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Economy of Central African Republic vs Moldova compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

The Central African Republic has a GDP of $2.75B compared to $18.2B for Moldova, ranking 171/197 and 134/197 by economy size, respectively.

The Central African Republic has $1.67B in government debt (58.3% of GDP), compared to $6.94B (36.3% of GDP) in Moldova.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Central African Republic
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Moldova
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
CAR Moldova
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 $112,155,598 $980,371,514 - -
1961 $123,134,583 $1,028,934,744 - -
1962 $124,482,774 $990,722,164 - -
1963 $129,379,124 $983,717,651 - -
1964 $142,025,079 $1,004,182,172 - -
1965 $150,574,795 $1,013,697,588 - -
1966 $157,930,018 $1,020,233,745 - -
1967 $163,820,514 $1,067,946,130 - -
1968 $191,767,442 $1,082,941,303 - -
1969 $188,039,210 $1,159,738,546 - -
1970 $189,106,529 $1,186,793,864 - -
1971 $201,450,800 $1,200,207,037 - -
1972 $230,317,883 $1,200,196,629 - -
1973 $271,183,082 $1,222,867,623 - -
1974 $281,398,706 $1,300,385,612 - -
1975 $378,660,016 $1,305,652,006 - -
1976 $451,152,461 $1,376,581,800 - -
1977 $507,298,148 $1,428,977,737 - -
1978 $610,578,632 $1,446,257,442 - -
1979 $700,764,748 $1,410,605,203 - -
1980 $797,048,199 $1,347,429,290 - -
1981 $694,803,623 $1,326,618,708 - -
1982 $748,312,391 $1,428,977,737 - -
1983 $658,679,333 $1,312,851,667 - -
1984 $637,820,670 $1,437,332,673 - -
1985 $864,849,836 $1,493,779,883 - -
1986 $1,122,265,013 $1,547,227,017 - -
1987 $1,200,991,978 $1,470,809,662 - -
1988 $1,264,899,288 $1,495,962,938 - -
1989 $1,233,930,281 $1,525,542,171 - -
1990 $1,440,711,459 $1,492,780,725 $3,592,857,043 $11,137,693,133
1991 $1,377,374,987 $1,484,532,469 $3,094,565,871 $9,355,662,201
1992 $1,411,917,553 $1,389,164,943 $2,319,243,436 $6,633,164,508
1993 $1,278,781,262 $1,393,822,475 $2,371,813,324 $6,553,566,539
1994 $851,174,357 $1,462,119,071 $1,702,314,268 $4,528,514,463
1995 $1,115,389,674 $1,567,392,310 $1,752,999,370 $4,465,115,304
1996 $1,007,791,127 $1,504,695,161 $1,695,122,174 $4,202,697,785
1997 $937,741,513 $1,584,443,042 $1,930,081,169 $4,271,918,931
1998 $967,338,390 $1,658,914,120 $1,698,717,505 $3,992,441,789
1999 $999,477,511 $1,718,634,612 $1,170,782,957 $3,857,966,190
2000 $916,777,283 $1,675,850,365 $1,288,429,392 $3,939,281,164
2001 $932,648,605 $1,750,672,710 $1,480,673,594 $4,179,577,331
2002 $996,068,145 $1,813,986,527 $1,661,818,168 $4,505,584,348
2003 $1,142,315,523 $1,716,076,873 $1,980,907,435 $4,802,952,913
2004 $1,272,360,517 $1,818,953,694 $2,598,249,556 $5,158,371,416
2005 $1,337,894,379 $1,835,473,623 $2,988,342,907 $5,545,249,280
2006 $1,461,859,762 $1,923,045,638 $3,408,255,451 $5,811,421,236
2007 $1,699,811,295 $2,011,650,636 $4,401,173,152 $5,985,763,886
2008 $1,993,407,888 $2,052,972,574 $6,054,824,248 $6,452,653,478
2009 $2,067,381,665 $2,229,266,676 $5,439,434,272 $6,065,494,253
2010 $2,142,591,540 $2,332,499,968 $6,974,982,370 $6,496,144,351
2011 $2,437,982,705 $2,430,339,369 $8,414,352,020 $6,874,100,823
2012 $2,510,126,512 $2,553,162,919 $8,709,138,635 $6,833,561,916
2013 $1,691,544,110 $1,624,016,454 $9,496,717,876 $7,451,580,072
2014 $1,894,813,389 $1,625,333,053 $9,402,090,138 $7,824,131,196
2015 $1,695,825,714 $1,695,825,714 $7,797,667,197 $7,797,667,197
2016 $1,825,018,145 $1,776,382,809 $7,980,917,076 $8,159,947,935
2017 $2,072,349,973 $1,856,804,601 $9,514,404,016 $8,500,675,704
2018 $2,220,979,146 $1,927,167,164 $11,252,353,421 $8,847,128,858
2019 $2,221,301,351 $1,986,909,346 $11,736,797,055 $9,161,406,662
2020 $2,326,720,900 $2,004,791,530 $11,530,746,234 $8,403,210,633
2021 $2,516,498,412 $2,024,497,026 $13,691,869,264 $9,573,777,856
2022 $2,382,618,615 $2,033,686,257 $14,525,337,524 $9,133,384,075
2023 $2,555,492,086 $2,047,921,418 $16,711,906,746 $9,242,984,684
2024 $2,751,544,520 $2,079,451,881 $18,200,340,854 $9,252,510,450

Economic indicators

CAR Moldova
Gross domestic product
$2.75B
2024
$18.2B
2024
GDP rank
171/197
2024
134/197
2024
GDP growth
7.67%
2023-2024
8.91%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$516
2024
$7,618
2024
GDP per capita rank
194/197
2024
99/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,264
2024
$18,717
2024
Government debt
$1.67B
2024
$6.94B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
58.3%
2025
36.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$313
2024
$2,905
2024
Government debt per person rank
178/185
2024
103/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,261
2025
$4,214
2025
Income share by richest 10%
33.1%
2021
22.8%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2021
4.3%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
17.9%
2025
39.8%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
4.6%
2024-2025
4.68%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
6.25%
2025
Unemployment rate
6.9%
2017
1.43%
2024
Population
5662456
2358679

GDP per capita in Central African Republic vs Moldova

The Central African Republic's GDP per capita is $516, ranking 194/197, compared to $7,618 in Moldova, ranking 99/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Central African Republic ranks 195th at $1,264, while Moldova ranks 98th at $18,717.

Central African Republic
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Moldova
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
CAR Moldova
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $65.9 - - -
1961 $71 - - -
1962 $70.4 - - -
1963 $71.8 - - -
1964 $77.2 - - -
1965 $80.2 - - -
1966 $82.3 - - -
1967 $83.6 - - -
1968 $95.6 - - -
1969 $91.7 - - -
1970 $90.2 - - -
1971 $94.1 - - -
1972 $105.5 - - -
1973 $121.8 - - -
1974 $124 - - -
1975 $163.6 - - -
1976 $192.1 - - -
1977 $213.8 - - -
1978 $254.6 - - -
1979 $289.1 - - -
1980 $325 - - -
1981 $280.3 - - -
1982 $298.4 - - -
1983 $259.6 - - -
1984 $248.3 - - -
1985 $333 - - -
1986 $426 - - -
1987 $450 - - -
1988 $466 - - -
1989 $443 - - -
1990 $502 $620 $1,207 $6,895
1991 $465 $618 $1,038 $5,980
1992 $462 $573 $778 $4,337
1993 $405 $570 $797 $4,394
1994 $261.3 $592 $574 $3,111
1995 $333 $631 $594 $3,146
1996 $293.3 $601 $575 $3,021
1997 $265.5 $626 $657 $3,136
1998 $266.6 $645 $579 $2,965
1999 $268 $660 $399 $2,910
2000 $239.2 $640 $441 $3,045
2001 $238 $668 $507 $3,311
2002 $248.6 $688 $571 $3,633
2003 $278.4 $648 $682 $3,960
2004 $303 $690 $897 $4,378
2005 $312 $702 $1,034 $4,866
2006 $334 $743 $1,183 $5,271
2007 $381 $783 $1,531 $5,590
2008 $437 $798 $2,111 $6,153
2009 $456 $877 $1,898 $5,827
2010 $477 $936 $2,437 $6,323
2011 $534 $980 $2,941 $6,833
2012 $544 $1,062 $3,045 $7,255
2013 $364 $710 $3,321 $8,233
2014 $410 $699 $3,290 $8,643
2015 $366 $769 $2,750 $9,198
2016 $387 $826 $2,847 $10,326
2017 $432 $884 $3,453 $11,252
2018 $455 $906 $4,156 $11,868
2019 $449 $985 $4,405 $13,413
2020 $463 $1,066 $4,376 $13,527
2021 $492 $1,129 $5,275 $15,682
2022 $467 $1,218 $5,744 $16,453
2023 $496 $1,257 $6,800 $17,747
2024 $516 $1,264 $7,618 $18,717

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, the Central African Republic's government spending was $538M, accounting for 17.9% of its GDP, while Moldova's spent $6.92B, or 39.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 58.3% in the Central African Republic and 36.3% in Moldova, ranking 87/185 and 144/185, respectively.

Central African Republic
Government spending

Government debt
Moldova
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
CAR Moldova
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1988 21.4% 48.8% - -
1989 19.6% 50.9% - -
1990 22% 44.6% - -
1991 22.6% 55.8% - -
1992 23.1% 57.4% - -
1993 20.6% 68.2% - -
1994 22.4% 103.4% - -
1995 20.6% 83.8% 42% 79.5%
1996 11.7% 93% 43.3% 87.5%
1997 14.5% 96.1% 46% 89%
1998 18.1% 85.3% 39.1% 159.4%
1999 18.2% 84.2% 33% 150.7%
2000 17.2% 94.7% 34% 89.1%
2001 14.1% 103.1% 29.5% 85.4%
2002 16.7% 98.5% 30.7% 80.3%
2003 12.3% 95.9% 33.5% 68.1%
2004 13.1% 99.7% 34.8% 49.3%
2005 16.2% 103% 37.1% 40.4%
2006 13.4% 46.7% 40.3% 35%
2007 12.9% 47.9% 42.7% 28.3%
2008 16% 35.8% 41.5% 22.2%
2009 16% 20.3% 45.3% 32.6%
2010 17.3% 19.9% 34.1% 25.5%
2011 14.2% 19.7% 32.6% 24.2%
2012 14.7% 31.5% 33.7% 31.3%
2013 13.4% 51.8% 32.4% 30%
2014 18% 62.2% 33.8% 35.4%
2015 14% 59.8% 31.7% 42.1%
2016 12.1% 53.9% 30.5% 39.7%
2017 13.9% 50.3% 31% 34.9%
2018 17.6% 50% 31.5% 31.8%
2019 16.9% 48.2% 32% 28.8%
2020 25.1% 44.4% 36.7% 36.6%
2021 19.7% 48.5% 34.6% 33.6%
2022 17.6% 51% 36.6% 35%
2023 18.1% 58.2% 38.8% 34.9%
2024 19.5% 60.7% 38% 38.1%
2025 17.9% 58.3% 39.8% 36.3%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, the Central African Republic's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$137M, equivalent to -4.98% of GDP. This compares to Moldova's deficit of -$709M, or -3.89% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, the Central African Republic recorded a fiscal deficit in 25 of those years, while Moldova ran a deficit in 26 years. On average, the Central African Republic posted an annual deficit equal to -1.55% of GDP, compared to deficit of -2.26% of GDP for Moldova.

Deficit/surplus
Central African Republic

Moldova
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
CAR Moldova
1988 -3.72% -
1989 -3.25% -
1990 -6.6% -
1991 -8% -
1992 -7.33% -
1993 -5.66% -
1994 -7.57% -
1995 -4.84% -2.58%
1996 -1.06% -7.42%
1997 -1.57% -7.47%
1998 0.001% -1.52%
1999 -0.5% -2.64%
2000 -2.01% -3.55%
2001 -0.88% -0.34%
2002 -1.19% -1.18%
2003 -3.06% 0.47%
2004 -1.74% 0.59%
2005 -4.37% 1.44%
2006 8.58% -0.42%
2007 1.04% 0.15%
2008 -1.23% -0.87%
2009 -0.54% -6.38%
2010 -1.35% -2.18%
2011 -2.15% -2.05%
2012 -0.78% -1.93%
2013 -2.3% -1.57%
2014 -3.26% -1.6%
2015 -0.59% -1.93%
2016 1.28% -1.56%
2017 -1.06% -0.65%
2018 -0.97% -0.85%
2019 1.42% -1.47%
2020 -3.36% -5.32%
2021 -6.02% -2.62%
2022 -5.34% -3.24%
2023 -3.59% -5.13%
2024 -4.98% -3.89%
2025 -1.62% -5.11%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, the Central African Republic has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.36%, compared with 11% in Moldova. In 2024, inflation was 4.6% in the Central African Republic and 4.68% in Moldova.

