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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Syria: 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 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 4.66 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th 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 +1.27% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% 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 19,066,004 44,620,090
2099 18,985,867 44,690,260
2098 18,901,154 44,750,249
2097 18,815,607 44,813,148
2096 18,724,783 44,867,740
2095 18,626,431 44,895,489
2094 18,526,390 44,945,231
2093 18,425,013 44,974,311
2092 18,316,437 45,003,795
2091 18,205,237 45,016,478
2090 18,087,725 45,048,083
2089 17,972,896 45,047,102
2088 17,848,943 45,041,864
2087 17,721,681 45,049,516
2086 17,585,946 45,068,928
2085 17,451,621 45,034,847
2084 17,310,863 44,999,929
2083 17,164,209 44,971,600
2082 17,014,388 44,910,859
2081 16,864,906 44,843,908
2080 16,708,761 44,744,718
2079 16,556,341 44,687,371
2078 16,396,395 44,649,760
2077 16,228,166 44,604,175
2076 16,055,590 44,520,132
2075 15,881,626 44,426,423
2074 15,710,778 44,328,795
2073 15,530,355 44,221,016
2072 15,350,553 44,084,262
2071 15,162,785 43,939,848
2070 14,968,105 43,795,999
2069 14,772,746 43,648,130
2068 14,575,859 43,465,442
2067 14,373,538 43,271,173
2066 14,170,754 43,060,752
2065 13,967,146 42,810,442
2064 13,761,777 42,559,554
2063 13,548,616 42,311,907
2062 13,336,037 42,062,193
2061 13,123,628 41,808,082
2060 12,906,496 41,522,274
2059 12,688,037 41,208,825
2058 12,467,461 40,925,728
2057 12,245,441 40,643,453
2056 12,023,522 40,332,578
2055 11,801,006 40,026,632
2054 11,578,020 39,691,425
2053 11,354,432 39,348,020
2052 11,131,786 39,045,268
2051 10,910,913 38,733,827
2050 10,689,058 38,410,423
2049 10,471,199 38,089,455
2048 10,252,433 37,784,449
2047 10,037,332 37,492,636
2046 9,822,499 37,181,526
2045 9,608,962 36,843,579
2044 9,397,018 36,526,509
2043 9,188,292 36,188,225
2042 8,982,316 35,825,419
2041 8,777,138 35,447,414
2040 8,570,085 35,042,107
2039 8,360,267 34,626,945
2038 8,151,599 34,183,740
2037 7,944,754 33,703,682
2036 7,736,415 33,223,843
2035 7,527,731 32,696,648
2034 7,316,613 32,148,814
2033 7,106,984 31,562,427
2032 6,898,917 30,967,322
2031 6,691,778 30,329,874
2030 6,488,327 29,672,629
2029 6,287,899 28,949,535
2028 6,086,983 28,217,748
2027 5,892,506 27,428,807
2026 5,702,177 26,607,148
2025 5,514,692 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th 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 85.8% to 10,689,058 people with a rank change from 118th to 96th. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 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 45.1M 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 3.45% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

CAR Syria
Current population
5753659
26829400
Population rank 118/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.32%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 6/197
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 - -15,357 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 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 (1960–2024, 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/syria | 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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