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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $638 million expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888 million (1994 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$890 million (1994 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA; traditional budget subsidies from France

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

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 nearly 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. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 1%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital, reduced tax revenues for the government, and delayed negotiations for an IMF financial aid agreement.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

43,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

31 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

100 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) 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]

total value: $171 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco partners: France 16%, Belgium-Luxembourg 40.1%, Italy, Japan, US, Spain, Iran, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

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

purchasing power parity-$3.3 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 50% industry: 14% services: 36% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$1,000 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Imports [time series]

total value: $174 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products partners: France 37%, other EU countries, Japan 24%, Algeria, Cameroon, Namibia

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

4% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

fair system domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

16,867 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

7,500 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6% (1993)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 622,980 sq km land: 622,980 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Texas

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m highest point: Mount Gaou 1,420 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 75% other: 17% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common

Natural resources [time series]

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

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

Constitution [time series]

passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995

Country name [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 abbreviation: CAR

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mosina H. JORDAN embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 26 21

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462 2517

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Ange PATASSE (since 22 October 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Michel GBEZERA-BRIA (since January 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a 6-year term; election last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ange PATASSE elected president; percent of vote-PATASSE 52.45%, Abel GOUMBA 45.62%

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

[1] (202) 462 2517

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

[236] 61 44 94

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

13 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president

Legal system [time series]

based on French law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (85 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-MLPC 34, RDC 13, PLD 7, FPP 7, ADP 6, PSD 3, CN 3, MDREC 1, PRC 1, FC 1, MESAN 1, independents supporting David DACKO 6, other independents 2 note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together they are called the Congress or Congres

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Bangui

National holiday [time series]

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

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

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Tchapka BREDE]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Central African Republican Party or PRC; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Movement for the Renaissance and Evolution of Central Africa or MDREC [Joseph BENDOUNGA]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [the party of the president, Ange Felix PATASSE]; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; National Convention or CN [David GALIAMBO]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch Derant LAKOUE]; Social Evolution Movement of Black Africa or MESAN [Prosper LAVODRAMA and Joseph NGBANGADIBO]

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$30 million (1994)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

2.3% (1994)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 763,085 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 398,617 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44% (male 745,128; female 737,879) 15-64 years: 52% (male 864,263; female 906,656) 65 years and over: 4% (male 55,051; female 66,794) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

38.72 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.75 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [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]

105.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 46.82 years male: 45.02 years female: 48.68 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60% male: 68.5% female: 52.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

3,375,771 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.02% (1998 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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.12 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

none CHAD Introduction

Historical perspective [time series]

In December 1990, after Chad had endured decades of civil warfare among ethnic groups as well as invasions by Libya, former northern guerrilla leader Idriss DEBY seized control of the government. His transitional government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled the territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution which was ratified by popular referendum in March 1996, held multiparty national presidential elections in June and July 1996 (DEBY won with 67% of the vote), and held multiparty elections for the National Assembly in January and February 1997, in which Idriss DEBY's party, Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS, won a majority of the seats.

Transportation

Airports [time series]

52 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 49 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 15 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 23,810 km paved: 429 km unpaved: 23,381 km (1995 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bangui, Nola

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

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