Central African Republic — Population
Population, Total for Central African Republic, 1960–2025.
Population for Central African Republic was 5.51 million in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 1.70 million in 1960 (about 3.2× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 1.82% per year.
Central African Republic ranks 119 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 55%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 15.10 million, so Central African Republic sits below it. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 19%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 33 of 48 economies; Mauritania (5.32 million) is just below it. That is 10% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1960 level: doubled by 1996. Doubling roughly every 38 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 123rd of 216 in 1960 → 126th of 216 in 1970 → 127th of 216 in 1980 → 129th of 217 in 1990 → 122nd of 217 in 2000 → 120th of 217 in 2010 → 123rd of 217 in 2020 → 119th of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2025
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,513,282 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 5,330,690 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 5,152,421 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 5,098,039 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 5,112,100 | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 5,026,628 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 4,944,703 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 4,878,657 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 4,793,511 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 4,713,663 | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 4,629,320 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 4,623,182 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 4,642,419 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 4,610,848 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 4,565,021 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 4,492,995 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 4,529,047 | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 4,558,984 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 4,462,770 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 4,377,579 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 4,288,810 | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 4,192,826 | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 4,103,086 | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 4,006,077 | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 3,919,487 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 3,833,416 | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 3,729,450 | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 3,628,827 | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 3,531,700 | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 3,435,965 | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 3,348,052 | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 3,257,954 | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 3,157,839 | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 3,058,831 | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 2,963,191 | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 2,871,910 | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 2,783,970 | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 2,713,965 | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 2,669,155 | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 2,634,258 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 2,600,932 | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 2,568,610 | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 2,537,399 | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 2,507,375 | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 2,478,402 | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 2,450,535 | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 2,423,794 | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 2,397,961 | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 2,372,930 | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 2,348,566 | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 2,313,916 | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 2,269,338 | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 2,226,008 | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 2,183,769 | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 2,141,450 | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 2,097,505 | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 2,051,515 | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 2,005,100 | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 1,960,444 | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 1,918,082 | +2.1% |
| 1965 | 1,877,854 | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 1,839,583 | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 1,803,063 | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 1,768,115 | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 1,734,580 | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 1,702,346 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Central African Republic’s Population in 1961?
1,734,580 (1961). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are Central African Republic’s Population figures nominal or inflation-adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — people — with no inflation restatement and no PPP conversion. Years the source does not report are omitted rather than interpolated.
Is Central African Republic’s Population growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +223.9% in total — about 1.8% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 5,513,282; 2024: 5,330,690; 2023: 5,152,421; 2022: 5,098,039; 2021: 5,112,100. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.POP.TOTL — Population, Total. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.