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PEOPLE

Language
French is the official language; local Bantu languages predominate, though pygmy languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	1.5 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	1.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	1.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	1.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	1.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	1.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	1.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	1.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	1.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

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

Ethnic groups
Over half of the population are Bantu-speaking peoples, divided into more than 40 groups including Galoa, Nkomi and Irungu. One third of the population are Fang and Kwele. There are Punu and Nzabi minorities in the south, as well as Baka and Babongo pygmies.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Mainly Christian, though more than one-third practise traditional African religions. There is a small Muslim minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	84.7 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	84.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	83.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	83.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	82.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	81.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	80.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	80.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1956
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
No data available (2005)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	35.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	40.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	40.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	41.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	41.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	40.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +1

Climate description
Equatorial, hot, wet and humid throughout the year; Jun-Aug dry season; Oct-May rainy season.

Currency
CFA Franc

Telephone dialling code
(+) 241

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	56.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	54.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	54.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	56.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	56.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	52.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	55.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	53.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	53.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	55.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	55.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	51.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	56.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	54.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	55.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	57.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	57.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	53.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	60 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	60 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	60 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	60 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	60 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	60 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	60 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	60 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	91 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	91 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	91 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	91 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	91 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	91 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	90 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	90 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	520 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	420 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	119	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	124	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	123	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	122	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	118	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	117	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

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

2000-2007	12 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	12 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	12 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	12 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	87 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	88 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	87 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	36 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	36 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	36 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	53 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	71.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	71.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - male
No data available percent

Literacy - female
No data available percent

Landlines telephones

2008	19 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	19 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	25 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	32 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	898 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	822 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	643 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	538 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	365 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	228 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	217 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	119 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	97 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	67 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	55 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	48 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	19 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

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

2008	96 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	84 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	90 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	88 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	74 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (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
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	7020 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	6030 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	5430 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	4220 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3780 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3580 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3470 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3220 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

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	11.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	9.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	8.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	7.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	6.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	4.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	4.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	5.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	1.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	3.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	1.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	2.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	-0.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	-1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	5.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	7.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	17.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	6.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	-0.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	-0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	-6.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	28.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	29 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	29 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	No data available per 100,000 people
1990-2002	No data available per 100,000 people

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	5.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	6.0 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	6.0 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	5.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	5.9 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	406 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	366 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	325 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	296 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	283 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	285 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	271 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	254 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	129	UNHCR
2007	116	UNHCR
2006	95	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	81	UNHCR
2004	53	UNHCR
2003	39	UNHCR
2002	37	UNHCR
2001	27	UNHCR
2000	26	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	9001	UNHCR
2007	8826	UNHCR
2006	8429	UNHCR
2005	8545	UNHCR
2004	13787	UNHCR
2003	14005	UNHCR
2002	13473	UNHCR
2001	15581	UNHCR
2000	17982	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

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 (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	No data available percent
2002-2004	No data available percent
2000-2002	3.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	3.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	3.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	3.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	1.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003