Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 79.3% less likely to be obese

In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Central African Republic, that number is 7.5% of people as of 2016.

live 26.1 years less

In United States, the average life expectancy is 80 years (78 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020. In Central African Republic, that number is 54 years (53 years for men, 56 years for women) as of 2020.

Economy

make 98.8% less money

United States has a GDP per capita of $59,800 as of 2017, while in Central African Republic, the GDP per capita is $700 as of 2017.

be 56.8% more likely to be unemployed

In United States, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In Central African Republic, that number is 6.9% as of 2017.

be 4.1 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In United States, 15.1% live below the poverty line as of 2010. In Central African Republic, however, that number is 62.0% as of 2008.

Life

have 2.7 times more children

In United States, there are approximately 12.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020. In Central African Republic, there are 33.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020.

be 43.6 times more likely to die during childbirth

In United States, approximately 19.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Central African Republic, 829.0 women do as of 2017.

be 15.2 times more likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.3 children die before they reach the age of one as of 2020. In Central African Republic, on the other hand, 80.6 children do as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 86.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In United States, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2016. In Central African Republic, 14% of the population do as of 2017.

be 95.0% less likely to have internet access

In United States, approximately 87.3% of the population has internet access as of 2018. In Central African Republic, about 4.3% do as of 2018.

be 30.8% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In United States, approximately 99% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2017. In Central African Republic, that number is 68% of people on average (90% in urban areas, and 54% in rural areas) as of 2015.

Expenditures

spend 76.0% less on education

United States spends 5.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2014. Central African Republic spends 1.2% of total GDP on education as of 2011.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

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.
Read more

How big is Central African Republic compared to United States? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Central African Republic. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.