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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Central African Republic was 5,513,282 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,798,457 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 3.01 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 117th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.07% for the Central African Republic vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, the Central African Republic has had an average growth rate of +1.62% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.8M (32.5% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Central African Republic vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
CAR Zimbabwe
2100 19,061,127 37,486,352
2099 18,981,009 37,415,690
2098 18,896,319 37,331,540
2097 18,810,793 37,238,819
2096 18,719,993 37,146,184
2095 18,621,666 37,035,388
2094 18,521,650 36,915,996
2093 18,420,299 36,814,133
2092 18,311,751 36,691,740
2091 18,200,580 36,570,481
2090 18,083,097 36,428,812
2089 17,968,298 36,284,166
2088 17,844,377 36,144,627
2087 17,717,148 35,980,805
2086 17,581,447 35,811,286
2085 17,447,157 35,640,228
2084 17,306,435 35,459,328
2083 17,159,818 35,271,139
2082 17,010,036 35,081,992
2081 16,860,592 34,876,198
2080 16,704,486 34,662,013
2079 16,552,105 34,442,751
2078 16,392,201 34,220,306
2077 16,224,015 33,985,899
2076 16,051,483 33,742,198
2075 15,877,563 33,498,815
2074 15,706,759 33,247,764
2073 15,526,382 32,981,390
2072 15,346,626 32,708,937
2071 15,158,906 32,448,602
2070 14,964,276 32,183,952
2069 14,768,967 31,909,601
2068 14,572,130 31,633,783
2067 14,369,861 31,348,096
2066 14,167,129 31,065,618
2065 13,963,573 30,769,538
2064 13,758,257 30,482,622
2063 13,545,150 30,178,760
2062 13,332,625 29,870,308
2061 13,120,271 29,559,670
2060 12,903,195 29,254,998
2059 12,684,791 28,947,636
2058 12,464,271 28,634,199
2057 12,242,308 28,309,796
2056 12,020,446 27,993,176
2055 11,797,986 27,661,321
2054 11,575,058 27,334,325
2053 11,351,527 26,989,310
2052 11,128,939 26,645,898
2051 10,908,122 26,289,905
2050 10,686,324 25,937,176
2049 10,468,520 25,587,491
2048 10,249,810 25,230,302
2047 10,034,764 24,876,838
2046 9,819,986 24,515,600
2045 9,606,504 24,149,762
2044 9,394,614 23,785,181
2043 9,185,941 23,404,024
2042 8,980,018 23,037,316
2041 8,774,893 22,649,943
2040 8,567,893 22,275,480
2039 8,358,128 21,904,908
2038 8,149,514 21,532,024
2037 7,942,721 21,161,527
2036 7,734,436 20,792,863
2035 7,525,805 20,415,452
2034 7,314,741 20,049,783
2033 7,105,166 19,678,070
2032 6,897,152 19,313,685
2031 6,690,066 18,960,968
2030 6,486,667 18,615,376
2029 6,286,290 18,271,657
2028 6,085,426 17,935,044
2027 5,890,999 17,602,533
2026 5,700,718 17,274,728
2025 5,513,282 16,950,795
2024 5,330,690 16,634,373
2023 5,152,421 16,340,822
2022 5,098,039 16,069,056
2021 5,112,100 15,797,210
2020 5,026,628 15,526,888
2019 4,944,703 15,271,368
2018 4,878,657 15,034,452
2017 4,793,511 14,812,482
2016 4,713,663 14,600,294
2015 4,629,320 14,399,013
2014 4,623,182 14,207,359
2013 4,642,419 14,013,808
2012 4,610,848 13,817,887
2011 4,565,021 13,595,424
2010 4,492,995 13,356,548
2009 4,529,047 13,142,790
2008 4,558,984 12,959,149
2007 4,462,770 12,804,058
2006 4,377,579 12,636,445
2005 4,288,810 12,483,432
2004 4,192,826 12,365,896
2003 4,103,086 12,232,323
2002 4,006,077 12,087,653
2001 3,919,487 11,971,901
2000 3,833,416 11,892,055
1999 3,729,450 11,783,458
1998 3,628,827 11,594,297
1997 3,531,700 11,369,827
1996 3,435,965 11,158,360
1995 3,348,052 10,974,599
