831
2008 4,558,984 7,647,675
2007 4,462,770 7,551,117
2006 4,377,579 7,483,934
2005 4,288,810 7,437,115
2004 4,192,826 7,389,625
2003 4,103,086 7,339,001
2002 4,006,077 7,284,753
2001 3,919,487 7,229,854
2000 3,833,416 7,184,250
1999 3,729,450 7,143,991
1998 3,628,827 7,110,001
1997 3,531,700 7,088,906
1996 3,435,965 7,071,850
1995 3,348,052 7,040,687
1994 3,257,954 6,993,795
1993 3,157,839 6,938,265
1992 3,058,831 6,875,364
1991 2,963,191 6,799,978
1990 2,871,910 6,715,519
1989 2,783,970 6,646,912
1988 2,713,965 6,593,386
1987 2,669,155 6,545,106
1986 2,634,258 6,504,124
1985 2,600,932 6,470,365
1984 2,568,610 6,441,865
1983 2,537,399 6,418,773
1982 2,507,375 6,391,309
1981 2,478,402 6,354,074
1980 2,450,535 6,319,408
1979 2,423,794 6,294,365
1978 2,397,961 6,281,738
1977 2,372,930 6,281,174
1976 2,348,566 6,302,504
1975 2,313,916 6,338,632
1974 2,269,338 6,341,405
1973 2,226,008 6,307,347
1972 2,183,769 6,260,956
1971 2,141,450 6,213,399
1970 2,097,505 6,180,877
1969 2,051,515 6,136,387
1968 2,005,100 6,067,714
1967 1,960,444 5,991,785
1966 1,918,082 5,918,002
1965 1,877,854 5,856,472
1964 1,839,583 5,789,228
1963 1,803,063 5,694,247
1962 1,768,115 5,573,815
1961 1,734,580 5,434,294
1960 1,702,346 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 782,540 people (a 9.35% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 99th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.7% to 9,494,698 people and rank change from 99th to 102nd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 9.5M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Switzerland
2100 0.42% 0.08%
2099 0.45% 0.07%
2098 0.45% 0.08%
2097 0.49% 0.04%
2096 0.53% 0.06%
2095 0.54% 0.05%
2094 0.55% 0.03%
2093 0.59% 0.03%
2092 0.61% 0.03%
2091 0.65% 0.02%
2090 0.64% 0.004%
2089 0.69% -0.01%
2088 0.72% 0.004%
2087 0.77% -0.02%
2086 0.77% -0.05%
2085 0.81% -0.05%
2084 0.85% -0.05%
2083 0.88% -0.06%
2082 0.89% -0.07%
2081 0.93% -0.07%
2080 0.92% -0.08%
2079 0.98% -0.07%
2078 1.04% -0.08%
2077 1.07% -0.05%
2076 1.1% -0.06%
2075 1.09% -0.12%
2074 1.16% -0.1%
2073 1.17% -0.08%
2072 1.24% -0.1%
2071 1.3% -0.12%
2070 1.32% -0.09%
2069 1.35% -0.09%
2068 1.41% -0.08%
2067 1.43% -0.13%
2066 1.46% -0.13%
2065 1.49% -0.12%
2064 1.57% -0.11%
2063 1.59% -0.12%
2062 1.62% -0.13%
2061 1.68% -0.09%
2060 1.72% -0.11%
2059 1.77% -0.09%
2058 1.81% -0.06%
2057 1.85% -0.08%
2056 1.89% -0.09%
2055 1.93% -0.08%
2054 1.97% -0.05%
2053 2% -0%
2052 2.02% 0%
2051 2.08% 0.02%
2050 2.08% 0.04%
2049 2.13% 0.07%
2048 2.14% 0.07%
2047 2.19% 0.06%
2046 2.22% 0.06%
2045 2.26% 0.07%
2044 2.27% 0.08%
2043 2.29% 0.11%
2042 2.34% 0.07%
2041 2.42% 0.12%
2040 2.51% 0.09%
2039 2.56% 0.1%
2038 2.6% 0.12%
2037 2.69% 0.13%
2036 2.77% 0.15%
2035 2.89% 0.18%
2034 2.95% 0.18%
2033 3.02% 0.2%
2032 3.1% 0.25%
2031 3.14% 0.27%
2030 3.19% 0.29%
2029 3.3% 0.34%
2028 3.3% 0.38%
2027 3.34% 0.42%
2026 3.4% 0.48%
2025 3.43% 0.96%
2024 3.46% 1.31%
2023 1.07% 1.27%
2022 -0.28% 0.83%
2021 1.7% 0.77%
2020 1.66% 0.73%
2019 1.35% 0.72%
2018 1.78% 0.74%
2017 1.69% 0.94%
2016 1.82% 1.1%
2015 0.13% 1.14%
2014 -0.41% 1.23%
2013 0.68% 1.16%
2012 1% 1.07%
2011 1.6% 1.12%
2010 -0.8% 1.05%
2009 -0.66% 1.26%
2008 2.16% 1.28%
2007 1.95% 0.9%
2006 2.07% 0.63%
2005 2.29% 0.64%
2004 2.19% 0.69%
2003 2.42% 0.74%
2002 2.21% 0.76%
2001 2.25% 0.63%
2000 2.79% 0.56%
1999 2.77% 0.48%
1998 2.75% 0.3%
1997 2.79% 0.24%
1996 2.63% 0.44%
1995 2.77% 0.67%
1994 3.17% 0.8%
1993 3.24% 0.91%
1992 3.23% 1.11%
1991 3.18% 1.26%
1990 3.16% 1.03%
1989 2.58% 0.81%
1988 1.68% 0.74%
1987 1.32% 0.63%
1986 1.28% 0.52%
1985 1.26% 0.44%
1984 1.23% 0.36%
1983 1.2% 0.43%
