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

Health

live 2.4 years longer

In Chad, the average life expectancy is 55 years (53 years for men, 57 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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have 10.3% more access to essential health services

Chad scores 29 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 2.7 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Chad, 0.9% 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 47.7% more likely to be obese

In Chad, 7.4% 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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have 12.9% fewer doctors per person

Chad has 0.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Central African Republic has 0.7 as of 2023.

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be 76.4% more likely to die by suicide

Chad has a suicide rate of 5.2 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 5.9 times more likely to be unemployed

In Chad, 1.1% 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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be 53.6% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Chad, 44.8% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Central African Republic, however, that number is 68.8% as of 2021.

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make 45.6% less money

Chad has a GDP per capita of $1,022 as of 2025, while in Central African Republic, the GDP per capita is $556 as of 2025.

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Life

be 39.9% more likely to be literate

In Chad, the literacy rate is 26.8% as of 2021. In Central African Republic, it is 37.5% as of 2020.

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Basic Needs

be 46.7% more likely to have access to electricity

In Chad, approximately 12% of people have electricity access (48% in urban areas, and 0% 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 30.1% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Chad, approximately 52% of people have access to drinking water (78% in urban areas, and 44% 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 42.8% less on education

Chad spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Central African Republic spends 1.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 2.1 times more on healthcare

Chad spends 5.0% 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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Infrastructure

live with 92.1% less strain on fresh water

Chad withdraws 4% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Central African Republic withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 57.1% less CO2

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

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