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

Health

live 10.8 years longer

In Central African Republic, the average life expectancy is 58 years (56 years for men, 60 years for women) as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 69 years (66 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 4.9 times more spent on your healthcare

Central African Republic spends $137 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gabon spends $673 as of 2023.

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have 7.0 times more doctors per person

Central African Republic has 0.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Gabon has 5.2 as of 2022.

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have 53.1% more access to essential health services

Central African Republic scores 32 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Gabon scores 49 as of 2021.

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be 20.6% less likely to die by suicide

Central African Republic has a suicide rate of 9.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Gabon, it is 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 16.7% more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Central African Republic, 2.4% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 2.8% of people as of 2024.

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be 2.1 times more likely to be obese

In Central African Republic, 10.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 22.7% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 14.9 times more money

Central African Republic has a GDP per capita of $556 as of 2025, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $8,263 as of 2025.

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be 3.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In Central African Republic, 6.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gabon, that number is 20.1% as of 2025.

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Life

be 66.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Central African Republic, approximately 692.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Gabon, 233.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 2.4 times more likely to be literate

In Central African Republic, the literacy rate is 37.5% as of 2020. In Gabon, it is 88.9% as of 2021.

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be 56.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Central African Republic, approximately 58.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Gabon, on the other hand, 25.9 children do as of 2024.

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have 41.3% fewer children

In Central African Republic, there are approximately 46.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gabon, there are 27.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 5.3 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Central African Republic, approximately 18% of people have electricity access (37% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Gabon, that number is 94% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 29% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 5.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Central African Republic, approximately 13.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gabon, about 68.7% do as of 2024.

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be 2.4 times more likely to have access to drinking water

In Central African Republic, approximately 36% of people have access to drinking water (48% in urban areas, and 27% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 89% of people on average (92% in urban areas, and 49% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 70.6% less on healthcare

Central African Republic spends 10.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Gabon, that number is 3.1% of GDP as of 2023.

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spend 26.8% more on education

Central African Republic spends 1.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Gabon spends 2.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 51.7% less likely to die in a road accident

In Central African Republic, road accidents kill 25.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Gabon, they kill 12.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 234.5 times more home broadband

Central African Republic has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Gabon has 4.7 as of 2024.

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live with 47.1% more strain on fresh water

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

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Environment

be 45.9% less likely to die from air pollution

In Central African Republic, air pollution causes 98.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Gabon, it causes 53.0 as of 2019.

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emit 34.2 times more CO2

Central African Republic emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gabon emits 2.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Gabon: At a glance

Gabon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 257,667 sq km. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
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How big is Gabon compared to Central African Republic? See an in-depth size comparison.

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