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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 3.94 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Central African Republic vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Zambia
2100 19,061,127 65,204,593
2099 18,981,009 64,858,778
2098 18,896,319 64,503,193
2097 18,810,793 64,136,110
2096 18,719,993 63,764,760
2095 18,621,666 63,380,692
2094 18,521,650 62,980,254
2093 18,420,299 62,578,008
2092 18,311,751 62,163,693
2091 18,200,580 61,738,437
2090 18,083,097 61,309,330
2089 17,968,298 60,868,166
2088 17,844,377 60,422,781
2087 17,717,148 59,958,303
2086 17,581,447 59,487,524
2085 17,447,157 59,011,423
2084 17,306,435 58,524,337
2083 17,159,818 58,029,088
2082 17,010,036 57,527,347
2081 16,860,592 57,016,267
2080 16,704,486 56,495,299
2079 16,552,105 55,972,223
2078 16,392,201 55,438,864
2077 16,224,015 54,895,964
2076 16,051,483 54,350,375
2075 15,877,563 53,796,265
2074 15,706,759 53,236,297
2073 15,526,382 52,666,980
2072 15,346,626 52,090,884
2071 15,158,906 51,509,551
2070 14,964,276 50,921,590
2069 14,768,967 50,324,793
2068 14,572,130 49,727,689
2067 14,369,861 49,125,817
2066 14,167,129 48,520,891
2065 13,963,573 47,909,160
2064 13,758,257 47,290,430
2063 13,545,150 46,668,252
2062 13,332,625 46,039,755
2061 13,120,271 45,407,718
2060 12,903,195 44,768,534
2059 12,684,791 44,128,619
2058 12,464,271 43,485,891
2057 12,242,308 42,843,489
2056 12,020,446 42,198,591
2055 11,797,986 41,550,105
2054 11,575,058 40,898,440
2053 11,351,527 40,247,706
2052 11,128,939 39,596,094
2051 10,908,122 38,942,292
2050 10,686,324 38,287,070
2049 10,468,520 37,626,787
2048 10,249,810 36,964,032
2047 10,034,764 36,302,603
2046 9,819,986 35,638,852
2045 9,606,504 34,974,927
2044 9,394,614 34,310,227
2043 9,185,941 33,645,797
2042 8,980,018 32,984,164
2041 8,774,893 32,323,084
2040 8,567,893 31,658,029
2039 8,358,128 30,995,204
2038 8,149,514 30,329,691
2037 7,942,721 29,662,721
2036 7,734,436 28,994,556
2035 7,525,805 28,327,922
2034 7,314,741 27,665,749
2033 7,105,166 27,006,658
2032 6,897,152 26,351,393
2031 6,690,066 25,697,754
2030 6,486,667 25,050,285
2029 6,286,290 24,409,600
2028 6,085,426 23,776,128
2027 5,890,999 23,146,922
2026 5,700,718 22,525,308
2025 5,513,282 21,913,874
2024 5,330,690 21,314,956
2023 5,152,421 20,723,965
2022 5,098,039 20,152,938
2021 5,112,100 19,603,607
2020 5,026,628 19,059,395
2019 4,944,703 18,513,839
2018 4,878,657 17,973,569
2017 4,793,511 17,441,320
2016 4,713,663 16,914,423
2015 4,629,320 16,399,089
2014 4,623,182 15,895,315
2013 4,642,419 15,398,997
2012 4,610,848 14,913,629
2011 4,565,021 14,437,796
2010 4,492,995 13,965,594
2009 4,529,047 13,490,389
2008 4,558,984 13,021,324
2007 4,462,770 12,565,085
2006 4,377,579 12,129,553
2005 4,288,810 11,718,819
2004 4,192,826 11,338,198
2003 4,103,086 10,983,595
2002 4,006,077 10,647,949
2001 3,919,487 10,325,185
2000 3,833,416 10,017,631
1999 3,729,450 9,740,005
1998 3,628,827 9,482,408
1997 3,531,700 9,237,063
1996 3,435,965 9,004,053
1995 3,348,052 8,785,763
