Central African Republic vs. Republic of the Congo
Introduction
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | The region was the site of much slave trading activity in the centuries before becoming a French protectorate in the late 19th century, and then was heavily economically exploited in the early part of the 20th century. Upon independence in 1960, the French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 but lasted only a decade. In March 2003, President Ange-Felix PATASSE was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Elections held in 2005 affirmed General BOZIZE as president; he was reelected in 2011 in voting widely viewed as flawed. Several rebel groups joined together in early December 2012 to launch a series of attacks that left them in control of numerous towns in the northern and central parts of the country. The rebels - unhappy with BOZIZE's government - participated in peace talks in early January 2013 which resulted in a coalition government including the rebellion's leadership. In March 2013, the coalition government dissolved, rebels seized the capital, and President BOZIZE fled the country. Rebel leader Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency and the following month established a National Transitional Council (CNT). In January 2014, the CNT elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA as interim president. Elections completed in March 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he continues to work towards peace between the government and armed groups, and is developing a disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and repatriation program to reintegrate the armed groups into society. Nonetheless, as of early 2020 widespread violence continued, and the government in Bangui remains unable to extend control outside the capital. Peace agreements signed in 2017 and 2019 between the government and the main armed factions have had little effect. As of late 2020 armed groups continued to operate openly and control large swaths - as much 80% by some estimates - of the country's territory. | Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992, and sparked a short period of ethnic and political unrest that was resolved by a peace agreement in late 1999. A new constitution adopted three years later provided for a multi-party system and a seven-year presidential term, and elections arranged shortly thereafter installed SASSOU-Nguesso. Following a year of renewed fighting, President SASSOU-Nguesso and southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. SASSOU-Nguesso was reeelected in 2009 and, after passing a referendum allowing him to run for a third term, was reelected again in 2016. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term. |
Geography
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo | Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon |
| Geographic coordinates | 7 00 N, 21 00 E | 1 00 S, 15 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 622,984 sq km land: 622,984 sq km water: 0 sq km | total: 342,000 sq km land: 341,500 sq km water: 500 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia | slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida |
| Land boundaries | total: 5,920 km border countries (6): Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1055 km, Sudan 174 km | total: 5,554 km border countries (5): Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1775 km, Gabon 2567 km |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 169 km |
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate | tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers | tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator |
| Terrain | vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest | coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m mean elevation: 635 m | highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 430 m |
| Natural resources | diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower | petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower |
| Land use | agricultural land: 8.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.1% (2018 est.) forest: 36.2% (2018 est.) other: 55.7% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 31.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 29.3% (2018 est.) forest: 65.6% (2018 est.) other: 3.3% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 10 sq km (2012) | 20 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common | seasonal flooding |
| Environment - current issues | water pollution; tap water is not potable; poaching and mismanagement have diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection |
| 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 | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa | about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them |
| Total renewable water resources | 141 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 832 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| 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 | the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville as shown in this population distribution map |
Demographics
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,357,984 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected | 5,417,414 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 39.49% (male 1,188,682/female 1,176,958) 15-24 years: 19.89% (male 598,567/female 593,075) 25-54 years: 32.95% (male 988,077/female 986,019) 55-64 years: 4.32% (male 123,895/female 134,829) 65 years and over: 3.35% (male 78,017/female 122,736) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 41.57% (male 1,110,484/female 1,089,732) 15-24 years: 17.14% (male 454,981/female 452,204) 25-54 years: 33.5% (male 886,743/female 886,312) 55-64 years: 4.59% (male 125,207/female 117,810) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 75,921/female 93,676) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 20 years male: 19.7 years female: 20.3 years (2020 est.) | total: 19.5 years male: 19.3 years female: 19.7 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 1.79% (2021 est.) | 2.36% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 33.2 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 32.15 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 12.01 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 8.55 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 84.22 deaths/1,000 live births male: 90.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 77.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 49.28 deaths/1,000 live births male: 53.82 deaths/1,000 live births female: 44.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 55.07 years male: 53.74 years female: 56.44 years (2021 est.) | total population: 61.69 years male: 60.27 years female: 63.16 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 4.09 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 4.41 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 2.9% (2020 est.) | 3.3% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African | noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo |
| Ethnic groups | Baya 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peul) 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.) | Kongo 40.5%, Teke 16.9%, Mbochi 13.1%, foreigner 8.2%, Sangha 5.6%, Mbere/Mbeti/Kele 4.4%, Punu 4.3%, Pygmy 1.6%, Oubanguiens 1.6%, Duma 1.5%, Makaa 1.3%, other and unspecified 1% (2014-15 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 88,000 (2020 est.) | 110,000 (2020 est.) |
