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National Map
Of |
Central African Republic |
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National Flag
Of |
Central African Republic |
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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
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
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Central African Republic |
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National Anthem
Of |
Central African Republic |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Central African Republic |
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Background:
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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. President Ange-Felix PATASSE's
civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March
2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General
Francois BOZIZE, who has since established a
transitional government. Though the government has the
tacit support of civil society groups and the main
parties, a wide field of affiliated and independent
candidates will contest the municipal, legislative, and
presidential elections scheduled for February 2005. The
government still does not fully control the countryside,
where pockets of lawlessness persist. |
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Location:
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Central
Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo |
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Geographic coordinates:
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7 00 N,
21 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Texas |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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tropical;
hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers |
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Terrain:
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vast,
flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in
northeast and southwest |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m |
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Natural resources:
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diamonds,
uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 3.1%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 96.76% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry,
dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are
common |
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Environment - current issues:
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tap water
is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's
reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification; deforestation |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa |
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People |
Central African Republic |
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Population:
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3,799,897
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 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 42.5% (male 813,596/female 802,728)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,010,696/female
1,041,903)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 54,345/female
76,629) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
18.12 years
male: 17.75 years
female: 18.5 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.49%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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35.17
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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20.27
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
91 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 97.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 83.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 43.39 years
male: 43.27 years
female: 43.52 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.5
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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13.5%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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260,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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23,000
(2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
(2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Central African(s)
adjective: Central African |
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Ethnic groups:
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Baya 33%,
Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%,
Yakoma 4%, other 2% |
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic
25%, Muslim 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly
influence the Christian majority |
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Languages:
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French
(official), Sangho (lingua franca and national
language), tribal languages |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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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 |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Bangui
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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13 August
1960 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Republic
Day, 1 December (1958) |
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Constitution:
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passed by
referendum 5 December 2004 |
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Legal system:
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based on
French law |
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Suffrage:
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21 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March
2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Elie DOTE
(since 13 June 2005) note - Celestin GAOMBALET resigned
11 June 2005
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected to five year term
with a two-term limit; next presidential elections
scheduled for 10 April 2005; prime minister appointed by
the political party with a parliamentary majority |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms
elections: last held 22-23 November and 13
December 1998 (next to be held 13 March 2005)
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 |
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Judicial branch:
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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 |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP,
AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OPCW
(signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Charge d'Affaires James PANOS
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 02 00
FAX: [236] 61 44 94
note: the embassy is currently operating with a
minimal staff |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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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 at only 0.5% in 2004. Distribution of
income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France
and the international community can only partially meet
humanitarian needs. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$4.248
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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0.5%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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8% (23%
for Bangui) (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA (1993)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1993) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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61.3
(1993) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.6%
(2001 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures
of NA |
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Agriculture - products:
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cotton,
coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn,
bananas; timber |
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Industries:
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gold and
diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear,
assembly of bicycles and motorcycles |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3% (2002)
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Electricity - production:
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106
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 19.8%
hydro: 80.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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98.58
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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2,400
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Exports:
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$172
million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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diamonds,
timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco |
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Exports - partners:
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Belgium
39.2%, Italy 8.6%, Spain 7.9%, US 6.2%, France 6.1%,
Indonesia 5.8%, China 4.9% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$136
million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food,
textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical
equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
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Imports - partners:
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France
17.6%, US 16.3%, Cameroon 9.3%, Belgium 5% (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$881.4
million (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA $73
million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France
(2000 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note -
responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African
States |
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Currency code:
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XAF |
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US
dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002),
733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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9,000
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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13,000
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: fair system
domestic: 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) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM
5, shortwave 1 (2002) |
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Radios:
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283,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (2001)
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Televisions:
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18,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.cf |
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Internet hosts:
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6 (2002)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2002)
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Internet users:
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5,000
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
23,810 km
paved: 643 km
unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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2,800 km
(primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2004)
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Ports and harbors:
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Bangui,
Nola, Salo, Nzinga |
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Airports:
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50 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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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 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Central
African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground Forces, Air Force;
General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG),
Republican Guard (2004) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for voluntary and compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation is two years (2005) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 758,103 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 330,255 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$15.5
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1% (2004)
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Disputes - international:
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about
30,000 refugees fleeing the 2002 civil conflict in the
CAR still reside in southern Chad; periodic skirmishes
over water and grazing rights among related pastoral
populations along the border with southern Sudan persist
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 36,479 (Sudan) 1,864
(Chad) 6,484 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IDPs: 200,000 (unrest following coup in 2003)
(2004) |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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