Central African Republic

Republique Centrafricaine

republicIndependence 13 August 1960 (from France)

Central African Republic as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 103 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBangui

Position7 00 N, 21 00 E

Area622,984 sq km

LocationCentral Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

2000

Every edition of Central African Republic

Populationas each edition published it

3.51 million July 2000 est. · 2.88m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.77% 2000 est. · 2.23% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

44.02 years 2000 est. · 42.94 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.95 children per woman 2000 est. · 5.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

106.69 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 141 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,700 1999 est. · $440 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5% 1999 est. · -3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 - a civilian government was installed in 1993.

Geography

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

18 fields

Land useshare of 622,984 sq km

arable land 3%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 5%forests and woodland 75%other 17% (1993 est.)

Area

622,984sq km

land: 622,984 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly smaller than Texas

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

1,420m

Mont Ngaouilowest point: Oubangui River 335 m

Land boundaries

5,203km

border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km

Location

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references

Africa

Climate

tropical;
hot, dry winters;
mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain

vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Natural resources

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

tap water is not potable;
poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification;
deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:: Law of the Sea

Geography - note

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

People

15 fields

Population

3,512,751

growth rate: 1.77% (2000 est.)

Note

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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

37.52Death

18.44Net migration

-1.42

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)44.02

42.26 · 45.84

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)60%

68.5% · 52.4%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

indigenous beliefs 24%Protestant 25%Roman Catholic 25%Muslim 15%other 11%note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Age structure

0-14 years:: 43% (male 768,550; female 757,710)
15-64 years:: 53% (male 909,463; female 946,083)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 58,224; female 72,721) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

106.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.95 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 1,500 French)

Languages

French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili

Government

Republic; President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993); Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (since 4 January 1999)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

43%

MLPC 43%RDC 18%MDD 9%FPP 6%PSD 5%ADP 4%PUN 3%FODEM 2%PLD 2%UPR 1%FC 1%independents 6%last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)

National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 109 seats, elected 22-23 November and 13 December 1998one dot, one seat

MLPC 47RDC 20MDD 8FPP 7PSD 6ADP 5PUN 3FODEM 2PLD 2UPR 1FC 1independents 7

Percent of vote

MLPC 43%RDC 18%MDD 9%FPP 6%PSD 5%ADP 4%PUN 3%FODEM 2%PLD 2%UPR 1%FC 1%independents 6%

Country name

conventional long form:: Central African Republic
conventional short form:: none
local long form:: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form:: none
former:: Central African Empire
abbreviation:: CAR

Data code

Government type

republic

Capital

Bangui

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

13 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic)

Constitution

passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995

Legal system

based on French law

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
head of government:: Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (since 4 January 1999)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 19 September 1999 (next to be held NA 2005);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Ange-Felix PATASSE reelected president; percent of vote - Ange-Felix PATASSE 51.63%, Andre KOLINGBA 19.38%, David DACKO 11.15%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - there were 85 seats in the National Assembly before the 1998 election)

elections:: last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results:: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD 9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%, independents 6%;
seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD 6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7;
note - results of election are being contested

note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together they are called the Congress or Congres

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [leader NA]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO];

Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [the party of the president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [leader NA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Henri KOBA
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 Robert C. PERRY
embassy:: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address:: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone:: [236] 61 26 21
FAX:: [236] 61 44 94

Flag description

four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center;
there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy

Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas.

30 fields

Real growth rate

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.6%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1993)

Debt - external

$790million

(1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 53%industry 21%services 26% (1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$638 millionExpenditures

$1.9 billion (1994 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $888 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 19.05%hydro 80.95%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

105 million (1998)Electricity consumption

98 million (1998)

Economy - overview

Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 54%. 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.

The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 2%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital and reduced tax revenues for the government.

The IMF approved an Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998. The government has set targets of annual 5% growth and 2.5% inflation for 2000-2001.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force

Industries

diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Agriculture - products

cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber

Exports

$195 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners

Benelux 36%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Spain 4%, Egypt 3%, France (1997)

Imports

$170 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products

Imports - partners

France 30%, Cote d'Ivoire 18%, Cameroon 11%, Germany 4%, Japan (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$172.2 million (1995); note - traditional budget subsidies from France

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

(1995)

Fixed lines

8,000

(1995)

Telephone system

fair system

domestic:: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international:: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

283,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

18,000 (1997)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 3Unpaved 49

Networkskm

Highways

23,810Railways

0Waterways

800

Highways: paved: 429 km · unpaved: 23,381 km (1998 est.) · Waterways: ; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river

Highways

total:: 23,810 km
paved:: 429 km
unpaved:: 23,381 km (1998 est.)

Waterways

800 km;
traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts;
Oubangui is the most important river

Ports and harbors

Bangui, Nola

Airports

52 (1999 est.)

Military

Central African Armed Forces (includes Republican Guard and Air Force), Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, Police Force

5 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.2%

(FY96)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Central African Republic.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/central-african-republic/2000.

How to cite ← 1999 edition 2001 edition →