Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine, provides domestic TV broadcasting; licenses for 2 private TV stations are pending; state-owned radio network is supplemented by a small number of privately owned broadcast stations as well as a few community radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.cf
Internet users [time series]
total: 181,000 | percent of population: 3.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication | domestic: limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular service providers, cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui | international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 800 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 216
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 1.5 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1 (2001)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
cotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Budget [time series]
revenues: $157.7 million | expenditures: $205.4 million (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-2.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107
Central bank discount rate [time series]
4.25% (31 December 2009) | 4.75% (31 December 2008) | country comparison to the world: 95
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
15% (31 December 2014 est.) | 15% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43
Current account balance [time series]
-$110 million (2014 est.) | -$142.9 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
Debt - external [time series]
$560.6 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $543.3 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
61.3 (1993) | country comparison to the world: 5
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of GDP. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. 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. Since 2009 the IMF has worked closely with the government to institute reforms that have resulted in some improvement in budget transparency, but other problems remain. The government's additional spending in the run-up to the election in 2011 worsened CAR's fiscal situation. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. In 2012, the World Bank approved $125 million in funding for transport infrastructure and regional trade, focused on the route between CAR's capital and the port of Douala in Cameroon. After a two-year lag in donor support, the IMF's first review of CAR's extended credit facility for 2012-15 praised improvements in revenue collection but warned of weak management of spending.
Exchange rates [time series]
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - | 491.2 (2014 est.) | 494.04 (2013 est.) | 510.53 (2012 est.) | 471.87 (2011 est.) | 495.28 (2010)
Exports [time series]
$102.4 million (2014 est.) | $102.9 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191
Exports - commodities [time series]
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee
Exports - partners [time series]
China 29.2%, Indonesia 15.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 15%, Norway 7%, Morocco 5.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.4%, France 4% (2014)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$1.786 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$2.855 billion (2014 est.) | $2.826 billion (2013 est.) | $4.42 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 186
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 95.4% | government consumption: 5.6% | investment in fixed capital: 8% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 10.2% | imports of goods and services: -19.1% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 55.1% | industry: 12.5% | services: 32.3% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$600 (2014 est.) | $600 (2013 est.) | $900 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 230
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
1% (2014 est.) | -36% (2013 est.) | 4.1% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186
Gross national saving [time series]
7.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | 5.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | 10.4% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2.1% | highest 10%: 33% (2003)
Imports [time series]
$216.7 million (2014 est.) | $212.4 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203
Imports - commodities [time series]
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners [time series]
Norway 14%, France 7.7%, US 7.6% (2014)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
-3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189
Industries [time series]
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
15% (2014 est.) | 1.5% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 217
Labor force [time series]
2.217 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Stock of broad money [time series]
$292.5 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $358.5 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$349 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $425.3 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$196.6 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $250.8 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
9.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209
Unemployment rate [time series]
8% (2001 est.) | note: 23% unemployment in the capital, Bangui | country comparison to the world: 92
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
435,000 Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - consumption [time series]
162.8 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
43.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
56.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
44,000 kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192
Electricity - production [time series]
175 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
2,910 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
2,318 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133
Geography
total: 622,984 sq km | land: 622,984 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 45
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: 0.07 cu km/yr (83%/17%/1%) | per capita: 17.42 cu m/yr (2005)
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]
1.35 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 5,920 km | border countries (6): Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1,556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1,055 km, Sudan 174 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 8.1% | arable land 2.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 5.1% | forest: 36.2% | other: 55.7% (2011 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 plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Total renewable water resources [time series]
144.4 cu km (2011)
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]
several previous; latest ratified by referendum 5 December 2004, effective 27 December 2004; amended 2010; note - the transitional parliament has begun work on a new constitution which should be ready for citizens feedback in early 2015 (2010)
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David BROWN (since 14 September 2014) | embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui | mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui | telephone: [236] 21 61 02 00 | FAX: [236] 21 61 44 94 | note: the embassy suspended operations in December, 2012
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Stanislas MOUSSA-KEMBE (since 24 August 2009) | chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800 | FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893 | consulate(s) general: Los Angeles | consulate(s): New York
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Interim President Catherine SAMBA-PANZA (since 23 January 2014) | head of government: Prime Minister Mahamat KAMOUN (since 10 August 2014); note - Prime Minister Andre NZAPAYEKE replaced Prime Minister Nicolas TIANGAYE on 25 January 2014 and was fired on 5 August 2014; Nicolas TIANGAYE resigned 10 January 2014 | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: interim president elected by the National Transitional Council on 20 January 2014 and sworn in three days later (next general election scheduled for October 2015 | election results: Catherine SAMBA-PANZA elected in second round; SAMBA-PANZA 75 votes from the National Transitional Council, Desire KOLINGBA 53 votes (128 MPs out of 135 voted) | note: rebel forces seized the capital in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, and established a National Transitional Council (CNT) in April 2013; the NTC elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA interim president in January 2014 to serve until February 2015 when new elections were to be held; her term has been extended because instability has delayed new elections
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; banner combines the Pan-African and French flag colors; red symbolizes the blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue represents the sky and freedom, white peace and dignity, green hope and faith, and yellow tolerance; the star represents aspiration towards a vibrant future
Government type [time series]
republic
Independence [time series]
13 August 1960 (from France)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country) (suspended), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of which are women) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judge appointments - 2 by the president, 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly, 2 elected by their peers, 2 are advocates elected by their peers, and 2 are law professors elected by their peers; judges serve 7-year non-renewable terms | subordinate courts: high courts; magistrates' courts
Legal system [time series]
civil law system based on the French model
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (105 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 23 January 2011 and 27 March 2011 (next to be held in February 2015) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KNK 61, MLPC 1, RDC 1, independent 16, other 11
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Le Renaissance" (The Renaissance) | lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER | note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory
National holiday [time series]
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
National symbol(s) [time series]
elephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA] | Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Louis-Pierre GAMBA] | Civic Forum or FC | Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Saturnin NDOMBY] | Liberal Democratic Party or PLD | Londo Association or LONDO | Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD | Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE] | National Convergence or KNK [Francois BOZIZE] | National Unity Party or PUN | New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH] | Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Alexandre Philippe GOUMBA] | People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY] | Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Suffrage [time series]
18 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 but lasted only a decade. In March, 2003 President Ange-Felix PATASSE was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Elections held in 2005 affirmed General BOZIZE as president; he was reelected in 2011 in voting widely viewed as flawed. The government still lacks full control of the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. The militant group, Lord's Resistance Army, continues to destabilize southeastern Central African Republic, and several rebel groups joined together in early December 2012 to launch a series of attacks that left them in control of numerous towns in the northern and central parts of the country. The rebels - unhappy with BOZIZE's government - participated in peace talks in early January 2013 which resulted in a coalition government including the rebellion's leadership. In March 2013, the coalition government dissolved, rebels seized the capital, and President BOZIZE fled the country. Rebel leader Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency and the following month established a National Transitional Council (CNT). In January 2014, the CNT elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA as interim president; new general elections are scheduled for October 2015.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 1,149,856 | females age 16-49: 1,145,897 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 655,875 | females age 16-49: 661,308 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 54,843 | female: 53,999 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2011)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18 years of age for selective military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2012)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 40.43% (male 1,095,968/female 1,083,705) | 15-24 years: 20.06% (male 543,491/female 537,804) | 25-54 years: 32.02% (male 863,314/female 862,916) | 55-64 years: 3.98% (male 96,377/female 118,278) | 65 years and over: 3.52% (male 74,192/female 115,494) (2015 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
35.08 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22
Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]
total number: 532,518 | percentage: 47% (2006 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
23.5% (2011) | country comparison to the world: 26
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
15.2% (2010/11)
Death rate [time series]
13.8 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 75.2% | youth dependency ratio: 68.4% | elderly dependency ratio: 6.8% | potential support ratio: 14.8% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 89.6% of population | rural: 54.4% of population | total: 68.5% of population | urban: 10.4% of population | rural: 45.6% of population | total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
1.2% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 171
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]
4.25% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
9,900 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
135,400 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
3.9% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 168
Hospital bed density [time series]
1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 90.63 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 98.24 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 82.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4
Languages [time series]
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 51.81 years | male: 50.5 years | female: 53.16 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 219
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 36.8% | male: 50.7% | female: 24.4% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever | respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
BANGUI (capital) 794,000 (2015)
Median age [time series]
total: 19.5 years | male: 19.2 years | female: 19.9 years (2015 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Central African(s) | adjective: Central African
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
4.4% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 175
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Population [time series]
5,391,539 | 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 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118
Population growth rate [time series]
2.13% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45
Religions [time series]
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15% | note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 43.6% of population | rural: 7.2% of population | total: 21.8% of population | urban: 56.4% of population | rural: 92.8% of population | total: 78.2% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 7 years | male: 9 years | female: 6 years (2012)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.41 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 40% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
periodic skirmishes persist over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 5,342 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2015) | IDPs: 369,490 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2015)
Trafficking in persons [time series]
current situation: Central African Republic (CAR) is a source, transit, and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking, women subjected to forced prostitution, and adults subjected to forced labor; increased violence and displacement rendered Central Africans more vulnerable to exploitation; the recruitment of child soldiers, at times through force, increased dramatically during the year; most victims appear to be CAR citizens exploited within the country, with a smaller number transported back forth between the CAR and nearby countries; armed groups operating in the CAR, including the Lord’s Resistance Army, continue to recruit and re-recruit children for military activities and labor; children are also forced into domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, agricultural labor, mining, and street vending | tier rating: Tier 3 - Central African Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not investigate or prosecute any suspected cases of human trafficking in 2013, including the use of child soldiers; the government also failed to identify, provide protection to, or refer to service providers any trafficking victims (2014)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
39 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 106
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 37 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 | 914 to 1,523 m: 19 | 6 (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
river port(s): Bangui (Oubangui); Nola (Sangha)
Roadways [time series]
total: 20,278 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 107
Waterways [time series]
2,800 km (the primary navigable river is the Ubangi, which joins the River Congo; it was the traditional route for the export of products because it connected with the Congo-Ocean railway at Brazzaville; because of the warfare on both sides of the River Congo from 1997, importers and exporters preferred routes through Cameroon) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 34