2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.1% (male 799,241; female 788,370) 15-64 years: 53.5% (male 969,581; female 1,000,740) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 53,322; female 72,284) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

50 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

47 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23

under 914 m

13 (2002) Military Central African Republic

Area

land

622,984 sq km

total

622,984 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

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. In March 2003 a military coup deposed the civilian government of President Ange-Felix PATASSE and has since established a new government. Geography Central African Republic

Birth rate

35.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Capital

Bangui

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995

Country name

abbreviation

CAR

conventional long form

Central African Republic

conventional short form

none

former

Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire

local long form

Republique Centrafricaine

local short form

none

Currency

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

Currency code

XAF

Death rate

19.73 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$881.4 million (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Mattie R. SHARPLESS

embassy

Avenue David Dacko, Bangui

mailing address

B. P. 924, Bangui

telephone

[236] 61 02 00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY

Disputes - international

internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlap into Chad and CAR, leaving refugees and rebel groups in both countries; violent ethnic skirmishes persist along the border with Sudan This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

61.3 (1993)

Economic aid - recipient

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

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 growth likely to be no more than 1.3% in 2003. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

Electricity - consumption

98.63 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

106 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

19.8%

hydro

80.2%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

lowest point

Oubangui River 335 m

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

Ethnic groups

Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers

chief of state

President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)

elections

NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 15 March 2003 in which former President Ange-Felix PATASSE was overthrown (President BOZIZE has stated that elections will be held by NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Abel GOUMBA (since NA March 2003)

Exports

$134 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners

Belgium 66.8%, Spain 6.4%, Kazakhstan 4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-9893

[236] 61 44 94

chancery

1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 483-7800

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Central African Republic

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 Central African Republic

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.296 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

55%

industry

20%

services

25% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa People Central African Republic

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

643 km

total

23,810 km

unpaved

23,167 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

12.9% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

22,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

250,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

47.7% (1993)

lowest 10%

0.7%

Imports

$102 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 30%, US 5.2%, Cameroon 4.5%, Germany 4.3% (2002)

Independence

13 August 1960 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2002)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

86.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

100.35 deaths/1,000 live births

total

93.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2001 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.cf

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

2,000 (2002) Transportation Central African Republic

Irrigated land

NA sq km

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

Labor force

NA

Land boundaries

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

total

5,203 km

Land use

arable land

3.1%

other

96.76% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.14%

Languages

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

Legal system

based on French law

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)

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

elections

last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)

Life expectancy at birth

female

43.29 years (2003 est.)

male

40.18 years

total population

41.71 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

39.9% (2003 est.) Government Central African Republic

male

63.3%

total population

51%

Location

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

18.3 years (2002)

male

17.6 years

total

17.9 years

Military branches

Central African Armed Forces (FACA) (including Republican Guard, Ground Forces, Naval Forces, and Air Force), Presidential Security Guard, Gendarmerie, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$13.43 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.1% (FY02) Transnational Issues Central African Republic

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

858,671 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

449,466 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

Nationality

adjective

Central African

noun

Central African(s)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

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

NA

Population

3,683,538

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 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.62% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios

283,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

Religions

indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%

note

animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication

general assessment

fair system

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

9,500 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

710 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

18,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

4.68 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)

Waterways

900 km

note

traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river, navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m