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Population · Africa

Central African Republic population 2026

Right now · estimate

Central African Republic population right now

5,764,005

Births today
0
Deaths today
0
Births this year
213,790
Births minus deaths this year
+170,099

The Central African Republic has an estimated 5,698,984 people on 1 July 2026, the UN's projection, 185,702 more than a year earlier (+3.37%). It is the 118th most populous country in the world. It is still growing and is projected to reach 10.6 million by 2050 and 18.8 million by 2100.

UN projection The counter interpolates the UN’s 1 July figures to the second; it is an estimate, not a count.

Central African Republic in numbers, 2026

Births in 2026
255 thousand 698 a day
Deaths in 2026
52 thousand 143 a day
Net migration
−16 thousand more departures than arrivals
Growth rate
+3.28% growing
Fertility rate
5.69per woman above replacement (2.1)
Median age
14.6years world: 31.1
Life expectancy
58.2years
Aged 65 and over
2.2% 2.0% by 2050

Land, people and health

Capital
Bangui
Area
622,984 km² 44th largest of 237
Population density
9per km² 220th most crowded
Urban population
45.0% 56.4% by 2050
Men and women
2.7 million / 3 million 92.9 men per 100 women
Life expectancy, women
60.1years men: 56.0 years
Infant mortality
64.8per 1,000 births under-5: 89.7
Birth rate
44.7per 1,000 death rate: 9.1
Net migration rate
−2.7per 1,000 net departures

Population of the Central African Republic, 1950–2100

Still rising in 2100 on the UN medium projection. By 2050: 10.6 million (+86.3% from today).

Population of Central African Republic
  • UN estimate
  • UN projection
18.8M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearPopulation
19501,438,057
19511,461,251
19521,484,824
19531,508,948
19541,533,757
19551,559,363
19561,585,846
19571,613,277
19581,641,670
19591,671,331
19601,702,346
19611,734,580
19621,768,115
19631,803,063
19641,839,583
19651,877,854
19661,918,082
19671,960,444
19682,005,100
19692,051,516
19702,097,505
19712,141,450
19722,183,769
19732,226,008
19742,269,338
19752,313,916
19762,348,566
19772,372,930
19782,397,961
19792,423,794
19802,450,535
19812,478,402
19822,507,375
19832,537,400
19842,568,610
19852,600,932
19862,634,258
19872,669,155
19882,713,965
19892,783,970
19902,871,910
19912,963,192
19923,058,830
19933,157,839
19943,257,954
19953,348,052
19963,435,965
19973,531,700
19983,628,826
19993,729,450
20003,833,416
20013,919,487
20024,006,077
20034,103,086
20044,192,826
20054,288,810
20064,377,579
20074,462,770
20084,558,984
20094,529,047
20104,492,996
20114,565,022
20124,610,848
20134,642,419
20144,623,182
20154,629,320
20164,713,664
20174,793,510
20184,878,657
20194,944,703
20205,026,628
20215,112,100
20225,098,040
20235,152,420
2024 *5,330,690
2025 *5,513,282
2026 *5,698,984
2027 *5,888,123
2028 *6,082,464
2029 *6,279,732
2030 *6,478,246
2031 *6,680,058
2032 *6,884,138
2033 *7,089,443
2034 *7,296,247
2035 *7,502,587
2036 *7,707,561
2037 *7,911,631
2038 *8,115,862
2039 *8,321,556
2040 *8,526,455
2041 *8,729,074
2042 *8,931,162
2043 *9,134,996
2044 *9,341,762
2045 *9,550,893
2046 *9,761,444
2047 *9,972,764
2048 *10,186,017
2049 *10,400,626
2050 *10,616,752
2051 *10,834,361
2052 *11,052,358
2053 *11,271,690
2054 *11,491,188
2055 *11,710,160
2056 *11,928,607
2057 *12,146,810
2058 *12,364,354
2059 *12,580,147
2060 *12,794,248
2061 *13,005,374
2062 *13,214,263
2063 *13,423,522
2064 *13,629,237
2065 *13,830,256
2066 *14,030,004
2067 *14,229,120
2068 *14,425,338
2069 *14,618,133
2070 *14,809,844
2071 *14,997,824
2072 *15,178,490
2073 *15,355,547
2074 *15,528,202
2075 *15,697,683
2076 *15,868,014
2077 *16,035,526
2078 *16,196,829
2079 *16,350,362
2080 *16,502,027
2081 *16,652,248
2082 *16,799,360
2083 *16,945,083
2084 *17,086,351
2085 *17,221,559
2086 *17,354,298
2087 *17,483,566
2088 *17,607,042
2089 *17,724,407
2090 *17,838,607
2091 *17,951,022
2092 *18,059,046
2093 *18,162,242
2094 *18,261,242
2095 *18,358,755
2096 *18,451,738
2097 *18,538,428
2098 *18,622,113
2099 *18,703,140
2100 *18,779,149

