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Central African Republic vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Central African Republic has a population of 5.33M (ranked 121/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). The Central African Republic's land area is 240,534 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 43rd vs. 24th).

By GDP, The Central African Republic ranks 171/197 ($2.75B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, The Central African Republic ranks 195/197 ($516), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

CAR South Africa
Population
5753659
65683993
Population rank 118/197 24/197
GDP
$2.75B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 171/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$516
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 195/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,263
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$1.67B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
60.7%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$313
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 178/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,078
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 240,534 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
23.7 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
6.01
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
15.4 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
58.2 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Central African Republic and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Central African Republic and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Central African Republic

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
CAR South Africa
2024 $2,751,494,281 $401,144,998,374
2023 $2,555,492,086 $381,440,724,491
2022 $2,382,618,615 $407,596,043,068
2021 $2,516,498,412 $419,986,284,375
2020 $2,326,720,900 $337,974,655,408
2019 $2,221,301,351 $389,330,032,224
2018 $2,220,979,146 $405,260,723,893
2017 $2,072,349,973 $381,448,814,653
2016 $1,825,018,145 $323,585,509,674
2015 $1,695,825,714 $346,709,790,459
2014 $1,894,813,389 $381,198,869,776
2013 $1,691,544,110 $400,886,013,596
2012 $2,510,126,512 $434,400,545,086
2011 $2,437,982,705 $458,199,494,831
2010 $2,142,591,540 $417,363,822,802
2009 $2,067,381,665 $329,754,060,647
2008 $1,993,407,888 $316,131,258,616
2007 $1,699,811,295 $333,077,117,254
2006 $1,461,859,762 $303,858,675,364
2005 $1,337,894,379 $288,867,217,197
2004 $1,272,360,517 $255,806,908,595
2003 $1,142,315,523 $197,018,965,309
2002 $996,068,145 $129,087,556,612
2001 $932,648,605 $135,429,905,923
2000 $916,777,283 $151,752,757,215
1999 $999,477,511 $151,516,957,079
1998 $967,338,390 $152,982,984,557
1997 $937,741,513 $168,978,057,328
1996 $1,007,791,127 $163,234,925,381
1995 $1,115,389,674 $171,735,933,897
1994 $851,174,357 $153,512,712,382
1993 $1,278,781,262 $147,194,747,566
1992 $1,411,917,553 $146,956,150,987
1991 $1,377,374,987 $135,203,698,238
1990 $1,440,711,459 $126,048,140,142
1989 $1,233,930,281 $108,055,624,082
1988 $1,264,899,288 $103,976,831,871
1987 $1,200,991,978 $96,535,763,418
1986 $1,122,265,013 $73,354,771,399
1985 $864,849,836 $64,459,376,087
1984 $637,820,670 $84,870,163,366
1983 $658,679,333 $96,204,110,942
1982 $748,312,391 $85,904,057,409
1981 $694,803,623 $93,141,472,164
1980 $797,048,199 $89,411,864,402
1979 $700,764,748 $63,038,658,089
1978 $610,578,632 $51,607,412,902
1977 $507,298,148 $45,328,411,332
1976 $451,152,461 $41,150,460,288
1975 $378,660,016 $42,906,905,672
1974 $281,398,706 $41,389,186,095
1973 $271,183,082 $33,262,772,008
1972 $230,317,883 $24,515,919,217
1971 $201,450,800 $23,411,076,638
1970 $189,106,529 $21,218,391,513
1969 $188,039,210 $19,256,992,297
1968 $191,767,442 $17,124,793,150
1967 $163,820,514 $15,821,393,671
1966 $157,930,018 $14,211,394,315
1965 $150,574,795 $13,068,994,772
1964 $142,025,079 $11,955,995,218
1963 $129,379,124 $10,854,195,658
1962 $124,482,774 $9,813,996,074
1961 $123,134,583 $9,225,996,310
1960 $112,155,598 $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/south-africa | CC BY

Central African Republic and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Central African Republic

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
CAR South Africa
2024 $516 $6,267
2023 $496 $6,034
2022 $467 $6,534
2021 $492 $6,829
2020 $463 $5,581
2019 $449 $6,534
2018 $455 $6,914
2017 $432 $6,618
2016 $387 $5,651
2015 $366 $6,112
2014 $410 $6,857
2013 $364 $7,332
2012 $544 $8,077
2011 $534 $8,646
2010 $477 $7,973
2009 $456 $6,375
2008 $437 $6,185
2007 $381 $6,592
2006 $334 $6,077
2005 $312 $5,837
2004 $303 $5,221
2003 $278.4 $4,062
2002 $248.6 $2,688
2001 $238 $2,847
2000 $239.2 $3,218
1999 $268 $3,242
1998 $266.6 $3,310
1997 $265.5 $3,700
1996 $293.3 $3,618
1995 $333 $3,856
1994 $261.3 $3,489
1993 $405 $3,400
1992 $462 $3,462
1991 $465 $3,243
1990 $502 $3,093
1989 $443 $2,727
1988 $466 $2,702
1987 $450 $2,586
1986 $426 $2,027
1985 $333 $1,839
1984 $248.3 $2,504
1983 $259.6 $2,938
1982 $298.4 $2,717
1981 $280.3 $3,050
1980 $325 $3,029
1979 $289.1 $2,202
1978 $254.6 $1,852
1977 $213.8 $1,671
1976 $192.1 $1,559
1975 $163.6 $1,670
1974 $124 $1,656
1973 $121.8 $1,369
1972 $105.5 $1,038
1971 $94.1 $1,020
1970 $90.2 $952
1969 $91.7 $891
1968 $95.6 $817
1967 $83.6 $779
1966 $82.3 $722
1965 $80.2 $685
1964 $77.2 $646
1963 $71.8 $605
1962 $70.4 $563
1961 $71 $546
1960 $65.9 $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/south-africa | CC BY

