Central African Republic Population: 4,950,027
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| Background | |
| The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. Unrest in the neighboring nations of Chad, Sudan, and the DRC continues to affect stability in the Central African Republic as well. |
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| Geography | |
| Landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa | |
| Location: | Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Geographic coordinates: | 7 00 N, 21 00 E |
| Area: | total: 622,984 sq km land: 622,984 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: slightly smaller than Texas |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 5,203 km border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, South Sudan 990 km, Sudan 175 km |
| Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims: | none (landlocked) |
| Climate: | tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers |
| Terrain: | vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest |
| Elevation extremes: | 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: 3.1% permanent crops: 0.15% other: 96.75% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 10 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common |
| Current Environment Issues: | tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 4,950,027 (July 2011 est.) 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 |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 41% (male 1,021,144/female 1,007,819) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 1,353,600/female 1,382,291) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 73,977/female 111,196) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 19.2 years male: 18.8 years female: 19.6 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.146% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 36.46 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 15.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 99.38 deaths/1,000 live births male: 107.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 91.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 50.07 years male: 48.84 years female: 51.35 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.63 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 4.7% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 130,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 11,000 (2009 est.) |
| 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% |
| Religions: | indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority |
| Languages: | French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.6% male: 64.8% female: 33.5% (2000 est.) |
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| 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: | ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27 December 2004 |
| Legal system: | civil law system based on the French model |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup) head of government: Prime Minister Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 22 January 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 23 January 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Francois BOZIZE elected to a second term as president; percent of vote - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.4%, Ange-Felix PATASSE 21.4%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 6.8%, Emile Gros Raymond NAKOMBO (RDC) 4.6%, Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH (NAP) 2.8% |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral 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 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KNK 62, independents 26, MLPC 2, other 15 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (three judges appointed by the president, three by the president of the National Assembly, and three by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Inferior Courts |
| Political parties and leaders: | Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS]; Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Londo Association or LONDO; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposed president); National Convergence or KNK; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Monam (combating gender-base violence) |
| International organization participation: | ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, 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 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 WOHLERS embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 02 00 FAX: [236] 61 44 94 note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff |
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| Economy | |
| Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, 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 has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 40%. 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. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.446 billion (2010 est.) $3.337 billion (2009 est.) $3.281 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $2.018 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 3.3% (2010 est.) 1.7% (2009 est.) 2% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $700 (2010 est.) $700 (2009 est.) $700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 53.8% industry: 14.5% services: 31.7% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 1.926 million (2007) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | |
| Unemployment rate: | 8% (2001 est.) note: 23% unemployment for 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) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (2010 est.) 3.5% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 11.3% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $325.7 million expenditures: $335.2 million (2010 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber |
| Industries: | gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 3% (2002) |
| Electricity - production: | 160 million kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 148.8 million kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 0 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 2,418 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$168.4 million (2010 est.) -$181.9 million (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $152.5 million (2010 est.) $123.9 million (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco |
| Exports - partners: | Belgium 25.6%, China 17.5%, Morocco 12.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.1%, France 6.1%, Indonesia 4.9% (2010) |
| Imports: | $312.2 million (2010 est.) $270.9 million (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals |
| Imports - partners: | Netherlands 27.8%, France 11.9%, Cameroon 8.3%, China 5.1% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $186 million (31 December 2010 est.) $210.6 million (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $402.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) $396 million (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 481.8 (2007) 522.59 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 12,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 200 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 1.02 million (2010) |
| 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) (2008) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .cf |
| Internet hosts: | 20 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 22,600 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 37 (2010) country comparison to the world: 106 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 35 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 6 (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 24,307 km (2000) |
| 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) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga |
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| 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 (2010) |
| 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.) |
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