Background: The Central African Republic has been governed by one-party rule since 1986.

Land boundaries: 5,203 km total; Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km

Coastline: none--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

Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

Land use: arable land: 3%; permanent crops: NEGL%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and woodland 64%; other 28%

Geography
Note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Population: 2,952,382 (July 1991), growth rate 2.6% (1991)

Nationality: noun--Central African(s; adjective--Central African

Ethnic groups: about 80 ethnic groups, the majority of which have related ethnic and linguistic characteristics; Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%; 6,500 Europeans, of whom 3,600 are 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%; animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Birth rate: 44 births/1000 population (1991)

Death rate: 18 deaths/1000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1991)

Environment
Current issues: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification

Infant mortality rate: 138 deaths/1000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 45 years male, 49 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (1991)

Literacy: 27% (male 33%, female 15%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Central African Republic (no short-form name; abbreviated CAR

Government type: republic, one-party presidential regime since 1986

Capital: Bangui

Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular--prefecture) and 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular--prefecture economique; Bamingui-Bangoran, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga; note--there may be a new autonomous commune of Bangui

Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France; formerly Central African Empire)

National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the republic), 1 December (1958)

Constitution: 21 November 1986

Legal system: based on French law

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government--President Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981)

Legislative branch: Central African Armed Forces, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Police Force

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET; Chancery at 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 483-7,800 or 7,801; US--Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON; Embassy at Avenue du President David Dacko, Bangui (mailing address is B. P. 924, Bangui; telephone 61-02-00 or 61-25-78, 61-43-33

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 Central African Republic Central African RepublicCentral African Republic

Economy overview: The Central African Republic (CAR) had a per capita income of roughly $440 in 1990. Subsistence agriculture, including forestry, is the backbone of the economy, with over 70% of the population living in the countryside. In 1988 the agricultural sector generated about 40% of GDP. Agricultural products accounted for about 60% of export earnings and the diamond industry for 30%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation infrastructure, and a weak human resource base. Multilateral and bilateral development assistance plays a major role in providing capital for new investment.

Agriculture products: accounts for 40% of GDP; self-sufficient in food production except for grain; commercial crops--cotton, coffee, tobacco, timber; food crops--manioc, yams, millet, corn, bananas

Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Labor force: 775,413 (1986 est.), agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry 3%, government 3%; about 64,000 salaried workers; 55% of population of working age (1985)

Unemployment rate: 30% in Bangui (1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $132 million; current expenditures $305 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1989 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $148 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
Commodities: diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco
Partners: France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US

Imports: $239 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.)
Commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products
Partners: France, other EC, Japan, Algeria, Yugoslavia

Debt external: $671 million (December 1989)

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 35,000 kW capacity; 84 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1989)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: $23 million, 1.8% of GDP (1989 est.)

Airports: 66 total, 49 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river