{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a perennially weak state that sits at the crossroads of ethnic and linguistic groups in the center of the African continent. Among the last areas of Sub-Saharan Africa to be drawn into the world economy, its introduction into trade networks around the early 1700s fostered significant competition among its population. The local population sought to benefit from the lucrative Atlantic, trans-Saharan, and Indian Ocean trade in enslaved people and ivory. Slave raids aided by the local populations fostered animosity between ethnic groups that remains today. The territory was established as a French colony named Ubangui-Shari in 1903, and France modeled its administration of the colony after the Belgian Congo, subcontracting control of the territory to private companies that collected rubber and ivory. Although France banned the domestic slave trade in CAR in the 1910s, the private companies continued to exploit the population through forced labor. The colony of Ubangi-Shari gained independence from France as the Central African Republic in August 1960, but the death of independence leader Barthelemy BOGANDA six months prior led to an immediate struggle for power.

CAR’s political history has since been marred by a series of coups, the first of which brought Jean-Bedel BOKASSA to power in 1966. BOKASSA’s regime was characterized by widespread corruption and an intolerance of opposition, which manifested in the disappearances of many who challenged BOKASSA’s rule. In an effort to prolong his mandate, he named himself emperor in 1976 and changed the country’s name to the Central African Empire. His regime’s economic mismanagement culminated in widespread student protests in early 1979 that were violently suppressed by security forces. BOKASSA, rumored to have participated in the killing of some young students after the protests, fell out of favor with the international community and was overthrown in a French-backed coup in 1979. After BOKASSA’s departure, the country’s name once again became the Central African Republic.

CAR’s fifth coup in March 2013 unseated President Francois BOZIZE after a mainly Muslim rebel coalition named the Seleka seized the capital and forced BOZIZE, who himself had taken power in a coup in 2003, to flee the country. Widespread abuses by the Seleka spurred the formation of mainly Christian self-defense groups that called themselves the anti-Balaka, which have also committed human rights abuses against Muslim populations in retaliation. Since the rise of the self-defense groups, conflict in CAR has become increasingly ethnoreligious-based, although focused on identity as opposed to religious ideology. Elections organized by a transitional government in early 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he was reelected in December 2020. A peace agreement signed in February 2019 between the government and the main armed factions has had little effect, and armed groups remain in control of large swaths of the country's territory.

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "7 00 N, 21 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Africa" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "622,984 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "622,984 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "0 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "5,920 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Cameroon 901 km; Chad 1556 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km; South Sudan 1055 km; Sudan 174 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "0 km (landlocked)" }, "Maritime claims": { "text": "none (landlocked)" }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers" }, "Terrain": { "text": "vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Oubangui River 335 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "635 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "8.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 5.1% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "36.2% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "55.7% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "10 sq km (2012)" }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "Ubangi river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth" }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "5,552,228 (2023 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Central African(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Central African" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Baya 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peuhl) 6%, Mbum 6%, Ngbanki 5.5%, Zande-Nzakara 3%, other Central African Republic ethnic groups 2%, non-Central African Republic ethnic groups .1% (2003 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages" }, "Religions": { "text": "Christian 89%, Muslim 9%, folk religion 1%, unaffiliated 1% (2020 est.)", "note": "note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

The Central African Republic’s (CAR) humanitarian crisis has worsened since the coup of 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 has been 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 have been 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, and other neighboring countries, while another estimated 515,000 were displaced internally as of December 2022. The UN has urged countries to refrain from repatriating CAR refugees amid the heightened lawlessness.

(2019)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "38.84% (male 1,104,007/female 1,052,411)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "57.71% (male 1,577,102/female 1,627,133)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "3.45% (2023 est.) (male 83,431/female 108,144)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "102.8" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "97.7" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "5.1" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "19.7 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "20 years" }, "male": { "text": "19.7 years" }, "female": { "text": "20.3 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "1.77% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "32.37 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "11.51 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-3.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "43.6% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.97 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.77 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.99 male(s)/female (2023 est.)" } }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "835 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "81.74 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "87.69 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "75.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "55.96 years" }, "male": { "text": "54.64 years" }, "female": { "text": "57.31 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "3.99 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "1.97 (2023 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "17.8% (2019)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 83.9% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 47.5% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 62.9% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 16.1% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 52.5% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 37.1% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "9.4% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2018)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "1 beds/1,000 population (2011)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 53.8% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 12.4% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 29.9% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 46.2% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 87.6% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 70.1% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Major infectious diseases": { "degree of risk": { "text": "very high (2023)" }, "food or waterborne diseases": { "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { "text": "malaria and dengue fever" }, "water contact diseases": { "text": "schistosomiasis" }, "animal contact diseases": { "text": "rabies" }, "note": "note: on 22 March 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; the Central African Republic is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine" }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "7.5% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "20.5% (2019)" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "64.7% (2023 est.)" }, "Child marriage": { "women married by age 15": { "text": "25.8%" }, "women married by age 18": { "text": "61%" }, "men married by age 18": { "text": "17.1% (2019 est.)" } }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "37.4%" }, "male": { "text": "49.5%" }, "female": { "text": "25.8% (2018)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "7 years" }, "male": { "text": "8 years" }, "female": { "text": "6 years (2012)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "11.8%" }, "male": { "text": "10.6%" }, "female": { "text": "13.1% (2021 est.)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "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": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "Law of the Sea" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "8.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 5.1% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "36.2% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "55.7% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "43.6% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Food insecurity": { "exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies": { "text": "due to internal conflict and high food prices - according to the latest analysis, issued in July 2023, the number of people in Crisis and above is projected to reach 2.4 million between April and August 2023; this reflects the impact of the ongoing conflict and civil insecurity, as well as the effects of flooding and drought conditions that curbed crop yields and agricultural production (2023)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "8.99% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "49.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "0.3 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "22.44 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "1,105,983 tons (2014 est.)" } }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "Ubangi river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth" }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin" }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "141 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Central African Republic" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "none" }, "local long form": { "text": "Republique Centrafricaine" }, "local short form": { "text": "none" }, "former": { "text": "Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire" }, "abbreviation": { "text": "CAR" }, "etymology": { "text": "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" } }, "Government type": { "text": "presidential republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Bangui" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "4 22 N, 18 35 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "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 Brazzaville" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "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" }, "Independence": { "text": "13 August 1960 (from France)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Republic Day, 1 December (1958)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "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": { "text": "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; note - constitutional referendum on abolishing presidential term limits scheduled for 30 July 2023" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "civil law system based on the French model" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "yes" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "35 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 30 March 2016)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Felix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022); note - Prime Minister Henri-Marie DONDRA resigned on 2 February 2022" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "president directly elected for 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 27 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025); note - Central African Republic held presidential and partial legislative elections on 27 December 2020; voting was disrupted in some areas, delaying the first round of legislative elections until 14 March 2021; constituencies that did vote on 27 December 2020 held runoff elections for their legislators" }, "election results": { "text": "
2020/2021: Faustin-Archange TOUADERA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 53.9%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 21%, other 25.1%

2015: 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%" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "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": { "text": "first round last held on 27 December 2020; note - on election day, voting in many electoral areas was disrupted by armed groups; on 13 February 2021, President TOUADERA announced that a new first round of elections will be held on 27 February for those areas controlled by armed groups and second round on 14 March" }, "election results": { "text": "December 2015 election: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNDP 16, URCA 11, RDC 8, MLPC 10, KNK 7, other 28, independent 60; composition as of March 2022 - men 122, women 18, percent of women 12.9%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "high courts; magistrates' courts" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "African Party for Radical Transformation and Integration of States or PATRIE [Crepin MBOLI-GOUMBA]
Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Desire KOLINGBA]
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 Movement of Independents or MOUNI
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Michel AMINE]
National Union of Republican Democrats or UNADER
Party for Democratic Governance or PGD
Path of Hope [Karim MECKASSOUA]
Union for Central African Renewal or URCA [Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE]
United Hearts Movement or MCU [Faustin-Archange TOUADERA]

note: only parties with seats in the Parliament included
" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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), LCBC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 483-7800" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 332-9893" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
centrafricwashington@yahoo.com

https://www.usrcaembassy.org/" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Patricia A. MAHONEY (since 8 April 2022)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Avenue David Dacko, Bangui" }, "mailing address": { "text": "2060 Bangui Place, Washington DC  20521-2060" }, "telephone": { "text": "[236] 2161-0200" }, "FAX": { "text": "[236] 2161-4494" }, "email address and website": { "text": "https://cf.usembassy.gov/" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "elephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"La Renaissance\" (The Renaissance)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER" }, "note": "note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "2 (natural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park; Sangha Trinational Forest" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "enormous natural resources; extreme poverty; weak public institutions and infrastructure; political and gender-based violence have led to displacement of roughly 25% of population; Bangui-Douala corridor blockade reduced activity and tax collection; strong agricultural performance offset COVID-19 downturn" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$4.483 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": { "text": "$4.354 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": { "text": "$4.195 billion (2017 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "0.9% (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2020": { "text": "0.9% (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "3.1% (2019 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$800 (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$800 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$900 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$1.937 billion (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "4.26% (2021 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": { "text": "1.71% (2020 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "2.69% (2019 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "43.2% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "16% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "40.8% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "95.3% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "8.5% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "13.7% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "12% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-29.5% (2017 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "cassava, yams, groundnuts, taro, bananas, sugar cane, beef, maize, plantains, milk" }, "Industries": { "text": "gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "-0.24% (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "2.015 million (2021 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "6.57% (2021 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2020": { "text": "6.36% (2020 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "5.62% (2019 est.)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "11.8%" }, "male": { "text": "10.6%" }, "female": { "text": "13.1% (2021 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "62% (2008 est.) NA" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2008": { "text": "56.2 (2008 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "2.1%" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "33% (2003)" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$418 million (2019 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$385 million (2019 est.)" } }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "52.9% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "56% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "8.71% (of GDP) (2020 est.)" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2017": { "text": "-$163 million (2017 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2016": { "text": "-$97 million (2016 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2017": { "text": "$113.7 million (2017 est.)" }, "Exports 2016": { "text": "$101.5 million (2016 est.)" }, "note": "note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports." }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 41%, United Arab Emirates 19%, France 7% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "gold, lumber, diamonds, large construction vehicles, rum (2021)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2017": { "text": "$393.1 million (2017 est.)" }, "Imports 2016": { "text": "$342.2 million (2016 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "India 18%, France 12%, United States 11%, China 9%, Netherlands 7%, Belgium 7%, Malta 6% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, packaged medicines, natural gas, broadcasting equipment, second-hand clothing (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": { "text": "$350.305 million (31 December 2019 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2018": { "text": "$361.797 million (31 December 2018 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$362.717 million (31 December 2017 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 31 December 2017": { "text": "$779.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Debt - external 31 December 2016": { "text": "$691.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "554.531 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "575.586 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "585.911 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "555.446 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "580.657 (2017 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { "text": "(2020) 5 million" }, "electrification - total population": { "text": "15.6% (2021)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "34.6% (2021)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "1.5% (2021)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "38,000 kW (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "140.44 million kWh (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "10.5 million kWh (2019 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "99.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "tide and wave": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "3 million metric tons (2019 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2021 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "2,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate imports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "2,799 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "285,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "285,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "1.121 million Btu/person (2019 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "2,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "(2021 est.) less than 1" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "1.8 million (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "34 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "given the poor fixed-line infrastructure in most countries across Africa, voice and data services across the region are greatly dependent on mobile networks; in the majority of markets, including those with better developed fixed infrastructure such as South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, up to 98% of all voice and data connections are via mobile networks; during the last two to three years, national governments and telecom regulators have striven to improve fixed infrastructure with the wider aim of developing economic growth based on digital services and connectivity; this work is principally focused on delivering fiber-based connectivity; since the amount of copper infrastructure (DSL or HFC) used for broadband is so negligible, governments and private firms, including telcos are investing in fiber rather than in older technologies; while supporting broadband to premises, health centers, and government buildings, the new fiber infrastructure is mainly being deployed to provide mobile platforms and to support the rapid growth in data traffic (2022)" }, "domestic": { "text": "very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; 34 per 100 mobile-cellular subscribers (2020)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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": { "text": ".cf" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "605,000 (2021 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "11% (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "499 (2019 est.) Data available for 2019 only." }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "0.01 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "2 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "2" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "46,364 (2015)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "0 (2015) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "TL" }, "Airports": { "text": "39 (2021)" }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "text": "1", "note": "note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)" }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "text": "37", "note": "note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "24,000 km (2018)" }, "paved": { "text": "700 km (2018)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "23,300 km (2018)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "2,800 km (2011) (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)" }, "Ports and terminals": { "river port(s)": { "text": "Bangui (Oubangui)" }, "note": "Nola (Sangha)" } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine); Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), National Police (2023)", "note": "note 1: the Special Republican Protection Group (Groupement Spécial Chargé de la Protection Républicaine or GSPR) is part of the Army per a March 2022 decree, but reports to the president; the GSPR provides protection to the head of state

note 2: in 2019-2021, the CAR created three Mixed Special Security units (Unités Spéciales Mixtes de Sécurité or USMS), regionally based battalion-sized units comprised of about 40% government and 60% rebel soldiers created to provide security along transportation corridors and at mining sites; the units are intended to be transitional in nature with a scheduled deployment time of two years; in addition, since mid-2021 the FACA have frequently recruited local militias, mostly former anti-balaka fighters, whom they pay to help track and attack rebels hiding in the bush" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "1.4% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "information varies; up to 15,000 FACA troops (2023)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the FACA is lightly armed; most of the military's heavy weapons and equipment were destroyed or captured during the 2012–2014 civil war; prior to the war, most of its equipment was of French, Russian, or Soviet origin; in recent years, it has received small amounts of secondhand equipment from China and Russia (2023)", "note": "note: since 2013, CAR has been under a UNSC arms embargo; the embargo bans all supplies of arms and related materiel to the country except to the CAR security forces if approved in advance by the relevant UN Sanctions Committee" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for military service; no conscription (2022)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the 2013 coup resulted in the institutional collapse of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA); its forces were overwhelmed and forced to flee to neighboring countries; it has been estimated that only 10% of the FACA returned after the coup, and it has struggled to rebuild in the years of instability since, despite considerable foreign assistance; significant portions of the country remain outside state control and are ungoverned, with the presence of multiple armed actors creating insecurity in much of the country 

in late 2020 and early 2021, the Coalition des Patriotes pour le Change (CPC), a loose coalition of armed groups comprised largely of former Seleka and anti-Balaka fighters, attacked the capital Bangui; CAR Government forces, along with Russian private military contractors and Rwandan troops, repelled the attack but have not been able to stabilize the country; the CPC has retreated to its rear bases and into neighboring countries and continued conducting attacks; other armed groups are also active; forces on both sides have been accused of abuses and atrocities in the fighting 

in 2018, the UN Security Council approved Russian security assistance for the CAR to help train and advise FACA personnel, as well as transport them to operational areas, provide logistical support, and assist with medical evacuation; in addition to teams of military trainers, Russia sent private military contractors, and as of 2023, as many as 2,000 were providing assistance to the FACA, as well as performing other security roles such as guarding mines and government officials; some Russian contractors and the CAR forces they supported have been accused of carrying out indiscriminate killings, using excessive force against civilians, and looting

the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has operated in the country since 2014; its mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s fragile transitional government; as of early 2023, MINUSCA had almost 17,000 personnel 

the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM-RCA) has operated in the country since 2016, providing advice, training, and educational programs to the country's security forces; since 2016, the EU mission has trained 5 territorial infantry battalions and 1 amphibious infantry battalion; the mission suspended operational training in 2021; France also provided assistance to the FACA before suspending its support, also in 2021 (2023)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

Central African Republic-South Sudan: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with South Sudan over water and grazing rights

Central African Republic-Sudan: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with Sudan over water and grazing rights

" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { "text": "6,636 (Democratic Republic of Congo), 12,018 (Sudan) (refugees since 15 April 2023) (2023)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "474,822 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2023)" } } } }