Country Guide

Central African Republic Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo


Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 21 00 E


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:622,984 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 45
land:622,984 sq km
water:0 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas


Land boundaries:
total:5,920 km
border countries:Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1,556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1,055 km, Sudan 174 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
lowest point:Oubangui River 335 m
highest point:Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m


    Natural resources:
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:2.89%
permanent crops:0.13%
other:96.98% (2011)


Irrigated land:
1.35 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
144.4 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
144.4 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common


Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Law of the Sea


Geography - note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Central African(s)
adjective:Central African


Ethnic groups:
Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%


Languages:
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages


Religions:
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%


Population:
5,277,959country comparison to the world: 118
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:40.6% (male 1,077,247/female 1,064,660)
15-24 years:20.1% (male 534,257/female 528,822)
25-54 years:31.8% (male 838,484/female 838,858)
55-64 years:3.9% (male 91,696/female 115,600)
65 years and over:3.6% (male 73,914/female 114,421) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:76.5 %
youth dependency ratio:69.7 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.7 %
potential support ratio:14.8 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:19.4 years
male:19.1 years
female:19.8 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.13% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 46


Birth rate:
35.45 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 23


Death rate:
14.11 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 8


Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 103


Urbanization:
urban population:39.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
BANGUI (capital) 740,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.66 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
890 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:92.86 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 4
male:100.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female:84.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:51.35 yearscountry comparison to the world: 218
male:50.06 years
female:52.67 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
4.46 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 31


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
19% (2006)


Health expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
1 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 89.6% of population
rural: 54.4% of population
total: 68.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 10.4% of population
rural: 45.6% of population
total: 31.8% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 43.6% of population
rural: 7.2% of population
total: 21.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 56.4% of population
rural: 92.8% of population
total: 78.5% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.7% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 39


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 28


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
3.5% (2008)country comparison to the world: 175


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
28% (2006)country comparison to the world: 22


Education expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 171

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:56.6%
male:69.6%
female:44.2% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:7 years
male:9 years
female:6 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form:none
local long form:Republique Centrafricaine
local short form:none
former:Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation:CAR


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Bangui
geographic coordinates:4 22 N, 18 35 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga


Independence:
13 August 1960 (from France)


National holiday:
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)


Constitution:
several previous; latest ratified by referendum 5 December 2004, effective 27 December 2004; amended 2010; note - the transitional parliament has begun work on a new constitution which should be ready for citizens feedback in early 2015 (2010)


Legal system:
civil law system based on the French model


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:Interim President Catherine SAMBA-PANZA (since 20 January 2014); elected by the National Transitional Council
head of government:Interim Prime Minister Andre NZAPAYEKE (since 25 January 2014); note - he replaced Prime Minister Nicolas TIANGAYE who resigned 10 January 2014
cabinet:Council of Ministers
elections:interim president was elected by the National Transitional Council on 20 January 2014; she will be in office until February 2015 at the new general elections
election results:in the second round Catherine SAMBA-PANZA was elected; SAMBA-PANZA 75 votes from the National Transitional Council, Desire KOLINGBA 53 votes (129 MPs out of 135 voted)
note: rebel forces seized the captial in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, established a transitional government and was subsequently affirmed as president by the National Transitional Council on 13 Apriil 2013; he resigned soon after because of racial violence in the country and was replced briefly by Interim President Alexandre-Ferdinand NGUENDET


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Transitional Council to act as the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (105 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 23 January 2011 and 27 March 2011 (next to be held in February 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of which are women)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judge appointments - 2 by the president, 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly, 2 elected by their peers, 2 are advocates elected by their peers, and 2 are law professors elected by their peers; judges serve 7-year non-renewable terms
subordinate courts:high courts; magistrates' courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA]
Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Louis-Pierre GAMBA]
Civic Forum or FC
Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Saturnin NDOMBY]
Liberal Democratic Party or PLD
Londo Association or LONDO
Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD
MaMovement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE ]
National Convergence or KNK [Francois BOZIZE]
National Unity Party or PUN
New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH]
Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Alexandre Philippe GOUMBA]
People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA


International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Stanislas MOUSSA-KEMBE (since 24 August 2009)
chancery:1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 483-7800
FAX:[1] (202) 332-9893


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Laurence D. WOHLERS (since September 2010)
embassy:Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address:B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone:[236] 21 61 02 00
FAX:[236] 21 61 44 94
note:the embassy temporarily suspended operations in December, 2012


Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band; banner combines the Pan-African and French flag colors; red symbolizes the blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue represents the sky and freedom, white peace and dignity, green hope and faith, and yellow tolerance; the star represents aspiration towards a vibrant future


National symbol(s):
elephant


National anthem:
name:'Le Renaissance' (The Renaissance)

lyrics/music:Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
note:adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA, who wrote the anthem's lyrics, was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory

Economy

Economy - overview:
Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of GDP. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Since 2009 the IMF has worked closely with the government to institute reforms that have resulted in some improvement in budget transparency, but other problems remain. The government's additional spending in the run-up to the election in 2011 worsened CAR's fiscal situation. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. In 2012 the World Bank approved $125 million in funding for transport infrastructure and regional trade, focused on the route between CAR's capital and the port of Douala in Cameroon. After a two year lag in donor support, the IMF's first review of CAR's extended credit facility for 2012-15 praised improvements in revenue collection but warned of weak management of spending.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.336 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$3.902 billion (2012 est.)
$3.748 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.05 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
-14.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
4.1% (2012 est.)
3.3% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
$900 (2012 est.)
$800 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
2.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
3.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:91.5%
government consumption:6.1%
investment in fixed capital:8.3%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:9.7%
imports of goods and services:-15.6%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:56.6%
industry:14.5%
services:28.9% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
cotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber


Industries:
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining


Industrial production growth rate:
-11% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Labor force:
2.082 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121


Unemployment rate:
8% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
note:23% unemployment in the capital, Bangui


    Population below poverty line:
NA%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.1%
highest 10%:33% (2003)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
61.3 (1993)
country comparison to the world: 5

Budget:
revenues:$186.2 million
expenditures:$270.7 million (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
9.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
5.8% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 78
4.75% (31 December 2008)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
15% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$308.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
$337.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$376.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$421.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$478.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$507.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$133.8 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
-$197.6 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$138.9 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$207.7 million (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee


Exports - partners:
Belgium 31.7%, China 27.9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7.8%, Indonesia 5.2%, France 4.5% (2012)


Imports:
$218.6 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
$333.7 million (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals


Imports - partners:
Netherlands 20.3%, France 9.7%, Cameroon 9.1%, South Korea 9.1% (2012)


Debt - external:
$634.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$632.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
500.7 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
495.28 (2010)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
160 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186


Electricity - consumption:
148.8 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
44,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
43.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
56.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
3,175 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167


Refined petroleum products - imports:
2,318 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
293,900 Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
5,600 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 209


Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.07 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 157


Telephone system:
general assessment:network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
domestic:limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular service providers, cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui
international:country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine, provides domestic TV broadcasting; licenses for 2 private TV stations are pending; state-owned radio network is supplemented by a small number of privately owned broadcast stations as well as a few community radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)


Internet country code:
.cf


Internet hosts:
20 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 221


Internet users:
22,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 192

Transportation

Airports
39 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 106


Airports - with paved runways
total:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:37
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:11
914 to 1,523 m:19
under 914 m:
6 (2013)


    Roadways
total:20,278 km (2010)country comparison to the world: 107

Waterways
2,800 km (the primary navigable river is the Ubangi, which joins the River Congo; it was the traditional route for the export of products because it connected with the Congo-Ocean railway at Brazzaville; because of the warfare on both sides of the River Congo from 1997, however, routes through Cameroon became preferred by importers and exporters) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 35


Ports and terminals
river port(s):Bangui (Oubangui); Nola (Sangha)

Military

Military branches
Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2011)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for selective military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:1,149,856
females age 16-49:1,145,897 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:655,875
females age 16-49:661,308 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:54,843
female:53,999 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
periodic skirmishes over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan persist


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):10,992 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2013)
IDPs:551,600 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2014)



    Trafficking in persons

 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook