Photo: David Holt London · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 13 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Central African Republic: Food & Agriculture
What does a country grow, and what does it take to grow it?
Central African Republic is placed 146th of 184 countries on food & agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) 2.83 (2024); Cereal Yield 878.1 (2023).
Share
Food & Agriculture
146th
of 184 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 2.83Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), 2024Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
- 878.1Cereal Yield, 2023Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
- —Dietary Energy Supply, 2024No reading for this country
- 0.27Agriculture Orientation Index, 2024Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Central African Republic on food & agriculture — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
2.83
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
Higher is better
Central African Republic: 2.83. Across the 186 countries in this edition, values run from 1.67 (Tuvalu) to 4.57 (Italy); the world median is 3.14.
- World median
- 3.14
- Best in Middle Africa
- 3.67 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 3.29 · DR Congo 2.14 · Republic of the Congo 2.43 · Sudan 2.29 · South Sudan 2.17 · Chad 2
Key 2 of 4
Cereal Yield
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 4.0
878.1
Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
Higher is better
Central African Republic: 878.1. Across the 179 countries in this edition, values run from 23 (Cabo Verde) to 29,147 (Oman); the world median is 3,072.
- World median
- 3,072
- Best in Middle Africa
- 2,004 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 1,770 · DR Congo 863.2 · Republic of the Congo 877.7 · Sudan 454.9 · South Sudan 983.6 · Chad 819.3
Key 3 of 4
Dietary Energy Supply
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
Higher is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for Central African Republic, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 155 countries in this edition, values run from 1,757 (Somalia) to 3,962 (United States); the world median is 2,982.
- World median
- 2,982
- Best in Middle Africa
- 2,851 Cameroon
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 2,851 · DR Congo 2,069 · Republic of the Congo 2,240 · South Sudan 2,463 · Chad 2,121
Key 4 of 4
Agriculture Orientation Index
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
0.27
Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
Higher is better
Central African Republic: 0.27. Across the 132 countries in this edition, values run from 0.03 (Ghana) to 5.38 (Singapore); the world median is 0.305.
- World median
- 0.305
- Best in Middle Africa
- 0.27 Central African Republic
- Land neighbours
- DR Congo 0.11 · Chad 0.09
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.
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators · higher is better
Central African RepublicWorld median
Central African Republic rose from 2.5 in 2015 to 2.83 in 2024; the world median went from 3.14 to 3.14.
Every year’s figures
Year Central African Republic World median 2024 2.8 3.1 2023 2.8 3.1 2022 2.8 3.2 2021 2.8 3.1 2020 2.8 3.1 2019 2.8 3.1 2018 2.8 3.2 2017 2.8 3.1 2016 2.8 3.1 2015 2.5 3.1 Cereal Yield
Cereal yield (kg per hectare) · higher is better
Central African RepublicWorld median
Central African Republic fell from 993.3 in 2000 to 878.1 in 2023; the world median went from 2,170 to 3,072.
Every year’s figures
Year Central African Republic World median 2023 878 3,072 2022 830 3,217 2021 807 3,003 2020 713 3,260 2019 859 3,106 2018 864 2,883 2017 872 2,984 2016 875 3,043 2015 884 3,000 2014 896 3,001 2013 911 2,970 2012 942 2,782 2011 966 2,754 2010 908 2,647 2009 948 2,653 2008 947 2,664 2007 951 2,553 2006 990 2,514 2005 1,018 2,512 2004 1,008 2,428 2003 1,010 2,331 2002 1,048 2,378 2001 1,033 2,199 2000 993 2,170 Agriculture Orientation Index
Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size) · higher is better
Central African RepublicWorld median
Central African Republic rose from 0.03 in 2008 to 0.27 in 2024; the world median went from 0.39 to 0.305.
Every year’s figures
Year Central African Republic World median 2024 0.27 0.305 2023 0.22 0.305 2022 0.19 0.290 2021 0.19 0.260 2020 0.20 0.255 2019 0.29 0.265 2018 0.21 0.270 2017 0.19 0.260 2016 0.10 0.285 2015 0.42 0.305 2014 0.27 0.300 2013 — 0.285 2012 0.18 0.330 2011 0.13 0.290 2010 0.10 0.320 2009 0.05 0.370 2008 0.03 0.390 2007 — 0.410 2006 — 0.355 2005 — 0.325 2004 — 0.320 2003 — 0.320 2002 — 0.340 2001 — 0.360
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 184 countries on food & agriculture, never a place within the region.
Central African Republic and the countries it borders
Standing among all 184; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators | Cereal YieldCereal yield (kg per hectare) | Dietary Energy SupplyDietary energy supply (kcal per person per day) | Agriculture Orientation IndexAgriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cameroon | =115th | 3.29 | 1,770 | 2,851 | — |
| Central African Republic | 146th | 2.83 | 878.1 | — | 0.27 |
 South Sudan | 174th | 2.17 | 983.6 | 2,463 | — |
 Republic of the Congo | =176th | 2.43 | 877.7 | 2,240 | — |
 DR Congo | 181st | 2.14 | 863.2 | 2,069 | 0.11 |
 Sudan | 182nd | 2.29 | 454.9 | — | — |
 Chad | 183rd | 2 | 819.3 | 2,121 | 0.09 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Middle Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 184.
Placed either side on food & agriculture
The countries immediately above and below Central African Republic in the topic’s list.
Nigeria143rd
Comoros144th
Ethiopia145th- Central African Republic146th
Pakistan147th
Bolivia148th
Tanzania149th
04Context, no vote
Where Central African Republic is ahead of the world, and behind
20 more statistics filed under food & agriculture, 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 median3
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.
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.
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.
Behind the world median4
Statistics on which Central African Republic does worse than the middle country measured.
Global Report on Food CrisesFSIN · 2024 · world median 224122▼ Worsened since 2016
Central African Republic: 41 · world median 22 · In IPC Phase 3+ (% of analysed population). Food Security Information Network (FSIN), 2025 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3 to 56; lower is better.
Position 5th of 44 · derived, 1st = worst.
Agricultural Emissions IntensityFAO · 2023 · world median 1.5655.611.565▲ Improved since 2013
Central African Republic: 5.61 · world median 1.565 · Greenhouse gases from farming per value of agricultural output (kg CO₂eq per international dollar). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 28.2; lower is better.
Position 16th of 190 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.229.85.2No real change since 2013
Central African Republic: 29.8 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 10th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,742548.396,742No real change since 2015
Central African Republic: 548.39 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 145th of 151 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to LandFAO · 2025 · world median 333No earlier reading
Central African Republic: 3 · world median 3 · Level of legal guarantees of women's equal rights to land ownership and control, 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 6; higher is better.
No better end12
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3866.0614.38Moved since 2015
Central African Republic: 66.06 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 7th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
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, counted from the highest value.
Arable Land per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 0.1090.3490.109No real change since 2013
Central African Republic: 0.349 · world median 0.109 · Arable land (hectares per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1.459.
Position 26th of 206 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural EmissionsFAO · 2023 · world median 8,63515,6078,635Moved since 2013
Central African Republic: 15,607 · world median 8,635 · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,044,508.
Position 72nd of 193 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5350.60.535No real change since 2013
Central African Republic: 0.6 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 83rd of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 2024 · world median 52,37529,38052,375Moved since 2014
Central African Republic: 29,380 · world median 52,375 · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 70,500,841.
Land Under Cereal ProductionFAO · 2023 · world median 689,278344,610689,278Moved since 2013
Central African Republic: 344,610 · world median 689,278 · Land under cereal production (hectares). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 103,715,108.
Position 108th of 179 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cropland Nitrogen BalanceFAO · 2023 · world median 37.6311.9937.63Moved since 2013
Central African Republic: 11.99 · world median 37.63 · Nitrogen surplus (+) or deficit (−) on cropland, kg per hectare. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -555.52 to 1,199.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.969.09937.96No real change since 2013
Central African Republic: 9.099 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 181st of 209 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Water Withdrawal by SectorFAO · 2022 · world median 62.140.55262.14No real change since 2012
Central African Republic: 0.552 · world median 62.14 · Freshwater withdrawn for agriculture (% of total). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.48.
Position 165th of 171 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.730.021.73No real change since 2014
Central African Republic: 0.02 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 173rd of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.360.04487.36No real change since 2013
Central African Republic: 0.044 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 187th of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Central African Republic
Agricultural Irrigated Land, Cereal Import Dependency Ratio (last 2008), Dietary Energy Supply, Fish and Seafood Supply per Person, Fruit Supply per Person, Meat Supply per Person, Organic Agricultural Area, Per Capita Food Supply Variability, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity (last 2022), Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and Tubers (last 2008), Vegetable Supply per Person and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. 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
Food & Agriculture among Central African Republic’s 15 topics
Food & Agriculture is Central African Republic’s 3rd 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 food & agriculture
The three countries placed highest of 184, and the leaders Central African Republic can most readily be measured against.
1
SerbiaSouthern Europe
1st of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
AustriaWestern Europe
2nd of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
3
MaltaSouthern Europe
3rd of 184 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Seychelles31st2/4 keysHighest in Middle Africa
Cameroon=115th3/4 keysThis page
Central African Republic146th3/4 keys
Positions out of 184 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 food & agriculture: 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 food & agriculture?
Central African Republic is placed 146th of 184 countries on Food & Agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), Cereal Yield and Agriculture Orientation Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) figure for Central African Republic?
2.83 in 2024 (current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3.14.
What is the latest Cereal Yield figure for Central African Republic?
878.1 in 2023 (cereal yield (kg per hectare)), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3,072.
How does Central African Republic compare with DR Congo on food & agriculture?
DR Congo is placed 181st of 184, and Central African Republic 146th. Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy): DR Congo 2.14, Central African Republic 2.83; Cereal Yield: DR Congo 863.2, Central African Republic 878.1; Agriculture Orientation Index: DR Congo 0.11, Central African Republic 0.27.
How have Central African Republic’s food & agriculture figures changed?
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) rose from 2.5 in 2015 to 2.83 in 2024; Cereal Yield fell from 993.3 in 2000 to 878.1 in 2023; Agriculture Orientation Index rose from 0.03 in 2008 to 0.27 in 2024.
Which food & agriculture statistics are missing for Central African Republic?
No current reading is published for Central African Republic on Agricultural Irrigated Land, Cereal Import Dependency Ratio, Dietary Energy Supply, Fish and Seafood Supply per Person, Fruit Supply per Person, Meat Supply per Person, Organic Agricultural Area, Per Capita Food Supply Variability, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and Tubers, Vegetable Supply per Person and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. 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
This subject is about production and land use, not about whether people are fed. Hunger, undernourishment and what a population actually eats are measured under Health & Wellbeing, and the two regularly disagree — a country can grow a great deal and still leave many people short, and one that grows little can be well fed by trade. The wider environmental cost of farming — emissions, water withdrawal, forest cover — is filed under Environment & Sustainability.
How the Food & Agriculture 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 food & agriculture method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Cereal Yield — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Dietary Energy Supply — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Agriculture Orientation Index — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 20 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
- Serbia — Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Malta — Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Central African Republic: Food & Agriculture — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/central-african-republic/food