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.
thumb|300px|right|Demographics of Central African Republic, Data of Our World in Data, year 2022.
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 total population was in , 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.Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
|+Population by age group
|-
!Year
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|0–14 (%)
! width="80pt"|15–64 (%)
! width="80pt"|65+ (%)
|-
| 1950
|1 327 000||36.2||58.7||5.1
|-
| 1955
|1 399 000||37.0||58.3||4.7
|-
| 1960
|1 504 000||38.2||57.5||4.3
|-
| 1965
|1 649 000||39.6||56.2||4.2
|-
| 1970
|1 829 000||40.6||55.3||4.1
|-
| 1975
|2 017 000||41.7||54.2||4.1
|-
| 1980
|2 274 000||42.2||53.6||4.1
|-
| 1985
|2 627 000||42.4||53.6||4.0
|-
| 1990
|2 935 000||43.2||52.8||4.0
|-
| 1995
|3 328 000||42.5||53.5||4.0
|-
| 2000
|3 702 000||42.0||54.0||3.9
|-
| 2005
|4 018 000||41.6||54.5||4.0
|-
| 2010
|4 401 000||40.4||55.6||4.0
|-
| 2015
|4 410 000||40.8||55.8||4.0
|}
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.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
!
!Population(thousands)
! style="width:80pt;" |Live births (thousands)
! style="width:80pt;" |Deaths (thousands)
! style="width:80pt;" |Natural change(thousands)
! style="width:80pt;" |CBR
! style="width:80pt;" |CDR
! style="width:80pt;" |NC
! style="width:80pt;" |TFR
! style="width:80pt;" |IMR
! style="width:80pt;" |Life expectancy (years)
|-
|1950
|1 437
| 63
| 42
| 20
|43.6
|29.5
|14.0
|style="color:red" |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
|style="color:blue"| 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
|style="color:blue"|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
|style="color:blue|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
|style="color:red"| 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
|style="color:red"|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
|style="color:blue"|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
|-
|2022
|
|
|
|
|45.4
|55.1
|-9.7
|6.02
|
|
|-
|2023
|
|
|
|
|46.4
|9.4
|36.9
|6.01
|
|
|-
|2024
|
|
|
|
|46.2
|9.4
|36.8
|5.95
|
|
|-
|2025
|
|
|
|
|45.4
|9.3
|36.1
|5.81
|
|
|-
| colspan="11" style="font-size:smaller; text-align:left" |
|}
Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022
Demographic and Health Surveys
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:50pt;"| Year
! style="width:50pt;"| CBR (Total)
! style="width:50pt;"| TFR (Total)
! style="width:50pt;"| CBR (Urban)
! style="width:50pt;"| TFR (Urban)
! style="width:50pt;"| CBR (Rural)
! style="width:50pt;"| TFR (Rural)
|-
| 1994–95
| style="text-align:right;"| 38,0
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,07 (4,7)
| style="text-align:right;"| 37,9
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,86 (4,3)
| style="text-align:right;"| 37,9
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,23 (5,0)
|-
|}
Life expectancy
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!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
|}
thumb|350px|Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates
Ethnic groups
An approximate distribution of the ethnic groups is shown in the chart below:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Ethnic groups in Central African Republic
! Ethnic group
! Percentage
! Population
|-
| Baggara Arabs
| align=center|2.4%
| align=center|107,000
|-
| Baka
| align=center|0.5%
| align=center|20,000
|-
| Banda
| align=center|27%
| align=center|1,190,700
|-
| Bayaka
| align=center|?
| align=center|?
|-
| Fula
| align=center|4.5%
| align=center|250,000
|-
| Gbaya
| align=center|33%
| align=center|1,300,000
|-
| Kara
| align=center|2.3%
| align=center|100,000
|-
| Kresh
| align=center|?
| align=center|?
|-
| Mbaka
| align=center|4%
| align=center|176,400
|-
| Mandja
| align=center|13%
| align=center|573,300
|-
| Ngbandi
| align=center|?
| align=center|?
|-
| Sara
| align=center|10%
| align=center|441,000
|-
| Vidiri
| align=center|?
| align=center|?
|-
| Wodaabe
| align=center|2.3%
| align=center|100,000
|-
| Yakoma
| align=center|4%
| align=center|176,400
|-
| Yulu
| align=center|?
| align=center|?
|-
| Zande
| align=center|1.4%
| align=center|62,000
|-
| Others
| align=center|?
| align=center|?
|}
Languages
Sango (lingua franca and official language), French (official), tribal languages<ref name="CIATONGA">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/central-african-republic/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110054329/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/central-african-republic|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 10, 2021|title= Africa: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
|date= 14 November 2022
|publisher=CIA The World Factbook}}</ref>
Religion
{{bar box
|float=right
|width=400px
|title=Religion in the Central African Republic 2020
|titlebar=#ddd
|bars=
}}
Christian 89%, Muslim 9%, folk religionist 1%, unaffiliated 1% (2020 est.)
Animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
See also
- Demographics of Africa
- List of ethnic groups of Africa
References
Attribution: