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Population in the Central African Republic compared to Zimbabwe: 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 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Central African Republic's population is 5,753,659 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 3.02 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • The Central African Republic is ranked the 118th 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 +1.27% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Central African Republic has increased from 4.38M people to 5.75M (31.4% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% 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 19,066,004 37,483,053
2099 18,985,867 37,412,398
2098 18,901,154 37,328,255
2097 18,815,607 37,235,542
2096 18,724,783 37,142,915
2095 18,626,431 37,032,129
2094 18,526,390 36,912,747
2093 18,425,013 36,810,893
2092 18,316,437 36,688,511
2091 18,205,237 36,567,262
2090 18,087,725 36,425,606
2089 17,972,896 36,280,973
2088 17,848,943 36,141,446
2087 17,721,681 35,977,638
2086 17,585,946 35,808,135
2085 17,451,621 35,637,092
2084 17,310,863 35,456,207
2083 17,164,209 35,268,035
2082 17,014,388 35,078,904
2081 16,864,906 34,873,129
2080 16,708,761 34,658,962
2079 16,556,341 34,439,720
2078 16,396,395 34,217,295
2077 16,228,166 33,982,909
2076 16,055,590 33,739,228
2075 15,881,626 33,495,867
2074 15,710,778 33,244,838
2073 15,530,355 32,978,488
2072 15,350,553 32,706,059
2071 15,162,785 32,445,747
2070 14,968,105 32,181,119
2069 14,772,746 31,906,793
2068 14,575,859 31,631,000
2067 14,373,538 31,345,338
2066 14,170,754 31,062,884
2065 13,967,146 30,766,830
2064 13,761,777 30,479,939
2063 13,548,616 30,176,104
2062 13,336,037 29,867,679
2061 13,123,628 29,557,068
2060 12,906,496 29,252,423
2059 12,688,037 28,945,088
2058 12,467,461 28,631,679
2057 12,245,441 28,307,305
2056 12,023,522 27,990,713
2055 11,801,006 27,658,887
2054 11,578,020 27,331,920
2053 11,354,432 26,986,935
2052 11,131,786 26,643,553
2051 10,910,913 26,287,592
2050 10,689,058 25,934,893
2049 10,471,199 25,585,239
2048 10,252,433 25,228,082
2047 10,037,332 24,874,649
2046 9,822,499 24,513,443
2045 9,608,962 24,147,637
2044 9,397,018 23,783,088
2043 9,188,292 23,401,965
2042 8,982,316 23,035,288
2041 8,777,138 22,647,950
2040 8,570,085 22,273,520
2039 8,360,267 21,902,980
2038 8,151,599 21,530,130
2037 7,944,754 21,159,664
2036 7,736,415 20,791,034
2035 7,527,731 20,413,656
2034 7,316,613 20,048,019
2033 7,106,984 19,676,339
2032 6,898,917 19,311,985
2031 6,691,778 18,959,300
2030 6,488,327 18,613,738
2029 6,287,899 18,270,049
2028 6,086,983 17,933,466
2027 5,892,506 17,600,984
2026 5,702,177 17,273,208
2025 5,514,692 16,949,303
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

The Central African Republic was ranked 118th most populous country in 2006 and is still 118th 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 85.8% to 10,689,058 people with a rank change from 118th to 96th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 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 3.45% 1.89%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Central African Republic grew by 3.46%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

CAR Zimbabwe
Current population
5753659
17361868
Population rank 118/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.21%
One net population change
2.95 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
2.2 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +488 +804
Annual growth/decline +178,269 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +3.46% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 9/197 60/197
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 - -15,357 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/central-african-republic/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 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 (1960–2024, 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/zimbabwe | 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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