Statistical information Central African Republic 1999

Central African Republic in the World
top of pageBackground: In 1996, the country experienced three mutinies by dissident elements of the armed forces, which demanded back pay as well as political and military reforms. Subsequent violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and lack of opposition party representation in the government, destroyed many businesses in the capital, reduced tax revenues, and exacerbated the government's problems in meeting expenses. African peacekeepers restored order in 1997; in April 1998 the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) assumed responsibility for peacekeeping operations.
top of pageLocation: Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 622,980 km²
Land: 622,980 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundariesTotal: 5,203 km
Border countries: (5) Cameroon 797 km;
, Chad 1,197 km;
, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km;
, Republic of the Congo 467 km;
, Sudan 1,165 kmCoastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
Extremes highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
Land useArable land: 3%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 5%
Forests and woodland: 75%
Other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
GeographyNote: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
top of pagePopulation: 3,444,951 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.04% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Central African(s)
Adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)
Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11%
Note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 44% (male 757,422; female 749,289)
15-64 years: 53% (male 885,087; female 927,282)
65 years and over: 3% (male 56,309; female 69,562) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.28 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.46 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.45 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 103.42 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 47.19 years
Male: 45.35 years
Female: 49.09 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 60%
Male: 68.5%
Female: 52.4% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Central African Republic
Conventional short form: none
Local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
Local short form: none
Former: Central African Empire
Abbreviation: CAR
Government type: republic
Capital: Bangui
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular_prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular_prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga
Dependent areasIndependence: 13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic)
Constitution: passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995
Legal system: based on French law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
Head of government: Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (since January 1999)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Ange-Felix PATASSE elected president; percent of vote_PATASSE 52.45%, Abel GOUMBA 45.62%
Legislative branch: 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 NA 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 10, FPP 7, PSD 5, ADP 4, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7; note_results of election are being contested
Note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together they are called the Congress or Congres
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA
In the us chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 483-7,800
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 332-9,893
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. PERRY
From the us embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
From the us mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
From the us telephone: [236] 61 26 21
From the us FAX: [236] 61 44 94
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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 nearly 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. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 2%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital and reduced tax revenues for the government. The IMF approved an Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,640 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 53%
Industry: 21%
Services: 26% (1997 est.)
Agriculture products: cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 6% (1993)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $638 million
Expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888 million (1994 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $182 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Partners: Belgium-Luxembourg 36%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Spain 4%, Egypt 3%, France
Imports: $155 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products
Partners: France 30%, Cote d'Ivoire 18%, Cameroon 11%, Germany 4%, Japan
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $930 million (1997 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1_560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 100 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 20%
Production by source hydro: 80%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 100 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 16,867 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: 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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $29 million (1996)
Percent of gdp: 2.2% (1996)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 52 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 49
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 10
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 23
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
Merchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs