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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 4.65 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Central African Republic vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Syria
2100 19,061,127 44,500,028
2099 18,981,009 44,570,009
2098 18,896,319 44,629,837
2097 18,810,793 44,692,566
2096 18,719,993 44,747,012
2095 18,621,666 44,774,686
2094 18,521,650 44,824,294
2093 18,420,299 44,853,295
2092 18,311,751 44,882,700
2091 18,200,580 44,895,349
2090 18,083,097 44,926,869
2089 17,968,298 44,925,891
2088 17,844,377 44,920,667
2087 17,717,148 44,928,298
2086 17,581,447 44,947,658
2085 17,447,157 44,913,669
2084 17,306,435 44,878,845
2083 17,159,818 44,850,592
2082 17,010,036 44,790,014
2081 16,860,592 44,723,244
2080 16,704,486 44,624,321
2079 16,552,105 44,567,127
2078 16,392,201 44,529,618
2077 16,224,015 44,484,155
2076 16,051,483 44,400,339
2075 15,877,563 44,306,882
2074 15,706,759 44,209,517
2073 15,526,382 44,102,028
2072 15,346,626 43,965,642
2071 15,158,906 43,821,617
2070 14,964,276 43,678,154
2069 14,768,967 43,530,683
2068 14,572,130 43,348,487
2067 14,369,861 43,154,741
2066 14,167,129 42,944,885
2065 13,963,573 42,695,249
2064 13,758,257 42,445,036
2063 13,545,150 42,198,056
2062 13,332,625 41,949,014
2061 13,120,271 41,695,586
2060 12,903,195 41,410,547
2059 12,684,791 41,097,942
2058 12,464,271 40,815,606
2057 12,242,308 40,534,091
2056 12,020,446 40,224,053
2055 11,797,986 39,918,930
2054 11,575,058 39,584,624
2053 11,351,527 39,242,144
2052 11,128,939 38,940,206
2051 10,908,122 38,629,604
2050 10,686,324 38,307,069
2049 10,468,520 37,986,965
2048 10,249,810 37,682,780
2047 10,034,764 37,391,752
2046 9,819,986 37,081,479
2045 9,606,504 36,744,441
2044 9,394,614 36,428,225
2043 9,185,941 36,090,851
2042 8,980,018 35,729,021
2041 8,774,893 35,352,033
2040 8,567,893 34,947,817
2039 8,358,128 34,533,772
2038 8,149,514 34,091,760
2037 7,942,721 33,612,993
2036 7,734,436 33,134,445
2035 7,525,805 32,608,669
2034 7,314,741 32,062,309
2033 7,105,166 31,477,500
2032 6,897,152 30,883,996
2031 6,690,066 30,248,264
2030 6,486,667 29,592,787
2029 6,286,290 28,871,638
2028 6,085,426 28,141,821
2027 5,890,999 27,355,002
2026 5,700,718 26,535,554
2025 5,513,282 25,620,427
2024 5,330,690 24,672,760
2023 5,152,421 23,594,623
2022 5,098,039 22,462,173
2021 5,112,100 21,628,839
2020 5,026,628 21,049,429
2019 4,944,703 20,353,534
2018 4,878,657 19,577,845
2017 4,793,511 19,224,668
2016 4,713,663 19,193,834
2015 4,629,320 19,424,618
2014 4,623,182 20,273,659
2013 4,642,419 21,666,917
2012 4,610,848 22,759,763
2011 4,565,021 22,878,098
2010 4,492,995 22,482,421
2009 4,529,047 21,976,969
2008 4,558,984 21,636,564
2007 4,462,770 20,884,125
2006 4,377,579 19,637,022
2005 4,288,810 18,814,091
2004 4,192,826 18,336,875
2003 4,103,086 17,889,296
2002 4,006,077 17,468,332
2001 3,919,487 17,051,338
2000 3,833,416 16,637,888
1999 3,729,450 16,228,061
1998 3,628,827 15,820,413
1997 3,531,700 15,417,542
1996 3,435,965 15,018,104
1995 3,348,052 14,616,801
1994 3,257,954 14,208,583
