1988 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1988 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Budget
current revenues, $41.6 million; current expenditures, $31 million (1983)
Climate
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, humid, wet summers
Comparative area
slightly smaller than Texas
Environment
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification
Ethnic divisions
about 80 ethnic groups, the majority of which have related ethnic and linguistic characteristics; 34% Baya, 27% Banda, 10% Sara, 21% Mandjia, 4% Mboum, 4% M'Baka; 6,500 Europeans, of whom 3,600 are French
Exports
$2.4 million (1983); turtle products
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
Imports
$140.4 million (1983)
Infant mortality rate
134/1,000 (1986)
Labor force
775,413 (1986 est); 85% agriculture, 8.9% commerce and services, 2.9% industry, 3% government; about 64,000 salaried workers
Land boundaries
4,981 km total
Land use
3% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 5% meadows and pastures; 64% forest and woodland; 28% other
Language
French (official); Sangho (lingua franca and national language); Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Life expectancy
44
Literacy
20%
Major trade partners
exports — mostly US; imports — US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles
Monetary conversion rate
.833 Cayman dollar=US$l (1985)
Nationality
noun — Central African(s); adjective — Central African
Organized labor
1% of labor force
Population
2,669,293 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 2.44%
Religion
24% indigenous beliefs, 25% Protestant, 25% Roman Catholic, 15% Muslim; animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Special notes
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
Terrain
vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Total area
622,980 km2; land area: 622,980 km2
Government
Administrative divisions
14 prefectures, 47 subprefectures
Branches
Chief of State; a national legislature; separate judiciary; assembly called on Gen. Andre Dieudonne Kolingba to form 44-member provisional council to oversee party activities until special convention elects ruling board
Capital
Bangui
Elections
none scheduled Political parties and leaders: political parties banned in September 1981; Centrafrican Democratic Rally Party created in February 1987 during National Convention is the only political party
Government leader
Gen. Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA is Chief of State, chairman of the Centrafrican Democratic Rally Party, and head of government since 1981
Legal system
based on French law; constitution (approved in a November 1986 referendum); judiciary, Supreme Court, court of appeals, criminal court, and numerous lower courts
National holiday
Independence Day, 13 August; National Day, 1 December
Official name
Central African Republic
Suffrage
universal over age 21
Type
republic, under military rule since September 1981
Communications
Airfields
3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways, 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Branches
police force 400km Sec regional map VII
Highways
160 km of main roads
Ports
1 major (George Town), 1 minor
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
telephone system links islands and to worldwide services via submarine coaxial cable and satellite ground station; 2 AM and 2 FM radio stations Defense Forces Defense is the responsibility of the United Kingdom