Nations by Numbers

Sub-Saharan Africa

Central African Republic in numbers

Central African Republic is in Sub-Saharan Africa and is classed by the World Bank as low income. Its capital is Bangui. Its population was 5.51 million in 2025, ranking 119 of 217 countries. GDP per person was US$556 in 2025.

Population5.51 million2025
GDPUS$3.1 billion2025
GDP per personUS$5562025
Life expectancy57.72024
Area622,9802024
Urban share44.6%2025

People

Population

5.51 million
2025 · +44% since 2000 · Rank 119 of 217

Population growth (annual %)

3.37%
2025 · 2.75% in 2000 · Rank 7 of 217

Population density (people per km²)

8.6
2024 · +39% since 2000 · Rank 204 of 216

Urban population (% of total)

44.6%
2025 · 37.7% in 2000 · Rank 163 of 217

Population aged 0 to 14 (% of total)

48.7%
2025 · 45.5% in 2000 · Rank 1 of 217

Population aged 65 and over (% of total)

2.2%
2025 · 2.3% in 2000 · Rank 213 of 217

Fertility rate (births per woman)

5.95
2024 · +2% since 2000 · Rank 4 of 217

Health and living standards

Life expectancy at birth (years)

57.7
2024 · +24% since 2000 · Rank 215 of 217

Under-5 mortality (per 1,000 live births)

89.7
2024 · -46% since 2000 · Rank 9 of 196

Health spending per person (current US$)

US$54
2023 · +443% since 2000 · Rank 170 of 193

Access to electricity (% of population)

18.2%
2024 · 6.0% in 2000 · Rank 212 of 215

Internet users (% of population)

13.8%
2024 · 0.1% in 2000 · Rank 183 of 186

Primary school enrolment (% gross)

96.8%
2016 · 68.3% in 2001

Economy

GDP (current US$)

US$3.1 billion
2025 · +234% since 2000 · Rank 180 of 210

GDP per person (current US$)

US$556
2025 · +133% since 2000 · Rank 208 of 210

GDP per person, PPP (current international $)

Int$1,314
2025 · +105% since 2000 · Rank 198 of 199

GDP growth (annual %)

4.50%
2025 · -2.49% in 2000 · Rank 64 of 210

Inflation, consumer prices (annual %)

1.00%
2025 · 3.20% in 2000 · Rank 144 of 180

Unemployment (% of labour force, ILO estimate)

6.3%
2025 · 5.7% in 2000 · Rank 73 of 187

Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)

19.3%
2025 · 20.4% in 2000 · Rank 147 of 183

Land and environment

Land and water area (km²)

622,980
2024 · +0% since 2000 · Rank 44 of 216

Forest area (% of land area)

72.5%
2024 · 74.0% in 2000 · Rank 15 of 214

CO₂ emissions per person (tonnes)

0.06
2024 · -5% since 2000 · Rank 192 of 203

Elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa

AngolaBurundiBeninBurkina FasoBotswanaCote d'IvoireCameroonCongo, Dem. Rep.Congo, Rep.ComorosCabo VerdeEritrea

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, updated 8 October 2026. Each figure is the latest year available for Central African Republic. Rankings compare countries with data from the same or recent years.