Dialing code +236
ISO 2 code CF
ISO 3 code CAF
Capital Bangui
Main Language French
Currency Franc (XAF)
GDP $3.2 billion 165th
Population 4,844,927 118th

Geography

Continent Africa
Location Central Africa north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Land 622,984 km2 44th
Terrain Vast flat to rolling monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Climate Tropical; hot dry winters; mild to hot wet summers
Natural Hazards Vast flat to rolling monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Note: Landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Neighbouring Countries

Cameroon Chad Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo South Sudan Sudan

History

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 neighboring nations Chad Sudan and the DRC continues to affect stability in the Central African Republic as well.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 44.47 years 197th
Median Age 18.8 years 173rd
Birth Rate 32.75 births/1,000 population 41st
Death Rate 17.84 births/1,000 population 10th
Sex Ratio 0.63 male(s)/female 188th
Literacy 48.6% 190th
Population

4.8 million

Transportation

Roadways 24307 km 104th
Railways None km
Airports 44 95th
Waterways 2800 km 33rd
Heliports None
Airports paved 1 166th

Economy

Currency Franc (XAF)
GDP $3.2 billion 165th
GDP per capita (PPP) $700 200th