* UN projection

Population of the Central African Republic by year

3.8 million in 2000, 5.7 million in 2026. Every year for the last decade, then every five years to 1950. * UN projection; earlier years are UN estimates.

YearPopulationYearly changeWorld rank
2026* 5,698,984 +3.37% 118
2025* 5,513,282 +3.43% 121
2024* 5,330,690 +3.46% 122
2023 5,152,420 +1.07% 124
2022 5,098,040 −0.28% 124
2021 5,112,100 +1.70% 122
2020 5,026,628 +1.66% 124
2019 4,944,703 +1.35% 124
2018 4,878,657 +1.78% 123
2017 4,793,510 +1.69% 124
2016 4,713,664 +1.82% 124
2015 4,629,320 +0.13% 123
2010 4,492,996 −0.80% 121
2005 4,288,810 +2.29% 119
2000 3,833,416 +2.79% 124
1995 3,348,052 +2.77% 127
1990 2,871,910 +3.16% 130
1985 2,600,932 +1.26% 130
1980 2,450,535 +1.10% 128
1975 2,313,916 +1.96% 128
1970 2,097,505 +2.24% 127
1965 1,877,854 +2.08% 126
1960 1,702,346 +1.86% 124
1955 1,559,363 +1.67% 122
1950 1,438,057 – 121

Population forecast for the Central African Republic

UN medium-variant projection: 10.6 million in 2050 (+86.3% from 2026), 18.8 million in 2100.

YearPopulationYearly changeWorld rank
2030 6,478,246 +3.16% 112
2035 7,502,587 +2.83% 110
2040 8,526,455 +2.46% 107
2045 9,550,893 +2.24% 99
2050 10,616,752 +2.08% 96
2060 12,794,248 +1.70% 93
2070 14,809,844 +1.31% 90
2080 16,502,027 +0.93% 87
2090 17,838,607 +0.64% 85
2100 18,779,149 +0.41% 81

Largest cities in the Central African Republic

Urban area in 2026: the whole built-up city, measured the same way for every country (UN, 2025). * UN projection. Largest cities in the world

#CityPopulation 2026
1 Bangui (capital) 1,084,386
2 Carnot 80,745
3 Bouar 65,302
4 Badokwa 62,875
5 Bambari 59,022
6 Nola 55,375

Age structure

Median age 14.6. 2.2% are 65 or older, 2.0% by 2050; 48.2% are under 15.

Central African Republic, 2026 Men 2026 Women 2026 2050 (projection)
100+: men 0.0% 100+: women 0.0% 100+ 95-99: men 0.0% 95-99: women 0.0% 90-94: men 0.0% 90-94: women 0.0% 90-94 85-89: men 0.0% 85-89: women 0.0% 80-84: men 0.1% 80-84: women 0.1% 80-84 75-79: men 0.1% 75-79: women 0.2% 70-74: men 0.3% 70-74: women 0.4% 70-74 65-69: men 0.4% 65-69: women 0.6% 60-64: men 0.6% 60-64: women 0.9% 60-64 55-59: men 0.7% 55-59: women 1.1% 50-54: men 0.7% 50-54: women 1.1% 50-54 45-49: men 0.9% 45-49: women 1.2% 40-44: men 1.1% 40-44: women 1.6% 40-44 35-39: men 1.6% 35-39: women 2.2% 30-34: men 2.5% 30-34: women 3.0% 30-34 25-29: men 3.7% 25-29: women 4.2% 20-24: men 5.0% 20-24: women 5.2% 20-24 15-19: men 6.2% 15-19: women 6.2% 10-14: men 7.1% 10-14: women 7.0% 10-14 5-9: men 7.6% 5-9: women 7.5% 0-4: men 9.6% 0-4: women 9.4% 0-4

Share of the total population in each age group (%)

Births per woman

5.69 in 2026; about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration.

