Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
1,000 (2022 est.) Data available for 2019 only.
Communications: Broadcast media
government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Télévision Centrafricaine, provides limited 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.cf
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
8% (2019 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
2,090 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
39 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
1.98 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, groundnuts, yams, coffee, maize, sesame seeds, taro, sugarcane, beef, milk (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$462.104 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$360.48 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$1.046 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$724.179 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
493.900 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
493.757 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
591.212 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
592.606 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
580.657 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
555.446 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
585.911 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
575.586 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
554.531 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
623.760 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
606.570 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, cotton (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$320.1 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$316.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$289.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$270.5 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$357.7 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$354.0 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$350.0 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$353.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$332.9 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$293.074 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$369.034 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$425.306 million (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
15.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
9.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
94.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-32.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
15.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
32.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
17.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
40.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,263 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.752 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$6.733 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
43.0 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
33.1% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.1% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, tanks and armored vehicles (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$488.6 million (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$611.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$651.7 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$826.5 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$748.9 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$762.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$799.2 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$778.4 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$784.669 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$742.108 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$890.572 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
9.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
1.40% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
4.95% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
4.18% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.61% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.69% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
1.71% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
4.26% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5.58% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.98% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.48% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
68.80% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
56% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$3.231 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$3.559 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$3.894 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$4.237 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$4.870 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$5.360 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$5.769 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$5.795 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$5.836 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$5.926 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.34% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.75% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.53% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.79% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
3.10% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
0.90% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
0.98% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
0.45% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.70% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.50% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$699 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$769 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$826 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$884 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$985 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$1,066 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$1,129 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$1,218 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$1,257 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$213.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$239.8 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$362.7 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$361.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$350.3 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$432.5 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$483.872 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$374.405 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$479.593 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$489.3 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
8.2% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
5.92% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
6.52% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
6.70% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
6.29% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
6.18% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
6.25% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
10.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
8.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
9.5% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
3 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
1.6%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
15.7% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
34.7%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
99.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
132.105 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
63,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
10 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
954,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Environment: Environmental issues
water pollution; tap water not potable; poaching; wildlife mismanagement; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Law of the Sea
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
9.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
72.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
18.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
25.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
141 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
400,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
12 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
60.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
44.12% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.106 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
9.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia
Geography: Area: land
622,984 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Oubangui River 335 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
635 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
7 00 N, 21 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
Geography: Irrigated land
10 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Cameroon 901 km; Chad 1556 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km; South Sudan 1055 km; Sudan 174 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
5,920 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
9.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
72.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
18.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Oubangui (Ubangi) river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
Geography: Population distribution
majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Government: Administrative divisions
14 prefectures ( préfectures , singular - préfecture ), 2 economic prefectures* ( préfectures économiques , singular - préfecture économique ), 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
Government: Capital: etymology
established as a French military post in 1889; the name means "rapids" in the local Bobangui language, because of the city's location above the first great rapid on the Ubangi River
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
4 22 N, 18 35 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
35 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest constitution passed by a national referendum on 30 July 2023 and validated by the Constitutional Court on 30 August 2023
Government: Country name: abbreviation
CAR
Government: Country name: conventional short form
none
Government: Country name: 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: Country name: former
Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
Government: Country name: local long form
République centrafricaine
Government: Country name: local short form
none
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Melanie Anne ZIMMERMAN (since July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
https://cf.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[236] 2161-4494
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2060 Bangui Place, Washington DC 20521-2060
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[236] 2161-0200
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
centrafricwashington@yahoo.com https://www.usrcaembassy.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 332-9893
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 483-7800
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (since 30 March 2016)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2025: Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 76.2%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 14.7%, other 9.1%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
