The duel
- +4% South Sudan is 4% bigger than the Central African Republic
- 2.2× South Sudan has 2.2 times as many people as the Central African Republic
- +14% The Central African Republic produces 14% more per person than South Sudan
- 2.2× South Sudan is 2.2 times as densely populated as the Central African Republic
Land
Size, shape and altitude
How big is it, really?
South Sudan is 4% bigger than the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 622,980 km² (2024) · South Sudan: 646,883 km² (2024)
How much coast is there?
Central African Republic: 0 km (2026 edition) · South Sudan: 0 km (2026 edition)
How high can you climb?
South Sudan’s highest peak towers 1,777 m above the Central African Republic’s
Central African Republic: 1,410 m (2026 edition) · South Sudan: 3,187 m (2026 edition)
How much of the land is farmed?
Farmland covers 45% of South Sudan, versus 9.3% of the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 9.3% (2024) · South Sudan: 44.7% (2024)
People
Who lives there, and how closely
How many people live there?
South Sudan has 2.2 times as many people as the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 5.51 million (2025) · South Sudan: 12.2 million (2025)
How crowded is it?
South Sudan is 2.2 times as densely populated as the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 9 per km² (2025) · South Sudan: 19 per km² (2025)
How tall are the men?
Central African Republic: 169 cm (2019) · South Sudan: no data
How tall are the women?
Central African Republic: 159.7 cm (2019) · South Sudan: no data
How old is the typical person?
The typical person in South Sudan is 3.6 years older than in the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 14.3 years (2023) · South Sudan: 18 years (2023)
How many children per woman?
Women in the Central African Republic have 2.2 more children on average than in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 5.95 children per woman (2024) · South Sudan: 3.79 children per woman (2024)
How many people are 65 or older?
3.1% of people in South Sudan are 65 or older, versus 2.2% in the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 2.2% (2025) · South Sudan: 3.1% (2025)
How many refugees does it host?
South Sudan hosts 4.9 times as many refugees per resident as the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 10 per 1,000 (2025) · South Sudan: 49.4 per 1,000 (2025)
How many Nobel laureates were born there?
The Central African Republic and South Sudan are practically level
Central African Republic: 0 (2026) · South Sudan: 0 (2026)
How many official languages?
The Central African Republic has 2 official languages, South Sudan 1
Central African Republic: 2 (2026) · South Sudan: 1 (2026)
Money
What an economy looks like per person
How big is the economy?
South Sudan’s economy is 3.9 times the size of the Central African Republic’s
Central African Republic: $3.07 billion (2025) · South Sudan: $12 billion (2015)
How much is produced per person?
The Central African Republic produces 14% more per person than South Sudan
Central African Republic: Int$1,314 (2025) · South Sudan: Int$1,155 (2015)
How evenly is income shared?
Income is more unequally shared in South Sudan than in the Central African Republic (Gini 1 points higher)
Central African Republic: 43 (2021) · South Sudan: 44 (2016)
How many live on less than $3 a day?
Central African Republic: 71.6% (2021) · South Sudan: no data
How many people are looking for work?
Unemployment is 12% in South Sudan, versus 6.3% in the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 6.3% (2025) · South Sudan: 12.4% (2023)
How much goes to the military?
South Sudan spends 3.4% of its GDP on the military, the Central African Republic 2.3%
Central African Republic: 2.3% (2025) · South Sudan: 3.4% (2025)
How much does the central government collect in tax?
Central African Republic: 8.2% (2021) · South Sudan: no data
How expensive is it?
South Sudan’s price level (US = 100) is 2.2× the Central African Republic’s
Central African Republic: 42% (2025) · South Sudan: 94% (2015)
Health
Long lives, small beginnings
How much is spent on health?
South Sudan spends 35% more on health per person than the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: $54 (2023) · South Sudan: $73 (2023)
How long do people live?
South Sudan and the Central African Republic are practically level
Central African Republic: 57.7 years (2024) · South Sudan: 57.7 years (2024)
How many babies don’t reach their first birthday?
A baby in South Sudan is 22% more likely to die before turning one than in the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 58.8 per 1,000 (2024) · South Sudan: 71.9 per 1,000 (2024)
How many doctors are there?
The Central African Republic has 80% more doctors per person than South Sudan
Central African Republic: 0.1 per 1,000 (2023) · South Sudan: 0.041 per 1,000 (2022)
How common is suicide?
The suicide rate in the Central African Republic is 48% higher than in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 24 per 100k (2023) · South Sudan: 16.2 per 100k (2023)
How common is obesity?
8.9% of adults in the Central African Republic are obese, versus 8.2% in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 8.9% (2024) · South Sudan: 8.2% (2024)
Everyday life
Plates, glasses and happiness
How do people rate their lives?
People in the Central African Republic rate their lives 0.66 points higher than in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 3.48 (2019) · South Sudan: 2.82 (2019)
How much do people drink?
Adults in the Central African Republic drink 4.4 times as much alcohol as in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 1.8 litres (2023) · South Sudan: 0.4 litres (2023)
How much meat is on the menu?
The Central African Republic has 82% more meat per person than South Sudan
Central African Republic: 39.1 kg (2022) · South Sudan: 21.4 kg (2022)
How much food is there per day?
The Central African Republic has 28 kcal more food per person per day than South Sudan
Central African Republic: 2,419 kcal (2022) · South Sudan: 2,391 kcal (2022)
How long do people go to school?
Adults in South Sudan went to school 1.7 years longer than in the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 4 years (2023) · South Sudan: 5.7 years (2023)
How many tourists visit?
Central African Republic: 0.02 (2019) · South Sudan: no data
How many World Heritage sites?
The Central African Republic has 1 more World Heritage site than South Sudan (2 against 1)
Central African Republic: 2 (2026) · South Sudan: 1 (2026)
How many Olympic medals has it won?
Central African Republic: 0 (2026 edition) · South Sudan: no data
Connected
Online, electrified, urban
How many people are online?
14% of people in the Central African Republic are online, versus 6.7% in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 14% (2024) · South Sudan: 7% (2019)
How fast is home internet?
Home internet in the Central African Republic is 74% faster than in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 76 Mbps (2026) · South Sudan: 44 Mbps (2026)
Who has electricity at home?
18% of people in the Central African Republic have electricity, versus 5.4% in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 18.2% (2024) · South Sudan: 5.4% (2024)
How many live in cities?
45% of people in the Central African Republic live in cities, versus 22% in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 45% (2025) · South Sudan: 22% (2025)
How many phones per person?
South Sudan has 47 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, the Central African Republic 39
Central African Republic: 39 (2022) · South Sudan: 47 (2023)
How much railway is there?
Central African Republic: no data · South Sudan: 248 km (2018)
Planet
Air, forests and energy
How much of the land is forest?
Forest covers 72% of the Central African Republic, but only 11% of South Sudan
Central African Republic: 72.5% (2024) · South Sudan: 11.3% (2024)
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
The average person in South Sudan emits 92% more CO₂ than someone in the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 0.1 t (2024) · South Sudan: 0.1 t (2024)
How green is the power grid?
100% of the Central African Republic’s electricity is renewable, versus 1.8% in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 100% (2023) · South Sudan: 1.8% (2024)
How clean is the air?
The air in the Central African Republic carries 34% more fine dust than in South Sudan
Central African Republic: 32.3 µg/m³ (2024) · South Sudan: 24.1 µg/m³ (2024)
Safety
Measured risk, not vibes
How dangerous are the roads?
Roads in South Sudan are 1% deadlier than in the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 29.6 per 100k (2023) · South Sudan: 29.9 per 100k (2023)
Climate
What the year feels like
How warm is it?
South Sudan is on average 2.0 °C warmer than the Central African Republic
Central African Republic: 26.6°C (2016–2025 avg) · South Sudan: 28.6°C (2016–2025 avg)
How much rain falls?
The Central African Republic gets 36% more rain than South Sudan
Central African Republic: 1,072 mm (2016–2025 avg) · South Sudan: 785 mm (2016–2025 avg)
Between them
People, goods and passports that cross from one to the other
Quick answers
Is the Central African Republic bigger than South Sudan?
South Sudan is larger. South Sudan is 4% bigger than the Central African Republic.
Which has more people, the Central African Republic or South Sudan?
South Sudan has 2.2 times as many people as the Central African Republic (2025 estimates).
Where do people live longer, the Central African Republic or South Sudan?
South Sudan and the Central African Republic are practically level. Life expectancy at birth is 57.7 years in the Central African Republic and 57.7 in South Sudan.
Keep duelling
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Central African Republic vs DR Congo 
Central African Republic vs Congo 
Central African Republic vs Sudan 
South Sudan vs DR Congo South Sudan vs Ethiopia 
South Sudan vs Kenya 
South Sudan vs Sudan South Sudan vs Uganda 
The Central African Republic vs the world →South Sudan vs the world →