| Religions | Christian 89%, Muslim 9%, folk religion 1%, unaffiliated 1% (2020 est.) note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority | Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2010 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 3,200 (2020 est.) | 6,100 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages | French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread) major-language sample(s): Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.4% male: 49.5% female: 25.8% (2018) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80.3% male: 86.1% female: 74.6% (2018) |
| Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies |
| Food insecurity | exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to conflict and population displacements - ongoing conflicts and population displacements due to armed violence that followed the December 2020 elections, adding to the already high levels of civil insecurity, coupled with restrictive measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic, are expected to continue affecting agricultural activities and limit farmers' access to crop-growing areas and inputs, with a negative impact on 2021 crop production (2021) | severe localized food insecurity: due to restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic - the negative impact of the restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic on informal labor and on food supply chains, resulted, on one side, in the loss of income and, on the other, in high food prices due to a decline in food supply; these factors limited the access to food for the most vulnerable population (2021) |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 7 years male: 8 years female: 6 years (2012) | total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2012) |
| Education expenditures | 1.2% of GDP (2011) | 3.5% of GDP (2018) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 42.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 68.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 89.6% of population rural: 54.4% of population total: 68.5% of population unimproved: urban: 10.4% of population rural: 45.6% of population total: 31.5% of population (2015 est.) | improved: urban: 97.5% of population rural: 56.4% of population total: 83.7% of population unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population rural: 43.6% of population total: 16.3% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 43.6% of population rural: 7.2% of population total: 21.8% of population unimproved: urban: 56.4% of population rural: 92.8% of population total: 78.2% of population (2015 est.) | improved: urban: 73.4% of population rural: 15.1% of population total: 53.9% of population unimproved: urban: 26.6% of population rural: 84.9% of population total: 46.1% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 910,000 BANGUI (capital) (2021) | 2.470 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.254 million Pointe-Noire (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 829 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 378 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 20.5% (2019) | 12.3% (2014/15) |
| Health expenditures | 11% (2018) | 2.1% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2015) | 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2011) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 7.5% (2016) | 9.6% (2016) |
| Demographic profile | The Central African Republic's (CAR) humanitarian crisis has worsened since a coup in March 2013. CAR's high mortality rate and low life expectancy are attributed to elevated rates of preventable and treatable diseases (including malaria and malnutrition), an inadequate health care system, precarious food security, and armed conflict. Some of the worst mortality rates are in western CAR's diamond mining region, which is impoverished because of government attempts to control the diamond trade and the fall in industrial diamond prices. To make matters worse, the government and international donors have reduced health funding in recent years. The CAR's weak educational system and low literacy rate have also suffered as a result of the country's ongoing conflict. Schools are closed, qualified teachers are scarce, infrastructure, funding, and supplies are lacking and subject to looting, and many students and teachers are displaced by violence. Rampant poverty, human rights violations, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and a lack of security and stability have led to forced displacement internally and externally. Since the political crisis that resulted in CAR's March 2013 coup began in December 2012, approximately 600,000 people have fled to Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and other neighboring countries, while another estimated 600,000 are displaced internally as of October 2019. The UN has urged countries to refrain from repatriating CAR refugees amid the heightened lawlessness. (2019) | The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with nearly 70% of Congolese living in urban areas. The population is concentrated in the southwest of the country, mainly in the capital Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and along the railway line that connects the two. The tropical jungles in the north of the country are sparsely populated. Most Congolese are Bantu, and most belong to one of four main ethnic groups, the Kongo, Teke, Mbochi, and Sangha, which consist of over 70 subgroups. The Republic of Congo is in the early stages of a demographic transition, whereby a population shifts from high fertility and mortality rates to low fertility and mortality rates associated with industrialized societies. Its total fertility rate (TFR), the average number of children born per woman, remains high at 4.4. While its TFR has steadily decreased, the progress slowed beginning in about 1995. The slowdown in fertility reduction has delayed the demographic transition and Congo's potential to reap a demographic dividend, the economic boost that can occur when the share of the working-age population is larger than the dependent age groups. The TFR differs significantly between urban and rural areas - 3.7 in urban areas versus 6.5 in rural areas. The TFR also varies among regions. The urban regions of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have much lower TFRs than other regions, which are predominantly or completely rural. The gap between desired fertility and actual fertility is also greatest in rural areas. Rural families may have more children to contribute to agricultural production and/or due to a lack of information about and access to contraception. Urban families may prefer to have fewer children because raising them is more expensive and balancing work and childcare may be more difficult. The number of births among teenage girls, the frequency of giving birth before the age of fifteen, and a lack of education are the most likely reasons for higher TFRs in rural areas. Although 90% of school-age children are enrolled in primary school, repetition and dropout rates are high and the quality of education is poor. Congolese women with no or little education start having children earlier and have more children in total than those with at least some secondary education.
|
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 17.8% (2019) | 30.1% (2014/15) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 86.4 youth dependency ratio: 81.1 elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 potential support ratio: 19.2 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 78.7 youth dependency ratio: 73.7 elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 potential support ratio: 20.3 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republique 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 | conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville) local long form: Republique du Congo local short form: Congo former: French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville etymology: named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom that occupied its mouth at the time of Portuguese discovery in the late 15th century and whose name stems from its people the Bakongo, meaning "hunters" |
| Government type | presidential republic | 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 settlement in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Ubangi River; the Ubangi itself was named from the native word for the "rapids" located beside the outpost, which marked the end of navigable water north from from Brazzaville | name: Brazzaville geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who promoted French colonial interests in central Africa and worked against slavery and the abuse of African laborers |
| 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 | 12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha |
| Independence | 13 August 1960 (from France) | 15 August 1960 (from France) |
| National holiday | Republic Day, 1 December (1958) | Independence Day, 15 August (1960) |
| Constitution | history: several previous; latest (interim constitution) approved by the Transitional Council 30 August 2015, adopted by referendum 13-14 December 2015, ratified 27 March 2016 amendments: 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 | history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; passage of presidential proposals requires Supreme Court review followed by approval in a referendum; such proposals may also be submitted directly to Parliament, in which case passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote of both houses in joint session; proposals by Parliament require three-fourths majority vote of both houses in joint session; constitutional articles including those affecting the country's territory, republican form of government, and secularity of the state are not amendable |
| Legal system | civil law system based on the French model | mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 30 March 2016; reelected 27 December 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Henri-Marie DONDRA (since 11 June 2021); note - Prime Minister Firmin NGREBADA resigned on 10 June 2021 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: under the 2015 constitution, the president is elected by universal direct suffrage for a period of 5 years (eligible for a second term); election last held 27 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025) election results: Faustin-Archange TOUADERA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (independent) 59.3%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 21%, other 19.7% note: rebel forces seized the capital in March 2013, forcing former President BOZIZE to flee the country; Interim President Michel DJOTODIA assumed the presidency, reinstated the prime minister, and established a National Transitional Council (CNT) in April 2013; the NTC elected Catherine SAMBA-PANZA interim president in January 2014 to serve until February 2015, when new elections were to be held; her term was extended because instability delayed new elections and the transition did not take place until the end of March 2016 | chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA (since 24 April 2016); note - a constitutional referendum held in 2015 approved the change of the head of government from the president to the prime minister (2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 21 March 2021 (next to be held on 21 March 2026) election results: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 88.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 8.0%, turnout is 67.6%. |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (140 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms) elections: first round last held on 27 December 2020; note - on election day, voting in many electoral areas was disrupted by armed groups; on 13 February 2021, President TOUADERA announced that a new first round of elections will be held on 27 February for those areas controlled by armed groups and and second round on 14 March election results: December 2015 election: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNDP 16, URCA 11, RDC 8, MLPC 10, KNK 7, other 28, independent 60; composition - men 129, women 11, percent of women 7.9% | description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate (72 seats; members indirectly elected by regional councils by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms with one-half of membership renewed every 3 years) National Assembly (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 31 August 2017 for expiry of half the seats (next to be held in 2020) National Assembly - last held on 16 and 30 July 2017 (next to be held in July 2022) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, independent 12, MAR 2, RDPS 2, UPADS 2, DRD 1, FP 1, MCDDI 1, PRL 1, Pulp 1, PUR 1, RC 1; composition - men 58, women 14, percent of women 19.4% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCT 96, UPADS 8, MCDDI 4, other 23 (less than 4 seats) independent 20; composition - men 134, women 17, percent of women 11.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 13.9% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); 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 | highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); note - a High Court of Justice, outside the judicial authority, tries cases involving treason by the president of the republic judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges elected by Parliament and serve until age 65; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president of the republic - 3 directly by the president and 6 nominated by Parliament; members appointed for renewable 9-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts |
| Political parties and leaders | Action Party for Development or PAD [El Hadj Laurent NGON-BABA] Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Clement BELIBANGA] Central African Democratic Rally or RDC [Desire Nzanga KOLINGBA] Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [Louis PAPENIAH] Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Martin ZIGUELE] National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa) or KNK [Francois BOZIZE] National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Amine MICHEL] New Alliance for Progress or NAP [Jean-Jacques DEMAFOUTH] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE] Union for Central African Renewal or URCA [Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE] | Action Movement for Renewal or MAR [Roland BOUITI-VIAUDO] Citizen's Rally or RC [Claude Alphonse NSILOU] Congolese Labour Party or PCT [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO] Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS] Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST [Claudine MUNARI] Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal Tsaty MABIALA] Party for the Unity of the Republic or PUR Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP [Auguste-Celestin GONGARD NKOUA] Prospects and Realities Club or CPR Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Bernard BATCHI] Rally of the Presidential Majority or RMP Republican and Liberal Party or PRL [Bonaventure MIZIDY] Union for the Republic or UR Union of Democratic Forces or UDF Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR many smaller parties |
