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Central African Republic Country Guide

Explore Central African Republic in Africa

Central African Republic with the capital city Bangui is located in Africa (Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo). It covers some 622,984 square kilometres (slightly smaller than Texas) with 4,434,000 citizens.

Interactive map of Central African Republic

The topography includes vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau with scattered hills in northeast and southwest. The average density of population is approximately 7 per km². The notable climate conditions in Central African Republic can be described as tropical with hot, dry winters and mild to hot, wet summers. Possible natural disasters include hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas or floods are common.

To reach someone in Central African Republic dial +236 prior to a number. There are 12,000 installed telephones. And there are 168,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".cf". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 220V - 50Hz.

About the flag and history of Central African Republic

Central African Republic Flag Icon

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.


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 and lasted for one 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 does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. The militant group the Lord's Resistance Army continues to destabilize southeastern Central African Republic, and 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 - who are 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, reappointed Nicolas TIANGAYE as Prime Minister, and established a transitional government on 31 March. On 13 April 2013, the National Transitional Council affirmed DJOTODIA as President.



Geography Quick-Facts

SummaryContinent: Africa
Neighbours: Chad, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo
Capital: Bangui
Size622,984 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 240,535 square miles (mi² or sqmi)
slightly smaller than Texas
Population4,434,000
CurrencyName Franc, Currency Code:XAF
Country Top Level Domain (cTLD).cf
Telephone Country Prefix+236
Mobile Phone Connections168,000
Landline Phone Connections12,000

Country Position in World Rankings

Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).

Geography

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Area622,984 (sq km)45

People and Society

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Population5,166,510 117
Population growth rate2.14 (%)44
Birth rate35.80 (births/1,000 population)22
Death rate14.42 (deaths/1,000 population)6
Maternal mortality rate890.00 (deaths/100,000 live births)4
Infant mortality rate95.04 (deaths/1,000 live births)4
Life expectancy at birth50.90 (years)218
Total fertility rate4.52 (children born/woman)30
Health expenditures4.00 (% of GDP)167
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate4.70 (%)16
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS130,000 36
HIV/AIDS - deaths11,000 26
Obesity - adult prevalence rate3.50 (%)175
Children under the age of 5 years underweight28.00 (%)21
Education expenditures1.20 (% of GDP)169

Economy

Value nameValueWorld Rank
GDP (purchasing power parity)3,955,000,000 177
GDP - real growth rate4.10 (%)75
GDP - per capita (PPP)800 223
Labor force1,926,000 124
Unemployment rate8.00 (%)92
Distribution of family income - Gini index61.30 5
Taxes and other revenues15.40 (% of GDP)187
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)-0.80 (% of GDP)57
Inflation rate (consumer prices)5.50 (%)152
Central bank discount rate4.75 (%)76
Commercial bank prime lending rate15.00 (%)44
Stock of narrow money372,800,000 166
Stock of broad money459,700,000 178
Stock of domestic credit510,600,000 171
Industrial production growth rate3.00 (%)90
Current account balance-179,500,000 75
Exports198,500,000 186
Imports341,200,000 196
Debt - external469,500,000 173

Energy

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Electricity - production160,000,000 (kWh)186
Electricity - consumption148,800,000 (kWh)191
Electricity - installed generating capacity46,000 (kW)186
Electricity - from fossil fuels45.70 (% of total installed capacity)165
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants54.30 (% of total installed capacity)38
Refined petroleum products - consumption3,175 (bbl/day)180
Refined petroleum products - imports2,481 (bbl/day)176
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy227,400 (Mt)195

Communications

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Telephones - main lines in use5,400 209
Telephones - mobile cellular1,824,000 144
Internet hosts20 222
Internet users22,600 192

Transportation

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Airports40 106
Roadways20,278 (km)107
Waterways2,800 (km)35

Military

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Military expenditures2.60 (% of GDP)48

Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases

List of current world heritage sites

NameSince
Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park
The importance of this park derives from its wealth of flora and fauna. Its vast savannahs are home to a wide variety of species: black rhinoceroses, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, red-fronted gazelles and buffalo, while various types of w ...
1988