Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a perennially weak state that sits at the crossroads of ethnic and linguistic groups in the center of the African continent. Among the last areas of Sub-Saharan Africa to be drawn into the world economy, its introduction into trade networks around the early 1700s fostered significant competition among its population. The local population sought to benefit from the lucrative Atlantic, trans-Saharan, and Indian Ocean trade in enslaved people and ivory. Slave raids aided by the local populations fostered animosity between ethnic groups that remains today. The territory was established as a French colony named Ubangui-Shari in 1903, and France modeled its administration of the colony after the Belgian Congo, subcontracting control of the territory to private companies that collected rubber and ivory. Although France banned the domestic slave trade in CAR in the 1910s, the private companies continued to exploit the population through forced labor. The colony of Ubangi-Shari gained independence from France as the Central African Republic in 1960, but the death of independence leader Barthelemy BOGANDA six months prior led to an immediate struggle for power. CAR’s political history has since been marred by a series of coups, the first of which brought Jean-Bedel BOKASSA to power in 1966. Widespread corruption and intolerance for any political opposition characterized his regime. In an effort to prolong his mandate, BOKASSA named himself emperor in 1976 and changed the country’s name to the Central African Empire. His regime’s economic mismanagement culminated in widespread student protests in 1979 that were violently suppressed by security forces. BOKASSA fell out of favor with the international community and was overthrown in a French-backed coup in 1979. After BOKASSA’s departure, the country’s name once again became the Central African Republic. CAR’s fifth coup in 2013 unseated President Francois BOZIZE after the Seleka, a mainly Muslim rebel coalition, seized the capital and forced BOZIZE to flee the country. The Seleka's widespread abuses spurred the formation of mainly Christian self-defense groups that called themselves the anti-Balaka, which have also committed human rights abuses against Muslim populations in retaliation. Since the rise of these groups, conflict in CAR has become increasingly ethnoreligious, although focused on identity rather than religious ideology. Elections in 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he was reelected in 2020. A peace agreement signed in 2019 between the government and the main armed factions has had little effect, and armed groups remain in control of large swaths of the country's territory. TOUADERA's United Hearts Movement has governed the country since 2016, and a new constitution approved by referendum on 30 July 2023 effectively ended term limits, creating the potential for TOUADERA to extend his rule. 

land

622,984 sq km

total

622,984 sq km

water

0 sq km

slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia

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

0 km (landlocked)

highest point

Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m

lowest point

Oubangui River 335 m

mean elevation

635 m

7 00 N, 21 00 E

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

10 sq km (2012)

border countries

Cameroon 901 km; Chad 1556 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km; South Sudan 1055 km; Sudan 174 km

total

5,920 km

agricultural land

8.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5.1% (2018 est.)

forest

36.2% (2018 est.)

other

55.7% (2018 est.)

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin

Oubangui (Ubangi) river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

Africa

none (landlocked)

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

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui as shown in this population distribution map

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

0-14 years

38.5% (male 1,113,795/female 1,063,971)

15-64 years

58% (male 1,613,770/female 1,662,522)

65 years and over

3.5% (2024 est.) (male 86,932/female 109,967)

beer

0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

31.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

men married by age 18

17.1% (2019 est.)

women married by age 15

25.8%

women married by age 18

61%

20.5% (2019)

17.8% (2019)

9.4% of GDP (2020)

64.7% (2023 est.)

11.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

The Central African Republic’s (CAR) humanitarian crisis has worsened since the coup of March 2013. CAR’s high mortality rate and low life expectancy are attributed to elevated rates of preventable and treatable diseases (including malaria and malnutrition), an inadequate health care system, precarious food security, and armed conflict. Some of the worst mortality rates are in western CAR’s diamond mining region, which has been impoverished because of government attempts to control the diamond trade and the fall in industrial diamond prices. To make matters worse, the government and international donors have reduced health funding in recent years. The CAR’s weak educational system and low literacy rate have also suffered as a result of the country’s ongoing conflict. Schools are closed, qualified teachers are scarce, infrastructure, funding, and supplies are lacking and subject to looting, and many students and teachers have been displaced by violence. Rampant poverty, human rights violations, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and a lack of security and stability have led to forced displacement internally and externally. Since the political crisis that resulted in CAR’s March 2013 coup began in December 2012, approximately 600,000 people have fled to Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other neighboring countries, while another estimated 515,000 were displaced internally as of December 2022. The UN has urged countries to refrain from repatriating CAR refugees amid the heightened lawlessness. (2019)

elderly dependency ratio

5.1

potential support ratio

19.7 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

102.8

youth dependency ratio

97.7

improved: rural

rural: 47.5% of population

improved: total

total: 62.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 83.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 52.5% of population

unimproved: total

total: 37.1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 16.1% of population

2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Baya 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peuhl) 6%, Mbum 6%, Ngbanki 5.5%, Zande-Nzakara 3%, other Central African Republic ethnic groups 2%, non-Central African Republic ethnic groups .1% (2003 est.)

1.94 (2024 est.)

1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

female

74.5 deaths/1,000 live births

male

86.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

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

female

57.7 years

male

55.1 years

total population

56.4 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

26.2% (2020)

male

49.2%

total population

37.5%

958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023)

835 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

21.2 years

male

19.7 years

total

20.4 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Central African

noun

Central African(s)

-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

7.5% (2016)

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

female

2,836,460 (2024 est.)

male

2,814,497

total

5,650,957

majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui as shown in this population distribution map

1.76% (2024 est.)

Roman Catholic 34.6%, Protestant 15.7%, other Christian 22.9%, Muslim 13.8%, ethnic religionist 12%, Baha'i 0.2%, agnostic/atheist 0.7% (2020 est.)

note

note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

improved: rural

rural: 12.4% of population

improved: total

total: 29.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 53.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 87.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 70.1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 46.2% of population

female

6 years (2012)

male

8 years

total

7 years

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

3.94 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

43.6% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

established as a French settlement in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Ubangi River; the Ubangi itself was named from the native word for the "rapids" located beside the outpost, which marked the end of navigable water north from Brazzaville

geographic coordinates

4 22 N, 18 35 E

name

Bangui

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

35 years

amendments

proposals require support of the government, two thirds of the National Council of Transition, and assent by the "Mediator of the Central African" crisis; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the National Council membership; non-amendable constitutional provisions include those on the secular and republican form of government, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, or changes to the authorities of various high-level executive, parliamentary, and judicial officials

history

several previous; latest constitution passed by a national referendum on 30 July 2023 and validated by the Constitutional Court on 30 August 2023; note - the new constitution was proposed by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, removed term limits, and will allow President Touadéra to run again in 2025; opposition parties denounced the changes, claiming they were created to facilitate a "life precedency" for Touadéra

abbreviation

CAR

conventional long form

Central African Republic

conventional short form

none

etymology

self-descriptive name specifying the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent

former

Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire

local long form

République centrafricaine

local short form

none

chief of mission

Ambassador Patricia A. MAHONEY (since 8 April 2022)

email address and website

https://cf.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Avenue David Dacko, Bangui

FAX

[236] 2161-4494

mailing address

2060 Bangui Place, Washington DC  20521-2060

telephone

[236] 2161-0200

chancery

2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018)

email address and website

centrafricwashington@yahoo.comhttps://www.usrcaembassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 332-9893

telephone

[1] (202) 483-7800

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (since 30 March 2016)

election results

2020: Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 53.9%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 21%, other 25.1%2015: Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 23.7%, Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 19.1%, Desire KOLINGBA (RDC) 12%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 11.4%, other 33.8%; percent of vote in second round - Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA 62.7%, Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE 37.3%

elections/appointments

president directly elected for 5-year term; election last held 27 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025); constitutional referendum in July 2023 removed term limits and institutes 7-year terms; note - presidential and partial legislative elections were held on 27 December 2020; voting was disrupted in some areas, delaying the first round of legislative elections until 14 March 2021; constituencies that did vote on 27 December 2020 held runoff elections for their legislators

head of government

Prime Minister Félix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022)

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

presidential republic

13 August 1960 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of whom 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

civil law system based on the French model

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (140 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCU 63, MOUNI 9, URCA 7, MLPC 7, RDC 5, KNK 3, PATRIE 3, CDE 2, RDD 2, MDD 2, PGD 2, PAD 2, CANE 2, other 11, independent 20; composition - men 124, women 16, percentage women 11.4%

elections

last held in December 2020 through July 2021 (next to be held 31 December 2025)

note

note 1: on 27 December 2020, the day of first round elections, voting in many electoral areas was disrupted by armed groups; on 13 February 2021, President TOUADERA announced that new first round elections would be held on 27 February 2021 for those areas controlled by armed groups and the second round on 14 March 2021; ultimately, two additional rounds were held on 23 May and 25 July 2021 in areas that continued to suffer from election security problemsnote 2: in accordance with article 98 of the constitution published in August 2023, the parliamentary term has increased from five to seven years and will be first applied to the legislature due to be elected in late 2025

lyrics/music

Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER

name

"La Renaissance" (The Renaissance)

note

note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory

selected World Heritage Site locales

Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park; Sangha Trinational Forest

total World Heritage Sites

2 (natural)

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

elephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red

Action Party for Development or PADAfrican Party for Radical Transformation and Integration of States or PATRIEAlliance for Democracy and Progress or ADPBe Africa ti e Kwe (also known as Central Africa for Us All or BTK)Central African Democratic Rally or RDCCentral African Party for Integrated Development or PCDIDemocratic Movement for the Renewal and Evolution of Central Africa or MDRECKodro Ti Mo Kozo Si Movement or MKMKSMovement for Democracy and Development or MDDMovement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPCNational Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa or KNK)National Movement of Independents or MOUNINational Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDPNational Union of Republican Democrats or UNADERNew Impetus for Central Africa or CANEParty for Democracy and Solidarity - Kélémba or KPDSParty for Democratic Governance or PGDPath of Hope or CDERenaissance for Sustainable Development or RDDSocialist Party or PSTransformation Through Action Initiative or ITAUnion for Central African Renewal or URCAUnion for Renaissance and Development or URDUnited Hearts Movement or MCU

18 years of age; universal

cassava, groundnuts, yams, coffee, maize, sesame seeds, bananas, taro, sugarcane, beef (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

expenditures

$293.459 million (2021 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$360.48 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2016

-$97 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$163 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external 2022

$552.586 million (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

enormous natural resources; extreme poverty; weak public institutions and infrastructure; political and gender-based violence have led to displacement of roughly 25% of population; Bangui-Douala corridor blockade reduced activity and tax collection; strong agricultural performance offset COVID-19 downturn

Currency

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

585.911 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

575.586 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

554.531 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

623.76 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

606.57 (2023 est.)

Exports 2020

$353.021 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$332.869 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$293.074 million (2022 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, electrical machinery (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 40%, Italy 11%, Pakistan 10%, China 10%, France 6% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

14.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption

8.3% (2023 est.)

household consumption

97.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-29% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

14.6% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

9.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

28.6% (2023 est.)

industry

20.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

40.5% (2023 est.)

$2.555 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

43 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

33.1% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

2.1% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2020

$799.195 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$778.395 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$784.669 million (2022 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, engines, aircraft, prefabricated buildings, packaged medicine (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Cameroon 28%, US 8%, China 7%, France 6%, South Korea 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-10.28% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.26% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.58% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.98% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

2.114 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

68.8% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2017

52.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$5.769 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$5.798 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$5.849 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

0.98% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.87% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$1,100 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$1,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,000 (2023 est.)

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020

$432.524 million (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$483.872 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$374.405 million (2022 est.)

8.21% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

6.68% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

6.34% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.29% (2023 est.)

female

11.8% (2023 est.)

male

9.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

10.7% (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

316,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

316,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

imports

0.7 metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

3 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

141.105 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

38,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

10 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - rural areas

1.6%

electrification - total population

15.7% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

34.7%

fossil fuels

0.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

99.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

881,000 Btu/person (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.01 (2019 est.)

total

499 (2019 est.) Data available for 2019 only.

government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine, provides limited domestic TV broadcasting; 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 (2017)

.cf

percent of population

11% (2021 est.)

total

605,000 (2021 est.)

domestic

very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; 34 per 100 mobile-cellular subscribers (2020)

general assessment

given the poor fixed-line infrastructure in most countries across Africa, voice and data services across the region are greatly dependent on mobile networks; in the majority of markets, including those with better developed fixed infrastructure such as South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, up to 98% of all voice and data connections are via mobile networks; during the last two to three years, national governments and telecom regulators have striven to improve fixed infrastructure with the wider aim of developing economic growth based on digital services and connectivity; this work is principally focused on delivering fiber-based connectivity; since the amount of copper infrastructure (DSL or HFC) used for broadband is so negligible, governments and private firms, including telcos are investing in fiber rather than in older technologies; while supporting broadband to premises, health centers, and government buildings, the new fiber infrastructure is mainly being deployed to provide mobile platforms and to support the rapid growth in data traffic (2022)

international

country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2021 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

2,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

1.831 million (2021 est.)

