This article provides a comparative overview of the Central African Republic and Papua New Guinea, examining various aspects from geography and travel to economic development.
Geographical Comparison
The Central African Republic is geographically larger than Papua New Guinea. The Central African Republic is 1.35 times bigger by total area compared to Papua New Guinea: 240,535 sq mi vs 178,704 sq mi.
Bangui, Central African Republic's latitude is 4.36 and its longitude is 18.58. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea's latitude is -9.513611 and its longitude is 147.218611.
Travel Considerations
The time difference between Papua New Guinea and the Central African Republic is 9 hour(s). By plane, it would take you approximately 23.87 hours to get to Bangui, Central African Republic taking a direct flight from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. If driving non-stop from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at a constant speed of 80 kilometers per hour, it would take you approximately 179.03 hours to get to Bangui, Central African Republic.
Agricultural Land Use
Total agricultural land encompasses all areas used for agriculture: territories under permanent and temporary crops and pastures. Arable land encompasses fields utilized for temporary crop production, pastures, market or kitchen gardens, and temporarily fallowed land. Permanent cropland refers to farmland for the long-term cultivation of crops, such as coffee, cocoa, and rubber, which do not require replanting after each harvest.
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Understanding the "Third World" Concept
The Confusing (And Outdated) Term ‘Third-World Countries’ Explained
The term "Third World" has evolved significantly over time. Originally coined by French historian Alfred Sauvy in 1952, “Third World” was part of the “three worlds” label system used to describe a country’s political alliances. The “First World” countries were the largely democratic NATO countries such as the United States, Japan, and much of Western Europe. The “Second World” countries were the Communist Bloc countries, including the Soviet Union, China, and their allies.
However, the meaning of Third World changed after the fall of the Soviet Union (and the end of the Cold War) in the early 1990s. “Third World” lost its political root and came to refer to economically poor and non-industrialized countries, as well as newly industrialized countries. This shifting definition has led to significant confusion as to which countries could correctly be called Third World today. For example, going by the historical definition, nations such as Finland, Sweden, Ireland, and Switzerland were not aligned with either NATO or the Communist Bloc, and so were Third World countries.
Adding insult to inaccuracy, when used in its modern context, Third World is considered to be a derogatory term that degrades countries which are developing and/or poor.
It's important to note that some sources dispute Sauvy’s statement that he invented the “three world” system and its related terms. A few sources claim Charles De Gaulle said it first, while others maintain that the United Nations had already begun using the terms in 1945 to describe the economic development of various countries.
Exclusion from the Human Development Index
The United Nations Member States Monaco, Nauru, North Korea, and Somalia are typically excluded from the Human Development Index.
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