1994 3,257,954 8,576,269
1993 3,157,839 8,373,921
1992 3,058,831 8,176,680
1991 2,963,191 7,981,650
1990 2,871,910 7,786,169
1989 2,783,970 7,589,216
1988 2,713,965 7,391,440
1987 2,669,155 7,191,282
1986 2,634,258 6,986,471
1985 2,600,932 6,780,953
1984 2,568,610 6,580,490
1983 2,537,399 6,381,038
1982 2,507,375 6,178,637
1981 2,478,402 5,983,289
1980 2,450,535 5,802,833
1979 2,423,794 5,631,728
1978 2,397,961 5,465,374
1977 2,372,930 5,302,480
1976 2,348,566 5,143,842
1975 2,313,916 4,990,086
1974 2,269,338 4,842,746
1973 2,226,008 4,702,693
1972 2,183,769 4,569,309
1971 2,141,450 4,442,525
1970 2,097,505 4,321,718
1969 2,051,515 4,197,116
1968 2,005,100 4,065,593
1967 1,960,444 3,936,343
1966 1,918,082 3,812,003
1965 1,877,854 3,692,086
1964 1,839,583 3,577,017
1963 1,803,063 3,465,907
1962 1,768,115 3,358,099
1961 1,734,580 3,254,086
1960 1,702,346 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Zambia
2100 0.42% 0.53%
2099 0.45% 0.55%
2098 0.45% 0.57%
2097 0.49% 0.58%
2096 0.53% 0.61%
2095 0.54% 0.64%
2094 0.55% 0.64%
2093 0.59% 0.67%
2092 0.61% 0.69%
2091 0.65% 0.7%
2090 0.64% 0.72%
2089 0.69% 0.74%
2088 0.72% 0.77%
2087 0.77% 0.79%
2086 0.77% 0.81%
2085 0.81% 0.83%
2084 0.85% 0.85%
2083 0.88% 0.87%
2082 0.89% 0.9%
2081 0.93% 0.92%
2080 0.92% 0.93%
2079 0.98% 0.96%
2078 1.04% 0.99%
2077 1.07% 1%
2076 1.1% 1.03%
2075 1.09% 1.05%
2074 1.16% 1.08%
2073 1.17% 1.11%
2072 1.24% 1.13%
2071 1.3% 1.15%
2070 1.32% 1.19%
2069 1.35% 1.2%
2068 1.41% 1.23%
2067 1.43% 1.25%
2066 1.46% 1.28%
2065 1.49% 1.31%
2064 1.57% 1.33%
2063 1.59% 1.37%
2062 1.62% 1.39%
2061 1.68% 1.43%
2060 1.72% 1.45%
2059 1.77% 1.48%
2058 1.81% 1.5%
2057 1.85% 1.53%
2056 1.89% 1.56%
2055 1.93% 1.59%
2054 1.97% 1.62%
2053 2% 1.65%
2052 2.02% 1.68%
2051 2.08% 1.71%
2050 2.08% 1.75%
2049 2.13% 1.79%
2048 2.14% 1.82%
2047 2.19% 1.86%
2046 2.22% 1.9%
2045 2.26% 1.94%
2044 2.27% 1.97%
2043 2.29% 2.01%
2042 2.34% 2.05%
2041 2.42% 2.1%
2040 2.51% 2.14%
2039 2.56% 2.19%
2038 2.6% 2.25%
2037 2.69% 2.3%
2036 2.77% 2.35%
2035 2.89% 2.39%
2034 2.95% 2.44%
2033 3.02% 2.49%
2032 3.1% 2.54%
2031 3.14% 2.58%
2030 3.19% 2.62%
2029 3.3% 2.66%
2028 3.3% 2.72%
2027 3.34% 2.76%
2026 3.4% 2.79%
2025 3.43% 2.81%
2024 3.46% 2.85%
2023 1.07% 2.83%
2022 -0.28% 2.8%
2021 1.7% 2.86%
2020 1.66% 2.95%
2019 1.35% 3.01%
2018 1.78% 3.05%
2017 1.69% 3.12%
2016 1.82% 3.14%
2015 0.13% 3.17%
2014 -0.41% 3.22%
2013 0.68% 3.25%
2012 1% 3.3%
2011 1.6% 3.38%
2010 -0.8% 3.52%
2009 -0.66% 3.6%
2008 2.16% 3.63%
2007 1.95% 3.59%
2006 2.07% 3.5%
2005 2.29% 3.36%
2004 2.19% 3.23%
2003 2.42% 3.15%
2002 2.21% 3.13%
2001 2.25% 3.07%
2000 2.79% 2.85%
1999 2.77% 2.72%
1998 2.75% 2.66%
1997 2.79% 2.59%
1996 2.63% 2.48%
1995 2.77% 2.44%
1994 3.17% 2.42%
1993 3.24% 2.41%
1992 3.23% 2.44%
1991 3.18% 2.51%
1990 3.16% 2.6%
1989 2.58% 2.68%
1988 1.68% 2.78%
1987 1.32% 2.93%
1986 1.28% 3.03%
1985 1.26% 3.05%
1984 1.23% 3.13%
1983 1.2% 3.28%
1982 1.17% 3.26%
1981 1.14% 3.11%
1980 1.1% 3.04%
1979 1.08% 3.04%
1978 1.05% 3.07%
1977 1.04% 3.08%
1976 1.5% 3.08%
1975 1.96% 3.04%
1974 1.95% 2.98%