43 (2024)

TL

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 (2015) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

46,364 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

2

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

paved

700 km

total

24,000 km

unpaved

23,300 km (2018)

2,800 km (2011) (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, importers and exporters preferred routes through Cameroon)

the 2013 coup resulted in the institutional collapse of the FACA; its forces were overwhelmed and forced to flee to neighboring countries; it has been estimated that only 10% of the FACA returned after the coup, and the FACA has struggled to rebuild in the years of instability since, despite significant foreign assistance; considerable portions of the country remain outside state control and are ungoverned, with the presence of multiple armed actors creating insecurity in much of the country in late 2020 and early 2021, the Coalition des Patriotes pour le Change (CPC), a loose coalition of armed groups comprised largely of former Seleka and anti-Balaka fighters, attacked the capital Bangui; CAR Government forces, along with Russian private military contractors and Rwandan troops, repelled the attack while the CPC retreated to its rear bases and into neighboring countries and continued conducting attacks; as of 2023, the CAR Government claimed to have restored authority across much of the country, including the capital, although armed groups, including some not affiliated with CPC, continued to carry out violent activities in regions outside the capital, threatening local stability; forces on both sides have been accused of abuses and atrocities in the fighting in 2018, the UN Security Council approved Russian security assistance for the CAR to help train and advise FACA personnel, as well as transport them to operational areas, provide logistical support, and assist with medical evacuation; in addition to teams of military trainers, Russia sent private military contractors to provide assistance to the FACA; the Russians have also performed other security roles such as guarding mines and government officials; some Russian contractors and the CAR forces they supported have been accused of carrying out indiscriminate killings, using excessive force against civilians, and lootingthe UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has operated in the country since 2014; its mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s fragile transitional government; as of early 2024, MINUSCA had more than 16,000 military and police personnel the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM-RCA) has operated in the country since 2016, providing advice, training, and educational programs to the country's security forces; the EU mission has trained five FACA territorial infantry battalions and one amphibious infantry battalion; France and Rwanda have also provided assistance to the FACA; France suspended its support in 2021, but Rwanda continued providing troops and military training as of 2024 (2024)

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine)Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), National Police (2023)

note

note: the Special Republican Protection Group (Groupement Spécial Chargé de la Protection Républicaine or GSPR) is part of the Army per a March 2022 decree, but reports to the president; the GSPR provides protection to the head of state

limited and varied information available; estimated to have up to 15,000 FACA troops (2023)

most of the military's heavy weapons and equipment were destroyed or captured during the 2012–2014 civil war; prior to the war, most of its equipment was of French, Russian, or Soviet origin; in recent years, it has received some secondhand equipment from China and Russia, including light weapons, as well as some armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and helicopters (2024)

note

note: the CAR was under a UNSC arms embargo from 2013-July 2024

Military Expenditures 2019

1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

18 years of age for military service; no conscription although the constitution provides for the possibility of conscription in the event of an imminent threat to the country (2023)

IDPs

490,868 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2023)

refugees (country of origin)

28,217 (Sudan) (refugees since 15 April 2023), 6,707 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2024)

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch list — The Central African Republic did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/central-african-republic/

carbon dioxide emissions

0.3 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

22.44 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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

water pollution; tap water is not potable; poaching and mismanagement have diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies

due to internal conflict and high food prices - according to the latest analysis, issued in July 2023, the number of people in Crisis and above is projected to reach 2.4 million between April and August 2023; this reflects the impact of the ongoing conflict and civil insecurity, as well as the effects of flooding and drought conditions that curbed crop yields and agricultural production (2023)

agricultural land

8.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5.1% (2018 est.)

forest

36.2% (2018 est.)

other

55.7% (2018 est.)

Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin

Oubangui (Ubangi) river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

8.99% of GDP (2018 est.)

141 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

43.6% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,105,983 tons (2014 est.)