title: Demographics of the Central African Republic
text: # Demographics of the Central African Republic
  
  Demographic features of the population of the Central African Republic include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
  
  There are more than 80 ethnic groups in the Central African Republic (CAR), each with its own language. About 50% are Baya-Mandjia, 40% Banda (largely located in the northern and central parts of the country), and 7% are M'Baka (southwestern corner of the CAR). Sangho, the language of a small group along the Oubangui River, is the national language spoken by the majority of Central Africans. Only a small part of the population has more than an elemental knowledge of French, the official language.
  
  More than 55% of the population of the CAR lives in rural areas. The chief agricultural areas are around the Bossangoa and Bambari. Bangui, Berberati, Bangassou, and Bossangoa are the most densely populated urban centers.
  
  ## Population
  
  According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 5,457,154 in 2021, compared to only 1 327 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 40.4%, 55.6% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 4% were 65 years or older.
  
  ## Vital statistics
  
  Registration of vital events is not complete in the Central African Republic. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.
  
  | | Population (thousands) | Live births (thousands) | Deaths (thousands) | Natural change (thousands) | CBR | CDR | NC | TFR | IMR | Life expectancy (years) |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1950 | 1 437 | 63 | 42 | 20 | 43.6 | 29.5 | 14.0 | 5.74 | 190.7 | 35.39 |
  | 1951 | 1 457 | 63 | 43 | 21 | 43.5 | 29.4 | 14.1 | 5.75 | 189.7 | 35.59 |
  | 1952 | 1 478 | 64 | 43 | 21 | 43.5 | 29.0 | 14.5 | 5.76 | 187.5 | 36.00 |
  | 1953 | 1 500 | 65 | 43 | 22 | 43.4 | 28.6 | 14.8 | 5.76 | 185.4 | 36.40 |
  | 1954 | 1 522 | 66 | 43 | 23 | 43.3 | 28.2 | 15.2 | 5.77 | 183.3 | 36.80 |
  | 1955 | 1 546 | 67 | 43 | 24 | 43.3 | 27.7 | 15.6 | 5.78 | 181.3 | 37.19 |
  | 1956 | 1 570 | 68 | 43 | 25 | 43.2 | 27.3 | 15.9 | 5.78 | 179.3 | 37.58 |
  | 1957 | 1 596 | 69 | 43 | 26 | 43.2 | 26.8 | 16.4 | 5.79 | 177.3 | 37.97 |
  | 1958 | 1 623 | 70 | 43 | 27 | 43.0 | 26.4 | 16.7 | 5.80 | 175.3 | 38.35 |
  | 1959 | 1 650 | 71 | 43 | 28 | 43.0 | 25.9 | 17.0 | 5.81 | 173.3 | 38.74 |
  | 1960 | 1 680 | 72 | 43 | 29 | 42.9 | 25.4 | 17.5 | 5.81 | 170.5 | 39.24 |