Fertility rate, Central African Republic
  • UN estimate
  • UN projection
2.0 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearFertility rate
19505.93
19515.93
19525.93
19535.92
19545.92
19555.92
19565.93
19575.93
19585.93
19595.94
19605.95
19615.96
19625.97
19635.99
19646.01
19656.03
19666.06
19676.08
19686.10
19696.06
19706.03
19715.99
19725.96
19735.93
19745.90
19755.88
19765.94
19775.99
19786.04
19796.09
19806.13
19816.17
19826.16
19836.15
19846.14
19856.12
19866.11
19876.12
19886.10
19896.07
19906.05
19916.03
19925.96
19935.93
19945.92
19955.94
19965.96
19975.92
19985.89
19995.87
20005.85
20015.81
20025.79
20035.80
20045.78
20055.81
20065.84
20075.87
20085.90
20095.94
20105.96
20116.01
20126.05
20136.07
20146.10
20156.13
20166.13
20176.13
20186.11
20196.09
20206.06
20216.05
20226.02
20236.01
2024 *5.95
2025 *5.81
2026 *5.69
2027 *5.58
2028 *5.47
2029 *5.36
2030 *5.25
2031 *5.14
2032 *5.04
2033 *4.91
2034 *4.78
2035 *4.67
2036 *4.56
2037 *4.46
2038 *4.35
2039 *4.26
2040 *4.15
2041 *4.03
2042 *3.94
2043 *3.86
2044 *3.78
2045 *3.70
2046 *3.63
2047 *3.56
2048 *3.49
2049 *3.43
2050 *3.36
2051 *3.30
2052 *3.24
2053 *3.19
2054 *3.14
2055 *3.09
2056 *3.04
2057 *3.00
2058 *2.95
2059 *2.91
2060 *2.86
2061 *2.82
2062 *2.79
2063 *2.75
2064 *2.72
2065 *2.68
2066 *2.65
2067 *2.61
2068 *2.58
2069 *2.55
2070 *2.52
2071 *2.49
2072 *2.47
2073 *2.44
2074 *2.42
2075 *2.40
2076 *2.37
2077 *2.35
2078 *2.33
2079 *2.31
2080 *2.30
2081 *2.28
2082 *2.26
2083 *2.25
2084 *2.23
2085 *2.22
2086 *2.20
2087 *2.19
2088 *2.17
2089 *2.16
2090 *2.15
2091 *2.14
2092 *2.12
2093 *2.11
2094 *2.10
2095 *2.08
2096 *2.07
2097 *2.06
2098 *2.05
2099 *2.04
2100 *2.03

* UN projection

Births and deaths each year

Births outnumber deaths throughout the projection.

Births and deaths, Central African Republic
  • Births
  • Deaths
  • UN estimate
  • UN projection
277k185k 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearBirthsDeaths
195065,21742,139
195165,97742,666
195266,76442,930
195367,48543,068
195468,32543,119
195569,12043,123
195670,11543,139
195771,00843,120
195871,94043,084
195973,01143,051
196074,10942,977
196175,28542,902
196276,54542,815
196377,94042,723
196479,51142,634
196581,27542,565
196683,32842,526
196785,48542,507
196887,89942,522
196989,55642,491
197091,10242,414
197192,38642,244
197293,41442,022
197394,28641,761
197495,33141,554
197596,52741,422
197699,18841,461
1977101,82441,386
1978104,72741,441
1979107,69541,592
1980110,56641,805
1981113,47042,081
1982115,69842,367
1983118,09842,698
1984120,45943,065
1985122,71943,453
1986125,05643,908
1987127,86544,458
1988129,67745,022
1989131,76445,795
1990134,51747,011
1991137,02548,338
1992138,73849,798
1993141,14851,278
1994143,96253,020
1995147,69254,946
1996150,02456,657
1997151,94658,567
1998154,42960,069
1999157,79861,689
2000161,22663,759
2001164,42464,824
2002165,87965,293
2003171,11465,575
2004174,24565,696
2005179,16765,633
2006184,70165,821
2007188,29265,157
2008193,56264,933
2009197,666328,281
2010202,00971,470
2011206,85963,949
2012208,16761,376
2013207,31866,829
2014206,41098,965
2015200,62658,712
2016204,52962,113
2017209,67681,217
2018213,87060,510
2019218,100149,575
2020223,55866,646
2021231,200106,791
2022231,576281,035
2023238,85848,529
2024 *246,24149,999
2025 *250,08851,098
2026 *254,78352,068
2027 *259,89453,040
2028 *265,01753,982
2029 *269,57654,886
2030 *273,53255,671
2031 *276,64456,446
2032 *279,74757,194
2033 *280,48657,831
2034 *281,21558,464
2035 *282,22959,065
2036 *282,70759,647
2037 *283,83260,241
2038 *284,00960,840
2039 *285,31461,466
2040 *285,53362,099
2041 *285,32862,695
2042 *287,03763,369
2043 *289,17764,067
2044 *291,43364,899
2045 *293,51665,749
2046 *295,64766,607
2047 *297,87567,547
2048 *300,22368,505
2049 *302,47469,464
2050 *304,00370,397
2051 *305,77771,493
2052 *307,29172,591
2053 *308,69973,733
2054 *310,00474,920
2055 *311,20076,248
2056 *312,46477,604
2057 *313,47979,005
2058 *314,43780,488
2059 *314,62881,967
2060 *314,58283,576
2061 *314,76785,210
2062 *315,11386,940
2063 *314,94288,809
2064 *314,46790,643
2065 *313,80492,548
2066 *312,92794,614
2067 *311,98296,679
2068 *310,75198,891
2069 *309,832101,189
2070 *308,901103,533
2071 *308,135105,982
2072 *307,207108,463
2073 *306,159111,001
2074 *305,532113,564
2075 *304,640116,240
2076 *303,482118,918
2077 *302,854121,698
2078 *302,057124,531
2079 *301,780127,407
2080 *301,181130,192
2081 *300,519133,075
2082 *299,850135,888
2083 *299,261138,655
2084 *298,551141,470
2085 *297,995144,272
2086 *297,338147,033
2087 *296,370149,865
2088 *294,924152,617
2089 *293,931155,461
2090 *292,778158,260
2091 *291,713161,139
2092 *289,988163,890
2093 *288,195166,705
2094 *286,708169,454
2095 *285,196171,947
2096 *283,405174,476
2097 *281,610177,182
2098 *279,802179,829
2099 *278,349182,449
2100 *276,606185,092

* UN projection

Economy of the Central African Republic

GDP by country →
GDP 2026
$5.1 billion 160th largest economy
GDP per person
$891 US$, market rates
GDP per person (PPP)
Int$ 2,170 at purchasing power parity
Economic growth
+2.7% real GDP
Inflation
3.5% consumer prices
Unemployment
– of the labour force
Government debt
43.5% of GDP
Share of world GDP
0.0%
GDP of Central African Republic, current US dollars
  • IMF estimate
  • IMF projection
7B 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearGDP, US$
19903,308,000,000
19913,249,000,000
19923,250,000,000
19932,996,000,000
19941,947,000,000
19952,442,000,000
19962,175,000,000
19972,048,000,000
19982,109,000,000
19992,172,000,000
20001,402,000,000
20011,492,000,000
20021,589,000,000
20031,811,000,000
20042,035,000,000
20052,154,000,000
20062,351,000,000
20072,703,000,000
20082,992,000,000
20092,942,000,000
20103,144,000,000
20113,764,000,000
20123,410,000,000
20132,418,000,000
20142,958,000,000
20152,636,000,000
20162,768,000,000
20173,012,000,000
20183,227,000,000
20193,333,000,000
20203,577,000,000
20213,879,000,000
20223,670,000,000
20233,886,000,000
20244,126,000,000
20254,636,000,000
2026 *5,079,000,000
2027 *5,411,000,000
2028 *5,760,000,000
2029 *6,147,000,000
2030 *6,566,000,000
2031 *6,993,000,000

* IMF projection

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026). 2026 and later are IMF projections. GDP per capita by country · Richest countries

