Reuters AlertNet Lite - Central African Republic

PEOPLE

Language
French is the official language; Sango is the lingua franca
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	4.4 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	4.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	4.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	4.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	4.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	4.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	4.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	3.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	3.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
7.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Baya (Gbaya) 33 percent, Banda 27 percent, Mandjia 13 percent, Sara 10 percent. Other minorities include the Mboum, M'baka and Yakoma.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Protestant 25 percent, Roman Catholic 25 percent, traditional African religions 24 percent, Muslim 15 percent
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	38.3 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	38.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	38.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	37.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	37.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	37.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	37.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	37.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1986
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
45 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	42.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	43.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	43.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	43.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	43.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	43.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +1

Climate description
Hot all year, with high temperatures; dry season from November to February, with cooler nights, and rainy season from May to October. The north is very hot all year round

Currency
CFA Franc

Telephone dialling code
(+) 236

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	43.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	39.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	39.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	39.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	40.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	42.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	38.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	38.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	38.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	39.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	42.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	45.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	39.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	40.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	41.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	41.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	46.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	113 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	115 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	115 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	115 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	115 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	115 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	115 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	115 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	172 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	175 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	193 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	193 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	180 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	180 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	180 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	180 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	980 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	1100 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	171	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	172	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	171	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	169	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	168	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	165	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	29 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	29 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	24 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	24 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	43 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	44 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	45 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	66 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	75 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	75 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	70 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	31 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	27 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	27 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	48.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	48.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	48.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	48.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	46.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	64.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	64.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	64.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	60.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	59.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	33.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	33.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	33.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	36.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	34.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	36 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	31 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	15 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	0.8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	0.5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	151 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	162 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	130 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	66.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	66.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	66.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	66.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	66.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	370 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	350 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	320 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	290 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	240 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	270 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	1.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	4.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	1.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	-7.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	-0.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	0.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	2.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	2.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	4.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	3.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	-1.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
47.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	8 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	8 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	4 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	4 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	6.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	6.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	6.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	6.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	6.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	345 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	354 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	363 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	368 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	364 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	349 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	327 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	302 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	120106	UNHCR
2007	98104	UNHCR
2006	71685	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	42890	UNHCR
2004	31069	UNHCR
2003	35400	UNHCR
2002	25376	UNHCR
2001	28704	UNHCR
2000	139	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	7429	UNHCR
2007	7535	UNHCR
2006	12357	UNHCR
2005	24569	UNHCR
2004	25020	UNHCR
2003	44753	UNHCR
2002	50725	UNHCR
2001	49239	UNHCR
2000	55661	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

2009	108000	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2009
2008	197000	IDMC 2008
2007	197000	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008
2006	212000	IDMC 2006

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2002 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	No data available percent
2002-2004	No data available percent
1998-2000	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	1.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	1.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

PEOPLE

USEFUL INFORMATION

STANDARD OF LIVING

ECONOMY & AID

HEALTH

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Countries

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