Population of the Central African Republic

As of August 2026, the population of the Central African Republic is 5.7 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 187 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 3.37%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 14.4 years in 2016 to 14.6 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 58.2 years and population density is 9.1 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of the Central African Republic peaked in 2023, reaching around 3.41% annually, but has since declined to approximately 3.28% in 2026. However, the annual increase in the number of people continues to rise, reaching around 187.1 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In the Central African Republic, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 48.7 years in 2006 to 58.2 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 9 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in the Central African Republic

The cities of the Central African Republic are mostly small, but 5 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Bangui, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 812.4 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Bimbo, Ombella-M'Poko with 348.8 thousand and Bégoua, Ombella-M'Poko with 264.1 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in the Central African Republic: