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.
Geography
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
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km
comparison ranking: total 47
Area – comparative
slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 5,920 km
border countries (5): 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
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain
vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Elevation
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
mean elevation: 635 m
Natural resources
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land: 9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 2.9% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 1.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 4.8% (2022 est.)
forest: 35.7% (2022 est.)
other: 55.3% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
10 sq km (2012)
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers
Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin
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
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
Geography – note
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People and Society
Population
total: 5,650,957 (2024 est.)
male: 2,814,497
female: 2,836,460
comparison rankings: total 117; female 119; male 117
Nationality
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African
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.)
Languages
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
Religions
Roman Catholic 34.6%, Protestant 15.7%, other Christian 22.9%, Muslim 13.8%, ethnic religionist 12%, Baha’i 0.2%, agnostic/atheist 0.7% (2020 est.)
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Age structure
0-14 years: 38.5% (male 1,113,795/female 1,063,971)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,613,770/female 1,662,522)
65 years and over: 3.5% (2024 est.) (male 86,932/female 109,967)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 72.5 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 66.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 6 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 16.6 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 20.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 19.7 years
female: 21.2 years
comparison ranking: total 202
Population growth rate
1.76% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 50
Birth rate
31.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 21
Death rate
11.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 21
Net migration rate
-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 180
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
Urbanization
urban population: 43.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
835 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 4
Infant mortality rate
total: 80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 86.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 3
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 56.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 55.1 years
female: 57.7 years
comparison ranking: total population 226
Total fertility rate
3.94 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 25
Gross reproduction rate
1.94 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
17.8% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 83.9% of population
rural: 47.5% of population
total: 62.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 16.1% of population
rural: 52.5% of population
total: 37.1% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
9.1% of GDP (2021)
9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 53.8% of population
rural: 12.4% of population
total: 29.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 46.2% of population
rural: 87.6% of population
total: 70.1% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
7.5% (2016)
comparison ranking: 159
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 152
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
20.5% (2019)
comparison ranking: 13
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
64.7% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 25.8% (2019)
women married by age 18: 61% (2019)
men married by age 18: 17.1% (2019)
Education expenditure
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
10% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 189
Literacy
total population: 42.4% (2019 est.)
male: 59.8% (2019 est.)
female: 27.1% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 6 years (2012)
Environment
Environment – current issues
water pollution; tap water not potable; poaching; wildlife mismanagement; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment – international 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
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Land use
agricultural land: 9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 2.9% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 1.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 4.8% (2022 est.)
forest: 35.7% (2022 est.)
other: 55.3% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 43.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.3 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 22.44 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,105,983 tons (2014 est.)
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
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers
Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
141 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: République centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR
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 type
presidential 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)
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
Administrative divisions
14 prefectures (pr̩fectures, singular Рpr̩fecture), 2 economic prefectures* (pr̩fectures ̩conomiques, singular Рpr̩fecture ̩conomique), 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
Legal system
civil law system based on the French model
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
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 35 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (since 30 March 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister Félix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected for 5-year term; election last held 27 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025); constitutional referendum in July 2023 removed term limits and instituted 7-year terms
election results:
2020: Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA reelected president in first round; percent of vote – Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 53.9%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 21%, other 25.1%
2015: Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round – Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 23.7%, Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 19.1%, Desire KOLINGBA (RDC) 12%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 11.4%, other 33.8%; percent of vote in second round – Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA 62.7%, Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE 37.3%
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 140 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 12/27/2020 to 7/25/2021
parties elected and seats per party: United Hearts Movement (MCU) (61); National Movement of Independents (MOUNI) (9); Union for Central African Renewal (URCA) (7); Independents (17); Other (39)
percentage of women in chamber: 11.4%
expected date of next election: December 2025
note 1: on 27 December 2020, the day of first round elections, voting in many electoral areas was disrupted by armed groups; on 13 February 2021, President TOUADERA announced that new first round elections would be held on 27 February 2021 for those areas controlled by armed groups and the second round on 14 March 2021; ultimately, two additional rounds were held on 23 May and 25 July 2021 in areas that continued to suffer from election security problems
note 2: in accordance with article 98 of the constitution published in August 2023, the parliamentary term has increased from five to seven years and will be first applied to the legislature due to be elected in late 2025
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)
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
subordinate courts: high courts; magistrates’ courts
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 РK̩l̩mba 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018)
chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.usrcaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires TBD (since 27 March 2025)
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: 2060 Bangui Place, Washington DC 20521-2060
telephone: [236] 2161-0200
FAX: [236] 2161-4494
email address and website:
https://cf.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence
13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Flag description
four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in the center; a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band; banner combines the pan-African and French flag colors; red stands for the 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 aspiration towards a vibrant future
National symbol(s)
elephant
National colors
blue, white, green, yellow, red
National anthem
name: “La Renaissance” (The Renaissance)
lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA wrote the anthem’s lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park; Sangha Trinational Forest
Economy
Economic overview
enormous natural resources; extreme poverty; weak public institutions and infrastructure; political and gender-based violence have led to displacement of roughly 25% of population; Bangui-Douala corridor blockade reduced activity and tax collection; strong agricultural performance offset COVID-19 downturn
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.849 billion (2023 est.)
$5.798 billion (2022 est.)
$5.769 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 177
Real GDP growth rate
0.87% (2023 est.)
0.5% (2022 est.)
0.98% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 169
Real GDP per capita
$1,100 (2023 est.)
$1,100 (2022 est.)
$1,100 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 221
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.555 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3% (2023 est.)
5.6% (2022 est.)
4.3% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 97
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 28.6% (2023 est.)
industry: 20.7% (2023 est.)
services: 40.5% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 194; industry 133; agriculture 15
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 97.4% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 8.3% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 14.6% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 9.2% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 14.4% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -29% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
cassava, groundnuts, yams, coffee, maize, sesame seeds, taro, sugarcane, beef, milk (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining
Industrial production growth rate
-10.28% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 209
Labor force
2 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 127
Unemployment rate
5.9% (2024 est.)
5.9% (2023 est.)
6% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 119
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 9.5% (2024 est.)
male: 8.5% (2024 est.)
female: 10.6% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 133
Population below poverty line
68.8% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
43 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 31
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 33.1% (2021 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
revenues: $360.48 million (2021 est.)
expenditures: $293.459 million (2021 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
52.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 96
Taxes and other revenues
8.2% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 187
Current account balance
-$163 million (2017 est.)
-$97 million (2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 106
Exports
$369.034 million (2023 est.)
$293.074 million (2022 est.)
$332.869 million (2021 est.)
note: GDP expenditure basis – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 197
Exports – partners
UAE 54%, China 14%, France 6%, Turkey 5%, Belgium 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, cotton (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$742.108 million (2023 est.)
$784.669 million (2022 est.)
$778.395 million (2021 est.)
note: GDP expenditure basis – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 197
Imports – partners
China 16%, Cameroon 14%, France 8%, Belgium 6%, Cote d’Ivoire 5% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, tanks and armored vehicles (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$479.593 million (2023 est.)
$374.405 million (2022 est.)
$483.872 million (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 170
Debt – external
$724.179 million (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 111
Exchange rates
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
606.345 (2024 est.)
606.57 (2023 est.)
623.76 (2022 est.)
554.531 (2021 est.)
575.586 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 15.7% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 34.7%
electrification – rural areas: 1.6%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 63,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 132.105 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 17; consumption 196; installed generating capacity 191
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 99.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 3 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 197
Energy consumption per capita
954,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 193
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 213
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 1.83 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 153
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)
Internet country code
.cf
Internet users
percent of population: 8% (2019 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 1,000 (2022 est.) Data available for 2019 only.
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total 206
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TL
Airports
43 (2025)
comparison ranking: 98
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)
note: the Special Republican Protection Group (Groupement Spécial Chargé de la Protection Républicaine or GSPR) provides protection to the head of state; it is part of the Army but reports to the president
Military expenditures
2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 10-15,000 active FACA (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
most of the military’s heavy weapons and equipment were destroyed or captured during the 2012–2014 civil war; prior to the war, most of its equipment was of French, Russian, or Soviet origin; in recent years, it has received some secondhand equipment from China and Russia, including light weapons, as well as some armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and helicopters (2024)
note: the CAR was under a UNSC arms embargo from 2013-July 2024
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for military service; no conscription although the constitution provides for the possibility of conscription in the event of an imminent threat to the country (2023)
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, and the UN; Russian private military contractors and bilateral Rwandan military forces are assisting 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; MINUSCA has more than 18,000 personnel (2025)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 28,217 (Sudan) (refugees since 15 April 2023), 6,707 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2024)
IDPs: 490,868 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2023)
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch list — The Central African Republic did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/central-african-republic/
