MigrantoCentral African Diaspora
905.8K Central Africans live abroad — 17% of the population of the Central African Republic
Central African diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 91% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| DR Congo | 368125 |
| Cameroon | 336349 |
| Chad | 115460 |
| Sudan | 45125 |
| Republic of Congo | 32312 |
| South Sudan | 4859 |
| Mali | 1458 |
| Senegal | 741 |
| Greece | 424 |
| Togo | 380 |
| Australia | 191 |
| Dominican Republic | 151 |
| Bolivia | 79 |
| Luxembourg | 40 |
| Norway | 29 |
| Denmark | 22 |
| Hungary | 17 |
| Guinea | 15 |
| Cyprus | 14 |
| Finland | 8 |
| Costa Rica | 7 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| Slovenia | 1 |
| Estonia | 0 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By region
100% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Central African diaspora in numbers
The community in Sudan is growing fastest
The number of Central Africans living in Sudan has grown 235% since 2015, from 13.5K to 45.1K.
Most Central Africans abroad live in DR Congo
41% of the diaspora lives in DR Congo, while the next country accounts for just 37%.
1 in 6 people born in the Central African Republic lives abroad
905.8K people born in the Central African Republic now live in other countries — 17.0% of a population of 5.3M.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
3 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Bolivia, Luxembourg, Finland. Bolivia climbed from outside the top 20 to #13.
Central African diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 37143 |
| 1995 | 39510 |
| 2000 | 44980 |
| 2005 | 115287 |
| 2010 | 228473 |
| 2015 | 666056 |
| 2020 | 794362 |
| 2024 | 905808 |
Largest communities over time
Central Africans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | DR Congo | Cameroon | Chad | Sudan | Republic of Congo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 0 | 8067 | 17911 | 10616 |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 8765 | 18271 | 11844 |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 9463 | 18639 | 16245 |
| 2005 | 0 | 14607 | 63523 | 20771 | 14620 |
| 2010 | 0 | 105626 | 75231 | 16064 | 24601 |
| 2015 | 253402 | 271319 | 87583 | 13489 | 32696 |
| 2020 | 323269 | 303005 | 101662 | 25962 | 32481 |
| 2024 | 368125 | 336349 | 115460 | 45125 | 32312 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Central Africans in each country has changed since the selected year
Central Africans among immigrants in other countries
Where Central Africans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Central Africans live outside Central African Republic?
Around 905.8K Central Africans live abroad, the world's #72 largest diaspora.
Where do most Central Africans abroad live?
Most Central Africans live in DR Congo, Cameroon and Chad — these three countries account for about 91% of all Central Africans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Central African population outside Central African Republic?
DR Congo is home to the largest Central African community abroad — 368.1K people, about 41% of all Central Africans living abroad.
What share of the population of the Central African Republic lives abroad?
About 17% of the population of the Central African Republic lives abroad — that's 905.8K out of a total population of 5.3M.
Is the Central African diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Central Africans living abroad has grown from 666.1K to 905.8K, about 36%.
Where does the data on the Central African diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in the Central African Republic who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in the Central African Republic
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