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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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)

Africa

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

number of neighbors

6

Total

5,920 km

Agricultural land

9.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.8% (2023 est.)

arable land

2.89%

Forest

72.5% (2023 est.)

Other

18.4% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

1.41%

Yes

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 km <br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Congo (3,730,881 sq km), <em>(Mediterranean Sea)</em> Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage

Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/51V8dsi2rGYC9n3c9

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/192790

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

Middle Africa

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

UTC+01:00

number of time zones

1

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.)

31.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

17.1% (2019)

Women married by age 15

25.8% (2019)

Women married by age 18

61% (2019)

37.9%

18.4% (2022 est.)

65.4% (2019 est.)

11.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

327 per 1,000

adult male

393 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

6 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

16.6 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

71.7 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

65.7 (2025 est.)

improved total

6.22%

Improved: rural

rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 36.3% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 48.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 63.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 51.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

10% national budget (2023 est.)

2 % of GDP

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.)

1.92 (2025 est.)

11 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

9% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.95%

Female

74.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

86.4 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

31 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

79.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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

languages

French, Sango

number of languages

2

Female

57.7 years

Male

55.1 years

Total population

56.4 years (2024 est.)

Female

27.1% (2019 est.)

Male

59.8% (2019 est.)

Total population

42.4% (2019 est.)

958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023)

692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

21.2 years

Male

19.7 years

Total

20.6 years (2025 est.)

163 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Central African

Noun

Central African(s)

-3.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

7.5% (2016)

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

2,885,700

Male

2,864,870

Total

5,750,570 (2025 est.)

1.74% (2025 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

<strong>note:</strong> animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

improved total

13.53%

Improved: rural

rural: 12.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 30.2% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 87.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 69.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)

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.)

3.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

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

Urban population

43.6% of total population (2023)

measles

41%

14 prefectures (<em>préfectures</em>, singular - <em>préfecture</em>), 2 economic prefectures* (<em>préfectures économiques</em>, singular - <em>préfecture économique</em>), 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 military post in 1889; the name means "rapids" in the local Bobangui language, because of the city's location above the first great rapid on the Ubangi River

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/cf.svg

Amendment process

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

Abbreviation

CAR

alternative spellings

CF, Central African Republic, République centrafricaine

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

FIFA code

CTA

Former

Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire

Local long form

R&eacute;publique centrafricaine

local long form (fra)

République centrafricaine

Local short form

none

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Melanie Anne ZIMMERMAN (since July 2025)

Email address and website

<br>https://cf.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Avenue David Dacko, Bangui

FAX

[236] 2161-4494

Mailing address

2060 Bangui Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 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

<br>centrafricwashington@yahoo.com<br><br>https://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 TOUAD&Eacute;RA (since 30 March 2016)

Election results

<em><br>2025:</em> Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 76.2%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 14.7%, other 9.1%

Election/appointment process

current president was directly elected for 5-year term; constitutional referendum in July 2023 removed term limits and instituted 7-year terms

Expected date of next election

December 2032

Head of government

Prime Minister F&eacute;lix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022)

Most recent election date

28 December 2025

<strong>description:</strong> four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in the center; a five-pointed yellow star sits in the top left corner of the flag, on the blue band<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> combines the pan-African and French flag colors; red stands for blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue for the sky and freedom, white for peace and dignity, green for hope and faith, and yellow for tolerance; the star represents aspiring to a vibrant future

The flag of Central African Republic is composed of four equal horizontal bands of blue, white, green and yellow intersected at the center by a vertical red band of equal size as the horizontal bands. A yellow five-pointed star is situated on the hoist side of the blue band.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/cf.svg

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 (number of judges unknown); 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

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

28 December 2025

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Assembly (Assembl&eacute;e nationale)

Most recent election date

12/27/2020 to 7/25/2021

Note

<strong>note 1:</strong> 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 6 March 2021; ultimately, two additional rounds were held on 23 May and 25 July 2021 in areas that continued to suffer from election security problems<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 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

Number of seats

140 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

United Hearts Movement (MCU) (63); National Movement of Independents (MOUNI) (9); Union for Central African Renewal (URCA) (7); Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) (7); Other (34); Independents (20)

