Population in the largest city in Central African Republic
Central African Republic: Population in the largest city was 41.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population in the largest city in Central African Republic, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
In 2025, population in the largest city in Central African Republic stood at 41.4%.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Central African Republic peaked at 44.3% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 27.5%, in 1960.
That places Central African Republic 36th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in Central African Republic, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 27.5% | — |
| 1961 | 28.5% | +3.7% |
| 1962 | 29.6% | +3.5% |
| 1963 | 30.6% | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 31.5% | +3.2% |
| 1965 | 32.5% | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 33.3% | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 33.9% | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 34.4% | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 34.9% | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 35.2% | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 35.1% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 35.1% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 35.2% | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 35.6% | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 36.6% | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 37.4% | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 37.8% | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 38.3% | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 38.8% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 39.4% | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 39.9% | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 40.5% | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 41.2% | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 41.8% | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 42.4% | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 43.1% | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 43.8% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 44.3% | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 44.2% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 43.7% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 43.2% | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 42.7% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 42.2% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 41.7% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 41.4% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 41.2% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 40.9% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 40.6% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 40.3% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 40.0% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 39.9% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 39.9% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 39.7% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 39.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 39.5% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 39.4% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 39.4% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 39.3% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 40.3% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 41.3% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 41.3% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 41.6% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 41.9% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 42.6% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 43.1% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 42.8% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 42.6% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 42.3% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 42.1% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 41.8% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 41.6% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 42.3% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 42.6% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 41.9% | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 41.4% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 31.7% | 27.5% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 36.5% | 35.1% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 42.1% | 39.4% | 44.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.8% | 40.3% | 43.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.7% | 39.3% | 40.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.2% | 41.3% | 43.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.9% | 41.4% | 42.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Central African Republic
- 33 Afghanistan 42.9% compare
- 34 Bangladesh 42.2% compare
- 35 Azerbaijan 41.5% compare
- 37 Chile 39.5% compare
- 38 Madagascar 39.3% compare
- 39 Mali 39.2% compare
More urban development data for Central African Republic
- Population density 8.27 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 33.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.02 million (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 16.44 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 3.37 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in Central African Republic?
- Population in the largest city in Central African Republic was 41.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Central African Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 44.3% in 1988.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Central African Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.5% in 1960.
- How does Central African Republic rank for population in the largest city?
- Central African Republic ranks 36th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Central African Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Central African Republic data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.