2021 Edition

Background

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 representatives from 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 August 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. BOKASSA’s regime was characterized by widespread corruption and an intolerance of opposition, which manifested in the disappearances of many who challenged BOKASSA’s rule. In an effort to prolong his mandate, he 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 early 1979 that were violently suppressed by security forces. BOKASSA, rumored to have participated in the killing of some young students after the protests, 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 March 2013 unseated President Francois BOZIZE after a mainly Muslim rebel coalition named the Seleka seized the capital and forced BOZIZE, who himself had taken power in a coup in 2003, to flee the country. Widespread abuses by the Seleka 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 the self-defense groups, conflict in CAR has become increasingly ethnoreligious-based, although focused on identity as opposed to religious ideology. Elections organized by a transitional government in early 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he was reelected in December 2020. A peace agreement signed in February 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.

Area

land

622,984 sq km

total

622,984 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m

lowest point

Oubangui River 335 m

mean elevation

635 m

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1055 km, Sudan 174 km

total

5,920 km

Land use

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.)

Location

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Major aquifers

Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin

Major rivers (by length in km)

Ubangi river source (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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Population distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

39.49% (male 1,188,682/female 1,176,958)

15-24 years

19.89% (male 598,567/female 593,075)

25-54 years

32.95% (male 988,077/female 986,019)

55-64 years

4.32% (male 123,895/female 134,829)

65 years and over

3.35% (male 78,017/female 122,736) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

33.2 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.5% (2019)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

17.8% (2019)

Current Health Expenditure

11% (2018)

Death rate

12.01 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

The Central African Republic’s (CAR) humanitarian crisis has worsened since a coup in 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 is 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 are 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 (DRC), and other neighboring countries, while another estimated 600,000 are displaced internally as of October 2019. The UN has urged countries to refrain from repatriating CAR refugees amid the heightened lawlessness. (2019)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.2

potential support ratio

19.2 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

86.4

youth dependency ratio

81.1

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 54.4% of population

improved: total

total: 68.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: 89.6% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 45.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 10.4% of population

Education expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups

Baya 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peul) 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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.9% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,200 (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

88,000 (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

77.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

90.39 deaths/1,000 live births

total

84.22 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

56.44 years (2021 est.)

male

53.74 years

total population

55.07 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

25.8% (2018)

male

49.5%

total population

37.4%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

respiratory diseases

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

910,000 BANGUI (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

829 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

20.3 years (2020 est.)

male

19.7 years

total

20 years

Nationality

adjective

Central African

noun

Central African(s)

Net migration rate

-3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.5% (2016)

Physicians density

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

5,357,984 (July 2021 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

1.79% (2021 est.)

Religions

Christian 89%, Muslim 9%, folk religion 1%, unaffiliated 1% (2020 est.)

note

note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 7.2% of population

improved: total

total: 21.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 43.6% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 92.8% of population

unimproved: total

total: 78.2% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 56.4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

6 years (2012)

male

8 years

total

7 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.64 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.09 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

42.6% of total population (2021)

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

Capital

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 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

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

Constitution

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 (interim constitution) approved by the Transitional Council 30 August 2015, adopted by referendum 13-14 December 2015, ratified 27 March 2016

Country name

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

Republique Centrafricaine

local short form

none

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Lucy TAMLYN (since 11 January 2019)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018)

email address and website

pc@usrcaembassy.orghttps://www.usrcaembassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 332-9893

telephone

[1] (202) 483-7800

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 30 March 2016; reelected 27 December 2020)

election results

Faustin-Archange TOUADERA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 59.3%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 21%, other 19.7%

elections/appointments

under the 2015 constitution, the president is elected by universal direct suffrage for a period of 5 years (eligible for a second term); election last held 27 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025); note - Central African Republic held presidential and partial legislative elections on December 27, 2020; voting was disrupted in some areas, so those constituencies held the first round of their legislative elections on March 14, 2021; some of the constituencies that did vote on December 27, 2020 held runoff elections for their legislators.

