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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 66 usable: 51 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 20

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; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Central African Army (including Republican Guard), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Police Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $23 million, 1.8% of GDP (1989 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 685,575; fit for military service 358,836 (1993 est.)

Economy

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

Budget [time series]

revenues $175 million; expenditures $312 million, including capital expenditures of $122 million (1991 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $52 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $1.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $38 million

Electricity [time series]

40,000 kW capacity; 95 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)

Exports [time series]

$138 million (1991 est.) commodities: diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco partners: France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$859 million (1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$205 million (1991 est.) commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products partners: France, other EC countries, Japan, Algeria

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

growth rate 4% (1990 est.); accounts for 14% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-3% (1990 est.)

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

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion (1990 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$440 (1990 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-3% (1990 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Subsistence agriculture, including forestry, is the backbone of the CAR economy, with more than 70% of the population living in the countryside. In 1988 the agricultural sector generated about 40% of GDP. 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 system, and a weak human resource base. Multilateral and bilateral development assistance, particularly from France, plays a major role in providing capital for new investment.

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (1988 est.) in Bangui

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 622,980 km2 land area: 622,980 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

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

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA km2

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 64% other: 28%

Location [time series]

Central Africa, between Chad and Zaire

Map references [time series]

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

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

Government

Abbreviation [time series]

CAR

Administrative divisions [time series]

14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures*, (prefectures commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui** Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto,, Haute-Sangha, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga, Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France)

Capital [time series]

Bangui

Constitution [time series]

21 November 1986

Digraph [time series]

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-7800 or 7801

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

President: last held 25 October 1992; widespread irregularities at some polls led to dismissal of results by Supreme Court; elections are rescheduled for 17 October 1993 National Assembly: last held 25 October 1992; widespread irregularities at some polls led to dismissal of results by Supreme Court; elections are rescheduled for 17 October 1993

Executive branch [time series]

president, prime minister, 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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

Chief of State: President Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981) Head of Government: Prime Minister Enoch DERANT-LAKOUE (since 2 March 1993)

Legal system [time series]

based on French law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) advised by the Economic and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together this is known as the Congress (Congres)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Centrafricaine local short form: none former: Central African Empire

National holiday [time series]

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

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

Central African Democratic Party (RDC), the government party, Laurent GOMINA-PAMPALI; Council of Moderates Coalition includes; Union of the People for Economic and Social Development (UPDS), Katossy SIMANI; Liberal Republican Party (PARELI), Augustin M'BOE; Central African Socialist Movement (MSCA), Michel BENGUE; Concerted Democratic Forces (CFD), a coalition of 13 parties, including; Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Francois PEHOUA; Central African Republican party (PRC), Ruth ROLLAND; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Enoch DERANT-LAKOUE; Civic Forum (FC), Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA; Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Nestor KOMBOT-NAGUEMON

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic; one-party presidential regime since 1986

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert E. GRIBBIN embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61-02-00, 61-25-78, 61-43-33, 61-02-10 FAX: [236] 61-44-94

People

Birth rate [time series]

42.77 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

20.49 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

138.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 42.94 years male: 41.46 years female: 44.45 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 27% male: 33% female: 15%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

3,073,979 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.23% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)