1994 3,257,954 10,873,148
1993 3,157,839 10,860,288
1992 3,058,831 10,702,700
1991 2,963,191 10,404,816
1990 2,871,910 10,137,281
1989 2,783,970 9,864,798
1988 2,713,965 9,583,094
1987 2,669,155 9,284,644
1986 2,634,258 8,982,578
1985 2,600,932 8,686,813
1984 2,568,610 8,391,488
1983 2,537,399 8,098,404
1982 2,507,375 7,796,496
1981 2,478,402 7,498,635
1980 2,450,535 7,041,303
1979 2,423,794 6,647,556
1978 2,397,961 6,543,575
1977 2,372,930 6,449,512
1976 2,348,566 6,287,105
1975 2,313,916 6,098,658
1974 2,269,338 5,908,328
1973 2,226,008 5,720,404
1972 2,183,769 5,542,445
1971 2,141,450 5,374,712
1970 2,097,505 5,215,918
1969 2,051,515 5,058,181
1968 2,005,100 4,900,440
1967 1,960,444 4,748,307
1966 1,918,082 4,601,217
1965 1,877,854 4,458,462
1964 1,839,583 4,320,006
1963 1,803,063 4,185,877
1962 1,768,115 4,055,959
1961 1,734,580 3,930,401
1960 1,702,346 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Central African Republic increased by 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Central African Republic gained 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is 117th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
CAR Zimbabwe
2100 0.42% 0.19%
2099 0.45% 0.23%
2098 0.45% 0.25%
2097 0.49% 0.25%
2096 0.53% 0.3%
2095 0.54% 0.32%
2094 0.55% 0.28%
2093 0.59% 0.33%
2092 0.61% 0.33%
2091 0.65% 0.39%
2090 0.64% 0.4%
2089 0.69% 0.39%
2088 0.72% 0.46%
2087 0.77% 0.47%
2086 0.77% 0.48%
2085 0.81% 0.51%
2084 0.85% 0.53%
2083 0.88% 0.54%
2082 0.89% 0.59%
2081 0.93% 0.62%
2080 0.92% 0.64%
2079 0.98% 0.65%
2078 1.04% 0.69%
2077 1.07% 0.72%
2076 1.1% 0.73%
2075 1.09% 0.76%
2074 1.16% 0.81%
2073 1.17% 0.83%
2072 1.24% 0.8%
2071 1.3% 0.82%
2070 1.32% 0.86%
2069 1.35% 0.87%
2068 1.41% 0.91%
2067 1.43% 0.91%
2066 1.46% 0.96%
2065 1.49% 0.94%
2064 1.57% 1.01%
2063 1.59% 1.03%
2062 1.62% 1.05%
2061 1.68% 1.04%
2060 1.72% 1.06%
2059 1.77% 1.09%
2058 1.81% 1.15%
2057 1.85% 1.13%
2056 1.89% 1.2%
2055 1.93% 1.2%
2054 1.97% 1.28%
2053 2% 1.29%
2052 2.02% 1.35%
2051 2.08% 1.36%
2050 2.08% 1.37%
2049 2.13% 1.42%
2048 2.14% 1.42%
2047 2.19% 1.47%
2046 2.22% 1.51%
2045 2.26% 1.53%
2044 2.27% 1.63%
2043 2.29% 1.59%
2042 2.34% 1.71%
2041 2.42% 1.68%
2040 2.51% 1.69%
2039 2.56% 1.73%
2038 2.6% 1.75%
2037 2.69% 1.77%
2036 2.77% 1.85%
2035 2.89% 1.82%
2034 2.95% 1.89%
2033 3.02% 1.89%
2032 3.1% 1.86%
2031 3.14% 1.86%
2030 3.19% 1.88%
2029 3.3% 1.88%
2028 3.3% 1.89%
2027 3.34% 1.9%
2026 3.4% 1.91%
2025 3.43% 1.9%
2024 3.46% 1.8%
2023 1.07% 1.69%
2022 -0.28% 1.72%
2021 1.7% 1.74%
2020 1.66% 1.67%
2019 1.35% 1.58%
2018 1.78% 1.5%
2017 1.69% 1.45%
2016 1.82% 1.4%
2015 0.13% 1.35%
2014 -0.41% 1.38%
2013 0.68% 1.42%
2012 1% 1.64%
2011 1.6% 1.79%
2010 -0.8% 1.63%
2009 -0.66% 1.42%
2008 2.16% 1.21%
2007 1.95% 1.33%
2006 2.07% 1.23%
2005 2.29% 0.95%
2004 2.19% 1.09%
2003 2.42% 1.2%
2002 2.21% 0.97%
2001 2.25% 0.67%
2000 2.79% 0.92%
1999 2.77% 1.63%
1998 2.75% 1.97%
1997 2.79% 1.9%
1996 2.63% 1.67%
1995 2.77% 0.93%
1994 3.17% 0.12%
1993 3.24% 1.47%
1992 3.23% 2.86%
1991 3.18% 2.64%
1990 3.16% 2.76%
1989 2.58% 2.94%
1988 1.68% 3.21%
1987 1.32% 3.36%
1986 1.28% 3.4%
1985 1.26% 3.52%
1984 1.23% 3.62%
1983 1.2% 3.87%
1982 1.17% 3.97%
1981 1.14% 6.49%
1980 1.1% 5.92%
1979 1.08% 1.59%
1978 1.05% 1.46%
1977 1.04% 2.58%
1976 1.5% 3.09%
1975 1.96% 3.22%
1974 1.95% 3.29%
1973 1.93% 3.21%
1972 1.98% 3.12%
1971 2.1% 3.04%
1970 2.24% 3.12%
1969 2.31% 3.22%
1968 2.28% 3.2%
1967 2.21% 3.2%
1966 2.14% 3.2%
1965 2.08% 3.2%
1964 2.03% 3.2%
1963 1.98% 3.2%
1962 1.93% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.43%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