head of government

Prime Minister Henri-Marie DONDRA (since 11 June 2021); note - Prime Minister Firmin NGREBADA resigned on 10 June 2021

note

note: rebel forces seized the capital in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, and established a National Transitional Council (CNT) in April 2013; the NTC elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA interim president in January 2014 to serve until February 2015, when new elections were to be held; her term was extended because instability delayed new elections and the transition did not take place until the end of March 2016

Flag description

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

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

13 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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), MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts

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

Legal system

civil law system based on the French model

Legislative branch

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

December 2015 election: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNDP 16, URCA 11, RDC 8, MLPC 10, KNK 7, other 28, independent 60; composition - men 129, women 11, percent of women 7.9%

elections

first round last held on 27 December 2020; note - on election day, voting in many electoral areas was disrupted by armed groups; on 13 February 2021, President TOUADERA announced that a new first round of elections will be held on 27 February for those areas controlled by armed groups and and second round on 14 March

National anthem

lyrics/music

Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER

name

"Le 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

National holiday

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

Action Party for Development or PAD [El Hadj Laurent NGON-BABA]Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA]Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Desire Nzanga KOLINGBA]Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [Louis PAPENIAH]Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE]National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa) or KNK [Francois BOZIZE]National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Amine MICHEL]New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH]Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]Union for Central African Renewal or URCA [Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

cassava, yams, groundnuts, taro, bananas, sugar cane, beef, maize, plantains, milk

Budget

expenditures

300.1 million (2017 est.)

revenues

282.9 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$97 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$163 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$691.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$779.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic overview

Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of estimated GDP, although statistics are unreliable in the conflict-prone country. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked geography, poor transportation system, largely unskilled work force, and legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is highly unequal and grants from the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. CAR shares a common currency with the Central African Monetary Union. The currency is pegged to the Euro.Since 2009, the IMF has worked closely with the government to institute reforms that have resulted in some improvement in budget transparency, but other problems remain. The government's additional spending in the run-up to the 2011 election worsened CAR's fiscal situation. In 2012, the World Bank approved $125 million in funding for transport infrastructure and regional trade, focused on the route between CAR's capital and the port of Douala in Cameroon. In July 2016, the IMF approved a three-year extended credit facility valued at $116 million; in mid-2017, the IMF completed a review of CAR’s fiscal performance and broadly approved of the government’s management, although issues with revenue collection, weak government capacity, and transparency remain. The World Bank in late 2016 approved a $20 million grant to restore basic fiscal management, improve transparency, and assist with economic recovery.Participation in the Kimberley Process, a commitment to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain, led to a partially lifted the ban on diamond exports from CAR in 2015, but persistent insecurity is likely to constrain real GDP growth.

Exchange rates

currency

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

Exchange rates 2013

494.42 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

591.45 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

593.01 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

593.01 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

605.3 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2016

$101.5 million (2016 est.)

Exports 2017

$113.7 million (2017 est.)

Exports - commodities

lumber, gold, diamonds, sea vessels, cocoa paste (2019)

Exports - partners

China 41%, United Arab Emirates 19%, France 7% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

12% (2017 est.)

government consumption

8.5% (2017 est.)

household consumption

95.3% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-29.5% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

13.7% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

43.2% (2017 est.)

industry

16% (2017 est.)

services

40.8% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.937 billion (2017 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1993

61.3 (1993)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2003

43.6 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

33% (2003)

lowest 10%

2.1%

Imports

Imports 2016

$342.2 million (2016 est.)

Imports 2017

$393.1 million (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, packaged medicines, natural gas, broadcasting equipment, second-hand clothing (2019)

Imports - partners

India 18%, France 12%, United States 11%, China 9%, Netherlands 7%, Belgium 7%, Malta 6% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

3.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

4.2% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

1.6% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.7% (2019 est.)

Labor force

2.242 million (2017 est.)

