Airports [time series]

66 total, 49 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

2 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

22,000 km total; 458 km bituminous, 10,542 km improved earth, 11,000 unimproved earth

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

fair system; network relies primarily on radio relay links, with low-capacity, low-powered radiocommunication also used; 6,000 telephones; stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Air Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

1.8% of GDP, or $23 million (1989 est.)

Military manpower [time series]

males 15-49, 642,207; 335,863 fit for military service

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 40% of GDP; self-sufficient in food production except for grain; commercial crops--cotton, coffee, tobacco, timber; food crops--manioc, yams, millet, corn, bananas

Aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $44 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.3 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $38 million

Budget [time series]

revenues $132 million; current expenditures $305 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1989 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Electricity [time series]

35,000 kW capacity; 84 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1--287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$138 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco; partners--France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$660 million (December 1989)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$1.27 billion, per capita $453; real growth rate 2.0% (1988 est.)

Imports [time series]

$285 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities--food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products; partners--France, other EC, Japan, Algeria, Yugoslavia

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

1.9% (1987 est.)

Industries [time series]

sawmills, breweries, diamond mining, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

- 4.2% (1988 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with a per capita income of roughly $450 in 1988. Subsistence agriculture, including forestry, is the backbone of the economy, with over 70% of the population living in the countryside. In 1988 the agricultural sector generated about 40% of GDP, mining and manufacturing 14%, utilities and construction 4%, and services 41%. Agricultural products accounted for about 60% of export earnings and the diamond industry for 30%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation infrastructure, and a weak human resource base. Multilateral and bilateral development assistance plays a major role in providing capital for new investment.

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% in Bangui (1988 est.)

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

none--landlocked

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly smaller than Texas

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification

Land boundaries [time series]

5,203 km total; Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km

Land use [time series]

3% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 5% meadows and pastures; 64% forest and woodland; 28% other

Maritime claims [time series]

none--landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

Note [time series]

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Terrain [time series]

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

Area (Total area) [time series]

622,980 km2; land area: 622,980 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

14 prefectures (prefectures, singular--prefecture) and 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular--prefecture economique); Bamingui-Bangoran, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga; note--there may be a new autonomous commune of Bangui

Capital [time series]

Bangui

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

small number of Communist sympathizers

Constitution [time series]

21 November 1986

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET; Chancery at 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-7800 or 7801; US--Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON; Embassy at Avenue du President David Dacko, Bangui (mailing address is B. P. 924, Bangui); telephone 61-02-00 or 61-25-78, 61-43-33

Executive branch [time series]

president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

13 August 1960 (from France; formerly Central African Empire)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Chief of State and Head of Government--President Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981)

Legal system [time series]

based on French law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Congress consists of an upper house or Economic and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional) and a lower house or National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Central African Republic (no short-form name); abbreviated CAR

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, AfDB, CCC, Conference of East and Central African States, EAMA, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UDEAC, UEAC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

National holiday [time series]

National Day (proclamation of the republic), 1 December (1958)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

only party--Centrafrican Democrtic Rally Party (RDC), Andre-Dieudonne Kolingba

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 21 President--last held 21 November 1986 (next to be held November 1993); results--President Kolingba was reelected without opposition; National Assembly--last held 31 July 1987 (next to be held July 1992); results--RDC is the only party; seats--(total) RDC 52

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic, one-party presidential regime since 1986

Birth rate [time series]

44 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

18 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

about 80 ethnic groups, the majority of which have related ethnic and linguistic characteristics; 34% Baya, 27% Banda, 10% Sara, 21% Mandjia, 4% Mboum, 4% M'Baka; 6,500 Europeans, of whom 3,600 are French

Infant mortality rate [time series]

141 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

775,413 (1986 est.); 85% agriculture, 9% commerce and services, 3% industry, 3% government; about 64,000 salaried workers; 55% of population of working age (1985)

Languages (Language) [time series]

French (official); Sangho (lingua franca and national language); Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

45 years male, 48 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

40.2%

Nationality [time series]

noun--Central African(s); adjective--Central African

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

1% of labor force

Population [time series]

2,877,365 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

24% indigenous beliefs, 25% Protestant, 25% Roman Catholic, 15% Muslim, 11% other; animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.6 children born/woman (1990)