2015 Edition

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 but lasted only a decade. In March, 2003 President Ange-Felix PATASSE was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Elections held in 2005 affirmed General BOZIZE as president; he was reelected in 2011 in voting widely viewed as flawed. The government still lacks full control of the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. The militant group, Lord's Resistance Army, continues to destabilize southeastern Central African Republic, and several rebel groups joined together in early December 2012 to launch a series of attacks that left them in control of numerous towns in the northern and central parts of the country. The rebels - unhappy with BOZIZE's government - participated in peace talks in early January 2013 which resulted in a coalition government including the rebellion's leadership. In March 2013, the coalition government dissolved, rebels seized the capital, and President BOZIZE fled the country. Rebel leader Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency and the following month established a National Transitional Council (CNT). In January 2014, the CNT elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA as interim president; new general elections are scheduled for October 2015.

Area

land

622,984 sq km

total

622,984 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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 the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

17.42 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.07 cu km/yr (83%/17%/1%)

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Irrigated land

1.35 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (6)

Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1,556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1,055 km, Sudan 174 km

total

5,920 km

Land use

arable land 2.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 5.1%

agricultural land

8.1%

forest

36.2%

other

55.7% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

144.4 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

40.43% (male 1,095,968/female 1,083,705)

15-24 years

20.06% (male 543,491/female 537,804)

25-54 years

32.02% (male 863,314/female 862,916)

55-64 years

3.98% (male 96,377/female 118,278)

65 years and over

3.52% (male 74,192/female 115,494) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

35.08 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

47% (2006 est.)

total number

532,518

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

23.5% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

15.2% (2010/11)

Death rate

13.8 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.8%

potential support ratio

14.8% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

75.2%

youth dependency ratio

68.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 89.6% of population

rural: 54.4% of population

total: 68.5% of population

urban: 10.4% of population

rural: 45.6% of population

total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

4.25% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,900 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

135,400 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

82.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

98.24 deaths/1,000 live births

total

90.63 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

53.16 years (2015 est.)

male

50.5 years

total population

51.81 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

24.4% (2015 est.)

male

50.7%

total population

36.8%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

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

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

BANGUI (capital) 794,000 (2015)

Median age

female

19.9 years (2015 est.)

male

19.2 years

total

19.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Central African

noun

Central African(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.4% (2014)

Physicians density

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

5,391,539

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 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.13% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

note

animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Sanitation facility access

urban: 43.6% of population

rural: 7.2% of population

total: 21.8% of population

urban: 56.4% of population

rural: 92.8% of population

total: 78.2% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

6 years (2012)

male

9 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

0.82 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.64 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.41 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

40% of total population (2015)

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

geographic coordinates

4 22 N, 18 35 E

name

Bangui

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest ratified by referendum 5 December 2004, effective 27 December 2004; amended 2010; note - the transitional parliament has begun work on a new constitution which should be ready for citizens feedback in early 2015 (2010)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David BROWN (since 14 September 2014)

embassy

Avenue David Dacko, Bangui

FAX

[236] 21 61 44 94

mailing address

B. P. 924, Bangui

note

the embassy suspended operations in December, 2012

telephone

[236] 21 61 02 00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Stanislas MOUSSA-KEMBE (since 24 August 2009)

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 332-9893

telephone

[1] (202) 483-7800

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

Interim President Catherine SAMBA-PANZA (since 23 January 2014)

election results

Catherine SAMBA-PANZA elected in second round; SAMBA-PANZA 75 votes from the National Transitional Council, Desire KOLINGBA 53 votes (128 MPs out of 135 voted)

elections/appointments

interim president elected by the National Transitional Council on 20 January 2014 and sworn in three days later (next general election scheduled for October 2015

head of government

Prime Minister Mahamat KAMOUN (since 10 August 2014); note - Prime Minister Andre NZAPAYEKE replaced Prime Minister Nicolas TIANGAYE on 25 January 2014 and was fired on 5 August 2014; Nicolas TIANGAYE resigned 10 January 2014

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 has been extended because instability has delayed new elections

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

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 court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of which 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 (105 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

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KNK 61, MLPC 1, RDC 1, independent 16, other 11

elections

last held on 23 January 2011 and 27 March 2011 (next to be held in February 2015)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER

name

"Le Renaissance" (The Renaissance)

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

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA]

Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Louis-Pierre GAMBA]

Civic Forum or FC

Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Saturnin NDOMBY]

Liberal Democratic Party or PLD

Londo Association or LONDO

Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD

Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE]

National Convergence or KNK [Francois BOZIZE]

National Unity Party or PUN

New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH]

Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Alexandre Philippe GOUMBA]

People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]

Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$205.4 million (2014 est.)

revenues

$157.7 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009)

4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2014 est.)

15% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$110 million (2014 est.)

-$142.9 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$560.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$543.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

61.3 (1993)

Economy - 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 GDP. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. 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. 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 election in 2011 worsened CAR's fiscal situation. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. 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. After a two-year lag in donor support, the IMF's first review of CAR's extended credit facility for 2012-15 praised improvements in revenue collection but warned of weak management of spending.

Exchange rates

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

491.2 (2014 est.)

494.04 (2013 est.)

510.53 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

495.28 (2010)

Exports

$102.4 million (2014 est.)

$102.9 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee

Exports - partners

China 29.2%, Indonesia 15.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 15%, Norway 7%, Morocco 5.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.4%, France 4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

10.2%

government consumption

5.6%

household consumption

95.4%

imports of goods and services

-19.1%

investment in fixed capital

8%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

55.1%

industry

12.5%

services

32.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$600 (2014 est.)

$600 (2013 est.)

$900 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2014 est.)

-36% (2013 est.)

4.1% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.786 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.855 billion (2014 est.)

$2.826 billion (2013 est.)

$4.42 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

7.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

5.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

10.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

33% (2003)

lowest 10%

2.1%

Imports

$216.7 million (2014 est.)

$212.4 million (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Norway 14%, France 7.7%, US 7.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-3% (2014 est.)

Industries

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (2014 est.)

1.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

2.217 million (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$292.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$358.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$349 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$425.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$196.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$250.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

8% (2001 est.)

note

23% unemployment in the capital, Bangui

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

435,000 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

162.8 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

43.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

56.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

44,000 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

175 million kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,910 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,318 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine, provides domestic TV broadcasting; licenses for 2 private TV stations are pending; 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.cf

Internet users

percent of population

3.4% (2014 est.)

total

181,000

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular service providers, cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui

general assessment

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

international

country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

800

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2014 est.)

total

1.5 million

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Airports

39 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

6 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

11

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

19

total

37

Ports and terminals

river port(s)

Bangui (Oubangui); Nola (Sangha)

Roadways

total

20,278 km (2010)

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)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,145,897 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,149,856

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

661,308 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

655,875

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

53,999 (2010 est.)

male

54,843

Military branches

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2012)

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

369,490 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

5,342 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2015)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Central African Republic (CAR) is a source, transit, and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking, women subjected to forced prostitution, and adults subjected to forced labor; increased violence and displacement rendered Central Africans more vulnerable to exploitation; the recruitment of child soldiers, at times through force, increased dramatically during the year; most victims appear to be CAR citizens exploited within the country, with a smaller number transported back forth between the CAR and nearby countries; armed groups operating in the CAR, including the Lord’s Resistance Army, continue to recruit and re-recruit children for military activities and labor; children are also forced into domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, agricultural labor, mining, and street vending

tier rating

Tier 3 - Central African Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not investigate or prosecute any suspected cases of human trafficking in 2013, including the use of child soldiers; the government also failed to identify, provide protection to, or refer to service providers any trafficking victims (2014)