country comparison to the world: 204
Oil - imports:
3,294 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Exports:
$13.8 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 210
$2.52 million (2004)
Exports - commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Imports:
$876.5 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 173
$866.9 million (2004)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels
Debt - external:
$70 million (1996)
country comparison to the world: 184
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)
Communications ::Cayman Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
38,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 170
Telephones - mobile cellular:
33,800 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 201
Telephone system:
general assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of
competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004
international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the MAYA-1,
Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS), and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber
System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of
Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Broadcast media:
4 television stations; cable and satellite subscription services
offer a variety of international programming; government-owned Radio
Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10
privately-owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman (2007)
Internet country code:
.ky
Internet hosts:
21,910 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
Internet users:
23,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 188
Transportation ::Cayman Islands
Airports:
3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 193
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 785 km
country comparison to the world: 186
paved: 785 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 113
country comparison to the world: 46
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 3, chemical tanker 56, liquefied gas
1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 10, vehicle carrier 15
foreign-owned: 99 (Germany 6, Greece 11, Italy 6, Japan 19,
Switzerland 1, UK 2, US 54) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Cayman Brac, George Town
Military ::Cayman Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 12,108 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,860
females age 16-49: 10,287 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 326
female: 347 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Cayman Islands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to
the US and Europe (2008)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Central African Republic (Africa)
Introduction ::Central African Republic
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 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix
PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March
2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois
BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the
government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the
main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal,
legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of
2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The
government still does not fully control the countryside, where
pockets of lawlessness persist. Unrest in the neighboring nations of
Chad, Sudan, and the DRC continues to affect stability in the
Central African Republic as well.
Geography ::Central African Republic
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
country comparison to the world: 44
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan
1,165 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain:
vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in
northeast and southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 3.1%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 96.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
144.4 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (80%/16%/4%)
per capita: 7 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are
common
Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's
reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification; deforestation
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 ::Central African Republic
Population:
4,844,927
country comparison to the world: 116
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
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.9% (male 928,277/female 917,739)
15-64 years: 55% (male 1,235,940/female 1,244,958)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 71,439/female 113,135) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.1 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.149% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Birth rate:
36.79 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Death rate:
15.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 78
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 101.6 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 7
male: 109.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 93.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.68 years
country comparison to the world: 214
male: 48.45 years
female: 50.95 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.68 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
160,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim
15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the
Christian majority
Languages:
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language),
tribal languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 64.8%
female: 33.5% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 5 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 179
Government ::Central African Republic
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
Government type:
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:
ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27
December 2004
Legal system:
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since
22 January 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on
13 March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held on 23 January 2011); prime
minister appointed by the political party with a parliamentary
majority
election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of
second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE
(MLPC) 35.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (105 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be
held on 23 January 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
KNK 42, MLPC 11, RDC 8, PSD 4, FPP 2, ADP 2, LONDO 1, independents
34, other 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (three judges
appointed by the president, three by the president of the National
Assembly, and three by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal
Courts; Inferior Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS];
Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic
Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for
Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD
[Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Londo Association or LONDO; Movement for
Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the
Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Ange-Felix
PATASSE] (the party of deposed president); National Convergence or
KNK; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Patriotic
Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the
Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Monam (combating gender-base violence)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, 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
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Frederick B. COOK
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 02 00
FAX: [236] 61 44 94
note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff
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 anthem:
name: "Le Renaissance" (The Renaissance)
lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA, who wrote the anthem's
lyrics, was the first prime minister of the autonomous French
territory
Economy ::Central African Republic
Economy - overview:
Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, 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 GDP. Timber has
accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry,
for 40%. Important constraints to economic development include the
CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely
unskilled work force, and a 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. Grants from France and the
international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.468 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$3.345 billion (2009 est.)
$3.289 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.113 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
1.7% (2009 est.)
2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
$700 (2009 est.)
$700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
1.926 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 121
Unemployment rate:
8% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
note: 23% unemployment for Bangui
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 33% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
61.3 (1993)
country comparison to the world: 6
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$288.8 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
$241.3 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$343.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
$292.9 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$357.6 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
$339.1 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet,
corn, bananas; timber
Industries:
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear,
assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - production:
115 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity - consumption:
107 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Oil - imports:
2,203 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Current account balance:
-$77 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Exports:
$146.7 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners:
Belgium 32.57%, China 10.49%, Indonesia 10.36%, Morocco 10.24%,
Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.87%, France 5.79% (2009)
Imports:
$237.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Imports - commodities:
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment,
motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
South Korea 19.29%, France 11.95%, US 7.78%, Cameroon 7.39%,
Netherlands 6.77% (2009)
Debt - external:
$1.153 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US
dollar - 506.04 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.8 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
note: since 1 January 1999, the Central African CFA franc (XAF) has
been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro;
Central African CFA franc (XAF) coins and banknotes are not accepted
in countries using West African CFA francs (XOF), and vice versa,
even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Central African Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
12,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 199
Telephones - mobile cellular:
168,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 174
Telephone system:
general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio
relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
domestic: 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) (2008)
Broadcast media:
government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine,
provides domestic TV broadcasting; licenses for 2 private TV
stations are pending; 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 (2007)
Internet country code:
.cf
Internet hosts:
20 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 217
Internet users:
22,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 191
Transportation ::Central African Republic
Airports:
37 (2010)
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 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 35
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 24,307 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 105
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,
however, routes through Cameroon became preferred by importers and
exporters) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 35
Ports and terminals:
Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga
Military ::Central African Republic
Military branches:
Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA):
Ground Forces (includes Military Air Service), General Directorate
of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), National Police (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective military service; 2-year conscript
service obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,121,548
females age 16-49: 1,118,432 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 637,474
females age 16-49: 643,188 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 54,024
female: 53,203 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
Transnational Issues ::Central African Republic
Disputes - international:
periodic skirmishes over water and grazing rights among related
pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan persist
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,900 (Sudan); 3,700 (Democratic
Republic of the Congo); note - UNHCR resumed repatriation of
Southern Sudanese refugees in 2006
IDPs: 197,000 (ongoing unrest following coup in 2003) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Central African Republic is a source, transit,
and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for
the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority
of victims are children trafficked within the country for sexual
exploitation, domestic servitude, street vending, and forced
agricultural, mine, market and restaurant labor; to a lesser extent,
children are trafficked from the Central African Republic to
Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo; rebels
conscript children into armed forces within the country