1993 3,157,839 13,795,686
1992 3,058,831 13,385,571
1991 2,963,191 12,980,821
1990 2,871,910 12,579,208
1989 2,783,970 12,179,060
1988 2,713,965 11,782,264
1987 2,669,155 11,388,923
1986 2,634,258 11,002,844
1985 2,600,932 10,625,672
1984 2,568,610 10,258,398
1983 2,537,399 9,904,809
1982 2,507,375 9,572,511
1981 2,478,402 9,260,189
1980 2,450,535 8,957,663
1979 2,423,794 8,661,909
1978 2,397,961 8,372,759
1977 2,372,930 8,090,501
1976 2,348,566 7,817,320
1975 2,313,916 7,554,364
1974 2,269,338 7,302,160
1973 2,226,008 7,060,321
1972 2,183,769 6,826,024
1971 2,141,450 6,598,094
1970 2,097,505 6,380,609
1969 2,051,515 6,175,166
1968 2,005,100 5,978,742
1967 1,960,444 5,790,198
1966 1,918,082 5,609,047
1965 1,877,854 5,435,267
1964 1,839,583 5,269,087
1963 1,803,063 5,110,467
1962 1,768,115 4,959,340
1961 1,734,580 4,815,466
1960 1,702,346 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Syria
2100 0.42% -0.16%
2099 0.45% -0.13%
2098 0.45% -0.14%
2097 0.49% -0.12%
2096 0.53% -0.06%
2095 0.54% -0.11%
2094 0.55% -0.06%
2093 0.59% -0.07%
2092 0.61% -0.03%
2091 0.65% -0.07%
2090 0.64% 0.002%
2089 0.69% 0.01%
2088 0.72% -0.02%
2087 0.77% -0.04%
2086 0.77% 0.08%
2085 0.81% 0.08%
2084 0.85% 0.06%
2083 0.88% 0.14%
2082 0.89% 0.15%
2081 0.93% 0.22%
2080 0.92% 0.13%
2079 0.98% 0.08%
2078 1.04% 0.1%
2077 1.07% 0.19%
2076 1.1% 0.21%
2075 1.09% 0.22%
2074 1.16% 0.24%
2073 1.17% 0.31%
2072 1.24% 0.33%
2071 1.3% 0.33%
2070 1.32% 0.34%
2069 1.35% 0.42%
2068 1.41% 0.45%
2067 1.43% 0.49%
2066 1.46% 0.58%
2065 1.49% 0.59%
2064 1.57% 0.59%
2063 1.59% 0.59%
2062 1.62% 0.61%
2061 1.68% 0.69%
2060 1.72% 0.76%
2059 1.77% 0.69%
2058 1.81% 0.69%
2057 1.85% 0.77%
2056 1.89% 0.76%
2055 1.93% 0.84%
2054 1.97% 0.87%
2053 2% 0.78%
2052 2.02% 0.8%
2051 2.08% 0.84%
2050 2.08% 0.84%
2049 2.13% 0.81%
2048 2.14% 0.78%
2047 2.19% 0.84%
2046 2.22% 0.92%
2045 2.26% 0.87%
2044 2.27% 0.93%
2043 2.29% 1.01%
2042 2.34% 1.07%
2041 2.42% 1.16%
2040 2.51% 1.2%
2039 2.56% 1.3%
2038 2.6% 1.42%
2037 2.69% 1.44%
2036 2.77% 1.61%
2035 2.89% 1.7%
2034 2.95% 1.86%
2033 3.02% 1.92%
2032 3.1% 2.1%
2031 3.14% 2.21%
2030 3.19% 2.5%
2029 3.3% 2.59%
2028 3.3% 2.88%
2027 3.34% 3.09%
2026 3.4% 3.57%
2025 3.43% 3.84%
2024 3.46% 4.57%
2023 1.07% 5.04%
2022 -0.28% 3.85%
2021 1.7% 2.75%
2020 1.66% 3.42%
2019 1.35% 3.96%
2018 1.78% 1.84%
2017 1.69% 0.16%
2016 1.82% -1.19%
2015 0.13% -4.19%
2014 -0.41% -6.43%
2013 0.68% -4.8%
2012 1% -0.52%
2011 1.6% 1.76%
2010 -0.8% 2.3%
2009 -0.66% 1.57%
2008 2.16% 3.6%
2007 1.95% 6.35%
2006 2.07% 4.37%
2005 2.29% 2.6%
2004 2.19% 2.5%
2003 2.42% 2.41%
2002 2.21% 2.45%
2001 2.25% 2.48%
2000 2.79% 2.53%
1999 2.77% 2.58%
1998 2.75% 2.61%
1997 2.79% 2.66%
1996 2.63% 2.75%
1995 2.77% 2.87%
1994 3.17% 2.99%
1993 3.24% 3.06%
1992 3.23% 3.12%
1991 3.18% 3.19%
1990 3.16% 3.29%
1989 2.58% 3.37%
1988 1.68% 3.45%
1987 1.32% 3.51%
1986 1.28% 3.55%
1985 1.26% 3.58%
1984 1.23% 3.57%
1983 1.2% 3.47%
1982 1.17% 3.37%
1981 1.14% 3.38%
1980 1.1% 3.41%
1979 1.08% 3.45%
1978 1.05% 3.49%
1977 1.04% 3.49%
1976 1.5% 3.48%
1975 1.96% 3.45%
1974 1.95% 3.43%
1973 1.93% 3.43%
