| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
7° 00' North Latitude
21° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
622,984 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers |
| Natural Resources |
Diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower |
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| Political Information |
 |
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| Country Name |
Central African Republic |
| Capital City |
Bangui |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), 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 |
| Independence Day |
13 August 1960 (from France) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
3,799,897 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Central African |
| Ethnic Groups |
Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2% |
| Religion |
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15% |
| Languages |
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages |
| Population Growth Rate |
1.49% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF);
note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States |
| Industries |
Gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles |
| Labor Force |
NA |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
- |
| Agriculture Products |
Cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber |
| Export Commodities |
Diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco |
| Export Partners |
Belgium 41%, Italy 8.9%, Spain 8.5%, Indonesia 7.6%, France 6.3%, US 5.3% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals |
| Import Partners |
France 19.4%, US 16.3%, Cameroon 8.3%, Belgium 5.6% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
23,810 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
50 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+236 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.cf |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990.
The government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution,
and held multiparty presidential elections in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite two peace agreements signed in 2002 and 2003
between the government and the rebels. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. |
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