1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Abbreviation
CAR
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
Agriculture
accounts for 42% of GDP; self-sufficient in food production except for grain; commercial crops - cotton, coffee, tobacco, timber; food crops - manioc, yams, millet, corn, bananas
Airports
total: 65 usable: 51 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 20
Area
total area: 622,980 sq km land area: 622,980 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
Birth rate
42.3 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Central African Army (including Republican Guard), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Police Force
Budget
revenues: $175 million expenditures: $312 million, including capital expenditures of $122 million (1991 est.)
Capital
Bangui
Climate
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Constitution
21 November 1986
Currency
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Death rate
20.69 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $23 million, 1.8% of GDP (1989 est.)
Digraph
CT
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-7800 or 7801
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $52 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $1.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $38 million
Electricity
capacity: 40,000 kW production: 95 million kWh consumption per capita: 30 kWh (1991)
Environment
current issues: poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Ethnic divisions
Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05 (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Executive branch
chief of state: President Felix (Ange) PATASSE (since 22 October 1993) election last held 19 September 1993; PATASSE received 52.45% of the votes and Abel GOUMBA received 45.62%; next election schelduled for 1998 head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Jean-Luc MANDABA (since 25 October 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Exports
$123.5 million (f.o.b.1992) commodities: diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco partners: France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US
External debt
$859 million (1991)
FAX
[236] 61-44-94
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag
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
Highways
total: 22,000 km paved: bituminous 458 km unpaved: improved earth 10,542 km; unimproved earth 11,000 km
Imports
$165.1 million (f.o.b.1992) commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products partners: France, other EC countries, Japan, Algeria
Independence
13 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production
growth rate 4% (1990 est.); accounts for 14% of GDP
Industries
diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Infant mortality rate
137.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-3% (1990 est.)
Inland waterways
800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Labor force
775,413 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry 3%, government 3% note: about 64,000 salaried workers; 55% of population of working age (1985)
Land boundaries
total 5,203 km, Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km
Land use
arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 64% other: 28%
Languages
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Legal system
based on French law
Legislative branch
unicameral
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 42.54 years male: 41.07 years female: 44.06 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 27% male: 33% female: 15%
Location
Central Africa, between Chad and Zaire
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 701,728; fit for military service 367,264
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
none; landlocked
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Names
conventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Centrafricaine local short form: none former: Central African Empire
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
elections last held 19 September 1993; results - percentage vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) MLPC 33, RDC 14, PLD 7, ADP 6, PSD 3, others 22 note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together they are called the Congress (Congres)
National holiday
National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic)
National product
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.5 billion (1993 est.)
National product per capita
$800 (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate
-3% (1990 est.)
Nationality
noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African
Natural resources
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Note
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
Overview
Subsistence agriculture, including forestry, remains the backbone of the CAR economy, with more than 70% of the population living in the countryside. In 1990 the agricultural sector generated about 42% of GDP. Timber accounted for about 26% of export earnings and the diamond industry for 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, and a weak human resource base. Multilateral and bilateral development assistance, particularly from France, plays a major role in providing capital for new investment.
Political parties and leaders
Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC), the party of the new president, Ange Felix PATASSE; Central African Democratic Party (RDC), Laurent GOMINA-PAMPALI; Council of Moderates Coalition includes; Union of the People for Economic and Social Development (UPDS), Katossy SIMANI; Liberal Republican Party (PARELI), Augustin M'BOE; Central African Socialist Movement (MSCA), Michel BENGUE; Concerted Democratic Forces (CFD), a coalition of 13 parties, including; Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Francois PEHOUA; Central African Republican party (PRC), Ruth ROLLAND; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Enoch DERANT-LAKOUE; Civic Forum (FC), Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA; Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Nestor KOMBOT-NAGUEMON; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC), Felix (Ange) PATASSE
Population
3,142,182 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
2.16% (1994 est.)
Religions
indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Telecommunications
fair system; network relies primarily on radio relay links, with low-capacity, low-powered radiocommunication also used; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Terrain
vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Total fertility rate
5.42 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
republic; one-party presidential regime since 1986
Unemployment rate
30% (1988 est.) in Bangui
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert E. GRIBBIN embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61-02-00, 61-25-78, 61-43-33, 61-02-10