country profile

Central African Republic

Sub-Saharan AfricaLow income5.51M population

Last updated July 1, 2026

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Fragile/Conflict-Affected Country: This country is classified as experiencing conflict.

In fragile and conflict-affected settings, severe data gaps, rapid disruption, and uneven reporting can distort index values. These scores should be read as a limited signal, not a complete picture of conditions in the country.

Critically unprepared

Composite GEFRI Score

Systemwide critical constraints

Central African Republic shows critically low readiness to meet the challenges and opportunities of education in a rapidly changing world (1st percentile worldwide). Core capabilities are weak across most dimensions, and essential systems face significant constraints.

15.01Composite score
Global percentile
1st
Global rank
#177
Regional rank
#46
Viewing data for
Critically unprepared
Infrastructure
9.70
2nd percentileGlobal avg. 54.95
Critically unprepared
Human Capital
12.24
2nd percentileGlobal avg. 47.14
Severely underprepared
Innovation
32.48
21st percentileGlobal avg. 45.34
Critically unprepared
Governance
20.65
9th percentileGlobal avg. 47.93
Critically unprepared
Access & Parity
0.00
8th percentileGlobal avg. 49.93

Country profile

Central African Republic faces substantial readiness constraints across core dimensions. Its weakest results are in Innovation (32, 21st percentile), Governance (21, 9th percentile), GEFRI Composite (15, 1st percentile), Human Capital (12, 2nd percentile), Infrastructure (10, 2nd percentile) and School Access and Gender Parity (0, 8th percentile). These gaps continue to weigh on overall readiness.

Uneven scores across dimensions show where readiness conditions are less aligned. Limited electricity or internet coverage still constrains classrooms, preventing large-scale digital instruction. Literacy or tertiary enrollment gaps thin the talent pipeline and limit the country’s capacity to develop future-ready skills.

Sparse R&D investment and a small research workforce slow experimentation and delay new ideas from reaching learners. Policy execution and regulatory capacity remain weak, leaving reforms fragmented and hard to sustain. Gender parity leans toward boys in secondary pathways, signalling persistent barriers for girls.

Some indicators are imputed, so the profile should be read with moderate caution.

Key insights

Falls below many peers at the 1st percentile.

Places 177th worldwide.

Holds a regional position of 46th within Sub-Saharan Africa.

Scores range from Innovation (32.5) to Access & Parity (0.0), reflecting variation across dimensions.

Trails regional peers most clearly in Infrastructure.

Regional peers: Sub-Saharan Africa

Composite GEFRI Score

Global rankRegional rankCountryScore
691South Africa57.43
742Mauritius55.93
SeychellesMicrostate54.88
823Botswana53.64
1024Ghana47.60
1095Namibia44.21
1146Cabo Verde39.97
1177Eswatini38.09
1248Senegal35.60
1259Equatorial Guinea35.44
12610Gabon34.74
12811Rwanda34.23
13312Kenya32.80
13513Gambia, The32.06
13614Cote d'Ivoire31.95
Sao Tome and PrincipeFCSMicrostate31.67
13815Lesotho31.49
14116ZimbabweFCS29.85
14217Tanzania29.40
14318Benin29.37
14519Togo28.97
14620CameroonFCS28.60
14721Zambia27.79
14822Mauritania27.70
15023Angola26.28
15224Congo, Rep.FCS25.75
15425EthiopiaFCS25.47
15526ComorosFCS25.38
15627Uganda24.64
15728NigeriaFCS24.56
15829MozambiqueFCS24.51
15930Sierra Leone24.42
16031Madagascar24.10
16132Burkina FasoFCS23.55
16233Malawi23.48
16334MaliFCS23.18
16535Guinea22.71
16636Liberia22.35
16737NigerFCS20.38
16838SudanFCS20.16
16939BurundiFCS19.25
17040EritreaFCS18.96
17141Guinea-BissauFCS18.88
17242Congo, Dem. Rep.FCS18.08
17443ChadFCS16.93
17544SomaliaFCS16.04
17645South SudanFCS15.61
17746Central African RepublicFCS15.01