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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.cf

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

21 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

13,000 (2006)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: limited telephone service; fixed-line connections for well less than 1 per 100 persons coupled with mobile-cellular usage of only about 3 per 100 persons; most fixed-line and cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui 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) (2007)

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

12,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

130,000 (2007)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $250 million expenditures: $273 million (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

15% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

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

Current account balance [time series]

-$77 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.153 billion (2007 est.)

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

61.3 (1993)

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 more than half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 40%. 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. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

102.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

110 million kWh (2006 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.8 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$146.7 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners [time series]

Belgium 22.7%, Indonesia 19.3%, Italy 7.7%, France 7.1%, Spain 6.9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.8%, China 4.9%, Turkey 4.7% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.714 billion (2007 est.)

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

$3.007 billion (2007 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 (PPP)) [time series]

$700 (2007 est.)

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

4% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$237.3 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

France 16.6%, Netherlands 13%, Cameroon 9.7%, US 6.3% (2007)

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]

0.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.857 million (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Oil - consumption [time series]

2,322 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

2,057 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$320.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$218.3 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$47.58 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Geography

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.03 cu km/yr (80%/16%/4%) per capita: 7 cu m/yr (2000)

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]

20 sq km (2003)

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: 0.15% other: 96.75% (2005)

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

144.4 cu km (2003)

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, 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]

name: Bangui geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27 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: Ambassador Frederick B. COOK 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 Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 22 January 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: under the new constitution, the president elected to a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 13 March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 35.4%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a yellow five-pointed star to 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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (105 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KNK 42, MLPC 11, RDC 8, PSD 4, FPP 2, ADP 2, LONDO 1, independents 34, other 1

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 Rally 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]; Londo Association or LONDO; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposed president); National Convergence or KNK; 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]

Monam (combating gender-base violence)

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Introduction

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 established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. Unrest in neighboring nations, Chad, Sudan, and the DRC, continues to affect stability in the Central African Republic as well.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,032,828 females age 16-49: 999,330 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 534,141 females age 16-49: 495,303 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 54,655 female: 54,420 (2008 est.)

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

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces, General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), Military Air Service, National Police (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 41.3% (male 922,053/female 911,601) 15-64 years: 54.6% (male 1,206,121/female 1,221,158) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 71,597/female 111,800) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

33.13 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

18.04 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

1.4% of GDP (2006)

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: 82.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 88.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 75.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 44.22 years male: 44.14 years female: 44.29 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.6% male: 64.8% female: 33.5% (2000 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.7 years male: 18.4 years female: 19 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African

Net migration rate [time series]

NA (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

4,444,330 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.509% (2008 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: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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): 7,900 (Sudan); 3,700 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); note - UNHCR resumed repatriation of Southern Sudanese refugees in 2006 IDPs: 197,000 (ongoing unrest following coup in 2003) (2007)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Central African Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are children trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, street vending, and forced agricultural, mine, market and restaurant labor; to a lesser extent, children are trafficked from the Central African Republic to Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo; rebels conscript children into armed forces within the country tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Central African Republic is on the Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in 2007; efforts to address trafficking through vigorous law enforcement measures and victim protection efforts were minimal, though awareness about trafficking appeared to be increasing in the country; the government does not actively investigate cases, work to identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, or rescue and provide care to victims; the government has not taken measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

51 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 48 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 13 (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Roadways [time series]

total: 24,307 km (2000)

Waterways [time series]

2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2006)