Central African Republic
Country Guide

Explore Central African Republic

Central African Republic with its capital Bangui is located in Africa (Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo). It covers some 622,985 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Texas) with 5,625,120 citizens. French, Sango, Lingala and Kongo are the languages commonly used by the people in Central African Republic (consider regional differences). Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Sudan are bordering countries.

Due to increasing rebel activity, travel here is strongly discouraged! Travel outside Bangui is strongly discouraged, including all land routes from Cameroon.
The Central African Republic is at the geographic center of Africa. The climate is generally tropical. The northern areas are subject to harmattan winds, which are hot, dry, and carry dust. The northern regions have been subject to desertification, and the northeast is desert. The remainder of the country is prone to flooding from nearby rivers. The main language is French with a dialect called Central African French.

Popular Destinations in Central African Republic

Administrative regions of Central African Republic

• Bamingui-Bangoran Prefecture
• Bangui Prefecture
• Basse-Kotto Prefecture
• Haut-Mbomou Prefecture
• Haute-Kotto Prefecture
• Kemo Prefecture
• Lobaye Prefecture
• Mambere-Kadei Prefecture
• Mbomou Prefecture
• Nana-Grebizi Prefecture
• Nana-Mambere Prefecture
• Ombella-M-Poko Prefecture
• Ouaka Prefecture
• Ouham Prefecture
• Ouham-Pende Prefecture
• Sangha-Mbaere Prefecture
• Vakaga Prefecture

About the country

The landscape is vast, flat to rolling plateau and scattered hills in northeast and southwest. The average density of population is about 9 per km². The climate in Central African Republic can be described as tropicalhot, dry winters, mild to hot, wet summers. Potential threats by nature are floods are common hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas

To reach someone Central African Republic dial +236 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".cf". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, E). The sign for the locally used currency Franc is XAF.

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 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

Area
Total (World Rank: 45)	622,984	sq km
Land (World Rank: 43)	622,984	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 157)	5.10	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than Texas
Landborder
5920
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 11)	335	m
Highest point (World Rank: 148)	1,410	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 201)	8.10	%
Arable (World Rank: 170)	2.90	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 184)	0.10	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 157)	5.10	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 171)	10	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- deforestation - desertification - poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges - tap water is not potable
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Ozone Layer Protection - Tropical Timber 94 - Wetlands
Agreement signed	Law of the Sea
Hazzards	- floods are common - hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas
Location
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Climate
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain
vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

---

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 115)	5,625,120
Deathrate (World Rank: 13)	1.32	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 23)	3.43	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 40)	2.12	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 28)	4.30	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 194)	19.40
Female (World Rank: 194)	20.00
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 94)	1,133,360
0 14 female (World Rank: 92)	1,121,640
15 24 male (World Rank: 101)	563,730
15 24 female (World Rank: 100)	557,676
25 54 male (World Rank: 125)	913,363
25 54 female (World Rank: 122)	912,096
55 64 male (World Rank: 136)	106,651
55 64 female (World Rank: 134)	123,839
65 x male (World Rank: 137)	74,834
65 x female (World Rank: 137)	117,928
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 3)	8.63	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 214)	53	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 215)	54	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 216)	51	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 175)	0.05
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 148)	1.00
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 190)	21.80	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 159)	7.50	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 179)	68.50	%

---

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 191)	174,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 194)	161,800,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 164)	43.20	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 29)	56.80	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 186)	3,000	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 179)	2,828	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 130)	24	m³
Carbon footprint
400000

---

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 170)	1	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 163)	4	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 18)	1	% of GDP
National symbol
elephant
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Central African
Noun
Central African(s)
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.
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

---

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 185)	3,185,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 49)	4.50	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 226)	700	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 8)	42.90	%
Source industry (World Rank: 172)	16.00	%
Source service (World Rank: 202)	41.10	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 120)	2,194,000
Products
Industries	- brewing - diamond mining - gold - logging - sugar refining
Agriculture	- bananas - cassava - coffee - corn - cotton - manioc - millet - tapioca - timber - tobacco - yams
Exports	- coffee - cotton - diamonds - timber
Imports	- chemicals - electrical equipment - food - machinery - motor vehicles - petroleum products - pharmaceuticals - textiles

---

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 210)	1,964
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 199)	1.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 214)	18.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 164)	246,000
Population (World Rank: 218)	4.60	%

---

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 176)	2.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 75)	37.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 108)	20,278
Paved length (World Rank: 135)	1,385
Unpaved length (World Rank: 64)	18,893
Water
Total length (World Rank: 35)	2,800

---