1972 1.98% 3.45%
1971 2.1% 3.41%
1970 2.24% 3.33%
1969 2.31% 3.29%
1968 2.28% 3.26%
1967 2.21% 3.23%
1966 2.14% 3.2%
1965 2.08% 3.15%
1964 2.03% 3.1%
1963 1.98% 3.05%
1962 1.93% 2.99%
1961 1.89% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

CAR Syria
Current population
5798457
26956472
Population rank 117/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.32%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
10.5 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 5/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 +421,693
Net migration rank 143/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 421,693
2024 196,244 -15,357 449,784 546,494
2023 190,325 -14,682 402,713 757,309
2022 -49,456 -17,430 369,750 735,142
2021 124,408 -85,646 350,560 211,220
2020 156,911 -24,745 327,992 269,050
2019 68,523 -36,849 293,762 500,985
2018 153,361 -52,954 242,530 514,102
2017 128,461 -58,584 237,214 -287,501
2016 142,419 -52,607 236,007 -124,063
2015 141,912 -63,045 253,977 -827,496
2014 107,448 -174,051 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 140,489 -112,382 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 146,791 -111,764 475,520 -999,267
2011 142,913 -86,281 543,950 -256,888
2010 130,539 -43,126 558,666 -54,359
2009 -130,613 -28,899 559,314 -52,703
2008 128,627 -28,983 576,593 -402,393
2007 123,137 -30,352 529,162 801,514
2006 118,882 -41,282 480,616 682,911
2005 113,534 -13,604 468,960 13,382
2004 108,548 -16,510 461,209 10,881
2003 105,540 -18,097 457,000 -33,920
2002 100,588 5,992 453,967 -35,096
2001 99,598 -33,006 451,503 -36,383
2000 97,468 8,079 446,211 -34,425
1999 96,108 6,284 439,261 -31,394
1998 94,361 4,479 433,447 -26,025
1997 93,378 2,034 429,887 -31,571
1996 93,369 2,697 430,765 -30,197
1995 92,748 -12,986 430,172 -28,122
1994 90,943 9,496 426,996 -12,630
1993 89,873 9,930 420,244 -8,828
1992 88,939 9,269 412,878 -4,063
1991 88,688 4,381 410,830 -10,154
1990 87,507 1,995 409,177 -6,620
1989 85,969 409 406,111 -8,379
1988 84,654 -31,016 404,285 -8,426
1987 83,408 -47,428 399,159 -8,335
1986 81,149 -47,332 390,821 -9,485
1985 79,266 -46,427 379,231 -6,221
1984 77,395 -45,591 366,768 -5,245
1983 75,399 -44,780 355,375 -9,729
1982 73,330 -43,908 319,664 -721
1981 71,391 -42,872 330,237 -24,536
1980 68,759 -41,539 332,464 -33,114
1979 66,104 -39,850 324,943 -32,793
1978 63,285 -37,874 316,724 -30,567
1977 60,436 -35,782 306,630 -28,275
1976 57,725 -33,645 294,267 -26,268
1975 55,106 -9,895 282,299 -24,389
1974 53,777 -9,838 270,735 -24,242
1973 52,525 -9,800 254,687 -17,502
1972 51,390 -9,634 249,027 -17,610
1971 50,142 -7,259 239,610 -15,167
1970 48,690 -3,693 230,117 -19,594
1969 47,066 -80 219,114 -18,749
1968 45,377 474 209,454 -16,968
1967 42,979 474 199,223 -14,618
1966 40,804 474 191,122 -13,434
1965 38,710 474 182,560 -12,704
1964 36,878 474 174,549 -12,044
1963 35,218 474 166,555 -11,817
1962 33,731 474 159,155 -11,641
1961 32,383 474 151,485 -11,237
1960 31,131 474 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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