Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 84.8% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Central African Republic, that number is 2.9% of people as of 2020.

be 73.5% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Central African Republic, that number is 7.5% of people as of 2016.

live 9.8 years less

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Central African Republic, that number is 56 years (54 years for men, 57 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 77.5% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Central African Republic, that number is 6.3% as of 2023.

make 93.0% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $14,300 as of 2023, while in Central African Republic, the GDP per capita is $1,000 as of 2023.

be 4.1 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Central African Republic, however, that number is 68.8% as of 2021.

Life

have 80.2% more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Central African Republic, there are 31.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 6.6 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Central African Republic, 835.0 women do as of 2020.

be 60.5% less likely to be literate

In South Africa, the literacy rate is 95.0% as of 2019. In Central African Republic, it is 37.5% as of 2020.

be 3.2 times more likely to die during infancy

In South Africa, approximately 25.9 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, 83.0 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 81.8% less likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 86% of people have electricity access (87% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Central African Republic, that number is 16% of people on average (35% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 84.7% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Central African Republic, about 11.0% do as of 2021.

be 35.0% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In South Africa, approximately 97% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 90% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Central African Republic, that number is 63% of people on average (84% in urban areas, and 48% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 66.7% less on education

South Africa spends 6.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Central African Republic spends 2.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

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 South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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