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Photo: David Holt London · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 02 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Central African Republic: Economy & Innovation
What does an economy do for the people inside it?
Central African Republic is placed 174th of 176 countries on economy & innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GDP per Capita (PPP) 1,123 (2025); Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit 8.853 (2025).
Economy & Innovation
174th
of 176 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
- 1,123GDP per Capita (PPP), 2025GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
- 8.853Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit, 2025Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
- —Economic Complexity Index, 2024No reading for this country
- —Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Central African Republic on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
GDP per Capita (PPP)
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Output per person: the standard measure of an economy's size set against the population it has to support.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
1,123
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Higher is better
Central African Republic: 1,123. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.
- World median
- 17,265
- Best in Middle Africa
- 18,986 Gabon
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 4,946 · DR Congo 1,641 · Republic of the Congo 6,194 · Sudan 1,873 · Chad 2,481
Each grey tick is one of 185 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 2 of 4
Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Whether businesses can borrow from the formal financial system — the firm-level counterpart to adults holding a bank account.
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Central African Republic’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
8.853
Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
Higher is better
Central African Republic: 8.853. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 2.113 (Pakistan) to 88.52 (Israel); the world median is 35.95.
- World median
- 35.95
- Best in Middle Africa
- 52.24 Cameroon
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 52.24 · DR Congo 8.696 · Republic of the Congo 26.57 · Sudan 4.622 · South Sudan 33.83 · Chad 9.312
Each grey tick is one of 179 countries at its latest reading, 2016–2025.
Key 3 of 4
Economic Complexity Index
Growth Lab at Harvard University
Why it is a key: What an economy knows how to make, read from the diversity and rarity of what it exports.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0
No reading
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Higher is better
Growth Lab at Harvard University publishes no 2024 figure for Central African Republic, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.
- World median
- 0.131
- Best in Middle Africa
- -0.768 Angola
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon -1.594 · DR Congo -3.126 · Republic of the Congo -2.531 · Sudan -2.078 · Chad -3.53
Each grey tick is one of 145 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 4 of 4
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Whether ordinary adults are inside the financial system at all, which output per person does not reveal.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
World Bank Group publishes no 2024 figure for Central African Republic, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.
- World median
- 72.83
- Best in Middle Africa
- 68.18 Gabon
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 60.87 · DR Congo 39.21 · Republic of the Congo 55.58 · Chad 20.9
Each grey tick is one of 139 countries in the 2024 edition.
02Over time
Which way Central African Republic is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) · higher is better
Central African RepublicWorld median
Central African Republic fell from 1,246 in 2000 to 1,123 in 2025; the world median went from 10,589 to 17,265.
Every year’s figures
Year Central African Republic World median 2025 1,122.8 17,265 2024 1,111.2 18,108 2023 1,132.7 17,686 2022 1,136.8 16,933 2021 1,128.6 16,260 2020 1,136.6 15,631 2019 1,145.1 16,761 2018 1,125.7 16,349 2017 1,103.9 16,129 2016 1,073.9 15,512 2015 1,043.9 14,857 2014 1,001.9 14,475 2013 996.9 14,681 2012 1,578.0 14,631 2011 1,517.1 13,916 2010 1,479.4 14,101 2009 1,402.7 13,655 2008 1,283.3 14,030 2007 1,284.6 13,755 2006 1,251.9 12,983 2005 1,219.6 12,023 2004 1,236.3 11,608 2003 1,191.9 11,183 2002 1,290.4 11,144 2001 1,272.9 10,907 2000 1,245.8 10,589
03In context
Central African Republic beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 176 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.
1st176thNot placed · 48 countries with too few key statisticsNo data
Central African Republic and the countries it borders
The standing is each country’s place among all 176 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | GDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) | Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of CreditFirms with a bank loan or line of credit (%) | Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) | Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cameroon | 116th | 4,946 | 52.24 | -1.594 | 60.87 |
 Republic of the Congo | 142nd | 6,194 | 26.57 | -2.531 | 55.58 |
 DR Congo | 172nd | 1,641 | 8.696 | -3.126 | 39.21 |
 Sudan | 173rd | 1,873 | 4.622 | -2.078 | — |
| Central African Republic | 174th | 1,123 | 8.853 | — | — |
 Chad | 175th | 2,481 | 9.312 | -3.53 | 20.9 |
 South Sudan | not placed | — | 33.83 | — | — |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Middle Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 176.
Placed either side on economy & innovation
The countries immediately above and below Central African Republic in the topic’s list.
Madagascar171st- DR Congo172nd
- Sudan173rd
- Central African Republic174th
- Chad175th
Somalia176th
04Context, no vote
Where Central African Republic is ahead of the world, and behind
25 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which Central African Republic does better than the middle country measured.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23173.39106.23▲ Improved since 2012
Central African Republic: 173.39 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 3rd of 195 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08147.99106.08▲ Improved since 2012
Central African Republic: 147.99 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 8th of 195 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.9753.470.975▲ Improved since 2015
Central African Republic: 3.47 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 33rd of 119 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3964.53.396No real change since 2015
Central African Republic: 4.5 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.
Position 57th of 186 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.9435.8543.94▲ Improved since 2014
Central African Republic: 35.85 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.
Position 73rd of 110 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06109.89107.06▼ Worsened since 2012
Central African Republic: 109.89 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 85th of 194 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which Central African Republic does worse than the middle country measured.
Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.9313.412.93▼ Worsened since 2019
Central African Republic: 13.4 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.
Position 53rd of 109 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.860.9966.8No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 60.99 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.
