World Facts Index
 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.
Geography of the Central African Republic
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Location:
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Central Africa, north of
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
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Coordinates:
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7 00 N, 21 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly smaller than Texas |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, dry winters;
mild to hot, wet summers |
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Terrain:
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vast, flat to rolling,
monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m |
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Natural resources:
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diamonds, uranium, timber,
gold, oil, hydropower |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dusty harmattan
winds affect northern areas; floods are common |
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Environment - current issues:
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tap water is not potable;
poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife
refuges; desertification; deforestation |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; almost the
precise center of Africa
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Population of the Central African Republic
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Population:
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4,444,330 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 41.9% (male 907,629/female 897,153)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 1,146,346/female 1,173,268)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 71,312/female 107,648) |
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Median age:
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18.4 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.53% |
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Infant mortality:
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85.63 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 43.54 years
male: 43.46 years
female: 43.62 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.41 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African |
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Ethnic groups:
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Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%,
Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2% |
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%,
Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority |
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Languages:
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French (official), Sangho (lingua franca
and national language), tribal languages |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9%
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Government
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Country name:
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local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Bangui |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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13 August 1960 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Republic Day, 1 December (1958) |
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Constitution:
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passed by referendum 29 December 1994;
adopted 7 January 1995 |
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Legal system:
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based on French law |
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Suffrage:
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21 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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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 |
Economy
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.
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GDP:
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$3.007 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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2.2% |
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GDP per capita:
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$700 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 19.8%
hydro: 80.2% |
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Industries:
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diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles,
footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles |
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Agriculture:
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cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca),
yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber |
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Exports:
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diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco |
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Export partners:
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Belgium 34.3%, France 9.1%, Italy 8.2%, Spain 8.1%,
Indonesia 7.5%, China 6.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.6%, US 4.2% |
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Imports:
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food, textiles, petroleum products,
machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals |
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Import partners:
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France 16.2%, Netherlands 11%, Cameroon 9.9%, US 7.2% |
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Currency:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |