2025 Edition Primary

Edition Builder

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Countries

267

Data Records

89,153

Central African Republic

2025 Edition · 377 data fields

View Current Profile

Introduction

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 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. 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. 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.

Geography

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)

Continent

Africa

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 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km; South Sudan 1055 km; Sudan 174 km
number of neighbors: 6
Total: 5,920 km

Land use

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%

Landlocked

Yes

Location

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Major aquifers

Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin

Major rivers (by length in km)

Oubangui (Ubangi) river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km note: [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 links

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/51V8dsi2rGYC9n3c9
OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/192790

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

Subregion

Middle Africa

Terrain

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

Time zone

UTC+01:00
number of time zones: 1

People and Society

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

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

Child marriage

Men married by age 18: 17.1% (2019)
Women married by age 15: 25.8% (2019)
Women married by age 18: 61% (2019)

Children under 5 years underweight

37.9%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

18.4% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.4% (2019 est.)

Death rate

11.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
adult female: 327 per 1,000
adult male: 393 per 1,000

Dependency ratios

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.)

Drinking water source

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

Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 10% national budget (2023 est.)

Education expenditures

2 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.92 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.95%

Infant mortality rate

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.)

Languages

French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
languages: French, Sango
number of languages: 2

Life expectancy at birth

Female: 57.7 years
Male: 55.1 years
Total population: 56.4 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

Female: 27.1% (2019 est.)
Male: 59.8% (2019 est.)
Total population: 42.4% (2019 est.)

Major urban areas - population

958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

Female: 21.2 years
Male: 19.7 years
Total: 20.6 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

163 births/1,000 women 15-19

Nationality

Adjective: Central African
Noun: Central African(s)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.5% (2016)

Physician density

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

Female: 2,885,700
Male: 2,864,870
Total: 5,750,570 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

1.74% (2025 est.)

Religions

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: note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Sanitation facility access

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.)

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

3.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Urban population: 43.6% of total population (2023)

Vaccination rate

measles: 41%

Government

Administrative divisions

14 prefectures (préfectures, singular - préfecture), 2 economic prefectures* (préfectures économiques, singular - préfecture économique), 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 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

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

Coat of arms

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

Constitution

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

Country name

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: République centrafricaine
local long form (fra): République centrafricaine
Local short form: none

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Melanie Anne ZIMMERMAN (since July 2025)
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: centrafricwashington@yahoo.com https://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 TOUADÉRA (since 30 March 2016)
Election results: 2025: 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 Félix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022)
Most recent election date: 28 December 2025

Flag

description: 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 meaning: 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

Flag description

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.

Flag image

svg: https://flagcdn.com/cf.svg

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system based on the French model

Legislative branch

Electoral system: plurality/majority
Expected date of next election: 28 December 2025
Legislative structure: unicameral
Legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Most recent election date: 12/27/2020 to 7/25/2021
Note: note 1: 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 note 2: 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

National color(s)

blue, white, green, yellow, red

National heritage

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park; Sangha Trinational Forest
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural)

National holiday

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

National symbol(s)

elephant

Political parties

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

Start of week

Monday

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

UN Member

Yes

Economy

Agricultural products

cassava, groundnuts, yams, coffee, maize, sesame seeds, taro, sugarcane, beef, milk (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

Expenditures: $462.104 million (2021 est.)
Note: note: 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.)

Currency

code: XAF
name: Central African CFA franc (XAF) [Fr]

Debt - external

$1.05 billion
Debt - external 2023: $724.179 million (2023 est.)
Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

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.)

Exports

$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: note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, cotton (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

UAE 54%, China 14%, France 6%, Turkey 5%, Belgium 4% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows: $40.41 million

GDP - composition, by end use

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture: 32.5% (2024 est.)
Industry: 17.8% (2024 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 40.5% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.752 billion (2024 est.)
note: note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$516

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

56.2 (2008)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 43 (2021 est.)
Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

GNI (gross national income)

$2.92 billion

GNI per capita

$510

Gross domestic investment

24 % of GDP

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Highest 10%: 33.1% (2021 est.)
Lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.)
Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$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: note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, tanks and armored vehicles (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 16%, Cameroon 14%, France 8%, Belgium 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

9.7% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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: note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

2 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 2.08 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 66.06%
industry: 13.39%
services: 20.55%

Population below poverty line

68.8% (2021 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 56% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$6.73 billion
Note: note: 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.)

Real GDP growth rate

1.5%
Note: note: 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.)

Real GDP per capita

$1,263
Note: note: 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.)

Remittances

Note: note: 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.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$479.59 million
Note: note: 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.)

Revenue (excl grants)

9 % of GDP

Tax revenue

8 % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

8.2% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

6.25%
Note: note: % 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.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Female: 10.6% (2024 est.)
Male: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 9.5% (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 3 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 132.105 million kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 63,000 kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

Electrification - rural areas: 1.6%
Electrification - total population: 15.7% (2022 est.)
Electrification - urban areas: 34.7%

Electricity generation sources

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%

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 954,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Renewable energy consumption

90.9%

Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

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.

Broadcast media

government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Télévision 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)

Internet country code

.cf

Internet users

Percent of population: 8% (2019 est.)

Telephone calling code

+236

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Total subscriptions: 2,090 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100: 39 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 1.98 million (2022 est.)

Transportation

Airports

43 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Driving side

Right

Vehicle registration code

RCA

Military and Security

Military - note

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 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)

Military and security forces

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine) Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), National Police (2025)
active duty personnel: 10,000
note: note: 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 %

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 10-15,000 active FACA (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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: note: the CAR was under a UNSC arms embargo from 2013-July 2024

Military expenditures

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

Military service age and obligation

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)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 469,342 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 53,378 (2024 est.)

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions

From petroleum and other liquids: 313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Total emissions: 313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

water pollution; tap water not potable; poaching; wildlife mismanagement; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion

International environmental 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

Particulate matter emissions

25.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Protected areas

15 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

0 % of total

Total renewable water resources

141 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

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.)

Waste and recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.106 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.1% (2022 est.)