  | 1961 | 1 710 | 73 | 43 | 31 | 42.9 | 24.9 | 18.0 | 5.83 | 167.8 | 39.74 |
  | 1962 | 1 743 | 75 | 43 | 32 | 43.0 | 24.4 | 18.6 | 5.85 | 164.9 | 40.26 |
  | 1963 | 1 776 | 76 | 42 | 34 | 43.0 | 23.9 | 19.1 | 5.87 | 162.0 | 40.78 |
  | 1964 | 1 812 | 78 | 42 | 36 | 43.3 | 23.4 | 19.9 | 5.91 | 158.9 | 41.35 |
  | 1965 | 1 849 | 80 | 42 | 38 | 43.4 | 22.9 | 20.6 | 5.94 | 155.8 | 41.93 |
  | 1966 | 1 889 | 83 | 42 | 40 | 43.8 | 22.4 | 21.4 | 5.98 | 152.6 | 42.53 |
  | 1967 | 1 931 | 85 | 42 | 43 | 44.0 | 21.9 | 22.1 | 6.02 | 149.4 | 43.16 |
  | 1968 | 1 975 | 87 | 42 | 45 | 44.3 | 21.4 | 22.9 | 6.06 | 146.2 | 43.80 |
  | 1969 | 2 022 | 89 | 42 | 47 | 44.1 | 20.9 | 23.2 | 6.04 | 143.2 | 44.44 |
  | 1970 | 2 067 | 90 | 42 | 48 | 43.7 | 20.3 | 23.4 | 6.00 | 140.3 | 45.07 |
  | 1971 | 2 111 | 92 | 42 | 50 | 43.5 | 19.8 | 23.7 | 5.99 | 137.6 | 45.69 |
  | 1972 | 2 154 | 93 | 42 | 51 | 43.1 | 19.2 | 23.8 | 5.96 | 135.1 | 46.29 |
  | 1973 | 2 196 | 94 | 41 | 53 | 42.6 | 18.7 | 23.9 | 5.93 | 132.8 | 46.85 |
  | 1974 | 2 239 | 95 | 41 | 54 | 42.3 | 18.3 | 24.0 | 5.91 | 130.6 | 47.40 |
  | 1975 | 2 284 | 96 | 41 | 55 | 41.9 | 17.8 | 24.1 | 5.89 | 128.5 | 47.91 |
  | 1976 | 2 318 | 98 | 41 | 57 | 42.0 | 17.5 | 24.5 | 5.93 | 126.6 | 48.40 |
  | 1977 | 2 342 | 100 | 41 | 60 | 42.4 | 17.2 | 25.2 | 5.97 | 124.8 | 48.84 |
  | 1978 | 2 366 | 103 | 41 | 62 | 43.0 | 17.0 | 26.0 | 6.02 | 123.0 | 49.24 |
  | 1979 | 2 390 | 105 | 41 | 65 | 43.6 | 16.8 | 26.8 | 6.07 | 121.4 | 49.60 |
  | 1980 | 2 415 | 107 | 41 | 67 | 44.1 | 16.7 | 27.4 | 6.11 | 120.0 | 49.89 |
  | 1981 | 2 441 | 110 | 41 | 69 | 44.6 | 16.5 | 28.1 | 6.14 | 118.8 | 50.16 |
  | 1982 | 2 468 | 112 | 41 | 71 | 44.9 | 16.4 | 28.5 | 6.14 | 117.8 | 50.30 |
  | 1983 | 2 495 | 114 | 41 | 73 | 45.2 | 16.3 | 28.9 | 6.12 | 117.0 | 50.42 |
  | 1984 | 2 524 | 116 | 41 | 75 | 45.5 | 16.3 | 29.3 | 6.11 | 116.3 | 50.48 |
  | 1985 | 2 553 | 118 | 42 | 77 | 45.9 | 16.2 | 29.7 | 6.11 | 115.7 | 50.52 |
  | 1986 | 2 584 | 120 | 42 | 78 | 46.2 | 16.1 | 30.0 | 6.09 | 115.1 | 50.49 |
  | 1987 | 2 616 | 123 | 42 | 80 | 46.5 | 16.1 | 30.4 | 6.10 | 114.7 | 50.41 |
  | 1988 | 2 657 | 124 | 43 | 81 | 46.5 | 16.1 | 30.4 | 6.08 | 114.5 | 50.24 |
  | 1989 | 2 724 | 127 | 44 | 83 | 46.5 | 16.1 | 30.5 | 6.06 | 114.7 | 49.99 |
  | 1990 | 2 809 | 130 | 45 | 85 | 46.3 | 16.1 | 30.2 | 6.05 | 115.0 | 49.64 |
  | 1991 | 2 898 | 133 | 47 | 86 | 46.0 | 16.1 | 29.8 | 6.03 | 115.2 | 49.25 |
