Central African Republic
- Capital:
- Bangui
- Continent:
- Africa
- Region(s):
- Middle Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Abbreviation:
- CAF
5,698,984
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
5,698,984
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
Central African Republic's population is projected to be 18,538,428 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,698,984 | 2.2% | 118 |
| 2025 | 5,513,282 | 1.86% | 121 |
| 2020 | 5,026,628 | 1.66% | 124 |
| 2019 | 4,944,703 | 1.35% | 124 |
| 2018 | 4,878,657 | 1.78% | 123 |
| 2017 | 4,793,511 | 1.69% | 124 |
| 2015 | 4,629,320 | 0.6% | 123 |
| 2010 | 4,492,995 | 0.94% | 121 |
| 2005 | 4,288,810 | 2.27% | 119 |
| 2000 | 3,833,416 | 2.74% | 124 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,698,984 | 2.2% | 118 |
| 2032 | 6,884,139 | 3.17% | 111 |
| 2037 | 7,911,631 | 2.82% | 109 |
| 2042 | 8,931,163 | 2.45% | 105 |
| 2047 | 9,972,764 | 2.23% | 96 |
| 2052 | 11,052,358 | 2.08% | 96 |
| 2057 | 12,146,810 | 1.91% | 93 |
| 2062 | 13,214,263 | 1.7% | 91 |
| 2067 | 14,229,120 | 1.49% | 90 |
| 2072 | 15,178,490 | 1.3% | 89 |
346K
500K
750K
Bangui has a metropolitan area population of 865,084, comprising 15.18%% of Central African Republic's total population.
As of 2026, Central African Republic has a total population of 5,698,984, ranking as the 118th most populous nation in the world.
Central African Republic has a net population change of approximately 512 people per day, driven by 698 births, 143 deaths, and net emigration of 43 people.
Central African Republic represents 0.07% of the total global population and 0.36% of Africa's population.
Central African Republic has a population density of 9.1 people per km² (approximately 23.7 per mi²), making it the 214th most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 100% of the population resides in urban areas.
*Rates last updated: June 8, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in Central African Republic is Baya (28.8%) , followed by Banda (22.9%) .
As of 2026, Christian is the largest religion in Central African Republic, comprising 89% of the population.