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

Health

be 74.2% less likely to be obese

In Puerto Rico, 42.4% 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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live 24.2 years less

In Puerto Rico, the average life expectancy is 82 years (78 years for men, 85 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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be 69.6% more likely to die by suicide

Puerto Rico has a suicide rate of 5.4 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

make 98.6% less money

Puerto Rico has a GDP per capita of $40,620 as of 2025, while in Central African Republic, the GDP per capita is $556 as of 2025.

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Life

have 8.1 times more children

In Puerto Rico, there are approximately 5.7 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 62.9 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Puerto Rico, approximately 11.0 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 59.4% less likely to be literate

In Puerto Rico, the literacy rate is 92.4% as of 2021. In Central African Republic, it is 37.5% as of 2020.

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be 9.7 times more likely to die during infancy

In Puerto Rico, approximately 6.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Central African Republic, on the other hand, 58.8 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 82.4% less likely to have access to electricity

In Puerto Rico, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% 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 84.2% less likely to have internet access

In Puerto Rico, approximately 87.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Central African Republic, about 13.8% do as of 2024.

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be 63.5% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Puerto Rico, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Central African Republic, 36% of people do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 57.1% less on education

Puerto Rico spends 4.3% 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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Safety

be 2.1 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Puerto Rico, road accidents kill 12.5 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 98.3% less strain on fresh water

Puerto Rico withdraws 20% 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

Puerto Rico has 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Central African Republic has 0.0 as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 98.8% less CO2

Puerto Rico emits 4.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Central African Republic emits 0.1 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook (2020–2022), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (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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