# 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. The largest ethnic groups are Gbaya (Baya) 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peuhl) 6%, Mbum 6%, Ngbanki 5.5%, Zande-Nzakara 3%, other Central African Republic ethnic groups 2%, non-Central African Republic ethnic groups .1%, as of 2003. 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

### Demographic and Health Surveys

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 |

## 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 | ? | ? |

## Languages

    Sango (lingua franca and official language), French (official), tribal languages

## 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% |
    Christian 89%, Muslim 9%, folk religionist 1%, unaffiliated 1% (2020 est.)
    Indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Islam 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority