World Factbook
Central African Republic
Introduction
Background
The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 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. The government still lacks full control of the countryside, where lawlessness persists. 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.
Geography
Location
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates
7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total: 622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 46
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia
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
Coastline
0 km(landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain
vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Elevation
mean elevation: 635 m
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m
Natural resources
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
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.)
Irrigated land
10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
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
Geography - note
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People and Society
Population
5,745,062 (July 2018 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
country comparison to the world: 116
Nationality
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups
Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Languages
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
Religions
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15% (2018)
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
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 370,000 people have fled to Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and other neighboring countries, while more than an estimated 600,000 are displaced internally as of October 2017. The UN has urged countries to refrain from repatriating CAR refugees amid the heightened lawlessness.
Age structure
0-14 years: 39.89%(male 1,151,724 /female 1,140,083)
15-24 years: 19.91%(male 574,969 /female 568,942)
25-54 years: 32.64%(male 938,365 /female 936,948)
55-64 years: 4.17%(male 112,310 /female 127,045)
65 years and over: 3.39%(male 75,401 /female 119,275) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 90 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 83.1 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 14.4 (2015 est.)
Median age
total: 19.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 19.5 years
female: 20.1 years
country comparison to the world: 197
Population growth rate
2.11% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Birth rate
34 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Death rate
12.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Population distribution
majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui
Urbanization
urban population: 41.8% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
870,000 BANGUI (capital) (2019)
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: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
829 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Infant mortality rate
total: 84.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 91.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 76.7 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 4
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 53.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 51.9 years
female: 54.7 years
country comparison to the world: 219
Total fertility rate
4.25 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Contraceptive prevalence rate
15.2% (2010/11)
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.)
Current Health Expenditure
4.3% (2016)
Physicians density
0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Hospital bed density
1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 43.6% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 7.2% of population (2015 est.)
total: 21.8% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 56.4% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 92.8% of population (2015 est.)
total: 78.2% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
3.6% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
110,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
HIV/AIDS - deaths
4,800 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2019)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever (2019)
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever (2019)
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2019)
animal contact diseases: rabies (2019)
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis (2019)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
7.5% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 159
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
24.6% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 20
Education expenditures
1.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 174
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 36.8%
male: 50.7%
female: 24.4% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 6 years (2012)
Government
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
Government type
presidential republic
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
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
Independence
13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
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 (2017)
Legal system
civil law system based on the French model
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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 to be held in 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
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 in 2021)
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%
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
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]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
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
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
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
National symbol(s)
elephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red
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
Economy
Economy - 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$3.39 billion (2017 est.)
$3.249 billion (2016 est.)
$3.108 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 185
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.937 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
4.3% (2017 est.)
4.5% (2016 est.)
4.8% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$700 (2017 est.)
$700 (2016 est.)
$600 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 228
Gross national saving
5.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
8.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
4.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
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.)
Agriculture - products
cotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava (manioc, tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Industries
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining
Industrial production growth rate
3.9% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Labor force
2.242 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Unemployment rate
6.9% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Population below poverty line
62%NA (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 33% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
43.6 (2003 est.)
61.3 (1993)
country comparison to the world: 46
Budget
revenues: 282.9 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 300.1 million (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
14.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Public debt
52.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
56% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.1% (2017 est.)
4.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Central bank discount rate
4.25% (31 December 2009)
4.75% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 90
Commercial bank prime lending rate
15.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
15.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Stock of narrow money
$428.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$341.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Stock of broad money
$428.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$341.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Stock of domestic credit
$547 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$452.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Market value of publicly traded shares
NA
Current account balance
-$163 million (2017 est.)
-$97 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Exports
$113.7 million (2017 est.)
$101.5 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Exports - partners
France 31.2%, Burundi 16.2%, China 12.5%, Cameroon 9.6%, Austria 7.8% (2017)
Exports - commodities
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee
Imports
$393.1 million (2017 est.)
$342.2 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
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)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$304.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$252.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Debt - external
$779.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$691.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
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.)
Energy
Electricity access
population without electricity: 5 million (2017)
electrification - total population: 14% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 34.1% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 0.4% (2016)
Electricity - production
171.4 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - consumption
159.4 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Electricity - installed generating capacity
38,300 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Electricity - from fossil fuels
50% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
50% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - from other renewable sources
1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Crude oil - production
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Crude oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Refined petroleum products - production
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Refined petroleum products - consumption
2,800 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Refined petroleum products - exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Refined petroleum products - imports
2,799 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
413,800 Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1,964
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 1,248,346
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Telephone system
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 22 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 (2018)
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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: 246,000
percent of population: 4.6% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Military and Security
Military expenditures
1.41% of GDP (2018)
1.44% of GDP (2017)
1.53% of GDP (2016)
1.69% of GDP (2015)
2.56% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 82
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 service age and obligation
18 years of age for military service; no conscription (2019)
Military - note
the United Nations 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; as of September 2019, MINUSCA had nearly 14,000 total personnel, including about 10,800 troops; in November 2019, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission another year (2019)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 46,364 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TL (2016)
Airports
39 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 106
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)
Roadways
total: 24,000 km (2018)
paved: 700 km (2018)
unpaved: 23,300 km (2018)
country comparison to the world: 104
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)
country comparison to the world: 34
Ports and terminals
river port(s): Bangui (Oubangui)
Nola (Sangha)
Transnational Issues
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
IDPs: 600,136 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2019)
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)
