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

Health

be 51.6% less likely to be obese

In Vanuatu, 22.6% 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 41.6% less likely to die by suicide

Vanuatu has a suicide rate of 15.7 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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be 24.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Vanuatu, 0.1% 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 14.0 years less

In Vanuatu, the average life expectancy is 72 years (70 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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have 31.9% less access to essential health services

Vanuatu scores 47 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Central African Republic scores 32 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 23.3% more likely to be unemployed

In Vanuatu, 5.1% 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 4.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Vanuatu, 15.9% live below the poverty line as of 2020. In Central African Republic, however, that number is 68.8% as of 2021.

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make 86.2% less money

Vanuatu has a GDP per capita of $4,039 as of 2025, while in Central African Republic, the GDP per capita is $556 as of 2025.

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Life

have 67.1% more children

In Vanuatu, there are approximately 27.6 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 6.9 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Vanuatu, approximately 100.0 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 57.4% less likely to be literate

In Vanuatu, the literacy rate is 88.0% as of 2023. In Central African Republic, it is 37.5% as of 2020.

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be 4.1 times more likely to die during infancy

In Vanuatu, approximately 14.4 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 71.4% less likely to have access to electricity

In Vanuatu, approximately 62% of people have electricity access (88% in urban areas, and 54% 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 80.3% less likely to have internet access

In Vanuatu, approximately 69.9% 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 58.1% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Vanuatu, approximately 87% of people have access to drinking water (97% 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 76.0% less on education

Vanuatu spends 7.6% 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 2.6 times more on healthcare

Vanuatu spends 4.1% 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 2.1 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Vanuatu, 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

find 98.3% less home broadband

Vanuatu has 1.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Central African Republic has 0.0 as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 93.1% less CO2

Vanuatu emits 0.9 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 71.9% more likely to die from air pollution

In Vanuatu, air pollution causes 57.0 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 (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2020). 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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