1973 1.93% 2.92%
1972 1.98% 2.85%
1971 2.1% 2.8%
1970 2.24% 2.97%
1969 2.31% 3.24%
1968 2.28% 3.28%
1967 2.21% 3.26%
1966 2.14% 3.25%
1965 2.08% 3.22%
1964 2.03% 3.21%
1963 1.98% 3.21%
1962 1.93% 3.2%
1961 1.89% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

CAR Zambia
Current population
5798457
22844606
Population rank 117/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.27%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
2.13 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
10.5 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 19/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -14,693 +6,562
Net migration rank 143/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - 6,562
2024 196,244 -15,357 587,419 7,381
2023 190,325 -14,682 577,660 9,521
2022 -49,456 -17,430 563,456 -8,566
2021 124,408 -85,646 535,629 8,143
2020 156,911 -24,745 536,484 8,156
2019 68,523 -36,849 528,089 18,385
2018 153,361 -52,954 515,644 18,431
2017 128,461 -58,584 504,630 25,789
2016 142,419 -52,607 497,521 25,860
2015 141,912 -63,045 491,021 16,261
2014 107,448 -174,051 483,663 16,574
2013 140,489 -112,382 476,846 15,542
2012 146,791 -111,764 469,406 8,958
2011 142,913 -86,281 459,743 13,569
2010 130,539 -43,126 448,337 22,761
2009 -130,613 -28,899 434,458 44,867
2008 128,627 -28,983 419,560 39,249
2007 123,137 -30,352 403,729 49,945
2006 118,882 -41,282 387,891 29,517
2005 113,534 -13,604 368,756 35,316
2004 108,548 -16,510 349,352 7,819
2003 105,540 -18,097 331,189 20,845
2002 100,588 5,992 316,041 3,206
2001 99,598 -33,006 302,682 23,582
2000 97,468 8,079 293,186 -4,338
1999 96,108 6,284 283,297 -16,888
1998 94,361 4,479 275,568 -26,796
1997 93,378 2,034 268,198 -26,276
1996 93,369 2,697 262,468 -38,358
1995 92,748 -12,986 257,897 -45,423
1994 90,943 9,496 252,023 -45,504
1993 89,873 9,930 245,917 -47,739
1992 88,939 9,269 239,953 -43,656
1991 88,688 4,381 237,957 -44,203
1990 87,507 1,995 235,835 -38,619
1989 85,969 409 233,429 -36,736
1988 84,654 -31,016 230,118 -31,270
1987 83,408 -47,428 227,813 -26,338
1986 81,149 -47,332 224,768 -16,610
1985 79,266 -46,427 221,351 -18,474
1984 77,395 -45,591 216,695 -18,652
1983 75,399 -44,780 212,712 -11,849
1982 73,330 -43,908 207,621 -3,676
1981 71,391 -42,872 202,822 -16,072
1980 68,759 -41,539 198,817 -24,664
1979 66,104 -39,850 197,578 -29,515
1978 63,285 -37,874 194,933 -30,284
1977 60,436 -35,782 191,557 -30,423
1976 57,725 -33,645 186,762 -30,612
1975 55,106 -9,895 182,258 -30,886
1974 53,777 -9,838 174,484 -31,178
1973 52,525 -9,800 168,258 -31,472
1972 51,390 -9,634 161,648 -31,672
1971 50,142 -7,259 155,249 -31,651
1970 48,690 -3,693 149,380 -31,370
1969 47,066 -80 142,660 -11,469
1968 45,377 474 137,315 -5,447
1967 42,979 474 131,938 -5,298
1966 40,804 474 127,164 -5,129
1965 38,710 474 122,814 -5,023
1964 36,878 474 117,197 -4,851
1963 35,218 474 114,555 -4,676
1962 33,731 474 110,173 -4,428
1961 32,383 474 106,318 -4,043
1960 31,131 474 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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