CountriesIndicatorsThis week
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic has 5.5 m people (World Bank, 2025) and an economy of $3.1 bn a year (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of the oil it uses (EIA, 2024).

Written automatically from the figures on this page.

Population
5.5 m (2025)

Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.

1

Dependencies at a glance

The Central African Republic imports all of the oil it uses.

Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
ResourceDependencePositionMain partners
OilImports mostImports all of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
Natural gasUses no gas, by this source PreliminaryEIA, 2024No partner data from the source
WheatNot reported by this source–
MaizeNot reported by this source–
RiceImports someImports 25% of the rice it uses EstimateFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023United States, India, China
SoybeansNot reported by this source–
PotashImports mostImports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
PhosphateImports mostImports all of its phosphate supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
ArmsSupplier concentration onlyMain supplier: Belarus, 38% of importsSIPRI, 2021–2025Belarus, Russia, United Arab Emirates
ChipsSupplier concentration onlyNot reported by this sourceUN Comtrade, 2025–

Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).

  • OilImports most

    Imports all of the oil it uses

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • Natural gas

    Uses no gas, by this source Preliminary

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, 2024

  • Wheat

    Not reported by this source

  • Maize

    Not reported by this source

  • RiceImports some

    Imports 25% of the rice it uses Estimate

    Main partners: United States, India, China

    FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • Soybeans

    Not reported by this source

  • PotashImports most

    Imports all of its potash supply Estimate

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • PhosphateImports most

    Imports all of its phosphate supply Estimate

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • ArmsSupplier concentration only

    Main supplier: Belarus, 38% of imports

    Main partners: Belarus, Russia, United Arab Emirates

    SIPRI, 2021–2025

  • ChipsSupplier concentration only

    Not reported by this source

    UN Comtrade, 2025

Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; SIPRIyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Dependencies tool
2

Money and reserves

The Central African Republic’s economy produced $3.1 bn in 2025.

GDP, 2000–2025

$0$1.0 bn$2.0 bn$3.0 bn$4.0 bn200020052010201520202025

Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026

Economic growth4.5%2025 · 57th of 186 · World Bank
Inflation1.0%2025 · 134th of 169 · World Bank
Unemployment6.3%2025 · 68th of 181 · World Bank
ReservesUS$489million2024 · 149th of 164 · World Bank
Trade46% of GDP2024 · 137th of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$44million2025 · 160th of 200 · World Bank
3

People

The Central African Republic had 5.5 m people in 2025.

Population, 1950–2100

010 m20 m30 m195019701990200020102030205020702100Projection
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios

Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection

The Central African Republic’s population by age

1950200020502100
MenWomen01020304050607080901001m01m
Millions of people in each five-year age group, men left and women right. Years after 2023 are UN projections (medium variant).

Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Births per woman6.012023 · 5th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age14.32023 · 237th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over2.2%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
4

Climate and hazards

The Central African Republic emitted 395,000 t of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.

The Central African Republic’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024

0 Mt0.10 Mt0.20 Mt0.30 Mt0.40 Mt1990199520002005201020152024

Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026

CO2 emissions0.40Mt2024 · 186th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person0.1t2024 · 210th of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 175012Mt2024 · 184th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
Water stress0.02023 · 149th of 164 · WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
5

More figures

Shown only where a source covers the Central African Republic.

Refugees

63,761refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
756,822from it, abroad, 2025

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025

Sanctions

61entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 26, EU 14 and UK 21

Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.

Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Chinese loans and grants

US$724millioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021

Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021

Cyber incidents

No publicly known incidents affecting the Central African Republic in EuRepoC’s dataset, 2000–2024.

Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted.

Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024

6

All figures

47 measures on this site have a recent figure for the Central African Republic.

GDP$3.1 bn2025161st of 186World Bank
GDP per person$5562025185th of 186World Bank
Economic growth4.5%202557th of 186World Bank
Inflation1.0%2025134th of 169World Bank
Government debt43%2025121st of 191IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Government budget balance−3.8%2025128th of 195IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Current account balanceEstimate2025110th of 194IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Unemployment6.3%202568th of 181World Bank
Reserves, including gold$489 m2024149th of 164World Bank
Trade46%2024137th of 172World Bank
Foreign investment in$44 m2025160th of 200World Bank
Population5.5 m2025119th of 216World Bank
Population with UN projections5.2 m2023124th of 237UN WPP 2024
Births per woman6.0120235th of 237UN WPP 2024
Median age14.32023237th of 237UN WPP 2024
Life expectancy57.42023234th of 237UN WPP 2024
Refugees from the country756,822202510th of 206UNHCR
Refugees and others needing protection, by host63,761202572nd of 176UNHCR
Refugees hosted per 1,000 people11.6202556th of 176UNHCR
People displaced inside the country427,479202522nd of 38UNHCR
Crude oil production0 kb/d2025100th of 214EIA
Oil consumption3 kb/d2024190th of 212EIA
Natural gas productionPreliminary202497th of 213EIA
Natural gas consumption0.0 bcm2024126th of 213EIA
Electricity generated0 TWh2023194th of 206Ember
Low-carbon electricity100%20232nd of 206Ember
Electricity from coal0%202385th of 206Ember
Electricity from wind and solar0%2023179th of 206Ember
Wheat imports0.0 Mt2024166th of 180FAOSTAT
Maize production0.2 Mt202495th of 169FAOSTAT
Maize imports0.0 Mt2024181st of 196FAOSTAT
Rice production0.0 Mt202482nd of 135FAOSTAT
Rice imports0.0 Mt2024141st of 197FAOSTAT
Potash fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024187th of 199FAOSTAT
Phosphate fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024188th of 199FAOSTAT
CO2 emissions0.40 Mt2024186th of 214Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person0.1 t2024210th of 213Global Carbon Budget
CO2 emitted since 175012 Mt2024184th of 214Global Carbon Budget
Water stress0.02023149th of 164WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
Water from abroad0%2023125th of 193FAO AQUASTAT
Military spending, share of GDP2.3%202542nd of 150World Bank
Military spending$74 m2025136th of 150World Bank
Deaths in organised violence362202527th of 61UCDP
Arms imports43 TIV m202361st of 125SIPRI
People using the internet14%2024179th of 182World Bank
Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK)61202645th of 181US CSL
Chinese loans and grants committed$203 m202130th of 122AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0

Sources for this page

  • World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Reserves, …
  • IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
  • UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
  • UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000, Internally displaced
  • U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
  • Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
  • FAOSTATWheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice production, Rice imports, Potash use, …
  • Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750
  • WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)Water stress
  • FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
  • UCDP Georeferenced Event DatasetConflict deaths
  • SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseArms imports, Dependencies at a glance
  • US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
  • AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
  • EU financial sanctions listSanctions
  • UK Sanctions ListSanctions
  • EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents

Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure

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