Central African Republic: health and care

What is the life expectancy in the Central African Republic?

Life expectancy at birth was 57.7 years in 2024, according to the World Bank, up from 57.4 years in 2023. The estimates come from the UN Population Division.

Life expectancy is held down by high death rates in childhood: the World Bank puts under-five mortality at 89.7 per 1,000 live births in 2024, and the maternal mortality ratio at 692 per 100,000 live births in 2023. These are modelled estimates, and the 2026 census will provide new data.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, CAR · World Bank: Under-five mortality, CAR

What is the birth rate in the Central African Republic?

The total fertility rate was 5.95 children per woman in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN Population Division estimates. It was 6.01 in 2023.

The total fertility rate estimates the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime at current birth rates. Survey-based fertility data come from household surveys run by ICASEES with the Ministry of Health and Population.

Official sources: World Bank: Fertility rate, CAR

How much does the Central African Republic spend on health?

Current health spending was 10.7% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank, using WHO Global Health Expenditure data. It was 9.9% in 2022.

The figure counts all health spending in the country, including by government, households and external partners. The Ministry of Health and Population runs national programmes such as vaccination campaigns against measles and polio, but it does not publish health spending figures on its website.

Official sources: World Bank: Current health expenditure, CAR · Ministry of Health and Population

What is the infant mortality rate in the Central African Republic?

The infant mortality rate in the Central African Republic was 58.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, down from 60.8 in 2023, according to the UN inter-agency estimates on World Bank Open Data. The under-five mortality rate was 89.7 per 1,000 in 2024.

The series shows much higher values for 2022 (206.8 for infants), the year of a sharp jump in the modelled series that is also visible in life expectancy. Users should treat the 2022 point with care. The estimates are modelled by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, because birth and death registration is incomplete.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data · 89.7 per 1,000

What is the maternal mortality rate in the Central African Republic?

The maternal mortality ratio in the Central African Republic was 692 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, down from 841 in 2022 and 1,127 in 2021, according to the UN modelled estimates on World Bank Open Data.

The ratio counts women who die from pregnancy-related causes during pregnancy or within 42 days of giving birth. It is estimated by the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank and UN Population Division), with wide uncertainty ranges because few deaths are registered.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data

How many doctors does the Central African Republic have?

The Central African Republic had 0.07 physicians per 1,000 people in 2023, about 7 per 100,000, according to WHO data on World Bank Open Data. The figure was 0.03 in 2022.

Households paid 45.02% of current health spending out of pocket in 2023, according to WHO estimates. Much basic care is provided with the support of humanitarian organisations. The Ministry of Health site did not respond on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data · WHO estimates

What is life expectancy in the Central African Republic?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in the Central African Republic was 57.7 years in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 46th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 64.3 years. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 191st highest.

How many babies die in the Central African Republic?

In 2024, the infant mortality rate in the Central African Republic was 58.8 per 1,000, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. No year since 2005 has been lower. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 37.2 per 1,000; the Central African Republic is 8th highest of 48. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 8th highest.

What is maternal mortality in the Central African Republic?

In 2023, the maternal mortality ratio in the Central African Republic was 692 per 100,000, according to the WHO. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 257 per 100,000, and the Central African Republic placed 3rd highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 3rd of 192.

What share of GDP does the Central African Republic spend on health care?

According to the WHO, current health spending in the Central African Republic was 10.7% of GDP in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.6% of GDP (2010) to 11.0% of GDP (2018). It is 4th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 4.4% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 21st of 191.

How much of health care in the Central African Republic do patients pay for?

45.0%: that is out-of-pocket health spending in the Central African Republic for 2023, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 41.7% (2018) to 60.6% (2019). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 32.4%, and the Central African Republic placed 17th highest of 48. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 42nd highest.

How many doctors does the Central African Republic have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 0.07 per 1,000. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2008. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 0.18 per 1,000, and the Central African Republic placed 15th highest of 16. Of 58 countries with 2023 data, 56th highest.

What is the measles vaccination rate in the Central African Republic?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 41.0%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 25.0% (2013) to 62.0% (2005). It is 48th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 81.0%. Worldwide: 189th of 191.