Central African Republic Population
Sub-Saharan Africa · 117th most populous · Low income
Population right now (estimate)
5,757,723
The population of Central African Republic is about 5,757,723 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 5.7 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.07% of the world's people.
Central African Republic is ranked 117th of 217 by population. Its population is growing fast — about 3.4% a year, roughly 526 more people every day. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 10.6 million. That is 3.3 times its 1960 population of 1.7 million. It is sparsely populated, with only 9.1 people per square kilometre. 45% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
5.7 million
Yearly change
+3.37%
World rank
117th
Share of world
0.07%
Density
9/km²
Land area
622,980 km²
Life expectancy
57.7 yrs
Births per woman
5.95
GDP per capita
$556
GDP
$3.1B
Population of Central African Republic, 1960–2050
Central African Republic population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,702,346 | — | 3 |
| 1970 | 2,097,505 | +2.24% | 3 |
| 1980 | 2,450,535 | +1.10% | 4 |
| 1990 | 2,871,910 | +3.16% | 5 |
| 2000 | 3,833,416 | +2.79% | 6 |
| 2010 | 4,492,995 | −0.80% | 7 |
| 2020 | 5,026,628 | +1.66% | 8 |
| 2024 | 5,330,690 | +3.46% | 9 |
| 2026proj. | 5,698,984 | +3.37% | 9 |
| 2030proj. | 6,478,245 | +3.16% | 10 |
| 2040proj. | 8,526,455 | +2.46% | 14 |
| 2050proj. | 10,616,753 | +2.08% | 17 |
Central African Republic vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 31.2 times as many people as Central African Republic. Bangladesh is 149.3 times more densely populated.
Central African Republic population: questions and answers
What is the population of Central African Republic in 2026?
About 5,698,984 (5.7 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Central African Republic's population growing?
Yes, by about 3.37% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Central African Republic?
About 9 people per km², with a land area of 622,980 km².
What will the population of Central African Republic be in 2050?
About 10.6 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Central African Republic?
Bangui.
What is the life expectancy in Central African Republic?
57.7 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.