Position 34th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Logistics Performance IndexWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 2.92.52.9▲ Improved since 2014
Central African Republic: 2.5 · world median 2.9 · LPI score (1–5). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.9 to 4.3; higher is better.
Ranked 97th of 139 by World Bank Group.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-1.308-0.093▲ Improved since 2015
Central African Republic: -1.308 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 192nd of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1912.840.19No real change since 2021
Central African Republic: 12.8 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 192nd of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8240.3665.82No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 40.36 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.
Position 50th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1318.3550.13No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 18.35 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.
Position 50th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 14,2731,18114,273No real change since 2015
Central African Republic: 1,181 · world median 14,273 · GNI per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,181 to 116,633; higher is better.
Position 102nd of 102 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end11
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Household ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 62.0494.662.04Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 94.6 · world median 62.04 · Household and NPISH final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 25.21 to 133.34.
Position 6th of 131 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6.57227.616.572Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 27.61 · world median 6.572 · Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 47.59.
Position 13th of 158 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All ProductsWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 3.6614.483.66Moved since 2012
Central African Republic: 14.48 · world median 3.66 · Applied tariff rate, trade-weighted mean (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 29.52.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.70810.261.708Moved since 2011
Central African Republic: 10.26 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 43rd of 180 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Foreign Direct Investment InflowsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 1.9681.471.968Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 1.47 · world median 1.968 · FDI inflows (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -32.97 to 2,221.
Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 41.7233.5641.72Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 33.56 · world median 41.72 · Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.279 to 196.89.
Position 86th of 138 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 24.6521.2224.65Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 21.22 · world median 24.65 · Industry, including construction, value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.228 to 75.09.
Position 106th of 158 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Trade (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 79.6852.9179.68Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 52.91 · world median 79.68 · Exports plus imports (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.382 to 396.65.
Position 100th of 138 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 36.3419.3436.34Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 19.34 · world median 36.34 · Exports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.103 to 199.76.
Position 113th of 138 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
General Government ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 16.2110.3116.21Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 10.31 · world median 16.21 · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 5.445 to 38.94.
Position 110th of 132 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 22.939.30422.93Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 9.304 · world median 22.93 · Gross capital formation (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.679 to 45.27.
Position 126th of 131 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No current reading for Central African Republic
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution (last 2017), Adjusted Net Savings (last 1994), Container Port Traffic, Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports (last 2023), Economic Complexity Index, Gini Index (last 2021), Global Innovation Index, Gross Savings (% of GDP) (last 1994), ICT Services Exports (last 2023), Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2021), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2021), Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2023), Palma Ratio (last 2021), Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants and World Energy Trilemma Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Economy & Innovation among Central African Republic’s 15 topics
Economy & Innovation is Central African Republic’s 15th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Environment & Sustainability15th of 1813/3 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 80th of 1472/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties153rd of 1983/3 keys
- Gender & Equality148th of 1834/4 keys
- Work & Labour149th of 1824/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture147th of 1752/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience171st of 1923/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions176th of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Security163rd of 1774/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality151st of 1592/2 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 191st of 1982/3 keys
- Development & Human Capital193rd of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 197th of 2003/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge169th of 1713/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation174th of 1762/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on economy & innovation
The three countries placed highest of 176, and the leaders Central African Republic can most readily be measured against.
1
AustriaWestern Europe
1st of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
GermanyWestern Europe
3rd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Mauritius36th4/4 keysHighest in Middle Africa
Gabon=110th4/4 keysThis page
Central African Republic174th2/4 keys
Positions out of 176 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Central African Republic and economy & innovation
On economy & innovation
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On economy & innovation
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita. India is the better placed on five of them; Pakistan on one.
On economy & innovation
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
08Questions
Central African Republic on economy & innovation: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Central African Republic rank on economy & innovation?
Central African Republic is placed 174th of 176 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP) and Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for Central African Republic?
1,123 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.
What is the latest Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit figure for Central African Republic?
8.853 in 2025 (firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 35.95.
How does Central African Republic compare with DR Congo on economy & innovation?
DR Congo is placed 172nd of 176, and Central African Republic 174th. GDP per Capita (PPP): DR Congo 1,641, Central African Republic 1,123; Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit: DR Congo 8.696, Central African Republic 8.853.
How have Central African Republic’s economy & innovation figures changed?
GDP per Capita (PPP) fell from 1,246 in 2000 to 1,123 in 2025.
Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for Central African Republic?
No current reading is published for Central African Republic on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adjusted Net Savings, Container Port Traffic, Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports, Economic Complexity Index, Gini Index, Global Innovation Index, Gross Savings (% of GDP), ICT Services Exports, Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Palma Ratio, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants and World Energy Trilemma Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Keep reading
Explore further
Central African Republic, topic by topic
- Governance & Institutions176th of 194
- Work & Labour149th of 182
- Education & Knowledge169th of 171
- Health & Wellbeing=197th of 200
- Development & Human Capital193rd of 196
- Environment & Sustainability15th of 181
- Gender & Equality148th of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties153rd of 198
- Peace & Security163rd of 177
- Risk & Resilience171st of 192
- Mobility & Trade=80th of 147
- Food & Agriculture147th of 175
- Poverty & Inequality151st of 159
- Digital & Technology=191st of 198
- The full Central African Republic profile
Nearby, on economy & innovation
The key statistics, for every country
10Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.
How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 4 indicators on this topic are keys and 40 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2024 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 4 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 176 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 4.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- GDP per Capita (PPP) — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Economic Complexity Index — Growth Lab at Harvard University, CC0 1.0
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 25 statistics on this page come from 4 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Central African Republic’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Central African Republic (banner) — David Holt London, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Germany — dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Central African Republic: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/central-african-republic/economy