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

Health

live 11.7 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 Palau, that number is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 13.6 times more spent on your healthcare

Central African Republic spends $137 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Palau spends $1,857 as of 2023.

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have 24.4 times more doctors per person

Central African Republic has 0.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Palau has 18.1 as of 2023.

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have 2.0 times more access to essential health services

Central African Republic scores 32 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Palau scores 65 as of 2021.

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be 3.7 times more likely to be obese

In Central African Republic, 10.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Palau, that number is 40.5% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 35.1 times more money

Central African Republic has a GDP per capita of $556 as of 2025, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $19,532 as of 2025.

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Life

be 87.1% 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 Palau, 89.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 2.7 times more likely to be literate

In Central African Republic, the literacy rate is 37.5% as of 2020. In Palau, it is 99.8% as of 2020.

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be 68.4% 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 Palau, on the other hand, 18.6 children do as of 2024.

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have 76.9% fewer children

In Central African Republic, there are approximately 46.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Palau, there are 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 5.7 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 Palau, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 6.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Central African Republic, approximately 13.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Palau, about 83.9% do as of 2024.

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be 2.7 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 Palau, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 88.0% more on education

Central African Republic spends 1.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Palau spends 3.4% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 44.2% less likely to be murdered

Central African Republic has a homicide rate of 20.1 per 100,000 people as of 2016. In Palau, that number is 11.2 per 100,000 as of 2018.

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be 14.3% 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 Palau, they kill 22.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 366.5 times more home broadband

Central African Republic has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Palau has 7.3 as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 1380.7 times more CO2

Central African Republic emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Palau emits 82.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2016–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2020). How we calculate this

Palau: At a glance

Palau is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 459 sq km. After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
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How big is Palau compared to Central African Republic? See an in-depth size comparison.

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