Share of population living in rural areas in Central African Republic
Central African Republic: Share of population living in rural areas was 43.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Central African Republic, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Central African Republic recorded 43.9% for share of population living in rural areas in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Central African Republic peaked at 58.4% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 43.9%, in 2020.
Central African Republic ranks 44th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Central African Republic, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 58.4% | — |
| 1955 | 57.2% | -2.1% |
| 1960 | 55.8% | -2.4% |
| 1965 | 54.2% | -3.0% |
| 1970 | 52.2% | -3.7% |
| 1975 | 50.4% | -3.3% |
| 1980 | 51.3% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 52.3% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 51.7% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 49.7% | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 48.2% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 46.6% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 45.8% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 45.1% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 43.9% | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 57.8% | 57.2% | 58.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 55.0% | 54.2% | 55.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 51.3% | 50.4% | 52.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 51.8% | 51.3% | 52.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 50.7% | 49.7% | 51.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 47.4% | 46.6% | 48.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 45.5% | 45.1% | 45.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 43.9% | 43.9% | 43.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Central African Republic
More population data for Central African Republic
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.248 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4069 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.8749 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4069 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.36 million people (2100)
- Population density 30.14 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5628 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 3.07 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Central African Republic?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Central African Republic was 43.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Central African Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 58.4% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Central African Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.9% in 2020.
- How does Central African Republic rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Central African Republic ranks 44th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Central African Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Central African Republic data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.