Inflation
Central African Republic

Moldova
Year Inflation
CAR Moldova CAR Moldova
1996 3.8% 23.5%
1997 1.6% 11.8%
1998 -2% 7.7%
1999 -1.6% 39.3%
2000 3.4% 31.3%
2001 4.1% 9.76%
2002 2.3% 5.3%
2003 4.4% 11.7%
2004 -2.6% 12.5%
2005 2.9% 12%
2006 6.9% 12.8%
2007 0.9% 12.4%
2008 9.2% 12.8%
2009 3.6% -0.06%
2010 1.5% 7.48%
2011 1.2% 7.69%
2012 5.9% 4.55%
2013 4% 4.6%
2014 17.8% 5.09%
2015 1.4% 9.68%
2016 4.9% 6.36%
2017 4.2% 6.57%
2018 1.6% 3.05%
2019 2.8% 4.84%
2020 0.9% 3.77%
2021 4.3% 5.11%
2022 5.6% 28.7%
2023 3% 13.4%
2024 1.5% 4.68%
2025 4.6% -

Balance of trade

CAR Moldova
Current account balance
-$24.7M
1994
-$2.92B
2024
Current account balance ranking
78/189
1994
153/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.9%
1994
-16%
2024
Goods imports
$131M
1994
$8.63B
2024
Goods exports
$146M
1994
$3.01B
2024
Service imports
$114M
1994
$1.78B
2024
Service exports
$33.1M
1994
$2.7B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.4%
2024
57.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
15.5%
2024
31.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

CAR Moldova
Economic freedom 42.8 58.3
Economic freedom ranking 184/197 107/197
Property rights 6.9 40.2
Government integrity 19.6 43.4
Judicial effectiveness 4 31.3
Tax burden 65.5 92.8
Government spending 89.8 59.5
Fiscal health 53.8 75.9
Business freedom 27.1 66.2
Labor freedom 48.3 49.1
Monetary freedom 72.8 59.4
Trade freedom 50.4 77.2
Investment freedom 45 55
Financial freedom 30 50

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for the Central African Republic is 42.8, ranking 184/197, compared to 58.3 for Moldova, ranking 107/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Central African Republic
Moldova
Year Economic freedom index
CAR Moldova
1995 - 33
1996 - 52.5
1997 - 48.9
1998 - 53.5
1999 - 56.1
2000 - 59.6
2001 - 54.9
2002 59.8 57.4
2003 60 60
2004 57.5 57.1
2005 56.5 57.4
2006 54.2 58
2007 50.6 58.7
2008 48.6 57.9
2009 48.3 54.9
2010 48.4 53.7
2011 49.3 55.7
2012 50.3 54.4
2013 50.4 55.5
2014 46.7 57.3
2015 45.9 57.5
2016 45.2 57.4
2017 51.8 58
2018 49.2 58.4
2019 49.1 59.1
2020 50.7 62
2021 48.8 62.5
2022 45.7 61.3
2023 43.8 58.5
2024 41.3 57.1
2025 42.8 58.3

More economic indicators

CAR Moldova
Services, % of GDP
40.5%
2024
62.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.8%
2024
16.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
32.5%
2024
7.11%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.75B
2024
$16.6B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,340
2024
$18,880
2024
Total reserves including gold
$480M
2023
$5.48B
2024
Total reserves ranking
158/177
2023
96/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$3.6M
1994
-$244M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$40.4M
2024
$333M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.29K
2002
$89.6M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.41%
2023
7.79%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
68.8%
2021
31.6%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15.4%
2024
21.1%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.