The population of Central African Republic is expected to grow by 185,702 in 2026 and reach 5,888,123 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 15,608 people yearly. On average there are 255,712 births and 51,960 deaths in Central African Republic per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 3.58 percent per year. The population density of Central African Republic has changed from 3.9 in 1980 to 8.6 in 2024.
| Current population | 5,859,623 people at present (Friday 6th of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 19.7 years |
| Life expectancy | 58.2 years | |
| Population density | 9.1 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,698,984 | 185,702 (3.3%) | -15,608 | 19.7 | 5.72 | 9 | 2,563,688 (45.0%) |
| 2025 | 5,513,282 | 182,592 (3.3%) | -14,693 | 19.7 | 5.84 | 9 | 2,456,344 (44.6%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -15,357 | 19.6 | 5.95 | 9 | 2,352,133 (44.1%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -14,682 | 19.6 | 6.01 | 8 | 2,251,524 (43.7%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -17,430 | 19.7 | 6.02 | 8 | 2,206,186 (43.3%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -85,646 | 19.8 | 6.05 | 8 | 2,190,779 (42.9%) |
| 2020 | 5,026,628 | 81,925 (1.6%) | -24,745 | 19.9 | 6.06 | 8 | 2,126,519 (42.3%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -36,849 | 20.0 | 6.09 | 8 | 2,065,899 (41.8%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -52,954 | 20.1 | 6.11 | 8 | 2,014,030 (41.3%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -58,584 | 20.1 | 6.13 | 8 | 1,956,478 (40.8%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -52,607 | 20.2 | 6.13 | 8 | 1,903,418 (40.4%) |
| 2015 | 4,629,320 | 6,138 (0.1%) | -63,045 | 20.2 | 6.13 | 7 | 1,850,915 (40.0%) |
| 2010 | 4,492,995 | -36,052 (-0.8%) | -43,126 | 21.1 | 5.96 | 7 | 1,735,397 (38.6%) |
| 2005 | 4,288,810 | 95,984 (2.2%) | -13,604 | 21.6 | 5.81 | 7 | 1,631,671 (38.0%) |
| 2000 | 3,833,416 | 103,966 (2.7%) | 8,079 | 21.7 | 5.85 | 6 | 1,445,255 (37.7%) |
| 1995 | 3,348,052 | 90,098 (2.7%) | -12,986 | 21.7 | 5.94 | 5 | 1,254,717 (37.5%) |
| 1990 | 2,871,910 | 87,940 (3.1%) | 1,995 | 21.8 | 6.05 | 5 | 1,068,374 (37.2%) |
| 1985 | 2,600,932 | 32,322 (1.2%) | -46,427 | 22.5 | 6.12 | 4 | 955,380 (36.7%) |
| 1980 | 2,450,535 | 26,741 (1.1%) | -41,539 | 23.2 | 6.13 | 4 | 880,419 (35.9%) |
| 1975 | 2,313,916 | 44,578 (1.9%) | -9,895 | 23.6 | 5.88 | 4 | 795,870 (34.4%) |
| 1970 | 2,097,505 | 45,990 (2.2%) | -3,693 | 24.0 | 6.03 | 3 | 579,271 (27.6%) |
| 1965 | 1,877,854 | 38,271 (2.0%) | 474 | 24.5 | 6.03 | 3 | 435,798 (23.2%) |
| 1960 | 1,702,346 | 32,234 (1.9%) | 474 | 24.9 | 5.95 | 3 | 342,569 (20.1%) |
In 2025 the population of Central African Republic was 5,513,282 and the average age decreased from 24.9 in 1960 to 19.7. Urban population has increased from 1,445,255 (37.7%) in 2000 to 2,563,688 (45.0%) in the current year. The population density of Central African Republic has changed from 3.9 in 1980 to 8.6 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -24,745 | 19.9 | 6.06 | 8 | 2,126,519 (42.3%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -14,693 | 19.7 | 5.84 | 9 | 2,456,344 (44.6%) |
| 2030 | 6,478,245 | 198,513 (3.1%) | -17,862 | 19.9 | 5.25 | 10 | 3,028,108 (46.7%) |
| 2035 | 7,502,587 | 206,340 (2.8%) | -18,023 | 20.4 | 4.67 | 12 | 3,677,246 (49.0%) |
| 2040 | 8,526,455 | 204,899 (2.4%) | -19,887 | 21.2 | 4.15 | 14 | 4,380,183 (51.4%) |
| 2045 | 9,550,893 | 209,131 (2.2%) | -17,844 | 22.3 | 3.70 | 15 | 5,140,874 (53.8%) |
| 2050 | 10,616,753 | 216,127 (2.0%) | -15,524 | 23.4 | 3.36 | 17 | 5,986,130 (56.4%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 63.4 (61.0 years for male and 65.6 years for females). Population density will go up to 17.0 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 3.37% (182,592 residents, including 49,997 deaths). The demographics of Central African Republic constitutes of 2,954,407 women and 2,744,577 men, which means there are 929 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 60.6% of population (3,452,445) is 19 or younger, 37.2% of population (2,120,022) is between age 20 and 64 and 2.2% of population (127,087) is over 65.