Central African Republic

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 608 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.)

Broadcast media

government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine, provides limited domestic TV broadcasting; 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 (2017)

Internet country code

.cf

Internet users

total: 249,336 | percent of population: 4.34% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and at low-capacity; ongoing conflict has obstructed telecommunication and media development, although there are ISP (Internet service providers) and mobile phone carriers, radio is the most-popular communications medium (2018) | domestic: very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; with the presence of multiple providers mobile-cellular service has reached 33 per 100 mobile-cellular subscribers; cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui (2019) | international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2,934 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 1,892,114 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32.25 (2019 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: 282.9 million (2017 est.) | expenditures: 300.1 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

-$163 million (2017 est.) | -$97 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external

$779.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $691.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores

35.6 (2020)

Economic overview

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 estimated GDP, although statistics are unreliable in the conflict-prone country. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked geography, poor transportation system, largely unskilled work force, and legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is highly unequal and grants from the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. CAR shares a common currency with the Central African Monetary Union. The currency is pegged to the Euro. 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 2011 election worsened CAR's fiscal situation. 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. In July 2016, the IMF approved a three-year extended credit facility valued at $116 million; in mid-2017, the IMF completed a review of CAR’s fiscal performance and broadly approved of the government’s management, although issues with revenue collection, weak government capacity, and transparency remain. The World Bank in late 2016 approved a $20 million grant to restore basic fiscal management, improve transparency, and assist with economic recovery. Participation in the Kimberley Process, a commitment to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain, led to a partially lifted the ban on diamond exports from CAR in 2015, but persistent insecurity is likely to constrain real GDP growth.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - | 605.3 (2017 est.) | 593.01 (2016 est.) | 593.01 (2015 est.) | 591.45 (2014 est.) | 494.42 (2013 est.)

Exports

$113.7 million (2017 est.) | $101.5 million (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee

Exports - partners

France 31.2%, Burundi 16.2%, China 12.5%, Cameroon 9.6%, Austria 7.8% (2017)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.937 billion (2017 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real

$3.39 billion (2017 est.) | $3.249 billion (2016 est.) | $3.108 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 95.3% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 8.5% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 13.7% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 12% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -29.5% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 43.2% (2017 est.) | industry: 16% (2017 est.) | services: 40.8% (2017 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$700 (2017 est.) | $700 (2016 est.) | $600 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP real growth rate

4.3% (2017 est.) | 4.5% (2016 est.) | 4.8% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving

5.4% of GDP (2017 est.) | 8.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | 4.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% | highest 10%: 33% (2003)

Imports

$393.1 million (2017 est.) | $342.2 million (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 17.1%, US 12.3%, India 11.5%, China 8.2%, South Africa 7.4%, Japan 5.8%, Italy 5.1%, Cameroon 4.9%, Netherlands 4.6% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate

3.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2019 est.) | 1.6% (2018 est.) | 4.2% (2017 est.)

Labor force

2.242 million (2017 est.)

Population below poverty line

62% NA (2008 est.)

Public debt

52.9% of GDP (2017 est.) | 56% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$304.3 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $252.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2017 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

413,800 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

159.4 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

50% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

50% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

38,300 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

171.4 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

population without electricity: 5 million (2019) | electrification - total population: 3% (2019) | electrification - urban areas: 7% (2019) | electrification - rural areas: 0.4% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,800 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,799 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Area

total: 622,984 sq km | land: 622,984 sq km | water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Central African Republic Print Image Description slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia

Climate

tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

mean elevation: 635 m | lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m | highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution; tap water is not potable; poaching and mismanagement have diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 5,920 km | border countries (6): Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1055 km, Sudan 174 km

Land use

agricultural land: 8.1% (2011 est.) | arable land: 2.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 5.1% (2011 est.) | forest: 36.2% (2011 est.) | other: 55.7% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common

Natural resources

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Population distribution

majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Administrative divisions

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

name: Bangui | geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E | time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: established as a French settlement in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Ubangi River; the Ubangi itself was named from the native word for the "rapids" located beside the outpost, which marked the end of navigable water north from from Brazzaville

