World 8.2bn peopleGDP $118tnLife expectancy 73.5 yrsOnline 73.6%
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Population · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income

Central African Republic: population and demography

Population is 5.5m (2025), 119th of 217 in the world and 33rd of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Population growth is 3.37% (2025), 7th of 217 in the world and 2nd of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Urban share is 44.6% (2025), 163rd of 217 in the world and 26th of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Population5.5m2025 · world 119/217 · region 33/48Population growth3.37%2025 · world 7/217 · region 2/48Urban share44.6%2025 · world 163/217 · region 26/48Density8.62024 · world 204/216 · region 45/48
Population
Central African Republic
02.0m4.0m6.0m1995200020052010201520202025Central African Republic5.5m
Population growth
Central African RepublicSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
-2.0%0%2.0%4.0%1995200020052010201520202025Central African Republic3.37%Sub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
12 indicators

Population: Central African Republic in detail

Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
PopulationPopulation5.5m2025119/21733/483.8m4.5m5.0m+19%since 20151.3bn767m8.2bn
Population growthPopulation growth, annual %3.37%20257/2172/482.75%-0.80%1.64%+3.2 ppsince 20152.43%2.69%0.91%
Urban shareUrban population, % of total44.6%2025163/21726/4837.7%38.6%42.3%+4.6 ppsince 201544.7%35.2%57.8%
DensityPopulation density, people per km²8.62024204/21645/486.27.28.1+15%since 201452.749.562.1
FertilityFertility rate, births per woman5.9520244/2174/485.855.966.06−2.4%since 20144.264.462.19
Birth rateBirth rate, per 1,000 people46.220241/2171/4842.145.044.5+3.5%since 201432.834.016.3
Death rateDeath rate, per 1,000 people9.4202454/2177/4816.615.913.3−56%since 20148.07.07.6
Aged 0–14Population aged 0–14, % of total48.7%20251/2171/4845.5%45.9%48.9%−0.3 ppsince 201540.4%40.9%24.4%
Aged 65+Population aged 65+, % of total2.2%2025213/21746/482.3%1.9%2.2%+0.2 ppsince 20153.2%3.3%10.4%
Dependency ratioAge dependency ratio, % of working-age population103.6%20251/2171/4891.5%91.6%104.5%−0.3 ppsince 201578.1%80.2%54.5%
Net migrationNet migration, people-14,6932025163/21734/488,079-43,126-24,745+77%since 2015-223,909160,8310
Adolescent birthsAdolescent fertility, births per 1,000 women aged 15–19161.320241/2171/48141.5169.2164.0−2.6%since 201491.990.738.3
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.

Better than ten years ago

Worse than ten years ago

No rated indicator got worse over the decade.

Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).

neighbours

Central African Republic and its neighbours

Countries sharing a land border with Central African Republic. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.

IndicatorCentral African RepublicDemocratic Republic of the CongoSudanCameroonChadSouth Sudan
Population5.5m2025113m202551.7m202529.9m202521.0m202512.2m2025
Population growth3.37%20253.20%20252.38%20252.56%20253.41%20252.03%2025
Urban share44.6%202545.1%202534.9%202555.7%202527.6%202521.7%2025
Density8.6202448.2202427.0202461.6202416.1202418.92024
Fertility5.9520245.9820244.2620244.2620246.0320243.792024
Birth rate46.2202440.9202433.0202433.3202443.3202429.22024
Death rate9.420248.420246.320247.0202411.120249.82024
Aged 0–1448.7%202545.9%202540.2%202541.1%202546.0%202538.0%2025
Aged 65+2.2%20253.1%20253.4%20252.8%20252.1%20253.1%2025
Democratic Republic of the Congo: populationSudan: populationCameroon: populationChad: populationSouth Sudan: population
Population in Sub-Saharan Africaall 48 economies rankedPopulation: low-income countries25 economies rankedPopulation: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesCentral African Republic: all key statisticscountry profile