Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

66.4

Political Risk Index

63.4

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

54

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

55.2

Operational Risk Index

81.2

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• Central African Republic is in Central Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Low income. (World Bank)
• Population: 5.5 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$4.6bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 5.8% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 2.7% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 1% in 2025 (estimate); projected 3.5% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 42.6% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -2.6% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: -3.8% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 581.93 local currency units per US dollar in 2025, against 606.57 in 2023: 4.1% more units per dollar fewer (the currency strengthened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 66.4 (rank 50 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 63.4 (rank 50 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 54 (rank 25 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 55.2 (rank 20 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 81.2 (rank 53 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: crime and security risk (90.6, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 21; government effectiveness 19; political stability and absence of violence 36; rule of law 31; regulatory quality 33. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 34.3% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 6.3% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 1.4% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 13% of GDP (2022). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 52.9% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 35 published records tagged to Central African Republic. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 18.2% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 90.9% (2022). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 0.8% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 6.3% of merchandise exports (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 1.4% of GDP (2025); domestic credit to the private sector 13% of GDP (2022). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 13.8% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 38.8 per 100 people (2022). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 27.6% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 66.1% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 18% of GDP (2023); industry (including construction), value added 21.2% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 44.6% of population (2025); access to electricity 18.2% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Domestic credit to the private sector (Latest published value is for 2022); Mobile subscriptions (Latest published value is for 2022); Fixed broadband subscriptions (Latest published value is for 2022); Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2022); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Manufacturing, value added (Latest published value is for 2023); Headline inflation, monthly (y/y) (Latest published value is for Apr 2026).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• Accelerate Africa Fund’s Investment in Digitech Group’ Operations in Ivory Coast
• E3 Capital’s Series A investment into Insight Terra’s Operations in Africa for USD 5.7 million
• IFC, ILX Fund, Finnfund & BIO’s debt investment in TerraPay’s operations in Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern and Central Africa for USD 75 million
• SPE Capital’s investment in OMOA Group’s operations in Cote d’Ivoire
• IA Bell & Company Limited’s acquisition of additional 15.05% stake of Bell Equipment’s operations in South Africa for ZAR 760 million
• IFC, FInnFund & BIO’s debt financing of TerraPay Payment Services’ operations in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Bangladesh, India, Philippines, and Vietnam for USD 75 million