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 35 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest (interim constitution) approved by the Transitional Council 30 August 2015, adopted by referendum 13-14 December 2015, ratified 27 March 2016 | amendments: proposals require support of the government, two thirds of the National Council of Transition, and assent by the "Mediator of the Central African" crisis; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the National Council membership; non-amendable constitutional provisions include those on the secular and republican form of government, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, or changes to the authorities of various high-level executive, parliamentary, and judicial officials

Country name

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 | etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lucy TAMLYN (since 6 February 2019) | telephone: [236] 21 61 0200 | embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui | mailing address: P.O. Box 924, Bangui | FAX: [236] 21 61 4494

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018) | chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800 | FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893

Executive branch

chief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 30 March 2016) | head of government: Prime Minister Firmin NGREBADA (since 25 February 2019) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: under the 2015 constitution, the president is elected by universal direct suffrage for a period of 5 years (eligible for a second term); election last held 30 December 2015 with a runoff 20 February 2016 (next scheduled to be held on 27 December 2020) | election results: Faustin-Archange TOUADERA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 23.7%, Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 19.1%, Desire KOLINGBA (RDC) 12.%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 11.4%, other 33.8%; percent of vote in second round - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA 62.7%, Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE 37.3% | 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 was extended because instability delayed new elections and the transition did not take place until the end of March 2016

Flag description

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

presidential republic

Independence

13 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of whom 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

civil law system based on the French model

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (140 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 30 December 2015 (results annulled), 14 February 2016 - first round and 31 March 2016 - second round (next to be held on 27 December 2020) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNDP 16, URCA 11, RDC 8, MLPC 10, KNK 7, other 28, independent 60; composition - men 129, women 11, percent of women 7.9%

National anthem

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

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

National symbol(s)

elephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Action Party for Development or PAD [El Hadj Laurent NGON-BABA] Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA] Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Desire Nzanga KOLINGBA] Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [Louis PAPENIAH] Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE] National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa) or KNK [Francois BOZIZE] National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Amine MICHEL] New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE] Union for Central African Renewal or URCA [Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The region was the site of much slave trading activity in the centuries before becoming a French protectorate in the late 19th century, and then was heavily economically exploited in the early part of the 20th century. Upon independence in 1960, the French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic. 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. 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. Elections completed in March 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he continues to work towards peace between the government and armed groups, and is developing a disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and repatriation program to reintegrate the armed groups into society. Nonetheless, as of early 2020 widespread violence continued, and the government in Bangui remains unable to extend control outside the capital. Peace agreements signed in 2017 and 2019 between the government and the main armed factions have had little effect and armed groups operate openly and control large swaths - as much 80% by some estimates - of the country's territory.

Military - note

the FACA is currently assessed as unable to provide adequate internal security for the country; the military was dissolved following the 2013 rebel seizure of the government and has struggled to rebuild in the years of instability since; France, Russia, the UN, and the European Union are providing various levels of security assistance the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has operated in the country since 2014; its peacekeeping mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s fragile transitional government; in November 2019, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission another year; as of March 2020, MINUSCA had approximately 13,200 total personnel, including about 10,700 troops and 2,000 police the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM-RCA) has operated in the country since 2016; the EUTM-RCA contributes to the restructuring of the country's military and defense sector through advice, training, and educational programs (2020)

Military and security forces

Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG); National Police (2019)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) have an estimated 8,000 Army troops (including an Air Service component of about 150) and 1,500 Gendarmerie (2019 est.)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FACA is armed mostly with second-hand equipment from China, Russia, and Ukraine (2020 )

Military expenditures

1.5% of GDP (2019) | 1.41% of GDP (2018) | 1.44% of GDP (2017) | 1.53% of GDP (2016) | 1.69% of GDP (2015)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for military service; no conscription (2019)

Age structure

0-14 years: 39.49% (male 1,188,682/female 1,176,958) | 15-24 years: 19.89% (male 598,567/female 593,075) | 25-54 years: 32.95% (male 988,077/female 986,019) | 55-64 years: 4.32% (male 123,895/female 134,829) | 65 years and over: 3.35% (male 78,017/female 122,736) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Central African Republic Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Central African Republic. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate

33.2 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.8% (2018)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

15.2% (2010/11)

