Country Profile: Central African Republic

Geography

Central Africa. South of Chad. North of Democratic Republic of the Congo. Landlocked. Tropical, Slightly smaller than Texas. Capital: Bangui.

History

A former colony of France (Ubangi-Shari). Became independent in 1960. Three decades of mostly military misrule. Civilian rule from 1993 to March 2003.

Economy

Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.

Estimated per capita GDP:
2007 $700 (Ranks 221st)

GDP annual growth rate estimated for 2007: 4.0 percent. (Ranks 141st)

The economy is mostly subsistence agriculture. Exports are diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco.

Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP: 1.1 (estimated for 2006)

Deaths and Births per 1,000 persons, estimated for the year 2008

Deaths: 18.26, down from 20.27 in 2005. Births: 33.13, down from 35.17 in 2005.

Population

For July 2008 4.435 million, up from 3.8 million in 2005. Growth rate estimated for 2008: 1.487 per year.

Persons per square kilometer of arable land: 1967.6 (2005).

Health

Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 82.36, down from 83.97 in 2007 (deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births).

Average life expectancy estimated for 2008: 43.97 years, up from 41 in 2005

Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 13.5 percent (2003)

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/