Central African Republic

Republique Centrafricaine

republicIndependence 13 August 1960 (from France)

Central African Republic as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 113 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

2004

Every edition of Central African Republic

Populationas each edition published it

3.74 million July 2004 est. · 2.88m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.56% 2004 est. · 2.23% in 1993

Median ageyears

18 years 2004 est. · 17.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

41.36 years 2004 est. · 42.94 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.59 children per woman 2004 est. · 5.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

92.15 deaths per 1,000 live births 2004 est. · 141 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,100 2003 est. · $440 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-7% 2003 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 - 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 has since established a transitional government.

Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of affiliated and independent candidates will contest the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections scheduled for February 2005. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist.

Geography

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

18 fields

Land useshare of 622,984 sq km

arable land 3.1%permanent crops 0.14%other 96.76% (2001)

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 the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification;
deforestation

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

People

19 fields

Population

3,742,482

growth rate: 1.56% (2004 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 2004 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2004 est.)

Birth

35.55Death

19.99Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2004 est.)41.36

39.7 · 43.08Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)92.15

99.09 · 84.99

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)51%

63.3% · 39.9%Median age years (2004 est.)18

17.7 · 18.4

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

13.5%

(2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 42.8% (male 806,506; female 795,639)
15-64 years:: 53.8% (male 990,522; female 1,021,491)
65 years and over:: 3.4% (male 53,860; female 74,464) (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.59 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

260,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

23,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality

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

Languages

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

Government

Republic; President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup) and Vice President Abel GOUMA (since 12 December 2003); Prime Minister Celestin GAOMBALET (since 12 December 2003)

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 2004)

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:: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation:: CAR

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, 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

passed by referendum 5 December 2004

Legal system

based on French law

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup) and Vice President Abel GOUMA (since 12 December 2003)
head of government:: Prime Minister Celestin GAOMBALET (since 12 December 2003)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers
elections:: NA;
municipal, legislative and presidential elections scheduled for December 2004 or January 2005;
prime minister appointed by the president

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 2004)
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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme;
Constitutional Court (3 judges appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National Assembly, and 3 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 Assembly 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];

Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [the party of deposed president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY
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 (vacant)
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

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.

35 fields

Real growth rate

-7%

(2003 est.)industrial production growth: 3% (2002)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.6%

(2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

(23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$881.4million

(2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 55%industry 20%services 25% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

41.8%

Belgium

7.4%

France

27%

10.7%

Italy

9.8%

Spain

Cameroon

9.2%

6.6%

Indonesia

5.3%

Exports $172 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)Imports $136 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)(2003)

Electricity

Electricity production

106 million (2001)Electricity consumption

98.63 million (2001)

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 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.

Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP likely to contract in 2004. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.183 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA (1993)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

61.3 (1993)

Labor force

NA (2000 est.)

Budget

revenues:: NA
expenditures:: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Exports

$172 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Imports

$136 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Economic aid - recipient

ODA $73 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France (2000 est.)

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code

XAF

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

13,000

(2003)

Internet users

(2002)

Fixed lines

9,000

(2002) · country code .cf

Telephone system

general assessment:: fair system
domestic:: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international:: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Internet users

5,000 (2002)

Transportation

6 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 47

Networkskm

Highways

23,810Waterways

2,800 (2004)

Highways: paved: 643 km · unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.) · Waterways: (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers)

Highways

total:: 23,810 km
paved:: 643 km
unpaved:: 23,167 km (1999 est.)

Military

Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Republican Guard, Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force

6 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.1%

(2003)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlap into Chad and CAR, leaving refugees and rebel groups in both countries;
Sudan has pledged to work with CAR to stem violent skirmishes over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin):: 36,479 (Sudan), 1,864 (Chad), 6,484 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IDPs:: 200,000 (unrest following coup in 2003) (2004)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Central African Republic.” The World Factbook 2004. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/central-african-republic/2004.

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