If you lived in Central African Republic instead of Botswana, you would:

Health

be 84.7% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Botswana, 15.7% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Central African Republic, that number is 2.4% of people as of 2024.

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be 44.8% less likely to be obese

In Botswana, 19.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Central African Republic, that number is 10.9% of people as of 2024.

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live 11.6 years less

In Botswana, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Central African Republic, that number is 58 years (56 years for men, 60 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 89.6% less spent on your healthcare

Botswana spends $1,310 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Central African Republic spends $137 as of 2023.

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have 80.5% fewer doctors per person

Botswana has 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Central African Republic has 0.7 as of 2023.

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have 41.8% less access to essential health services

Botswana scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Central African Republic scores 32 as of 2021.

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be 10.1% more likely to die by suicide

Botswana has a suicide rate of 8.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Central African Republic, it is 9.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 74.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Botswana, 24.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Central African Republic, that number is 6.2% as of 2025.

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make 92.9% less money

Botswana has a GDP per capita of $7,778 as of 2025, while in Central African Republic, the GDP per capita is $556 as of 2025.

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Life

have 89.6% more children

In Botswana, there are approximately 24.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Central African Republic, there are 46.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 4.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Botswana, approximately 155.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Central African Republic, 692.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 83.2% more likely to die during infancy

In Botswana, approximately 32.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Central African Republic, on the other hand, 58.8 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 76.8% less likely to have access to electricity

In Botswana, approximately 76% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 25% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Central African Republic, that number is 18% of people on average (37% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 76.0% less likely to have internet access

In Botswana, approximately 57.5% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Central African Republic, about 13.8% do as of 2024.

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be 60.2% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Botswana, approximately 92% of people have access to drinking water (97% in urban areas, and 78% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Central African Republic, that number is 36% of people on average (48% in urban areas, and 27% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 77.3% less on education

Botswana spends 8.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Central African Republic spends 1.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 70.3% more on healthcare

Botswana spends 6.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Central African Republic, that number is 10.7% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 57.0% more likely to die in a road accident

In Botswana, road accidents kill 16.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Central African Republic, they kill 25.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 84.8% less strain on fresh water

Botswana withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Central African Republic withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 99.7% less home broadband

Botswana has 7.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Central African Republic has 0.0 as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 97.8% less CO2

Botswana emits 2.7 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Central African Republic emits 0.1 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 78.2% more likely to die from air pollution

In Botswana, air pollution causes 55.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Central African Republic, it causes 98.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Central African Republic: At a glance

Central African Republic is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 622,984 sq km. The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. In March, 2003 President Ange-Felix PATASSE was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Elections held in 2005 affirmed General BOZIZE as president; he was reelected in 2011 in voting widely viewed as flawed. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. The militant group the Lord's Resistance Army continues to destabilize southeastern Central African Republic, and several rebel groups joined together in early December 2012 to launch a series of attacks that left them in control of numerous towns in the northern and central parts of the country. The rebels - who are unhappy with BOZIZE's government - participated in peace talks in early January 2013 which resulted in a coalition government including the rebellion's leadership. In March 2013, the coalition government dissolved, rebels seized the capital, and President BOZIZE fled the country. Rebel leader Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reappointed Nicolas TIANGAYE as Prime Minister, and established a transitional government on 31 March. On 13 April 2013, the National Transitional Council affirmed DJOTODIA as President.
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