  | 1992 | 2 992 | 136 | 48 | 87 | 45.4 | 16.2 | 29.2 | 5.98 | 115.1 | 48.79 |
  | 1993 | 3 089 | 139 | 50 | 88 | 44.9 | 16.3 | 28.7 | 5.94 | 114.7 | 48.35 |
  | 1994 | 3 188 | 142 | 52 | 90 | 44.5 | 16.4 | 28.1 | 5.93 | 114.3 | 47.85 |
  | 1995 | 3 277 | 146 | 54 | 92 | 44.5 | 16.6 | 27.9 | 5.97 | 113.8 | 47.35 |
  | 1996 | 3 364 | 149 | 56 | 92 | 44.3 | 16.8 | 27.5 | 5.99 | 113.4 | 46.83 |
  | 1997 | 3 458 | 151 | 59 | 93 | 43.8 | 17.0 | 26.8 | 5.96 | 112.8 | 46.32 |
  | 1998 | 3 555 | 155 | 61 | 94 | 43.5 | 17.1 | 26.4 | 5.93 | 112.2 | 46.03 |
  | 1999 | 3 655 | 159 | 63 | 96 | 43.4 | 17.2 | 26.2 | 5.93 | 111.4 | 45.75 |
  | 2000 | 3 759 | 162 | 65 | 97 | 43.3 | 17.3 | 25.9 | 5.92 | 111.0 | 45.41 |
  | 2001 | 3 845 | 165 | 67 | 99 | 42.8 | 17.2 | 25.6 | 5.85 | 110.1 | 45.39 |
  | 2002 | 3 931 | 167 | 67 | 100 | 42.6 | 17.2 | 25.5 | 5.84 | 109.1 | 45.41 |
  | 2003 | 4 027 | 173 | 68 | 104 | 42.8 | 16.9 | 25.9 | 5.85 | 108.1 | 45.76 |
  | 2004 | 4 115 | 175 | 69 | 107 | 42.5 | 16.7 | 25.9 | 5.83 | 107.2 | 46.04 |
  | 2005 | 4 209 | 180 | 69 | 111 | 42.6 | 16.4 | 26.3 | 5.85 | 106.2 | 46.43 |
  | 2006 | 4 294 | 185 | 69 | 115 | 42.8 | 16.1 | 26.7 | 5.87 | 104.8 | 46.85 |
  | 2007 | 4 376 | 188 | 69 | 119 | 42.8 | 15.7 | 27.1 | 5.89 | 103.4 | 47.43 |
  | 2008 | 4 467 | 192 | 69 | 124 | 42.9 | 15.3 | 27.6 | 5.91 | 101.7 | 48.02 |
  | 2009 | 4 565 | 197 | 68 | 129 | 43.0 | 14.9 | 28.1 | 5.92 | 99.5 | 48.65 |
  | 2010 | 4 660 | 202 | 68 | 134 | 43.2 | 14.5 | 28.7 | 5.94 | 97.3 | 49.26 |
  | 2011 | 4 732 | 206 | 67 | 139 | 43.2 | 14.1 | 29.1 | 5.96 | 94.7 | 49.95 |
  | 2012 | 4 773 | 208 | 66 | 142 | 43.0 | 13.6 | 29.4 | 6.01 | 92.1 | 50.69 |
  | 2013 | 4 802 | 206 | 65 | 141 | 42.4 | 13.4 | 29.0 | 6.02 | 89.9 | 50.90 |
  | 2014 | 4 799 | 205 | 66 | 139 | 41.9 | 13.5 | 28.4 | 6.02 | 89.1 | 50.57 |
  | 2015 | 4 819 | 199 | 59 | 140 | 41.0 | 12.2 | 28.9 | 6.04 | 84.7 | 52.79 |
  | 2016 | 4 904 | 203 | 58 | 145 | 41.2 | 11.7 | 29.5 | 6.04 | 81.6 | 53.46 |
  | 2017 | 4 997 | 209 | 58 | 151 | 41.6 | 11.5 | 30.1 | 6.05 | 79.3 | 53.72 |
  | 2018 | 5 095 | 214 | 58 | 157 | 41.8 | 11.2 | 30.6 | 6.04 | 77.4 | 54.37 |
  | 2019 | 5 209 | 219 | 57 | 162 | 41.9 | 10.9 | 31.0 | 6.01 | 74.6 | 55.03 |
  | 2020 | 5 343 | 226 | 59 | 167 | 42.2 | 11.0 | 31.1 | 5.99 | 72.4 | 54.60 |
  | 2021 | 5 457 | 235 | 63 | 172 | 42.7 | 11.4 | 31.3 | 5.98 | 71.4 | 53.90 |
  | 1 2 3 4 5 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births |||||||||||
  
  Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022
  
  ### Fertility and Births
  
  Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
  
  | Year | CBR (Total) | TFR (Total) | CBR (Urban) | TFR (Urban) | CBR (Rural) | TFR (Rural) |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1994-95 | 38,0 | 5,07 (4,7) | 37,9 | 4,86 (4,3) | 37,9 | 5,23 (5,0) |
  
  ### Life expectancy
  
  | Period | Life expectancy in Years |
  | - | - |
  | 1950–1955 | 33.44 |
  | 1955–1960 | 35.50 |
  | 1960–1965 | 37.57 |
  | 1965–1970 | 40.16 |
  | 1970–1975 | 43.90 |
  | 1975–1980 | 47.62 |
  | 1980–1985 | 49.56 |
  | 1985–1990 | 49.49 |
  | 1990–1995 | 47.65 |
  | 1995–2000 | 44.96 |
  | 2000–2005 | 43.68 |
  | 2005–2010 | 45.99 |
  | 2010–2015 | 49.40 |
  
  ## Other demographic statistics
  
  Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022.
  
  * One birth every 3 minutes
  * One death every 9 minutes
  * One net migrant every 25 minutes
  * Net gain of one person every 6 minutes
  
  The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook.
  
  ### Population
  
      5,454,533 (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 119th
      5,745,062 (July 2018 est.)
      Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)
  
  ### Age structure
  
      0-14 years: 39.49% (male 1,188,682/female 1,176,958)
      15-24 years: 19.89% (male 598,567/female 593,075)
      25-54 years: 32.95% (male 988,077/female 986,019)
      55-64 years: 4.32% (male 123,895/female 134,829)
      65 years and over: 3.35% (male 78,017/female 122,736) (2020 est.)
      0-14 years: 39.89% (male 1,151,724 /female 1,140,083)
      15-24 years: 19.91% (male 574,969 /female 568,942)
      25-54 years: 32.64% (male 938,365 /female 936,948)
      55-64 years: 4.17% (male 112,310 /female 127,045)
      65 years and over: 3.39% (male 75,401 /female 119,275) (2018 est.)
  
  ### Median age
  
      total: 20 years. Country comparison to the world: 194th
      male: 19.7 years
      female: 20.3 years (2020 est.)
      total: 19.8 years. Country comparison to the world: 197th
      male: 19.5 years
      female: 20.1 years (2018 est.)
      Total: 21.4 years
      Male: 19.6 years
      Female: 20.2 years (2015 est.)
  
  ### Population growth rate
  
      1.78% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 52nd
      2.11% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 43rd
      2.12% (2016 est.)
  
  ### Birth rate
  
      32.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 23rd
      34 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 24th
  
  ### Death rate
  
      11.76 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 16th
      12.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  
  ### Net migration rate
  
      -3.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 183rd
      0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) Country comparison to the world: 78th
  
  ### Total fertility rate
  
      4.04 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 27th
      4.25 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 29th
  
  ### Urbanization
  
      urban population: 43.1% of total population (2022)
      rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
  
  ### Sex ratio
  
      At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
      Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
      15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
      65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
      Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  
  ### Life expectancy at birth
  
      total population: 55.52 years. Country comparison to the world: 226th
      male: 54.19 years
      female: 56.88 years (2022 est.)
      male: 51.9 years (2018 est.)
      female: 54.7 years (2018 est.)
  
  ### Dependency ratios
  
      total dependency ratio: 90 (2015 est.)
      youth dependency ratio: 83.1 (2015 est.)
      elderly dependency ratio: 7 (2015 est.)
      potential support ratio: 14.4 (2015 est)
  
  ### Contraceptive prevalence rate
  
      17.8% (2019)
      15.2% (2010/11)
  
  ### School life expectancy
  
      total: 7 years (2012)
      male: 8 years (2012)
      female: 6 years (2012)
  
  ### HIV/AIDS
  
      Adult prevalence rate: 4.7% (2009 est.)
      People living with HIV/AIDS: 130,000 (2009 est.)
      Deaths: 11,000 (2010 est.)
  
  ### Major infectious diseases
  
      degree of risk: very high (2020)
      food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
      vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
      water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
      animal contact diseases: rabies
      respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
  
  note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; the Central African Republic is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
  
  ### Nationality
  
      Noun: Central African(s)
      Adjective: Central African
  
  ### Ethnic groups
  
  An approximate distribution of the ethnic groups is shown in the chart below:
  
  Ethnic groups in Central African Republic :
  
  | Ethnic group | Percentage | Population |
  | - | - | - |
  | Baggara Arabs | 2.4% | 107,000 |
  | Baka | 0.5% | 20,000 |
  | Banda | 27% | 1,190,700 |
  | Bayaka | ? | ? |
  | Fula | ? | ? |
  | Gbaya | 33% | 1,300,000 |
  | Kara | 2.3% | 100,000 |
  | Kresh | ? | ? |
  | Mbaka | 4% | 176,400 |
  | Mandja | 13% | 573,300 |
  | Ngbandi | ? | ? |
  | Sara | 10% | 441,000 |
  | Vidiri | ? | ? |
  | Wodaabe | 2.3% | 100,000 |
  | Yakoma | 4% | 176,400 |
  | Yulu | ? | ? |
  | Zande | 1.4% | 62,000 |
  | Others | ? | ? |
  
  ### Religion
  
  Religion in the Central African Republic 2020 :
  
  | Roman Catholic | Roman Catholic | 60.5% | 60.5% |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Protestant | Protestant | 28.4% | 28.4% |
  | Islam | Islam | 8.5% | 8.5% |
  | Traditional religions | Traditional religions | 1% | 1% |
  | other | other | 2% | 2% |
  
      Indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Islam 15%
  
  note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
  
  ### Languages
  
      Sango (lingua franca and official language), French (official), tribal languages
  
  ### Literacy
  
      Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
      Total population: 51%
      Male: 63.3%
      Female: 39.9% (2010 est.)
  
  ### Urbanization
  
      urban population: 41.4% of total population (2018)
      rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  