country profile

Central African Republic

Sub-Saharan AfricaLow income5.51M population

Last updated October 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.

20.48Composite score
Global percentile
1st
Global rank
#176
Regional rank
#45
Viewing data for
Critically unprepared
Infrastructure
15.18
1st percentileGlobal avg. 70.44
Critically unprepared
Human Capital
28.23
2nd percentileGlobal avg. 66.18
Critically unprepared
Innovation
26.33
8th percentileGlobal avg. 48.64
Critically unprepared
Governance
19.03
9th percentileGlobal avg. 47.24
Critically unprepared
Access & Parity
13.63
8th percentileGlobal avg. 60.85

Country profile

Central African Republic faces substantial readiness constraints across core dimensions. Its weakest results are in Human Capital (28, 2nd percentile), Innovation (26, 8th percentile), GEFRI Composite (20, 1st percentile), Governance (19, 9th percentile), Infrastructure (15, 1st percentile) and School Access and Gender Parity (14, 8th percentile). These gaps continue to weigh on overall readiness.

Dimension scores cluster tightly, showing the system operates with balanced readiness. 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.

Many indicators are imputed, so the profile should be treated as a limited signal rather than a complete measurement.

Key insights

Falls below many peers at the 1st percentile.

Places 176th worldwide.

Holds a regional position of 45th within Sub-Saharan Africa.

Scores range from Human Capital (28.2) to Access & Parity (13.6), reflecting variation across dimensions.

Trails regional peers most clearly in Infrastructure.

Regional peers: Sub-Saharan Africa

Composite GEFRI Score

Global rankRegional rankCountryScore
601Mauritius69.61
632South Africa69.19
——SeychellesMicrostate64.29
853Botswana63.09
974Namibia59.08
1005Ghana58.30
1156Cabo Verde49.23
1167Eswatini49.00
1238Rwanda44.68
1279Kenya43.15
12810Senegal43.13
12911Gabon43.09
13012Gambia, The42.98
13213Cote d'Ivoire41.42
13414Equatorial Guinea41.18
13815Zambia38.41
13916Lesotho38.37
——Sao Tome and PrincipeFCSMicrostate37.61
14117Togo37.45
14418Benin36.70
14519Zimbabwe36.55
14720Tanzania35.50
14821CameroonFCS35.19
14922Mauritania34.31
15023ComorosFCS34.12
15124Sierra Leone33.64
15225Congo, Rep.FCS32.41
15326Angola32.38
15427Burkina FasoFCS32.36
15528Uganda32.33
15729NigeriaFCS31.96
15830MalawiFCS30.65
15931MozambiqueFCS30.61
16032EthiopiaFCS30.53
16133Madagascar29.66
16234MaliFCS29.64
16435Guinea28.53
16636Guinea-BissauFCS27.88
16837Liberia25.30
16938Congo, Dem. Rep.FCS24.51
17039NigerFCS24.18
17140Burundi24.14
17241SudanFCS22.72
17342EritreaFCS20.93
17443ChadFCS20.88
17544SomaliaFCS20.58
17645Central African RepublicFCS20.48
17746South SudanFCS18.93