Central African Republic vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Central African Republic

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
CAR South Africa
2026 58.2 66.7
2025 57.9 66.5
2024 57.7 66.3
2023 57.4 66.1
2022 18.8 65.5
2021 40.3 62
2020 50.6 65.2
2019 31.5 66.1
2018 52.3 65.7
2017 45.2 65.4
2016 51 64.7
2015 51.9 64.1
2014 40.3 63.2
2013 49.5 62.4
2012 51.3 61.7
2011 50.1 60.6
2010 46.9 58.9
2009 14.7 57.4
2008 49.9 56
2007 49.3 54.9
2006 48.7 54.2
2005 48.2 53.9
2004 47.7 54
2003 47.3 54.2
2002 46.8 55.6
2001 46.7 57.2
2000 46.6 58.4
1999 46.9 59.2
1998 47.1 59.9
1997 47.3 60.5
1996 47.7 61.1
1995 48.1 61.6
1994 48.5 62.1
1993 48.9 62.6
1992 49.2 62.8
1991 49.6 63
1990 49.9 62.9
1989 50.1 63
1988 50.2 62.9
1987 50.4 62.7
1986 50.4 62.4
1985 50.5 62.2
1984 50.4 61.8
1983 50.3 61.4
1982 50.2 60.9
1981 50 60.4
1980 49.8 60
1979 49.5 59.5
1978 49.2 59
1977 48.8 58.5
1976 48.4 58
1975 47.9 57.6
1974 47.4 57.1
1973 46.9 56.7
1972 46.3 56.4
1971 45.8 56
1970 45.2 55.7
1969 44.6 55.4
1968 44 55.2
1967 43.4 55
1966 42.8 54.7
1965 42.2 54.4
1964 41.6 54.2
1963 41.1 53.9
1962 40.6 53.6
1961 40.1 53.1
1960 39.6 52.6
1959 39.1 51.9
1958 38.7 51.1
1957 38.3 50.2
1956 37.8 49.2
1955 37.4 48.2
1954 37 47.1
1953 36.6 46.1
1952 36.2 45
1951 35.8 44.1
1950 35.4 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/south-africa | CC BY

Central African Republic and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Central African Republic

South Africa
1x
Year Population
CAR South Africa
2024 5,330,690 64,007,187
2023 5,152,421 63,212,384
2022 5,098,039 62,378,410
2021 5,112,100 61,502,603
2020 5,026,628 60,562,381
2019 4,944,703 59,587,885
2018 4,878,657 58,613,001
2017 4,793,511 57,635,162
2016 4,713,663 57,259,551
2015 4,629,320 56,723,537
2014 4,623,182 55,594,838
2013 4,642,419 54,678,791
2012 4,610,848 53,782,567
2011 4,565,021 52,995,205
2010 4,492,995 52,344,051
2009 4,529,047 51,728,516
2008 4,558,984 51,114,599
2007 4,462,770 50,528,584
2006 4,377,579 49,998,277
2005 4,288,810 49,490,033
2004 4,192,826 48,991,421
2003 4,103,086 48,500,348
2002 4,006,077 48,019,415
2001 3,919,487 47,566,800
2000 3,833,416 47,159,719
1999 3,729,450 46,730,335
1998 3,628,827 46,223,880
1997 3,531,700 45,666,838
1996 3,435,965 45,123,018
1995 3,348,052 44,541,554
1994 3,257,954 44,004,139
1993 3,157,839 43,297,156
1992 3,058,831 42,443,509
1991 2,963,191 41,687,898
1990 2,871,910 40,746,268
1989 2,783,970 39,628,575
1988 2,713,965 38,480,649
1987 2,669,155 37,326,190
1986 2,634,258 36,180,515
1985 2,600,932 35,042,093
1984 2,568,610 33,892,788
1983 2,537,399 32,739,304
1982 2,507,375 31,615,339
1981 2,478,402 30,541,044
1980 2,450,535 29,518,857
1979 2,423,794 28,634,162
1978 2,397,961 27,869,507
1977 2,372,930 27,118,952
1976 2,348,566 26,395,450
1975 2,313,916 25,690,940
1974 2,269,338 24,989,108
1973 2,226,008 24,294,263
1972 2,183,769 23,609,456
1971 2,141,450 22,942,143
1970 2,097,505 22,279,984
1969 2,051,515 21,614,676
1968 2,005,100 20,957,287
1967 1,960,444 20,314,066
1966 1,918,082 19,690,087
1965 1,877,854 19,089,380
1964 1,839,583 18,511,361
1963 1,803,063 17,954,564
1962 1,768,115 17,418,522
1961 1,734,580 16,908,035
1960 1,702,346 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Central African Republic and South Africa