current president was directly elected for 5-year term; constitutional referendum in July 2023 removed term limits and instituted 7-year terms
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
December 2032
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Félix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
28 December 2025
Government: Flag
description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in the center; a five-pointed yellow star sits in the top left corner of the flag, on the blue band meaning: combines the pan-African and French flag colors; red stands for blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue for the sky and freedom, white for peace and dignity, green for hope and faith, and yellow for tolerance; the star represents aspiring to a vibrant future
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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), LCBC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (number of judges unknown); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of whom are women)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
high courts; magistrates' courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system based on the French model
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
28 December 2025
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
12/27/2020 to 7/25/2021
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
140 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
United Hearts Movement (MCU) (63); National Movement of Independents (MOUNI) (9); Union for Central African Renewal (URCA) (7); Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) (7); Other (34); Independents (20)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
11.4%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1960; BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
Government: National color(s)
blue, white, green, yellow, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park; Sangha Trinational Forest
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (natural)
Government: National holiday
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Government: National symbol(s)
elephant
Government: Political parties
Action Party for Development or PAD African Party for Radical Transformation and Integration of States or PATRIE Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP Be Africa ti e Kwe (also known as Central Africa for Us All or BTK) Central African Democratic Rally or RDC Central African Party for Integrated Development or PCDI Democratic Movement for the Renewal and Evolution of Central Africa or MDREC Kodro Ti Mo Kozo Si Movement or MKMKS Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa or KNK) National Movement of Independents or MOUNI National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP National Union of Republican Democrats or UNADER New Impetus for Central Africa or CANE Party for Democracy and Solidarity - Kélémba or KPDS Party for Democratic Governance or PGD Path of Hope or CDE Renaissance for Sustainable Development or RDD Socialist Party or PS Transformation Through Action Initiative or ITA Union for Central African Renewal or URCA Union for Renaissance and Development or URD United Hearts Movement or MCU
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a perennially weak state that sits at the crossroads of ethnic and linguistic groups in the center of the African continent. Among the last areas of Sub-Saharan Africa to be drawn into the world economy, its introduction into trade networks around the early 1700s fostered significant competition among its population. The local population sought to benefit from the lucrative Atlantic, trans-Saharan, and Indian Ocean trade in enslaved people and ivory. Slave raids aided by the local populations fostered animosity between ethnic groups that remains today. The territory was established as a French colony named Ubangui-Shari in 1903, and France modeled its administration of the colony after the Belgian Congo, subcontracting control of the territory to private companies that collected rubber and ivory. Although France banned the domestic slave trade in CAR in the 1910s, the private companies continued to exploit the population through forced labor. The colony of Ubangi-Shari gained independence from France as the Central African Republic in 1960, but the death of independence leader Barthelemy BOGANDA six months prior led to an immediate struggle for power. CAR’s political history has since been marred by a series of coups, the first of which brought Jean-Bedel BOKASSA to power in 1966. Widespread corruption and intolerance for any political opposition characterized his regime. In an effort to prolong his mandate, BOKASSA named himself emperor in 1976 and changed the country’s name to the Central African Empire. His regime’s economic mismanagement culminated in widespread student protests in 1979 that were violently suppressed by security forces. BOKASSA fell out of favor with the international community and was overthrown in a French-backed coup in 1979. After BOKASSA’s departure, the country’s name once again became the Central African Republic. CAR’s fifth coup in 2013 unseated President Francois BOZIZE after the Seleka, a mainly Muslim rebel coalition, seized the capital and forced BOZIZE to flee the country. The Seleka's widespread abuses spurred the formation of mainly Christian self-defense groups that called themselves the anti-Balaka, which have also committed human rights abuses against Muslim populations in retaliation. Since the rise of these groups, conflict in CAR has become increasingly ethnoreligious, although focused on identity rather than religious ideology. Elections in 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he was reelected in 2020. A peace agreement signed in 2019 between the government and the main armed factions has had little effect, and armed groups remain in control of large swaths of the country's territory. TOUADERA's United Hearts Movement has governed the country since 2016, and a new constitution approved by referendum on 30 July 2023 effectively ended term limits, creating the potential for TOUADERA to extend his rule.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) are focused on internal security; since the 2013 coup, multiple armed groups have been active in the country, carrying out attacks, controlling territory, and undermining security; the coup resulted in the institutional collapse of the FACA; its forces were overwhelmed and forced to flee to neighboring countries; it has been estimated that only 10% of the FACA returned afterwards; over the past decade, the FACA has sought to rebuild with considerable foreign assistance, including from France, the EU, Russia, Rwanda, Uganda, and the UN; Russian private military contractors and Rwandan military forces have assisted the FACA in its operations against rebel groups the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has operated in the country since 2014; its mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s transitional government (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine) Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), National Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 10-15,000 active FACA (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
most of the military's heavy weapons and equipment were lost during the 2012–2014 civil war; prior to the war, most of its inventory was of French, Russian, or Soviet origin; in recent years, it has received some donated equipment from China and Russia, including armored vehicles, drones, helicopters, jet trainer aircraft, and some light weapons (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.58% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.47% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.34% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.34% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.79% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.86% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.15% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.71% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2.52% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription although the constitution provides for the possibility of conscription in the event of an imminent threat to the country (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
38.5% (male 1,113,795/female 1,063,971)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
58% (male 1,613,770/female 1,662,522)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.5% (2024 est.) (male 86,932/female 109,967)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
31.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
17.1% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
25.8% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
61% (2019)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
18.4% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
10.66% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
65.4% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
11.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
16.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
71.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
65.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 36.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 48.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 63.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 51.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
10% national budget (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
1.83% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Baya 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peuhl) 6%, Mbum 6%, Ngbanki 5.5%, Zande-Nzakara 3%, other Central African Republic ethnic groups 2%, non-Central African Republic ethnic groups .1% (2003 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.92 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9.1% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
2.40% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.0 beds/1,000 population (2011 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
74.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
86.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
58.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
59.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
55.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
27.1% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
59.8% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
42.44% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
21.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
19.7 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Central African
People and Society: Net migration rate
-3.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
7.5% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
5,330,690 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.74% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
2,885,700
People and Society: Population: male
2,864,870
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 12.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 30.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 87.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 69.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.79 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
44.12% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
469,342 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
53,378 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
43 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TL
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.