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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 65 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]

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

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 15-49 701,728; fit for military service 367,264

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 42% 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]

recipient: 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]

capacity: 40,000 kW production: 95 million kWh consumption per capita: 30 kWh (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05 (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Exports [time series]

$123.5 million (f.o.b.1992) 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]

$165.1 million (f.o.b.1992) 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 - purchasing power equivalent - $2.5 billion (1993 est.)

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

$800 (1993 est.)

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

-3% (1990 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Subsistence agriculture, including forestry, remains the backbone of the CAR economy, with more than 70% of the population living in the countryside. In 1990 the agricultural sector generated about 42% of GDP. Timber accounted for about 26% of export earnings and the diamond industry for 54%. 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 sq km land area: 622,980 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Birth rate [time series]

42.3 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Death rate [time series]

20.69 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

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]

137.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

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)

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%

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 42.54 years male: 41.07 years female: 44.06 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African

Natural resources [time series]

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note [time series]

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Population [time series]

3,142,182 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.16% (1994 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

Terrain [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.42 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Government

Abbreviation [time series]

CAR

Administrative divisions [time series]

14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui** Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga

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 Henri KOBA chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-7800 or 7801

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Felix (Ange) PATASSE (since 22 October 1993) election last held 19 September 1993; PATASSE received 52.45% of the votes and Abel GOUMBA received 45.62%; next election schelduled for 1998 head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Jean-Luc MANDABA (since 25 October 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

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

[236] 61-44-94

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)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Legal system [time series]

based on French law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, 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

Legislative branch (National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)) [time series]

elections last held 19 September 1993; results - percentage vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) MLPC 33, RDC 14, PLD 7, ADP 6, PSD 3, others 22 note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together they are called the Congress (Congres)

National holiday [time series]

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

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

Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC), the party of the new president, Ange Felix PATASSE; Central African Democratic Party (RDC), 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; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC), Felix (Ange) PATASSE

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