CO₂ emissions of the Central African Republic

CO₂ by country →
CO₂ emissions 2024
400,000 tonnes 186th largest emitter
Per person
0.07 t world: 4.73 t
Share of world CO₂
0.00% 0.07% of its people
Change since 1990
+116% +209% since 2005
CO₂ emissions of Central African Republic, million tonnes a year
0.4 2024
› Show the numbers as a table
YearCO₂, million tonnes
19500.05
19510.06
19520.08
19530.07
19540.07
19550.07
19560.09
19570.10
19580.12
19590.10
19600.09
19610.09
19620.07
19630.07
19640.07
19650.09
19660.08
19670.09
19680.18
19690.19
19700.21
19710.18
19720.17
19730.16
19740.11
19750.10
19760.13
19770.13
19780.15
19790.10
19800.11
19810.14
19820.14
19830.15
19840.15
19850.16
19860.16
19870.26
19880.23
19890.25
19900.18
19910.19
19920.19
19930.20
19940.21
19950.21
19960.21
19970.22
19980.22
19990.23
20000.12
20010.14
20020.12
20030.11
20040.12
20050.13
20060.14
20070.15
20080.15
20090.15
20100.17
20110.15
20120.18
20130.10
20140.13
20150.19
20160.24
20170.29
20180.27
20190.31
20200.33
20210.37
20220.38
20230.39
20240.40

Fossil fuels and industry, territorial; Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ per capita by country · Historical emissions

Compare with Africa

CountryPopulation 2026Growth
Central African Republic 5.7 million +3.28%
Nigeria 242 million +2.03%
Ethiopia 139 million +2.48%
Egypt 120 million +1.44%
DR Congo 116 million +3.13%
Tanzania 72.6 million +2.79%
South Africa 65.5 million +1.05%
Kenya 58.6 million +1.89%
Sudan 53.3 million +3.03%

All 237 countries · Fertility rate by country · Birth rate by country · Median age by country · Life expectancy by country · Population growth rate by country · Population density by country · Largest countries by area · Death rate by country · Infant mortality rate by country · Elderly population by country · Net migration rate by country · Urban population by country · Sex ratio by country

Air quality in the Central African Republic today

Hourly AQI and a 48-hour forecast for Bangui.

See air quality →

Questions

What is the population of the Central African Republic in 2026?

5,698,984 on 1 July 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-variant projection). That is 5.7 million people, +3.37% on 2025.

Is the Central African Republic's population growing or shrinking?

Growing: 185,702 more people in 2026 than in 2025, with 698 births and 143 deaths a day and net migration of −15,608 a year.

When will the Central African Republic's population peak?

Not this century on the UN's medium projection: 10.6 million in 2050 and 18.8 million in 2100, still rising.

What is the fertility rate in the Central African Republic?

5.69 births per woman in 2026. A population replaces itself at about 2.1.

How many babies are born in the Central African Republic every day?

About 698 a day (255 thousand in 2026), against about 143 deaths a day.

What is the life expectancy in the Central African Republic?

58.2 years at birth in 2026: 60.1 for women and 56.0 for men, against a world average of 73.8.

How many men and women live in the Central African Republic?

About 2.7 million men and 3 million women in 2026, or 92.9 men for every 100 women.

What is the population density of the Central African Republic?

9 people per km² of land in 2026, on a total area of 622,984 km². The world average is 64.

What was the population of the Central African Republic in 2000?

3,833,416 (3.8 million), the UN estimate for 1 July 2000. It has grown by 49% since, to 5.7 million in 2026.

What will the population of the Central African Republic be in 2050?

About 10.6 million on the UN's medium projection (10,616,752), +86.3% from 2026; 18.8 million by 2100.

What are the largest cities in the Central African Republic?

Bangui (1.1 million), Carnot (81 thousand), Bouar (65 thousand), Badokwa (63 thousand), Bambari (59 thousand). UN figures for 2026, counting each city’s whole built-up area.

What is the GDP of the Central African Republic in 2026?

$5.1 billion at current prices, the 160th largest economy in the world, on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (October 2026) figures; real growth of +2.7%.

What is the Central African Republic's GDP per capita?

$891 per person at market exchange rates in 2026, or Int$ 2,170 at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for local prices.

How much CO₂ does the Central African Republic emit?

400,000 tonnes from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.07 t per person and 0.00% of the world total; oil is the largest source (100%).

Source and method

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant. Figures for 1950–2023 are UN estimates; later years are the medium-variant projection, which assumes fertility, mortality and migration follow their most likely paths. National statistics offices publish their own counts, which can differ. Reuse under CC BY 3.0 IGO. How we use the data.