Society in Central African Republic
An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.
Explore Social Domains
Demographics
Public Health
Education & Human Capital
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Current Social Overview of Central African Republic
A summary based on key social and demographic indicators.
- Central African Republic has an estimated population of 5.2M2023A steady annual growth rate of 1.1%2023supports sustained population expansion, providing a stable base for economic development. The elevated fertility rate of 6.0 births per woman2023contributes to a young population, presenting both opportunities for future growth and demands on educational and health services. Net emigration of approximately 15K individuals annually (or 3.0 per 1,000 inhabitants)2024adds pressure to demographic transitions and workforce sustainability.
- Regarding public health, The notably low life expectancy of 57.4 years2023underscores critical public health challenges that necessitate urgent and comprehensive interventions. Concurrently, Healthcare delivery faces significant systemic challenges, as evidenced by elevated child mortality (under 5 years) (92.2 per 1,000 live births2023and maternal mortality (692 per 100,000 live births2023) rates, suggesting areas for critical intervention and resource allocation. These outcomes are supported by a moderate commitment to health system development, with 10.0% of GDP directed to healthcare expenditure2022.
- Critical educational challenges are highlighted by the low literacy rate of 37%2020, necessitating immediate and sustained interventions to improve foundational education. Complementing this, educational access remains notably limited with 66% primary enrollment2012, pointing to fundamental infrastructure, accessibility, and retention barriers across the educational system. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 2.1% of GDP2022, which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
- In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, a still balanced urban-rural distribution (44% urban population2023) creates diverse economic opportunities but necessitates coordinated infrastructure development to bridge potential disparities. Furthermore, critical infrastructure gaps are evident, with electricity access at 18%2023and internet penetration at 8%2019severely limiting economic potential, hindering social development, and impeding digital integration.
Key Development Insights
Population Dynamics
Managing demographic trends is crucial for long-term economic planning and workforce stability.
Public Health System
Addressing critical gaps in the healthcare system is essential to improve lagging indicators like life expectancy and maternal mortality.
Human Capital Formation
Improving foundational literacy and secondary school completion is a critical priority for unlocking future economic potential.
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Expanding access to basic infrastructure, particularly electricity, remains a key bottleneck for broad-based development.
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Neighbors & Regional Peers
Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.