Population below poverty line

62% NA (2008 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

56% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

52.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017

$4.195 billion (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$4.354 billion (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$4.483 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

4.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

4.5% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

4.3% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$252.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$304.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2017

6.9% (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

159.4 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

50% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

50% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

38,300 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

171.4 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

0.4% (2019)

electrification - total population

3% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

7% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,800 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,799 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2019 est.)

total

499 (2019)

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.cf

Internet users

percent of population

4.34% (2019 est.)

total

557,100 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; with the presence of multiple providers mobile-cellular service has reached 33 per 100 mobile-cellular subscribers; cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui (2019)

general assessment

network consists principally of microwave radio relay and at low-capacity; ongoing conflict has obstructed telecommunication and media development, although there are ISP (Internet service providers) and mobile phone carriers, radio is the most-popular communications medium (2018)

international

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

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2018 est.)

total subscriptions

2,193 (2018)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33.62 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

1,595,294 (2019)

Airports

total

39 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2019)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

11

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

19

total

37

under 914 m

6 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TL

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

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)

Ports and terminals

note

Nola (Sangha)

river port(s)

Bangui (Oubangui)

Roadways

paved

700 km (2018)

total

24,000 km (2018)

unpaved

23,300 km (2018)

Waterways

2,800 km (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) (2011)

Military - note

the 2013 coup resulted in the institutional collapse of the FACA; its forces were overwhelmed and forced to flee to neighboring countries; reportedly only 10% of the FACA returned after the coup, and it has struggled to rebuild in the years of instability since; the European Union, France, Russia, the UN, and the US are providing various levels of security assistance 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; Russia sent private military contractors, and as of late 2021, there were reportedly as many as 2,300 providing assistance to the FACA, as well as performing 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 peacekeeping mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s fragile transitional government; in November 2019, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission another year; as of August 2021, MINUSCA had about 15,000 total personnelthe European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM-RCA) has operated in the country since 2016; the EUTM-RCA contributes to the restructuring of the country's military and defense sector through advice, training, and educational programs; as of mid-2021, it had trained 4 territorial infantry battalions (Bataillon d’Infanterie Territorial) and 1 amphibious infantry battalion  

Military and security forces

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG); Ministry of Interior: National Police (2021)

note

note - in 2019-2021, CAR created three Mixed Special Security units (Unités Spéciales Mixtes de Sécurité or USMS), regionally based battalion-sized units comprised of about 40% government and 60% rebel soldiers that are intended to provide security along transportation corridors and at mining sites; the units are intended to be transitional in nature with a scheduled deployment time of two years

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 10,000 active troops, including an air component of 100-200 and up to 2,000 Gendarmerie; approximately 2,000 Mixed Special Security Units (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FACA is lightly and poorly armed with mostly outdated weapons; since 2010, it has received small amounts of second-hand equipment from China, Russia, and Ukraine (2021)

note

note - since 2013, CAR has been under a UNSC arms embargo; the embargo bans all supplies of arms and related materiel to the country except to the CAR security forces if approved in advance by the relevant UN Sanctions Committee

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

1.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.4% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.5% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for military service; no conscription (2021)

Disputes - international

periodic skirmishes persist over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

722,101 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2021)

refugees (country of origin)

5,570 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2021)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.3 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

22.44 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

49.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Food insecurity

exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies

due to conflict and population displacements - ongoing conflicts and population displacements due to armed violence that followed the December 2020 elections, adding to the already high levels of civil insecurity, coupled with restrictive measures to control the COVID‑19 pandemic, are expected to continue affecting agricultural activities and limit farmers’ access to crop‑growing areas and inputs, with a negative impact on 2021 crop production (2021)

Land use

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.)

Major aquifers

Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

respiratory diseases

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major rivers (by length in km)

Ubangi river source (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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

8.99% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

141 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

12 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

60.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

42.6% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,105,983 tons (2014 est.)