What is the population of Central African Republic in 2026?
Central African Republic has a population of 5,513,282 people (2025 estimate), which is 120th in the world and about 0.07% of the global total.
Population 2025
5,513,282
0.07% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+3.37%
+185,687 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
8/km²
622,980 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
14.5 years
Life expectancy 57.7 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Central African Republic
With a population of 5,513,282, the Central African Republic ranks 118th globally and spans 622,980 km² across central Africa. The country has a notably young demographic profile, with a median age of 14.5 years and a fertility rate of 6 births per woman, driving annual population growth of 3.4%. Life expectancy stands at 57.7 years, and 45% of the population lives in urban areas.
The economy operates at a subsistence level, with GDP per capita of $556. French and Sango are the official languages. Bangui serves as the capital. The nation borders Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan, and gained independence in 1960. The country uses the Central African CFA franc as its currency.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Bangui
- Continent
- Africa
- ISO codes
- CF · CAF
- Demonym
- Central African
- Currency
- Central African CFA franc (XAF Fr)
- State inception
- 1960
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +236
- Internet TLD
- .cf
- Land neighbours
- 6
Languages
- French
- Sango
Demographics
Economy
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 49.0%
- Age 15–64
- 48.8%
- Age 65+
- 2.2%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 0 | 0 |
| 95-99 | 0 | 2 |
| 90-94 | 28 | 131 |
| 85-89 | 521 | 993 |
| 80-84 | 2,502 | 3,674 |
| 75-79 | 6,466 | 8,412 |
| 70-74 | 14,845 | 19,514 |
| 65-69 | 23,986 | 33,595 |
| 60-64 | 31,389 | 48,425 |
| 55-59 | 38,271 | 59,800 |
| 50-54 | 43,928 | 63,870 |
| 45-49 | 46,883 | 63,973 |
| 40-44 | 60,283 | 83,531 |
| 35-39 | 81,763 | 113,641 |
| 30-34 | 121,222 | 152,704 |
| 25-29 | 183,264 | 214,855 |
| 20-24 | 259,962 | 282,757 |
| 15-19 | 325,406 | 327,881 |
| 10-14 | 401,068 | 394,586 |
| 5-9 | 417,784 | 409,502 |
| 0-4 | 498,391 | 490,885 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,438,057 |
| 1960 | 1,702,346 |
| 1970 | 2,097,505 |
| 1980 | 2,450,535 |
| 1990 | 2,871,910 |
| 2000 | 3,833,416 |
| 2010 | 4,492,995 |
| 2020 | 5,026,628 |
| 2030 | 6,478,245 |
| 2040 | 8,526,455 |
| 2050 | 10,616,753 |
| 2060 | 12,794,248 |
| 2070 | 14,809,844 |
| 2080 | 16,502,027 |
| 2090 | 17,838,607 |
| 2100 | 18,779,149 |
How Central African Republic Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
- India1.46B
- China1.41B
- United States341.8M
- Indonesia285.7M
- Pakistan255.2M
- Nigeria237.5M
- Brazil212.8M
- Bangladesh175.7M
- Russia143.5M
- Ethiopia135.5M
- Central African Republic5.51M
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Central African Republic | 5.51M |
Countries Bordering Central African Republic
6 land borders.
Central African Republic Population FAQ
Is the population of Central African Republic growing or shrinking?
Central African Republic's population is growing at +3.37% per year, a change of roughly 185,687 people annually.
What is the capital of Central African Republic?
The capital of Central African Republic is Bangui.
How densely populated is Central African Republic?
Central African Republic has 8/km² across 622,980 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Central African Republic?
Life expectancy at birth in Central African Republic is 57.7 years (2024).
What is the median age in Central African Republic?
The median age in Central African Republic is 14.5 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Central African Republic in?
Central African Republic is in Africa.