Internet country code [time series]

.cf

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

6 (2002)

Internet users [time series]

5,000 (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: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

9,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

13,000 (2003)

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 (code)) [time series]

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

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 at only 0.5% in 2004. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

98.58 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

106 million kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$172 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners [time series]

Belgium 39.2%, Italy 8.6%, Spain 7.9%, US 6.2%, France 6.1%, Indonesia 5.8%, China 4.9% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$4.248 billion (2004 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 - $1,100 (2004 est.)

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

0.5% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$136 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 17.6%, US 16.3%, Cameroon 9.3%, Belgium 5% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3% (2002)

Industries [time series]

gold and 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

Oil - imports [time series]

NA

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA (1993)

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Area [time series]

total: 622,984 sq km land: 622,984 sq km water: 0 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 the country's 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, 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% (2001)

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 5 December 2004

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires James PANOS embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 02 00 FAX: [236] 61 44 94 note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup) head of government: Prime Minister Elie DOTE (since 13 June 2005) note - Celestin GAOMBALET resigned 11 June 2005 cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected to five year term with a two-term limit; next presidential elections scheduled for 10 April 2005; prime minister appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority

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

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 elections: last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held 13 March 2005) 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. President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who has since established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of affiliated and independent candidates will contest the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections scheduled for February 2005. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist.

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 758,103 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 330,255 (2005 est.)

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

Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground Forces, Air Force; General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), Republican Guard (2004)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$15.5 million (2004)

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

1% (2004)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is two years (2005)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.5% (male 813,596/female 802,728) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,010,696/female 1,041,903) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 54,345/female 76,629) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

35.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

20.27 deaths/1,000 population (2005 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]

13.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

23,000 (2003 est.)

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

260,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 91 deaths/1,000 live births male: 97.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 83.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 43.39 years male: 43.27 years female: 43.52 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.12 years male: 17.75 years female: 18.5 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

3,799,897 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 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.49% (2005 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: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

about 30,000 refugees fleeing the 2002 civil conflict in the CAR still reside in southern Chad; periodic skirmishes over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan persist

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 36,479 (Sudan) 1,864 (Chad) 6,484 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) IDPs: 200,000 (unrest following coup in 2003) (2004)

Airports [time series]

50 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

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 (2004 est.)

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

Waterways [time series]

2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2004)