Central African Republic: environment

What are the Central African Republic's CO2 emissions?

The Central African Republic emitted about 0.06 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person in 2024, excluding land use and forestry, according to the World Bank, which uses the EDGAR database.

Forests cover about 72.5% of the land area, according to the World Bank's forest area indicator, so changes in forest cover matter more for the country's greenhouse gas balance than fuel use. No national emissions inventory figures were found on government websites checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: CO2 emissions per capita, CAR · World Bank: Forest area, CAR

How many people have electricity in the Central African Republic?

18.2% of the population had access to electricity in 2024, according to the World Bank, up from 15.7% in 2022.

The access figures are survey-based estimates from international energy tracking, combining household surveys with modelling, and are revised as new surveys arrive. No national electricity access figures were found on the government and ICASEES sites checked on 15 October 2026. ICASEES's education yearbook includes a table of schools with electricity.

Official sources: World Bank: Access to electricity, CAR · ICASEES

How much of the Central African Republic is forest?

Forest covered 72.46% of the Central African Republic's land area in 2024, down slightly from 72.61% in 2022, according to FAO estimates on World Bank Open Data.

The FAO counts land of more than half a hectare with trees over 5 metres tall and canopy cover above 10%, which in the Central African Republic includes both dense rainforest in the south-west and wooded savannah further north. Renewable sources, mainly firewood and charcoal, met 90.9% of final energy use in 2022, according to the same site.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data · according to the same site

How many people in the Central African Republic have safe drinking water?

6.22% of the Central African Republic's population used safely managed drinking water in 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF estimates on World Bank Open Data. It was 6.13% in 2022.

"Safely managed" means water from an improved source on the premises, available when needed and free from contamination. More people use improved sources such as boreholes or public taps that do not meet all three conditions. Water stress is very low, at 0.34% of renewable freshwater withdrawn in 2022, so the issue is access and treatment rather than supply.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data

What is air quality like in the Central African Republic?

People in the Central African Republic were exposed to an average of 33.29 micrograms of fine particles (PM2.5) per cubic metre in 2023, according to World Bank Open Data. The World Health Organization guideline for annual exposure is 5 micrograms.

The figure is a modelled estimate from satellite and ground data, weighted by population. Seasonal dust from the Sahara and smoke from savannah fires and cooking with wood and charcoal add to outdoor fine particles.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data (API)

What is the Central African Republic's carbon footprint per person?

In 2024, carbon dioxide emissions per person in the Central African Republic was 0.1 tonnes, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.0 tonnes (2013) to 0.1 tonnes (2023). It is 45th highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 0.4 tonnes. Worldwide: 180th of 186.

What are the Central African Republic's total greenhouse gas emissions?

The European Commission's EDGAR database puts total greenhouse gas emissions in the Central African Republic at 13.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 24.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent; the Central African Republic is 30th highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 131st of 186.

How much renewable energy does the Central African Republic use?

90.9%: that is the renewable share of final energy use in the Central African Republic for 2022, according to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 90.8% (2006) to 95.1% (2013). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 70.0%, and the Central African Republic placed 3rd highest of 23. Of 53 countries with 2022 data, 3rd highest.

What is the Central African Republic's forest cover?

According to the FAO, forest area as a share of land in the Central African Republic was 72.5% in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 22.2%; the Central African Republic is 4th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 14th of 190.

How polluted is the air in the Central African Republic?

In 2023, average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in the Central African Republic was 33.3 micrograms per cubic metre, according to the Global Burden of Disease study. The peak was 39.2 micrograms per cubic metre in 2011 and the low 31.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2005. It is 19th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre. Worldwide: 38th of 192.

What share of the Central African Republic is protected land?

The UN Environment Programme puts the share of land in protected areas in the Central African Republic at 14.8% in 2025. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2013. It is 30th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 16.9%. Worldwide: 120th of 192.

What is water stress in the Central African Republic?

In 2022, water stress in the Central African Republic was 0.3%, according to the FAO. It has not changed since 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 5.1%, and the Central African Republic placed 42nd highest of 47. Worldwide: 167th of 175.