Skip to content

Population in the Central African Republic compared to Zambia: 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 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 22,697,916 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 118th 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 +1.27% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% 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 19,066,004 65,217,429
2099 18,985,867 64,871,545
2098 18,901,154 64,515,891
2097 18,815,607 64,148,736
2096 18,724,783 63,777,313
2095 18,626,431 63,393,169
2094 18,526,390 62,992,652
2093 18,425,013 62,590,327
2092 18,316,437 62,175,930
2091 18,205,237 61,750,591
2090 18,087,725 61,321,399
2089 17,972,896 60,880,148
2088 17,848,943 60,434,676
2087 17,721,681 59,970,107
2086 17,585,946 59,499,234
2085 17,451,621 59,023,040
2084 17,310,863 58,535,857
2083 17,164,209 58,040,512
2082 17,014,388 57,538,672
2081 16,864,906 57,027,491
2080 16,708,761 56,506,421
2079 16,556,341 55,983,242
2078 16,396,395 55,449,777
2077 16,228,166 54,906,771
2076 16,055,590 54,361,075
2075 15,881,626 53,806,856
2074 15,710,778 53,246,777
2073 15,530,355 52,677,348
2072 15,350,553 52,101,139
2071 15,162,785 51,519,691
2070 14,968,105 50,931,614
2069 14,772,746 50,334,700
2068 14,575,859 49,737,479
2067 14,373,538 49,135,488
2066 14,170,754 48,530,443
2065 13,967,146 47,918,592
2064 13,761,777 47,299,740
2063 13,548,616 46,677,439
2062 13,336,037 46,048,819
2061 13,123,628 45,416,657
2060 12,906,496 44,777,347
2059 12,688,037 44,137,306
2058 12,467,461 43,494,451
2057 12,245,441 42,851,923
2056 12,023,522 42,206,898
2055 11,801,006 41,558,284
2054 11,578,020 40,906,492
2053 11,354,432 40,255,629
2052 11,131,786 39,603,888
2051 10,910,913 38,949,958
2050 10,689,058 38,294,607
2049 10,471,199 37,634,194
2048 10,252,433 36,971,309
2047 10,037,332 36,309,749
2046 9,822,499 35,645,868
2045 9,608,962 34,981,812
2044 9,397,018 34,316,981
2043 9,188,292 33,652,420
2042 8,982,316 32,990,657
2041 8,777,138 32,329,447
2040 8,570,085 31,664,262
2039 8,360,267 31,001,305
2038 8,151,599 30,335,662
2037 7,944,754 29,668,561
2036 7,736,415 29,000,264
2035 7,527,731 28,333,498
2034 7,316,613 27,671,195
2033 7,106,984 27,011,974
2032 6,898,917 26,356,580
2031 6,691,778 25,702,812
2030 6,488,327 25,055,216
2029 6,287,899 24,414,405
2028 6,086,983 23,780,809
2027 5,892,506 23,151,479
2026 5,702,177 22,529,742
2025 5,514,692 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th 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 85.8% to 10,689,058 people with a rank change from 118th to 96th. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 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 3.45% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

CAR Zambia
Current population
5753659
22697916
Population rank 118/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.27%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
2.2 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 21/197
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 - -15,357 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 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 (1960–2024, 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/zambia | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.