Total population (thousands) in Central African Republic
Central African Republic: Total population (thousands) was 5,421 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
5,421 thousands
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
121st
of 233 countries
All-time high
5,421 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
2,075 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Central African Republic, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Central African Republic stood at 5,421 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Central African Republic peaked at 5,421 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,075 thousands, in 1970.
Central African Republic ranks 121st of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Central African Republic, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,075 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 2,120 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 2,163 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 2,205 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 2,247 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 2,291 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 2,337 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 2,361 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 2,385 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 2,411 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 2,437 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 2,464 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 2,493 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 2,522 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 2,553 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 2,585 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 2,617 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 2,651 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 2,687 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 2,741 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 2,827 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 2,917 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 3,010 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 3,108 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 3,208 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 3,308 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 3,388 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 3,484 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 3,579 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 3,678 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 3,781 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 3,886 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 3,953 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 4,059 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 4,147 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 4,239 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 4,339 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 4,416 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 4,509 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 4,609 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 4,449 thousands | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 4,537 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 4,593 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 4,628 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 4,656 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 4,590 thousands | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 4,669 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 4,759 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 4,828 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 4,929 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 4,961 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 5,093 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 5,131 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 5,065 thousands | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 5,240 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 5,421 thousands | +3.5% |
Central African Republic compared with similar countries
- Central African Republic's 5,421 thousands is below the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 23% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Central African Republic's 5,421 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 37% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,259 thousands | 2,075 thousands | 2,411 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,575 thousands | 2,437 thousands | 2,741 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,251 thousands | 2,827 thousands | 3,678 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,194 thousands | 3,781 thousands | 4,609 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,664 thousands | 4,449 thousands | 4,929 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,152 thousands | 4,961 thousands | 5,421 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Central African Republic
More population data for Central African Republic
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4069 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.248 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 11,533 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 3.07 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5628 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 30.14 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.36 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Central African Republic?
- Total population in Central African Republic was 5,421 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Central African Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 5,421 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Central African Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,075 thousands in 1970.
- How does Central African Republic rank for total population?
- Central African Republic ranks 121st out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Central African Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Central African Republic data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release