Central African Republic - Economic Indicators

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 reliable statistics are difficult to determine 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...

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GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 1,533,060,000,000 1,432,050,000,000 XAF Annual
Private Consumption 2019 1,275,827,459,904 1,085,501,000,000 XAF Annual
Investment 2019 195,679,394,021 308,587,000,000 XAF Annual
Real Investment 2017 94,510,000,000 69,414,515,100 NCU Annual
Nominal Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 200,482,000,000 141,868,355,400 NCU Annual
Real Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 94,510,000,000 69,414,515,100 NCU Annual
Government Consumption 2015 110.43 106.15 Bil. XAF Annual
Real Gross Domestic Product 2005 100 98 Index 2005=100 Annual
Price Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Price Index (CPI) Dec 2023 175.83 173.39 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Producer Price Index (PPI) Feb 2006 108.11 107.19 2005=100, NSA Monthly
Wholesale Price Index 2005 100 97.81 Index 2010 = 100 Annual
Labor Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Labor Force 2017 1,891,572 1,855,564 # Annual
Unemployment 1995 7.56 9.88 Ths. Annual
Labor Force Employment 1992 14.04 12.03 Ths. Annual
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Imports of Goods and Services 2019 454,901,684,522 579,562,000,000 XAF Annual
Exports of Goods and Services 2019 210,167,524,395 232,955,000,000 XAF Annual
Real Exports of Goods and Services 2017 68,776,000,000 68,776,345,300 NCU Annual
Real Imports of Goods and Services 2017 194,760,000,000 194,760,163,800 NCU Annual
Exports of Goods 1994 145,892,137 132,453,942 USD Annual
Balance of Goods 1994 15,309,668 -25,677,827 USD Annual
Current Account Balance 1994 -24,675,583 -12,950,157 USD Annual
Imports of Goods 1994 130,582,469 158,131,770 USD Annual
Government Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Government Expenditures 2017 1,353,256,000,000 1,221,451,498,000 NCU Annual
Government Revenues 2011 111,781,767,905 114,268,742,818 NCU Annual
Government Budget Balance 2010 3,400,000,000 800,000,000 current LCU Annual
Markets Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Lending Rate Apr 2013 4 4 % Monthly
Business Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Change in Inventories 2017 1,000,000 NCU Annual
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Population 2020 4,829,764 4,745,179 # Annual
Net Migration 2017 -150,000 # Annual
Death Rate 2016 13.54 14.01 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Birth Rate 2016 35.7 36.11 # per Ths. pop. Annual

Factbook

Background

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 (DDRR) 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
Land boundaries:
total: 5,920 km
border countries (6): Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1,556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1,055 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
elevation extremes: 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%
arable land 2.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 5.1%
forest: 36.2%
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 & Society

Population:
5,625,118
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 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
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%
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: 40.09% (male 1,133,361/female 1,121,640)
15-24 years: 19.94% (male 563,730/female 557,676)
25-54 years: 32.45% (male 913,363/female 912,096)
55-64 years: 4.1% (male 106,651/female 123,839)
65 years and over: 3.43% (male 74,834/female 117,928) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 90
youth dependency ratio: 83.1
elderly dependency ratio: 7
potential support ratio: 14.4 (2015 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.7 years
male: 19.4 years
female: 20 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Population growth rate:
2.12% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Birth rate:
34.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Death rate:
13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
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: 40.6% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 2.73% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
BANGUI (capital) 794,000 (2015)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio:
882 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Infant mortality rate:
total: 86.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 93.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.8 years
male: 51.4 years
female: 54.2 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Total fertility rate:
4.3 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
15.2% (2010/11)
Health expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 162
Physicians density:
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density:
1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
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.)
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.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,300 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
7.5% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 159
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
23.5% (2010)
country comparison to the world: 26
Education expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 171
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 36.8%
male: 50.7%
female: 24.4% (2015 est.)
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)
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 Simplice SARANDJI (since 2 April 2016)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: under the new 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) 12.0%, 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 (131 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 election 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 19, independent 60
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): 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
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:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stanislas MOUSSA-KEMBE (since 24 August 2009)
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David P. BROWNSTEIN (since September 2017)
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: P.O. Box 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 21 61 0200
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 reliable statistics are difficult to determine 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 extraordinarily unequal and grants from the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. CAR shares a common currency, which is pegged to the Euro, with the Central African Monetary Union.
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):
$3.395 billion (2017 est.)
$3.241 billion (2016 est.)
$3.101 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 185
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.992 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.7% (2017 est.)
4.5% (2016 est.)
4.8% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
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:
5.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
4.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
4.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 96.3%
government consumption: 7.8%
investment in fixed capital: 13.6%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 11.8%
imports of goods and services: -29.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 42.9%
industry: 15.9%
services: 41.2% (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: 72
Labor force:
2.242 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Unemployment rate:
8% (2016 est.)
note: (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 33% (2003 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43.6 (2003 est.)
61.3 (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Budget:
revenues: $230.6 million
expenditures: $271.1 million (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
11.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Public debt:
42.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
48.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.8% (2017 est.)
4.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
4.75% (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
15.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Stock of narrow money:
$415.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$342.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Stock of broad money:
$534.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$432.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Stock of domestic credit:
$566.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$458.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Current account balance:
$-194 million (2017 est.)
$-161 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Exports:
$118.5 million (2017 est.)
$101.5 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee
Exports - partners:
Belarus 33.5%, Germany 15.3%, France 14.2%, Chad 12.6%, Cameroon 9.7%, China 8.1% (2016)
Imports:
$380.5 million (2017 est.)
$340.8 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Imports - commodities:
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
Egypt 29.8%, France 18.6%, China 6.8%, Belgium 5.7%, Cameroon 5.4% (2016)
Debt - external:
$767.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$691.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
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: 4,500,000
electrification - total population: 3%
electrification - urban areas: 5%
electrification - rural areas: 1% (2013)
Electricity - production:
174 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Electricity - consumption:
161.8 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
44,000 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
43.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
56.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Refined petroleum products - imports:
2,828 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
400,000 Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

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: 1,248,346
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Telephone system:
general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
domestic: very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; spurred by the presence of multiple mobile-cellular service providers, cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)
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: 167

Transportation

National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers: 2
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 46,364
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
TL (2016)
Airports:
39 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 106
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 37
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 6 (2013)
Roadways:
total: 20,278 km
paved: 1,385 km
unpaved: 18,893 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 107
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)

Military & Security

Military branches:
Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2017)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for military service; no conscription (2017)

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: 680,962 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2018)
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)

Economic Indicators for Central African Republic including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the Central African Republic economy.