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

Health

be 68.9% less likely to be obese

In Jamaica, 35.2% 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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be 2.2 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Jamaica, 1.1% 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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live 13.9 years less

In Jamaica, the average life expectancy is 72 years (69 years for men, 74 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 84.3% less spent on your healthcare

Jamaica spends $869 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 83.9% fewer doctors per person

Jamaica has 4.6 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Central African Republic has 0.7 as of 2023.

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have 56.8% less access to essential health services

Jamaica scores 74 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 5.4 times more likely to die by suicide

Jamaica has a suicide rate of 1.7 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 90.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Jamaica, 3.3% 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 8.8 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Jamaica, 7.8% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Central African Republic, however, that number is 68.8% as of 2021.

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make 93.1% less money

Jamaica has a GDP per capita of $8,003 as of 2025, while in Central African Republic, the GDP per capita is $556 as of 2025.

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Life

have 4.0 times more children

In Jamaica, there are approximately 11.4 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 5.3 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Jamaica, approximately 130.0 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 3.6 times more likely to die during infancy

In Jamaica, approximately 16.4 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 82.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In Jamaica, approximately 98% of people have electricity access (99% in urban areas, and 96% 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 84.7% less likely to have internet access

In Jamaica, approximately 90.1% 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 58.3% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Jamaica, approximately 88% of people have access to drinking water (90% in urban areas, and 84% 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 66.8% less on education

Jamaica spends 5.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Central African Republic spends 1.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 40.3% more on healthcare

Jamaica spends 7.6% 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 45.5% more likely to die in a road accident

In Jamaica, road accidents kill 17.8 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 97.3% less strain on fresh water

Jamaica withdraws 12% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Central African Republic withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 99.9% less home broadband

Jamaica has 16.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Central African Republic has 0.0 as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 97.9% less CO2

Jamaica emits 2.8 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 4.5 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Jamaica, air pollution causes 22.0 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 (2021–2025), 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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