Geography
Area: 622,984 sq. km. (242,000 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Texas.
Cities: Capital--Bangui (pop. 690,000). Other cities--Berberati
(56,867), Bouar (39,676), Bambari (32,603), Bangassou (24,450),
Bossangoa (31,723), Mbaiki (16,901), and Carnot (31,324).
Terrain: Rolling plain 600 meters-700 meters (1,980 ft.-2,310 ft.)
above sea level; scattered hills in northeast and southwest.
Climate: Tropical, ranging from humid equatorial in the south to
Sahelo-Sudanese in the north; hot, dry winters with mild to hot, wet
summers.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Central African(s).
Population (2004): 3.9 million.
Annual growth rate: 1.1%.
Ethnic groups: More than 80; Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandja
13%, Mboum 7%, M'baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%.
Christian singles note-Religions: Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%,
Muslim 15%, indigenous beliefs 35%.
Languages: Sangho (official), Sangho (national).
Education: Years compulsory--6. Enrollment--primary
school 75%. Literacy--50%.
Health: Infant mortality rate—115 deaths/1,000. Life
expectancy--avg. 43 yrs.
Work force (approx. 53% of pop.): Agriculture--75%; industry--6%;
commerce and services--4%; government--15%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: August 13, 1960.
Constitution: Passed by referendum December 29, 1994; adopted January
1995. Suspended by decree in March 2003. New constitution passed by
referendum December 5, 2004.
Branches: Executive--president, prime minister, and Council of
Ministers. Legislative--unicameral National Assembly. National
Transitional Council created following 2003 dissolution of the
National Assembly. Judicial--Constitutional Court, inferior
courts, criminal courts, Court of Appeals.
Administrative subdivisions: 16 prefectures, commune of Bangui.
Political parties: Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Central
African Democratic Assembly (RDC), Civic Forum (FC), Democratic Forum
(FODEM), Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Movement for Democracy and
Development (MDD), Movement for the Liberation of the Central African
People (MLPC), Patriotic Front for Progress (FPP), People's Union for
the Republic (UPR), National Unity Party (PUN), and Social Democratic
Party (PSD).
Suffrage: Universal over 21.
Economy
GDP: (2002) $1.045 billion.
Annual growth rate: -7.2% (2003); 0.5% (2004 est.).
Per capita income (2002): $260.
Avg. inflation rate: 4.2% (2003); 3.2 (2004 est.).
Natural resources: Diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil.
Agriculture (2002, 54.8% of GDP): Products--Timber, cotton,
coffee, tobacco, foodcrops, livestock. Cultivated land--unavailable.
Industry (2002, 21.6% of GDP): Types--Diamond mining, sawmills,
breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles,
and soap.
Services (2002): 23.6% of GDP.
Trade (2004): Exports--$161 million; diamonds, coffee, cotton,
timber, tobacco. Major markets--Belgium, Italy, France,
Luxembourg, Germany, Egypt, Spain, and Cote d'Ivoire. Imports--$119
million; food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical
equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods,
industrial products. Major suppliers--France, United States,
Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Germany, Japan.
Central government budget (2002): $226 million.
Defense (2002, 2.4% of budget): $5.4 million.
Fiscal year: Calendar year.
U.S. aid received (2003): Due to Section 508 restrictions triggered by
the 2003 coup, U.S. assistance to the Central African Republic
government is prohibited except in the areas of humanitarian aid and
support for democratization.
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-There are more than 80 ethnic groups in the
Central African Republic (C.A.R.), each with its own language. About
75% are Baya-Mandjia and Banda (40% largely located in the northern
and central parts of the country), and 4% are M'Baka (southwestern
corner of the C.A.R.). Sangho, the language of a small group along the
Oubangui River, is the national language spoken by the majority of
Central Africans. Only a small part of the population has more than an
elementary knowledge of French, the official language.
More than 55% of the population of the C.A.R. lives in rural areas.
The chief agricultural areas are around the Bossangoa and Bambari.
Bangui, Berberati, Bangassou, and Bossangoa are the most densely
populated urban centers.