Fertility rate
Central African Republic

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
CAR South Africa
2023 6.01 2.22
2022 6.02 2.23
2021 6.05 2.25
2020 6.06 2.26
2019 6.09 2.26
2018 6.11 2.27
2017 6.13 2.28
2016 6.13 2.26
2015 6.13 2.36
2014 6.1 2.42
2013 6.08 2.43
2012 6.05 2.45
2011 6.01 2.44
2010 5.96 2.44
2009 5.94 2.5
2008 5.9 2.68
2007 5.87 2.55
2006 5.84 2.55
2005 5.81 2.51
2004 5.78 2.44
2003 5.8 2.36
2002 5.79 2.32
2001 5.81 2.37
2000 5.85 2.41
1999 5.88 2.56
1998 5.89 2.63
1997 5.92 2.73
1996 5.96 2.99
1995 5.94 3.17
1994 5.92 3.26
1993 5.93 3.37
1992 5.96 3.48
1991 6.03 3.62
1990 6.05 3.72
1989 6.07 3.98
1988 6.1 4.18
1987 6.12 4.35
1986 6.11 4.41
1985 6.12 4.5
1984 6.14 4.57
1983 6.15 4.63
1982 6.16 4.7
1981 6.17 4.71
1980 6.13 4.78
1979 6.09 4.82
1978 6.04 4.85
1977 5.99 4.94
1976 5.94 5.07
1975 5.88 5.19
1974 5.9 5.3
1973 5.93 5.41
1972 5.96 5.49
1971 5.99 5.57
1970 6.03 5.63
1969 6.06 5.72
1968 6.1 5.78
1967 6.08 5.85
1966 6.06 5.91
1965 6.03 5.89
1964 6.01 5.96
1963 5.99 6.01
1962 5.97 6.05
1961 5.96 6.08
1960 5.95 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/south-africa | CC BY

Central African Republic and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Central African Republic

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
CAR South Africa
2024 15.4 29.5
2023 15.3 29.2
2022 15.3 28.9
2021 15.4 28.6
2020 15.4 28.3
2019 15.4 27.9
2018 15.4 27.5
2017 15.4 27
2016 15.4 26.7
2015 15.4 26.4
2014 15.6 26
2013 16 25.7
2012 16.3 25.3
2011 16.6 25
2010 16.7 24.6
2009 16.9 24.3
2008 17 24
2007 17.1 23.8
2006 17.1 23.5
2005 17.2 23.3
2004 17.2 23.1
2003 17.2 22.8
2002 17.1 22.4
2001 17.1 22.2
2000 17.1 21.9
1999 17.1 21.6
1998 17.1 21.4
1997 17.1 21.2
1996 17.2 21.2
1995 17.3 21.5
1994 17.4 22
1993 17.5 21.9
1992 17.5 21.5
1991 17.6 21.5
1990 17.8 21.3
1989 17.9 21.1
1988 18 20.9
1987 18.1 20.7
1986 18.2 20.5
1985 18.3 20.4
1984 18.3 20.2
1983 18.3 20
1982 18.4 19.8
1981 18.4 19.6
1980 18.5 19.4
1979 18.5 19.3
1978 18.5 19.2
1977 18.5 19.1
1976 18.5 19
1975 18.5 18.9
1974 18.6 18.9
1973 18.6 18.8
1972 18.7 18.8
1971 18.8 18.8
1970 18.9 18.8
1969 18.9 18.8
1968 19 18.8
1967 19.2 18.8
1966 19.3 18.8
1965 19.4 18.8
1964 19.6 18.9
1963 19.7 18.9
1962 19.9 18.9
1961 20.1 19
1960 20.3 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/central-african-republic/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for the Central African Republic and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

CAR South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$2.74B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.5%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
1.83%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.52%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
10,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-5.08%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
6.9%
2017
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
42.1%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
43.1
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
33.1%
2021
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2021
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$480M
2023
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$159K
1993
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
87,000
2019
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports n/a
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
13.7%
2017
81.1%
2024

Energy

CAR South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.34 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.06 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
90.9%
2022
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
96.5%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
96.2%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
17.6%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

CAR South Africa
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-14,693
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
44.1%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48:52
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.54 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.24 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
0.85
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
24
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
3
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
20.1
2016
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
37.7
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
59
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
37.5%
2020
91.2%
2024
English speaking
3%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
7.51%
2019
75.7%
2023

Health

CAR South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$53.8
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$24.2
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
58.2 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
39.9%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.07
2023
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
692
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
92.2
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
9.57%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.6%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
7
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.75 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

CAR South Africa
% of world land
0.42%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
45,122 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
21,887 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
85,765 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
14,913 mi
2018
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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