Country Profile: Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked nation located in the heart of Africa, characterized by a complex tapestry of ethnic and linguistic groups. With a population of approximately 5.75 million, the country faces significant challenges, including extreme poverty and ongoing conflict that has displaced about 25% of its inhabitants. CAR's economy is largely dependent on agriculture, yet it possesses vast natural resources such as diamonds, gold, and timber. Governance has been tumultuous, with a history of coups and civil unrest, leading to a presidential system heavily influenced by its current leader, Faustin-Archange Touadera.

Geography

Situated in Central Africa, CAR is bordered by six countries and features a tropical climate with mild to hot, wet summers and hot, dry winters. The country has a diverse terrain, consisting of vast plateaus and scattered hills, and is rich in natural resources like diamonds and uranium.

Total Area: 622,984 sq km
Land Boundaries: 5,920 km (with Cameroon, Chad, DRC, Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan)
Highest Point: Mont Ngaoui at 1,410 m
Population Distribution: Predominantly urban areas around Bangui, the capital.

People and Society

CAR has a population of about 5.75 million people, with a diverse mix of ethnic groups and languages. The median age is relatively low at 20.6 years, with a high percentage of the population under 15 years. The country struggles with literacy, where only 42.4% of the overall population is literate.

Ethnic Groups: Major groups include Baya (28.8%), Banda (22.9%), and others.
Languages: French (official) and Sangho (national language).
Religions: Roman Catholic 34.6%, Protestant 15.7%, Muslim 13.8%.
Urbanization Rate: 43.6% of the population lives in urban areas (2023).

Economy

The economy of the Central African Republic is characterized by vast natural resource potential but hindered by weak infrastructure and political instability. Agricultural output remains strong, particularly after the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but pervasive poverty affects a significant portion of the population.

GDP (PPP): $5.926 billion (2024 est.)
GDP per Capita: $1,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 5.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural Contribution to GDP: 32.5% (2024 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line: 68.8% (2021 est.)

Government

The Central African Republic is a presidential republic, with a long history of political upheaval. The current constitution, approved in mid-2023, has removed term limits, facilitating the potential for the president to extend his rule. The government is characterized by a weak institutional framework and ongoing challenges regarding the rule of law.

Current President: Faustin-Archange Touadera (since March 30, 2016)
Administrative Divisions: 14 prefectures and 2 economic prefectures.
Legislative Structure: Unicameral National Assembly with 140 seats (2020-2025).

Military and Security

The Central African Armed Forces are tasked with internal security, having suffered extensive losses during past civil conflicts. Ongoing security challenges are addressed with international assistance, including support from foreign military contractors.

Active Personnel: Estimated 10-15,000 soldiers (2025).
Military Expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
International Assistance: Supported by various nations in rebuilding military capacity post-2013 conflict.

Energy

Access to electricity remains limited in CAR, with only 15.7% of the population electrified as of 2022. The country's energy generation is overwhelmingly reliant on hydroelectric sources.

Installed Capacity: 63,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity Generation from Hydroelectric: 99.2% of total installed capacity.
Energy Consumption per Capita: 954,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

Environment

CAR faces numerous environmental challenges, including deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution. The country's ecological and natural resource management is critical for its long-term stability and development.

Natural Resources: Diamonds, uranium, and timber.
Deforestation Rate: Significant due to illegal logging and agricultural expansion.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Estimated at 313,000 metric tonnes (2023).

Transportation

The country's transportation infrastructure is underdeveloped, with limited accessibility impacting trade and movement.

Airports: 43 (2025).
Civil Aircraft Registration: Code prefix TL.

Communications

Communication infrastructure in CAR is rudimentary, with low mobile and internet penetration rates, which constrains access to information and services.

Fixed-Line Subscriptions: 2,090 (2022 est.)
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: Approximately 1.98 million (2022 est.)
Internet Users: 8% of the population (2019 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	5,750,570 (2025 est.)
Area	622,984 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$5.926 billion (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	954,000 Btu/person (2023)
Birth Rate	31.49 births/1,000 (2025)
Unemployment Rate	5.9% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	56.4 years (2024 est.)