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Central African Republic vs São Tomé and Príncipe
Side-by-side comparison of Central African Republic and São Tomé and Príncipe from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Central African Republic
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 66 years
São Tomé and Príncipe
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 51 years
In short
São Tomé and Príncipe scores 30.3 in the NationsTree Index (163rd in the world) and Central African Republic scores 15.0 (196th), a gap of 15.3 points. Their trees are 1.3 m and 0.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Central African Republic has 23 times the population of São Tomé and Príncipe. Central African Republic is 649 times larger than São Tomé and Príncipe by land area. Central African Republic has an economy 4.7 times the size of São Tomé and Príncipe (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Central African Republic 5.5 million and São Tomé and Príncipe 240,254 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $6,388 in São Tomé and Príncipe and $1,314 in Central African Republic (2025, international dollars). People in São Tomé and Príncipe live on average 12.2 years longer (69.9 vs 57.7 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Central African Republic ranks higher in the world on 8 and São Tomé and Príncipe on 22. Central African Republic is clearly stronger in main industries, economy and natural resources. São Tomé and Príncipe is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, tourism and society & health.
As a nation, Central African Republic is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with São Tomé and Príncipe (since 1975). Over the last five years São Tomé and Príncipe improved faster (direction score 53 vs 45 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Central African Republic and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Central African Republicbetter
1.0%
37th of 180
São Tomé and Príncipe
11.0%
160th of 180
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Central African Republic
35.9
191st of 207
São Tomé and Príncipebetter
75.2
76th of 207
GDP growthEconomy
Central African Republicbetter
4.5%
64th of 210
São Tomé and Príncipe
1.0%
173rd of 210
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Central African Republic
21.3
190th of 207
São Tomé and Príncipebetter
50.6
85th of 207
Under-5 mortalitySociety & health
Central African Republic
89.7
188th of 196
São Tomé and Príncipebetter
13.6
95th of 196
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
São Tomé and Príncipe has been ahead of Central African Republic in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1998.
São Tomé and Príncipe has been ahead of Central African Republic in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Central African Republic has been ahead of São Tomé and Príncipe in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Central African RepublicSão Tomé and Príncipe All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Central African Republic | São Tomé and Príncipe |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 622,98044th/216 · 2024 | 960178th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 622,98043rd/216 · 2024 | 960177th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.5 m119th/217 · 2025 | 240,254181st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 3.37%7th/217 · 2025 | 1.98%51st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 8.6204th/216 · 2024 | 245.457th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 44.6%163rd/217 · 2025 | 69.2%94th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 48.7%1st/217 · 2025 | 37.5%39th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.2%213th/217 · 2025 | 3.9%168th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.07 bn180th/210 · 2025 | $981.3 m200th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $7.24 bn167th/199 · 2025 | $1.53 bn190th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $6.19 bn167th/199 · 2025 | $1.31 bn190th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $556208th/210 · 2025 | $4,084149th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $1,314198th/199 · 2025 | $6,388158th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $560198th/201 · 2025 | $3,800143rd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.5%64th/210 · 2025 | 1.0%173rd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.0%37th/180 · 2025 | 11.0%160th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.3%115th/187 · 2025 | 9.1%144th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 42.6%70th/189 · 2025 | 59.1%110th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.8%125th/192 · 2025 | -3.4%116th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 27.6%16th/197 · 2025 | 12.2%61st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 21.2%119th/200 · 2025 | 2.2%200th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 18.0%30th/192 · 2023 | 0.6%189th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 41.4%184th/200 · 2025 | 81.4%10th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $593.1 m165th/182 · 2025 | $130.2 m176th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.03 bn168th/182 · 2025 | $326.8 m179th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 19.3%147th/183 · 2025 | 13.3%167th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 33.6%120th/183 · 2025 | 33.3%121st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 52.9%138th/183 · 2025 | 46.6%149th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%141st/170 · 2024 | 0.0%153rd/170 · 2022 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 71.8%40th/171 · 2024 | 1.5%165th/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.2%168th/171 · 2024 | 98.2%1st/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 6.3%54th/171 · 2024 | 0.2%161st/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 8.3%79th/168 · 2024 | 29.3%16th/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -2.6%107th/191 · 2025 | -4.3%135th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.4%122nd/196 · 2025 | 10.5%17th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 10.3%45th/209 · 2021 | 1.9%98th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.77%49th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 9.49%6th/209 · 2021 | 1.88%38th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.9%158th/206 · 2024 | 4.2%144th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 27,65822nd/183 · 2022 | 9,63347th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 87,000168th/194 · 2019 | 33,400181st/194 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $15.6 m2013 | $71.9 m148th/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | — | 73.2%8th/168 · 2018 |