CAR Zimbabwe
Current population
5798457
17443108
Population rank 117/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.21%
One net population change
2.89 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
2.13 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
10.5 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +500 +867
Annual growth/decline +182,592 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +3.43% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 7/197 53/197
One migration net change every
35.9 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -14,693 -54,555
Net migration rank 143/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 94,556 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 132/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.8% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 135/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
CAR Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -14,693 - -54,555
2024 196,244 -15,357 372,494 -60,528
2023 190,325 -14,682 372,505 -97,380
2022 -49,456 -17,430 371,243 -102,828
2021 124,408 -85,646 349,908 -74,623
2020 156,911 -24,745 354,790 -89,440
2019 68,523 -36,849 348,798 -103,107
2018 153,361 -52,954 345,883 -117,758
2017 128,461 -58,584 344,035 -128,241
2016 142,419 -52,607 348,772 -140,181
2015 141,912 -63,045 356,203 -162,220
2014 107,448 -174,051 366,350 -177,029
2013 140,489 -112,382 374,757 -176,972
2012 146,791 -111,764 371,135 -177,061
2011 142,913 -86,281 359,572 -108,714
2010 130,539 -43,126 335,570 -108,671
2009 -130,613 -28,899 309,316 -108,689
2008 128,627 -28,983 280,527 -113,858
2007 123,137 -30,352 261,805 -118,299
2006 118,882 -41,282 248,963 -57,257
2005 113,534 -13,604 248,545 -134,212
2004 108,548 -16,510 248,307 -127,550
2003 105,540 -18,097 243,057 -96,667
2002 100,588 5,992 244,170 -101,212
2001 99,598 -33,006 227,909 -139,361
2000 97,468 8,079 236,343 -165,181
1999 96,108 6,284 232,393 -86,343
1998 94,361 4,479 225,614 6,645
1997 93,378 2,034 216,288 395
1996 93,369 2,697 205,269 978
1995 92,748 -12,986 206,695 -45,428
1994 90,943 9,496 216,343 -174,723
1993 89,873 9,930 228,045 -243,947
1992 88,939 9,269 255,291 75,788
1991 88,688 4,381 260,943 3,749
1990 87,507 1,995 265,444 4,948
1989 85,969 409 270,838 3,736
1988 84,654 -31,016 277,498 11,327
1987 83,408 -47,428 286,766 21,308
1986 81,149 -47,332 289,894 6,154
1985 79,266 -46,427 290,756 4,718
1984 77,395 -45,591 290,052 5,124
1983 75,399 -44,780 286,545 4,456
1982 73,330 -43,908 279,934 32,899
1981 71,391 -42,872 271,361 11,523
1980 68,759 -41,539 241,179 390,593
1979 66,104 -39,850 223,657 -67,937
1978 63,285 -37,874 222,979 -170,727
1977 60,436 -35,782 225,139 -89,270
1976 57,725 -33,645 221,419 -32,495
1975 55,106 -9,895 216,947 -28,988
1974 53,777 -9,838 208,806 -16,105
1973 52,525 -9,800 201,885 -18,733
1972 51,390 -9,634 193,725 -20,959
1971 50,142 -7,259 185,427 -22,719
1970 48,690 -3,693 178,979 -24,102
1969 47,066 -80 172,626 -12,028
1968 45,377 474 166,865 -11,997
1967 42,979 474 161,205 -11,814
1966 40,804 474 156,014 -11,211
1965 38,710 474 151,164 -10,465
1964 36,878 474 145,848 -9,631
1963 35,218 474 140,984 -8,936
1962 33,731 474 136,317 -8,529
1961 32,383 474 131,531 -8,204
1960 31,131 474 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 94,556 residents or 1.8% of the population were not native-born in the Central African Republic, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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