Photo: David Holt London · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Central African Republic: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Central African Republic is placed 195th of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Upper Secondary Completion Rate 5.55 (2025); Government Spending on Education 1.83 (2023).
Share
Education & Knowledge
195th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
- —Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024No reading for this country
- —Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024No reading for this country
- 5.55Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 1.83Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Central African Republic on education & knowledge — 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
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
UIS publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Central African Republic, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Middle Africa
- 2.877 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 3.762 · Republic of the Congo 17.08 · Sudan 43.84 · South Sudan 64.73 · Chad 24.8
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Central African Republic, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Middle Africa
- 54.82 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 41.03 · Sudan 37.96 · South Sudan 9.452 · Chad 18.34
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
5.55
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Central African Republic: 5.55. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Middle Africa
- 55.09 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 22.69 · DR Congo 26.38 · Republic of the Congo 31.98 · Sudan 33.58 · South Sudan 2.13 · Chad 6.59
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
1.83
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Central African Republic: 1.83. Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
- Best in Middle Africa
- 5.029 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 2.839 · Republic of the Congo 3.34 · Chad 3.201
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.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
Central African RepublicWorld median
Central African Republic fell from 57.45 in 2005 to 37.89 in 2012; the world median went from 4.571 to 3.408.
Every year’s figures
Year Central African Republic World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 — 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 — 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 — 2.907 2016 — 2.954 2015 — 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 — 3.413 2012 37.9 3.408 2011 40.5 3.626 2010 38.1 3.491 2009 41.5 3.577 2008 41.8 3.878 2007 50.1 4.029 2006 57.3 4.338 2005 57.5 4.571 2004 — 3.791 2003 — 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 — 4.051 2000 — 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
Central African RepublicWorld median
Central African Republic rose from 4.205 in 2008 to 5.833 in 2011; the world median went from 85.81 to 86.19.
Every year’s figures
Year Central African Republic World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 — 87.6 2022 — 87.7 2021 — 87.0 2020 — 88.3 2019 — 88.8 2018 — 89.6 2017 — 87.4 2016 — 87.9 2015 — 88.2 2014 — 89.2 2013 — 88.0 2012 — 85.4 2011 6 86.2 2010 — 86.1 2009 5 84.8 2008 4 85.8 2007 — 86.7 2006 — 84.0 2005 — 82.2 2004 — 81.8 2003 — 78.3 2002 — 80.0 2001 — 80.8 2000 — 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
Central African RepublicWorld median
Central African Republic rose from 3.97 in 2000 to 5.55 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Central African Republic World median 2025 5.55 64.9 2024 5.46 65.0 2023 5.36 64.2 2022 5.28 63.6 2021 5.19 62.9 2020 5.09 62.2 2019 4.99 61.5 2018 4.87 60.9 2017 4.80 60.5 2016 4.69 60.1 2015 4.58 58.9 2014 4.51 57.0 2013 4.49 54.7 2012 4.50 52.4 2011 4.48 50.9 2010 4.46 49.5 2009 4.37 48.5 2008 4.25 47.4 2007 4.11 46.2 2006 4.03 45.0 2005 3.97 43.8 2004 3.93 42.9 2003 3.93 41.6 2002 3.95 40.3 2001 3.98 39.0 2000 3.97 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
Central African RepublicWorld median
Central African Republic rose from 1.613 in 2000 to 1.83 in 2023; the world median went from 3.886 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Central African Republic World median 2023 1.8300 3.7092 2022 2.1151 4.0570 2021 1.8725 4.2611 2020 2.1447 4.4056 2019 1.7679 4.1407 2018 1.5659 4.2159 2017 1.7537 4.1401 2016 1.7541 4.2342 2015 1.9102 4.2386 2014 2.2202 4.2005 2013 2.6382 4.3493 2012 1.9803 4.0348 2011 1.1079 3.9987 2010 1.1176 4.1396 2009 1.2546 4.6638 2008 1.2900 4.4226 2007 1.3133 4.1717 2006 1.4151 4.0593 2005 1.6522 4.0557 2004 1.6245 3.9745 2003 1.5398 4.1595 2002 1.5196 4.0173 2001 — 4.1002 2000 1.6127 3.8861
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 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Central African Republic and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Republic of the Congo | 164th | 17.08 | — | 31.98 | 3.34 |
 Cameroon | 165th | 3.762 | 41.03 | 22.69 | 2.839 |
 Chad | 189th | 24.8 | 18.34 | 6.59 | 3.201 |
 Sudan | =190th | 43.84 | 37.96 | 33.58 | — |
| Central African Republic | 195th | — | — | 5.55 | 1.83 |
 South Sudan | 198th | 64.73 | 9.452 | 2.13 | — |
 DR Congo | not placed | — | — | 26.38 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Middle Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Central African Republic in the topic’s list.
Myanmar192nd
Burundi193rd
Eritrea194th- Central African Republic195th
Equatorial Guinea196th
Somalia197th- South Sudan198th
04Context, no vote
Where Central African Republic is ahead of the world, and behind
13 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Behind the world median11
Statistics on which Central African Republic does worse than the middle country measured.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.3260.619▼ Worsened since 2015
Central African Republic: 0.326 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 123rd of 176 · derived.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32368.73414.32No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 368.73 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.
Position 137th of 172 · derived.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.5370.446No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 0.537 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 28th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9333.9899.933No real change since 2013
Central African Republic: 3.989 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 178th of 193 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9942.4493.99No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 42.44 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 164th of 172 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4330.8297.43No real change since 2015
Central African Republic: 30.82 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 160th of 165 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.347.43613.34No real change since 2013
Central African Republic: 7.436 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 190th of 195 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9412.6967.941No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 2.696 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.
Position 168th of 172 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2250.698.22No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 50.6 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.0330.529No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 0.033 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2114.0189.21No real change since 2015
Central African Republic: 14.01 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 163rd of 164 · derived.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1741.4638.17No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 41.46 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2401772,240Moved since 2022
Central African Republic: 177 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
No current reading for Central African Republic
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2019), Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2012), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2010), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2012), Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2012), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2012), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2012), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2011), PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2011), Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2016), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2016), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy (last 2012), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2017), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2012), Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2019). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Central African Republic’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Central African Republic’s 13th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability6th of 1863/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade86th of 1772/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture146th of 1843/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties160th of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equality148th of 1834/4 keys
- Work & Labour149th of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 170th of 1933/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions176th of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Security163rd of 1774/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality153rd of 1593/3 keys
- Digital & Technology192nd of 1983/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital193rd of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge195th of 1982/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 197th of 2003/4 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 education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Central African Republic can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Africa
Tunisia=48th3/4 keysHighest in Middle Africa
São Tomé and Príncipe=114th4/4 keysThis page
Central African Republic195th2/4 keys
Positions out of 198 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.
07Questions
Central African Republic on education & knowledge: 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 education & knowledge?
Central African Republic is placed 195th of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Upper Secondary Completion Rate and Government Spending on Education). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Upper Secondary Completion Rate figure for Central African Republic?
5.55 in 2025 (upper secondary completion rate (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 64.87.
What is the latest Government Spending on Education figure for Central African Republic?
1.83 in 2023 (government expenditure on education (% of GDP)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.709.
How does Central African Republic compare with DR Congo on education & knowledge?
DR Congo is not placed on Education & Knowledge, holding too few of its key statistics, and Central African Republic 195th. Upper Secondary Completion Rate: DR Congo 26.38, Central African Republic 5.55.
How have Central African Republic’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 57.45 in 2005 to 37.89 in 2012; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 4.205 in 2008 to 5.833 in 2011; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 3.97 in 2000 to 5.55 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 1.613 in 2000 to 1.83 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Central African Republic?
No current reading is published for Central African Republic on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Trust in Scientists and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 13 statistics on this page come from 5 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
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Central African Republic: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/central-african-republic/education