Current Health Expenditure

5.8% (2017)

Death rate

12.3 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Demographic profile

The Central African Republic’s (CAR) humanitarian crisis has worsened since a coup in March 2013. CAR’s high mortality rate and low life expectancy are attributed to elevated rates of preventable and treatable diseases (including malaria and malnutrition), an inadequate health care system, precarious food security, and armed conflict. Some of the worst mortality rates are in western CAR’s diamond mining region, which is impoverished because of government attempts to control the diamond trade and the fall in industrial diamond prices. To make matters worse, the government and international donors have reduced health funding in recent years. The CAR’s weak educational system and low literacy rate have also suffered as a result of the country’s ongoing conflict. Schools are closed, qualified teachers are scarce, infrastructure, funding, and supplies are lacking and subject to looting, and many students and teachers are displaced by violence. Rampant poverty, human rights violations, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and a lack of security and stability have led to forced displacement internally and externally. Since the political crisis that resulted in CAR’s March 2013 coup began in December 2012, approximately 600,000 people have fled to Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and other neighboring countries, while another estimated 600,000 are displaced internally as of October 2019. The UN has urged countries to refrain from repatriating CAR refugees amid the heightened lawlessness. (2019)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 86.4 | youth dependency ratio: 81.1 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 | potential support ratio: 19.2 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 89.6% of population | rural: 54.4% of population | total: 68.5% of population | unimproved: urban: 10.4% of population | rural: 45.6% of population | total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

Baya 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peul) 6%, Mbum 6%, Ngbanki 5.5%, Zande-Nzakara 3%, other Central African Republic ethnic groups 2%, non-Central African Republic ethnic groups .1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.6% (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,800 (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

100,000 (2019 est.)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 80.6 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 87.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 73.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 54.2 years | male: 52.7 years | female: 55.7 years (2020 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 37.4% | male: 49.5% | female: 25.8% (2018)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2020) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever | water contact diseases: schistosomiasis | animal contact diseases: rabies | respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis

Major urban areas - population

889,000 BANGUI (capital) (2020)

Maternal mortality rate

829 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

total: 20 years | male: 19.7 years | female: 20.3 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

noun: Central African(s) | adjective: Central African

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.5% (2016)

Physicians density

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

5,990,855 (July 2020 est.) | 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

Population distribution

majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

2.09% (2020 est.)

Religions

Christian 89.5%, Muslim 8.5%, folk 1%, unaffiliated 1% (2010 est.) | note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 43.6% of population | rural: 7.2% of population | total: 21.8% of population | unimproved: urban: 56.4% of population | rural: 92.8% of population | total: 78.2% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 7 years | male: 8 years | female: 6 years (2012)

Sex ratio

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: 0.92 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female | total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.14 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 42.2% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Disputes - international

periodic skirmishes persist over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 5,555 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2020) | IDPs: 684,004 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2020)

Trafficking in persons

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; most victims appear to be CAR citizens exploited within the country, with a smaller number transported back and forth between the CAR and nearby countries; armed groups operating in the CAR, including those aligned with the former SELEKA Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army, continue to recruit and re-recruit children for military activities and labor; children are also subject to domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced labor in agriculture, mines, shops, and street vending; women and girls are subject to domestic servitude, sexual slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced marriage | tier rating: Tier 3 – the 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 conducted a limited number of investigations and prosecutions of cases of suspected human trafficking in 2014 but did not identify, provide protection to, or refer to care providers any trafficking victims; the government did not directly provide reintegration programs for demobilized child soldiers, leaving victims vulnerable to further exploitation or retrafficking by armed groups, including those affiliated with the government; in 2014, an NGO and the government began drafting a national action plan against trafficking but no efforts were reported to establish a policy against child soldiering or to raise awareness about existing laws prohibiting the use of children in the armed forces (2015)

Airports

39 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 (2019) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 37 (2013) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 19 (2013) | under 914 m: 6 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TL (2016)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 46,364 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)

Ports and terminals

river port(s): Bangui (Oubangui) | Nola (Sangha)

Roadways

total: 24,000 km (2018) | paved: 700 km (2018) | unpaved: 23,300 km (2018)

Waterways

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)