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Central African Republic Country Guide
Explore Central African Republic in Africa
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
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
| Summary | Continent: Africa Neighbours: Chad, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo Capital: Bangui |
| Size | 622,984 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 240,535 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly smaller than Texas |
| Population | 4,434,000 |
| Currency | Name Franc, Currency Code:XAF |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .cf |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +236 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 168,000 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 12,000 |
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 name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 622,984 (sq km) | 45 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,166,510 | 117 |
| Population growth rate | 2.14 (%) | 44 |
| Birth rate | 35.80 (births/1,000 population) | 22 |
| Death rate | 14.42 (deaths/1,000 population) | 6 |
| Maternal mortality rate | 890.00 (deaths/100,000 live births) | 4 |
| Infant mortality rate | 95.04 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 4 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 50.90 (years) | 218 |
| Total fertility rate | 4.52 (children born/woman) | 30 |
| Health expenditures | 4.00 (% of GDP) | 167 |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 4.70 (%) | 16 |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 130,000 | 36 |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 11,000 | 26 |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 3.50 (%) | 175 |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 28.00 (%) | 21 |
| Education expenditures | 1.20 (% of GDP) | 169 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 3,955,000,000 | 177 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 4.10 (%) | 75 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 800 | 223 |
| Labor force | 1,926,000 | 124 |
| Unemployment rate | 8.00 (%) | 92 |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 61.30 | 5 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 15.40 (% of GDP) | 187 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -0.80 (% of GDP) | 57 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 5.50 (%) | 152 |
| Central bank discount rate | 4.75 (%) | 76 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 15.00 (%) | 44 |
| Stock of narrow money | 372,800,000 | 166 |
| Stock of broad money | 459,700,000 | 178 |
| Stock of domestic credit | 510,600,000 | 171 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 3.00 (%) | 90 |
| Current account balance | -179,500,000 | 75 |
| Exports | 198,500,000 | 186 |
| Imports | 341,200,000 | 196 |
| Debt - external | 469,500,000 | 173 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 160,000,000 (kWh) | 186 |
| Electricity - consumption | 148,800,000 (kWh) | 191 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 46,000 (kW) | 186 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 45.70 (% of total installed capacity) | 165 |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 54.30 (% of total installed capacity) | 38 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 3,175 (bbl/day) | 180 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 2,481 (bbl/day) | 176 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 227,400 (Mt) | 195 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 5,400 | 209 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 1,824,000 | 144 |
| Internet hosts | 20 | 222 |
| Internet users | 22,600 | 192 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 40 | 106 |
| Roadways | 20,278 (km) | 107 |
| Waterways | 2,800 (km) | 35 |
Military
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Military expenditures | 2.60 (% 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
| Name | Since |
|---|---|
| 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 |