Percentage of women in chamber

11.4%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

blue, white, green, yellow, red

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

Action Party for Development or PAD<br>African Party for Radical Transformation and Integration of States or PATRIE<br>Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP<br>Be Africa ti e Kwe (also known as Central Africa for Us All or BTK)<br>Central African Democratic Rally or RDC<br>Central African Party for Integrated Development or PCDI<br>Democratic Movement for the Renewal and Evolution of Central Africa or MDREC<br>Kodro Ti Mo Kozo Si Movement or MKMKS<br>Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD<br>Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC<br>National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa or KNK)<br>National Movement of Independents or MOUNI<br>National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP<br>National Union of Republican Democrats or UNADER<br>New Impetus for Central Africa or CANE<br>Party for Democracy and Solidarity - Kélémba or KPDS<br>Party for Democratic Governance or PGD<br>Path of Hope or CDE<br>Renaissance for Sustainable Development or RDD<br>Socialist Party or PS<br>Transformation Through Action Initiative or ITA<br>Union for Central African Renewal or URCA<br>Union for Renaissance and Development or URD<br>United Hearts Movement or MCU<strong><br></strong>

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

cassava, groundnuts, yams, coffee, maize, sesame seeds, taro, sugarcane, beef, milk (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$462.104 million (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

code

XAF

name

Central African CFA franc (XAF) [Fr]

$1.05 billion

Debt - external 2023

$724.179 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> 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 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.)

Exchange rates 2024

606.345 (2024 est.)

$412.92 million

Exports 2022

$293.074 million (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$369.034 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$425.306 million (2024 est.)

Note

<strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, cotton (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 54%, China 14%, France 6%, Turkey 5%, Belgium 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$40.41 million

Exports of goods and services

15.5% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

9.7% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

94.7% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-32.4% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

15.4% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Agriculture

32.5% (2024 est.)

Industry

17.8% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Services

40.5% (2024 est.)

$2.752 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$516

56.2 (2008)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

43 (2021 est.)

Note

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

$2.92 billion

$510

24 % of GDP

Highest 10%

33.1% (2021 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.1% (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$864.65 million

Imports 2022

$784.669 million (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$742.108 million (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$890.572 million (2024 est.)

Note

<strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, tanks and armored vehicles (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 16%, Cameroon 14%, France 8%, Belgium 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

9.7% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

1.48%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.3% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.6% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

2 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

2.08 million persons

agriculture

66.06%

industry

13.39%

services

20.55%

68.8% (2021 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

56% of GDP (2016 est.)

$6.73 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$5.795 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$5.836 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$5.926 billion (2024 est.)

1.5%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.5% (2024 est.)

$1,263

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$1,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$1,100 (2024 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

$479.59 million

Note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$483.872 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$374.405 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$479.593 million (2023 est.)

9 % of GDP

8 % of GDP

8.2% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

6.25%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.9% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.9% (2024 est.)

Female

10.6% (2024 est.)

Male

8.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

9.5% (2024 est.)

Imports

1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

3 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

132.105 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

63,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

10 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

1.6%

Electrification - total population

15.7% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

34.7%

Fossil fuels

0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

96.18%

Hydroelectricity

99.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

96.47%

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

954,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

90.9%

per 100 inhabitants

0 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Total

1,000 (2022 est.) Data available for 2019 only.

government-owned network, Radiodiffusion T&eacute;l&eacute;vision Centrafricaine, provides limited 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

8% (2019 est.)

+236

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions

2,090 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100

39 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

39 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.98 million (2022 est.)

43 (2025)

TL

Right

RCA

the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) are focused on internal security; since the 2013 coup, multiple armed groups have been active in the country, carrying out attacks, controlling territory, and undermining security; the 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 afterwards; over the past decade, the FACA has sought to rebuild with considerable foreign assistance, including from France, the EU, Russia, Rwanda, Uganda, and the UN; Russian private military contractors and Rwandan military forces have assisted the FACA in its operations against rebel groups<br><br>the 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 transitional government (2025)

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine)<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), National Police (2025)

active duty personnel

10,000

note

<strong>note: </strong>the Special Republican Protection Group (Groupement Spécial Chargé de la Protection Républicaine or GSPR) provides protection to the head of state; it is part of the Army but reports to the president

percent of total labor force

0.54 %

estimated 10-15,000 active FACA (2025)

most of the military's heavy weapons and equipment were lost during the 2012–2014 civil war; prior to the war, most of its inventory was of French, Russian, or Soviet origin; in recent years, it has received some donated equipment from China and Russia, including armored vehicles, drones, helicopters, jet trainer aircraft, and some light weapons (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> the CAR was under a UNSC arms embargo from 2013-July 2024

3 % of GDP

current USD

$71,174,970

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.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

14.12 %

percent of GDP

2.52 % of GDP

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription although the constitution provides for the possibility of conscription in the event of an imminent threat to the country (2025)

IDPs

469,342 (2024 est.)

Refugees

53,378 (2024 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

water pollution; tap water not potable; poaching; wildlife mismanagement; 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

25.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

15 % of total land area

0 % of total

141 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

0 % of internal resources

Agricultural

400,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

12 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

60.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

1.106 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

9.1% (2022 est.)