PopulationTracker

Central African Republic population

Current population of Central African Republic

5,718,265

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
145
Deaths today
29
Change today (UTC)
+105
World rank
120th of 218
0.07% of world population
Population
5,513,282
2025 estimate
Annual growth
+3.37%
2025
Density
8.3 /km²
2023
Land area
622,980 km²
Urban population
45%
2025
Median age
14.5 yrs
2025 (UN WPP)
Fertility rate
5.95
births per woman, 2024
Life expectancy
57.7 yrs
2024
Net migration
−14,693
2025
Capital
Bangui
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa

Population of Central African Republic: overview

Central African Republic has a population of 5,513,282 according to the latest official estimates (2025), the 120th largest in the world. Central African Republic is part of the Sub-Saharan Africa region and its capital is Bangui.

The population is growing rapidly, at 3.37% per year — among the fastest rates recorded anywhere. In absolute terms that meant roughly 182,592 additional people over the past year. That growth comes despite net emigration of about 14,693 people in 2025.

With roughly 8.3 people per km², Central African Republic is among the emptiest inhabited places in the world, spread across 622,980 km² of land. The country remains predominantly rural, though cities are growing: 45% of residents are urban.

With a median age of just 14.5 years, Central African Republic has one of the youngest populations in the world. Fertility remains high at 5.95 children per woman. Life expectancy at birth is 57.7 years (2024).

The UN projects strong growth ahead: 10.62 million people by 2050, about 93% more than today. The 2030 projection is 6,478,246.

Central African Republic population, 1960–2025 and projections

02.5M5M7.5M10M12.5M19601980200020202040projected2025: 5.51M1960: 1,702,3461961: 1,734,5801962: 1,768,1151963: 1,803,0631964: 1,839,5831965: 1,877,8541966: 1,918,0821967: 1,960,4441968: 2,005,1001969: 2,051,5151970: 2,097,5051971: 2,141,4501972: 2,183,7691973: 2,226,0081974: 2,269,3381975: 2,313,9161976: 2,348,5661977: 2,372,9301978: 2,397,9611979: 2,423,7941980: 2,450,5351981: 2,478,4021982: 2,507,3751983: 2,537,3991984: 2,568,6101985: 2,600,9321986: 2,634,2581987: 2,669,1551988: 2,713,9651989: 2,783,9701990: 2,871,9101991: 2,963,1911992: 3,058,8311993: 3,157,8391994: 3,257,9541995: 3,348,0521996: 3,435,9651997: 3,531,7001998: 3,628,8271999: 3,729,4502000: 3,833,4162001: 3,919,4872002: 4,006,0772003: 4,103,0862004: 4,192,8262005: 4,288,8102006: 4,377,5792007: 4,462,7702008: 4,558,9842009: 4,529,0472010: 4,492,9952011: 4,565,0212012: 4,610,8482013: 4,642,4192014: 4,623,1822015: 4,629,3202016: 4,713,6632017: 4,793,5112018: 4,878,6572019: 4,944,7032020: 5,026,6282021: 5,112,1002022: 5,098,0392023: 5,152,4212024: 5,330,6902025: 5,513,2822030: 6,478,2462050: 10,616,752
Population of Central African Republic by year
YearPopulationGrowth rateAnnual change
20255,513,282+3.37%+182,592
20245,330,690+3.40%+178,269
20235,152,421+1.06%+54,382
20225,098,039−0.28%−14,061
20215,112,100+1.69%+85,472
20205,026,628+1.64%+81,925
20194,944,703+1.34%+66,046
20184,878,657+1.76%+85,146
20174,793,511+1.68%+79,848
20164,713,663+1.81%+84,343
20154,629,320+0.13%+6,138
20144,623,182−0.42%−19,237
20104,492,995−0.80%−36,052
20054,288,810+2.26%+95,984
20003,833,416+2.75%+103,966
19953,348,052+2.73%+90,098
19902,871,910+3.11%+87,940
19852,600,932+1.25%+32,322
19802,450,535+1.10%+26,741
19752,313,916+1.95%+44,578
19702,097,505+2.22%+45,990
19651,877,854+2.06%+38,271
19601,702,346––

Recent years annually, earlier years at five-year steps. Annual change compares against the immediately preceding year.

Central African Republic population forecast

United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.

Projected population of Central African Republic
YearProjected populationvs today
20306,478,246+17.5%
205010,616,752+92.6%

Central African Republic population pyramid (2025)

Age and sex structure from UN World Population Prospects 2024: 48.7% of Central African Republic's population is under 15, 49.1% is of working age (15–64), and 2.2% is 65 or older. Hover any bar for the group's size.

MaleFemale
0%2%2%4%4%6%6%8%8%10%10%0-4 male: 523,111 (9.5%)0-4 female: 514,953 (9.3%)0-45-9 male: 423,485 (7.7%)5-9 female: 415,681 (7.5%)10-14 male: 407,127 (7.4%)10-14 female: 399,654 (7.2%)10-1415-19 male: 337,077 (6.1%)15-19 female: 337,497 (6.1%)20-24 male: 272,479 (4.9%)20-24 female: 290,999 (5.3%)20-2425-29 male: 195,804 (3.6%)25-29 female: 227,435 (4.1%)30-34 male: 130,274 (2.4%)30-34 female: 161,407 (2.9%)30-3435-39 male: 87,097 (1.6%)35-39 female: 119,632 (2.2%)40-44 male: 62,215 (1.1%)40-44 female: 87,082 (1.6%)40-4445-49 male: 48,263 (0.9%)45-49 female: 65,960 (1.2%)50-54 male: 43,066 (0.8%)50-54 female: 61,919 (1.1%)50-5455-59 male: 38,658 (0.7%)55-59 female: 60,233 (1.1%)60-64 male: 31,439 (0.6%)60-64 female: 49,552 (0.9%)60-6465-69 male: 24,376 (0.4%)65-69 female: 35,193 (0.6%)70-74 male: 15,540 (0.3%)70-74 female: 20,938 (0.4%)70-7475-79 male: 7,044 (0.1%)75-79 female: 9,289 (0.2%)80-84 male: 2,755 (0.0%)80-84 female: 4,054 (0.1%)80-8485-89 male: 622 (0.0%)85-89 female: 1,147 (0.0%)90-94 male: 47 (0.0%)90-94 female: 172 (0.0%)90-9495-99 male: 1 (0.0%)95-99 female: 5 (0.0%)100+ male: 0 (0.0%)100+ female: 0 (0.0%)100+

Central African Republic population FAQ

What is the population of Central African Republic in 2026?

Central African Republic's population is estimated at about 5.72 million in 2026, extrapolated from the latest official figure of 5,513,282 (2025). Central African Republic ranks 120th in the world by population.

Is the population of Central African Republic growing or shrinking?

Central African Republic's population is growing at about 3.37% per year, an increase of roughly 182,592 people over the past year.

How densely populated is Central African Republic?

Central African Republic has about 8 people per square kilometre across a land area of 622,980 km².

What share of the world's population lives in Central African Republic?

Central African Republic is home to about 0.07% of the world's population.

What is Central African Republic's projected population in 2050?

United Nations medium-variant projections put Central African Republic's population at 10,616,752 in 2050, passing through 6,478,246 in 2030.

What is the median age in Central African Republic?

The median age in Central African Republic is 14.5 years (2025 estimate) — half the population is younger and half older than that.

Sources: World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0); median age and projections from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Live figures are estimates extrapolated from the latest official data — see methodology.