Central African Republic

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 hosts

20 (2012) country comparison to the world: 221

Internet users

22,600 (2009) country comparison to the world: 192

Telephone system

general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication 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 international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

5,600 (2012) country comparison to the world: 209

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.07 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 157

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $186.2 million expenditures: $270.7 million (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 78 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 15% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$133.8 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 -$197.6 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$634.2 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $632.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

61.3 (1993) country comparison to the world: 5

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 - 500.7 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.) 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008)

Exports

$138.9 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 $207.7 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee

Exports - partners

Belgium 31.7%, China 27.9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7.8%, Indonesia 5.2%, France 4.5% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.05 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.336 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 178 $3.902 billion (2012 est.) $3.748 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 91.5% government consumption: 6.1% investment in fixed capital: 8.3% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 9.7% imports of goods and services: -15.6% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 56.6% industry: 14.5% services: 28.9% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$700 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 224 $900 (2012 est.) $800 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-14.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 221 4.1% (2012 est.) 3.3% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

2.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 3.8% of GDP (2012 est.) 3.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 33% (2003)

Imports

$218.6 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 203 $333.7 million (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Netherlands 20.3%, France 9.7%, Cameroon 9.1%, South Korea 9.1% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

-11% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Industries

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 188 5.8% (2012 est.)

Labor force

2.082 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$376.4 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 $421.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$478.7 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $507.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$308.3 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 $337.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Unemployment rate

8% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 note: 23% unemployment in the capital, Bangui

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

293,900 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - consumption

148.8 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - from fossil fuels

43.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

56.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - installed generating capacity

44,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity - production

160 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Refined petroleum products - consumption

3,175 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,318 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Area

total: 622,984 sq km country comparison to the world: 45 land: 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

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

total: 0.07 cu km/yr (83%/17%/1%) per capita: 17.42 cu m/yr (2005)

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

total: 5,920 km border countries: 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

Land use

arable land: 2.89% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 96.98% (2011)

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

Total renewable water resources

144.4 cu km (2011)

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

name: Bangui geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E 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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence D. WOHLERS (since September 2010) embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 21 61 02 00 FAX: [236] 21 61 44 94 note: the embassy temporarily suspended operations in December, 2012

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Stanislas MOUSSA-KEMBE (since 24 August 2009) chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800 FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893

Executive branch

chief of state: Interim President Catherine SAMBA-PANZA (since 20 January 2014); elected by the National Transitional Council head of government: Interim Prime Minister Andre NZAPAYEKE (since 25 January 2014); note - he replaced Prime Minister Nicolas TIANGAYE who resigned 10 January 2014 cabinet: Council of Ministers (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: interim president was elected by the National Transitional Council on 20 January 2014; she will be in office until February 2015 at the new general elections election results: in the second round Catherine SAMBA-PANZA was elected; SAMBA-PANZA 75 votes from the National Transitional Council, Desire KOLINGBA 53 votes (129 MPs out of 135 voted) note: rebel forces seized the captial in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, established a transitional government and was subsequently affirmed as president by the National Transitional Council on 13 Apriil 2013; he resigned soon after because of racial violence in the country and was replced briefly by Interim President Alexandre-Ferdinand NGUENDET

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), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, 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

unicameral National Transitional Council to act as the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (105 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 23 January 2011 and 27 March 2011 (next to be held in February 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

National anthem

name: "Le Renaissance" (The Renaissance)

National holiday

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

National symbol(s)

elephant

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 MaMovement 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 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 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 does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. The militant group the 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 - who are 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, reappointed Nicolas TIANGAYE as Prime Minister, and established a transitional government on 31 March. On 13 April 2013, the National Transitional Council affirmed DJOTODIA as President.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,149,856 females age 16-49: 1,145,897 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 655,875 females age 16-49: 661,308 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 54,843 female: 53,999 (2010 est.)

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 40.6% (male 1,077,247/female 1,064,660) 15-24 years: 20.1% (male 534,257/female 528,822) 25-54 years: 31.8% (male 838,484/female 838,858) 55-64 years: 3.9% (male 91,696/female 115,600) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 73,914/female 114,421) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

35.45 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 532,518 percentage: 47 % (2006 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

28% (2006) country comparison to the world: 22

Contraceptive prevalence rate

19% (2006)

Death rate

14.11 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 76.5 % youth dependency ratio: 69.7 % elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 % potential support ratio: 14.8 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 89.6% of population rural: 54.4% of population total: 68.2% of population unimproved: urban: 10.4% of population rural: 45.6% of population total: 31.8% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 171

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

4.7% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

HIV/AIDS - deaths

11,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

130,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Health expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 171

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 92.86 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 4 male: 100.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 84.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 51.35 years country comparison to the world: 218 male: 50.06 years female: 52.67 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.6% male: 69.6% female: 44.2% (2011 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Major urban areas - population

BANGUI (capital) 740,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

890 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 4

Median age

total: 19.4 years male: 19.1 years female: 19.8 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.5% (2008) country comparison to the world: 175

Physicians density

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

5,277,959 country comparison to the world: 118 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 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

2.13% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 43.6% of population rural: 7.2% of population total: 21.5% of population unimproved: urban: 56.4% of population rural: 92.8% of population total: 78.5% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 7 years male: 9 years female: 6 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 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: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.46 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Urbanization

urban population: 39.1% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 10,992 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2013) IDPs: 551,600 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2014)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Central African Republic (CAR) is a source and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking and possibly women subjected to forced prostitution; most victims appear to be CAR citizens exploited within the country, and that a smaller number are transported back and forth between the CAR and Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan; children are forced into domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, agricultural labor, mining, and street vending; armed groups operating in the CAR, including the Lord's Resistance Army, continue to recruit and use children for military activities, while village self-defense units use children as combatants, lookouts, and porters 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 does not investigate or prosecute any suspected cases of human trafficking, including the use of child soldiers; the government also fails to identify, provide protection to, or refer to service providers any trafficking victims; in collaboration with an NGO, the government has convened a working group to develop a national action plan to combat human trafficking (2013)

Airports

39 (2013) country comparison to the world: 106

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 37 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 6 (2013)

Ports and terminals

river port(s): Bangui (Oubangui); Nola (Sangha)

Roadways

total: 20,278 km (2010) country comparison to the world: 107

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, however, routes through Cameroon became preferred by importers and exporters) (2011) country comparison to the world: 35