Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (2002)

Internet country code [time series]

.cf

Internet users [time series]

2,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

9,500 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

710 (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2001)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

XAF

Debt - external [time series]

$881.4 million (2000 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

61.3 (1993)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

ODA $73 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France (2000 est.)

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 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 likely to be no more than 1.3% in 2003. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

98.63 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

106 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 19.8% hydro: 80.2% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$134 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners [time series]

Belgium 66.8%, Spain 6.4%, Kazakhstan 4% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $4.296 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 55% industry: 20% services: 25% (2001 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)

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

1.5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)

Imports [time series]

$102 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners [time series]

France 30%, US 5.2%, Cameroon 4.5%, Germany 4.3% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3% (2002)

Industries [time series]

diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.6% (2001 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA

Oil - consumption [time series]

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 622,984 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 622,984 sq km

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: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

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 [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: 3.1% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 96.76% (1998 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, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

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

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, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga

Capital [time series]

Bangui

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 short form: none local long form: Republique Centrafricaine former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire abbreviation: CAR

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mattie R. SHARPLESS embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 02 00 FAX: [236] 61 44 94

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893 telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800 chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup) head of government: Prime Minister Abel GOUMBA (since NA March 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 15 March 2003 in which former President Ange-Felix PATASSE was overthrown (President BOZIZE has stated that elections will be held by NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

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, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on French law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - there were 85 seats in the National Assembly before the 1998 election) elections: last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) 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

National holiday [time series]

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

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

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]

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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. In March 2003 a military coup deposed the civilian government of President Ange-Felix PATASSE and has since established a new government.

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

Central African Armed Forces (FACA) (including Republican Guard, Ground Forces, Naval Forces, and Air Force), Presidential Security Guard, Gendarmerie, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$13.43 million (FY02)

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

1.1% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 858,671 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 449,466 (2003 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43.1% (male 799,241; female 788,370) 15-64 years: 53.5% (male 969,581; female 1,000,740) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 53,322; female 72,284) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

35.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

19.73 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

12.9% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

22,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

250,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 93.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 86.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 41.71 years male: 40.18 years female: 43.29 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51% male: 63.3% female: 39.9% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 17.9 years male: 17.6 years female: 18.3 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

3,683,538 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 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.62% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.68 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlap into Chad and CAR, leaving refugees and rebel groups in both countries; violent ethnic skirmishes persist along the border with Sudan

Airports [time series]

50 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 23,810 km paved: 643 km unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

900 km note: traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river, navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m