Central African Republic

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet country code

.cf

Internet users

2,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Telephone system

general assessment: fair system domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

9,500 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

710 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

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

Currency code

XAF

Debt - external

$881.4 million (2000 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

61.3 (1993)

Economic aid - recipient

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

Economy - overview

Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP growth likely to be no more than 1.3% in 2003. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

Electricity - consumption

98.63 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

106 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 19.8% hydro: 80.2% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 55% industry: 20% services: 25% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2002)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2001 est.)

Labor force

NA

Oil - consumption

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

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

Area

total: 622,984 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 622,984 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

Environment - current issues

tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

total: 5,203 km border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km

Land use

arable land: 3.1% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 96.76% (1998 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, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

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

Bangui

Constitution

passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995

Country name

conventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local short form: none local long form: Republique Centrafricaine former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire abbreviation: CAR

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mattie R. SHARPLESS embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 02 00 FAX: [236] 61 44 94

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893 telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800 chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch

chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup) head of government: Prime Minister Abel GOUMBA (since NA March 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 15 March 2003 in which former President Ange-Felix PATASSE was overthrown (President BOZIZE has stated that elections will be held by NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

Flag description

four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band

Government type

republic

Independence

13 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judges appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Inferior Courts

Legal system

based on French law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - there were 85 seats in the National Assembly before the 1998 election) elections: last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD 9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%, independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD 6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7

National holiday

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [the party of deposed president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Background

The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. In March 2003 a military coup deposed the civilian government of President Ange-Felix PATASSE and has since established a new government.

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$13.43 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.1% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 858,671 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 449,466 (2003 est.)

Age structure

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

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

12.9% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

22,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

250,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 93.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 86.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 41.71 years male: 40.18 years female: 43.29 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51% male: 63.3% female: 39.9% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 17.9 years male: 17.6 years female: 18.3 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African

Net migration rate

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

Population

3,683,538 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.62% (2003 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.68 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlap into Chad and CAR, leaving refugees and rebel groups in both countries; violent ethnic skirmishes persist along the border with Sudan

Airports

50 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

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

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 47 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2002)

Highways

total: 23,810 km paved: 643 km unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Railways

0 km

Waterways

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