| Outbound trips departures | 38,0002010 | 10,3002008 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 57.7215th/217 · 2024 | 69.9155th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 89.7188th/196 · 2024 | 13.695th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.07170th/174 · 2023 | 0.46126th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.02011 | 2.960th/145 · 2019 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 42%190th/193 · 2024 | 87%121st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 12.5%2019 | 38.9%2012 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 15.8%2017 | 90.4%2017 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 16.1%2017 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 4.5%208th/217 · 2025 | 6.7%165th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.7%22nd/193 · 2023 | 5.8%109th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 42.4%2019 | 87.4%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 2.8%2012 | 12.8%2015 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.414191st/193 · 2023 | 0.637141st/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 43.095th/108 · 2021 | 40.72017 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 71.6%106th/108 · 2021 | 13.0%2017 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 18.2%212th/215 · 2024 | 77.7%172nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 6.2%150th/150 · 2024 | 36.7%122nd/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 13.5%134th/144 · 2024 | 34.7%103rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 13.8%183rd/186 · 2024 | 59.1%140th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 39205th/210 · 2022 | 62189th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.0203rd/208 · 2022 | 3.0150th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.6080th/164 · 2022 | 2.33116th/164 · 2018 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 46,3642001 | 38,767146th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.0612th/203 · 2024 | 0.6350th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 90.9%5th/212 · 2022 | 42.5%56th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 33.3163rd/200 · 2023 | 15.183rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 72.5%15th/214 · 2024 | 57.6%39th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 2592007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 19.3197th/205 · 2025 | 36.7161st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 21.3190th/207 · 2025 | 50.685th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 30.7198th/207 · 2025 | 51.2128th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 35.9191st/207 · 2025 | 75.276th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 33.0188th/205 · 2025 | 39.3174th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 34.5171st/205 · 2025 | 61.391st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 20.12016 | 3.22011 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $74.2 m142nd/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%46th/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 12.5%22nd/154 · 2025 | — |
| Armed forces personnel people | 10,000131st/170 · 2020 | 1,0001999 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.54%109th/168 · 2020 | 5.10%1999 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 43.0 m68th/163 · 2023 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Scientific articles articles | 26170th/197 · 2023 | 5188th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Central African Republic or São Tomé and Príncipe?
Central African Republic has the larger population: 5.5 m (2025) compared with 240,254 for São Tomé and Príncipe (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Central African Republic or São Tomé and Príncipe?
Central African Republic is larger: 622,980 km² (2024) compared with 960 km² for São Tomé and Príncipe (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Central African Republic or São Tomé and Príncipe?
Central African Republic has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $7.24 bn intl. (2025) compared with $1.53 bn intl. for São Tomé and Príncipe (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Central African Republic or São Tomé and Príncipe?
São Tomé and Príncipe has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $6,388 intl. (2025) compared with $1,314 intl. for Central African Republic (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Central African Republic or São Tomé and Príncipe?
São Tomé and Príncipe has the higher life expectancy at birth: 69.9 years (2024) compared with 57.7 years for Central African Republic (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Central African Republic or São Tomé and Príncipe?
São Tomé and Príncipe: 30.3 points (163rd in the world); Central African Republic: 15.0 points (196th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Cabo Verde
Comoros
Gambia
Guinea-Bissau
Lesotho
SeychellesSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Central African Republic vs São Tomé and Príncipe — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/central-african-republic-vs-sao-tome-and-principe. Data as of 26 October 2026.