1982 1.17% 0.59%
1981 1.14% 0.55%
1980 1.1% 0.4%
1979 1.08% 0.2%
1978 1.05% 0.009%
1977 1.04% -0.34%
1976 1.5% -0.57%
1975 1.96% -0.04%
1974 1.95% 0.54%
1973 1.93% 0.74%
1972 1.98% 0.77%
1971 2.1% 0.53%
1970 2.24% 0.73%
1969 2.31% 1.13%
1968 2.28% 1.27%
1967 2.21% 1.25%
1966 2.14% 1.05%
1965 2.08% 1.16%
1964 2.03% 1.67%
1963 1.98% 2.16%
1962 1.93% 2.57%
1961 1.89% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Switzerland's population grew by 0.96%.

Live population counters

CAR Switzerland
Current population
5798457
9155878
Population rank 117/197 99/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.11%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
6.07 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
6.71 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +238
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +86,854
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +0.96%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 101/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +37,253
Net migration rank 143/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 37,253
2024 196,244 -15,357 6,304 40,099
2023 190,325 -14,682 8,000 45,098
2022 -49,456 -17,430 7,899 96,424
2021 124,408 -85,646 18,279 50,665
2020 156,911 -24,745 9,502 55,523
2019 68,523 -36,849 18,008 44,517
2018 153,361 -52,954 20,434 41,253
2017 128,461 -58,584 20,284 45,658
2016 142,419 -52,607 22,608 71,009
2015 141,912 -63,045 19,050 71,876
2014 107,448 -174,051 21,290 78,122
2013 140,489 -112,382 17,797 83,823
2012 146,791 -111,764 18,393 67,840
2011 142,913 -86,281 18,990 67,194
2010 130,539 -43,126 17,997 76,388
2009 -130,613 -28,899 15,487 69,324
2008 128,627 -28,983 15,295 94,430
2007 123,137 -30,352 13,592 72,475
2006 118,882 -41,282 12,723 37,308
2005 113,534 -13,604 11,899 33,203
2004 108,548 -16,510 13,302 39,484
2003 105,540 -18,097 8,807 42,567
2002 100,588 5,992 10,199 49,650
2001 99,598 -33,006 10,845 35,420
2000 97,468 8,079 15,806 24,463
1999 96,108 6,284 16,431 25,599
1998 94,361 4,479 16,353 11,325
1997 93,378 2,034 17,722 -1,939
1996 93,369 2,697 19,801 -131
1995 92,748 -12,986 19,010 25,343
1994 90,943 9,496 20,982 30,274
1993 89,873 9,930 21,509 40,267
1992 88,939 9,269 24,064 42,014
1991 88,688 4,381 23,800 69,738
1990 87,507 1,995 20,146 58,428
1989 85,969 409 19,941 34,432
1988 84,654 -31,016 21,099 34,602
1987 83,408 -47,428 15,708 27,081
1986 81,149 -47,332 16,261 23,242
1985 79,266 -46,427 14,882 14,402
1984 77,395 -45,591 16,105 12,532
1983 75,399 -44,780 12,837 5,663
1982 73,330 -43,908 15,339 21,929
1981 71,391 -42,872 13,979 24,229
1980 68,759 -41,539 14,535 17,841
1979 66,104 -39,850 14,477 4,262
1978 63,285 -37,874 13,820 -6,552
1977 60,436 -35,782 16,959 -22,516
1976 57,725 -33,645 17,017 -54,255
1975 55,106 -9,895 22,820 -58,187
1974 53,777 -9,838 27,902 2,008
1973 52,525 -9,800 30,906 8,158
1972 51,390 -9,634 35,061 19,991
1971 50,142 -7,259 38,523 2,636
1970 48,690 -3,693 42,648 -18,326
1969 47,066 -80 44,182 20,754
1968 45,377 474 47,328 25,828
1967 42,979 474 52,128 27,697
1966 40,804 474 53,854 14,979
1965 38,710 474 56,222 -1,351
1964 36,878 474 59,050 21,455
1963 35,218 474 52,956 58,415
1962 33,731 474 49,050 82,798
1961 32,383 474 48,365 101,278
1960 31,131 474 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 150,368 people) and 78.9% is from migration (a gain of 562,122 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 452K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 120K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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