| 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), MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| 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: pc@usrcaembassy.org https://www.usrcaembassy.org/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI (since 31 July 2001) chancery: 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860 email address and website: info@ambacongo-us.org http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx consulate(s): New Orleans |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Lucy TAMLYN (since 11 January 2019) 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/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ellen B. THORBURN (since January 2021) embassy: 70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville mailing address: 2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090 telephone: [242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9700 email address and website: BrazzavilleACS@state.gov https://cg.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band; banner combines the Pan-African and French flag colors; red symbolizes the blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue represents the sky and freedom, white peace and dignity, green hope and faith, and yellow tolerance; the star represents aspiration towards a vibrant future | divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia |
| National anthem | name: "Le 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 | name: "La Congolaise" (The Congolese) lyrics/music: Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE note: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991 |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | elephant; national colors: blue, white, green, yellow, red | lion, elephant; national colors: green, yellow, red |
| 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 | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years |
Economy
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of estimated GDP, although statistics are unreliable in the conflict-prone country. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked geography, poor transportation system, largely unskilled work force, and legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is highly unequal and grants from the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. CAR shares a common currency with the Central African Monetary Union. The currency is pegged to the Euro. Since 2009, the IMF has worked closely with the government to institute reforms that have resulted in some improvement in budget transparency, but other problems remain. The government's additional spending in the run-up to the 2011 election worsened CAR's fiscal situation. In 2012, the World Bank approved $125 million in funding for transport infrastructure and regional trade, focused on the route between CAR's capital and the port of Douala in Cameroon. In July 2016, the IMF approved a three-year extended credit facility valued at $116 million; in mid-2017, the IMF completed a review of CAR's fiscal performance and broadly approved of the government's management, although issues with revenue collection, weak government capacity, and transparency remain. The World Bank in late 2016 approved a $20 million grant to restore basic fiscal management, improve transparency, and assist with economic recovery. Participation in the Kimberley Process, a commitment to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain, led to a partially lifted the ban on diamond exports from CAR in 2015, but persistent insecurity is likely to constrain real GDP growth. | The Republic of the Congo's economy is a mixture of subsistence farming, an industrial sector based largely on oil and support services, and government spending. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. Natural gas is increasingly being converted to electricity rather than being flared, greatly improving energy prospects. New mining projects, particularly iron ore, which entered production in late 2013, may add as much as $1 billion to annual government revenue. The Republic of the Congo is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and shares a common currency - the Central African Franc - with five other member states in the region. The current administration faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. The drop in oil prices that began in 2014 has constrained government spending; lower oil prices forced the government to cut more than $1 billion in planned spending. The fiscal deficit amounted to 11% of GDP in 2017. The government's inability to pay civil servant salaries has resulted in multiple rounds of strikes by many groups, including doctors, nurses, and teachers. In the wake of a multi-year recession, the country reached out to the IMF in 2017 for a new program; the IMF noted that the country's continued dependence on oil, unsustainable debt, and significant governance weakness are key impediments to the country's economy. In 2018, the country's external debt level will approach 120% of GDP. The IMF urged the government to renegotiate debts levels to sustainable levels before it agreed to a new macroeconomic adjustment package. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $4.483 billion (2019 est.) $4.354 billion (2018 est.) $4.195 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $19.763 billion (2019 est.) $20.489 billion (2018 est.) $21.844 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 4.3% (2017 est.) 4.5% (2016 est.) 4.8% (2015 est.) | -3.1% (2017 est.) -2.8% (2016 est.) 2.6% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $945 (2019 est.) $933 (2018 est.) $913 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $3,673 (2019 est.) $3,907 (2018 est.) $4,274 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 43.2% (2017 est.) industry: 16% (2017 est.) services: 40.8% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 9.3% (2017 est.) industry: 51% (2017 est.) services: 39.7% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 62% NA (2008 est.) | 40.9% (2011 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 33% (2003) | lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37.1% (2005) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.7% (2019 est.) 1.6% (2018 est.) 4.2% (2017 est.) | 2.2% (2019 est.) 1.1% (2018 est.) 0.4% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 2.242 million (2017 est.) | 2.055 million (2016 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 6.9% (2017 est.) | 36% (2014 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 43.6 (2003 est.) 61.3 (1993) | 48.9 (2011 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: 282.9 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 300.1 million (2017 est.) | revenues: 1.965 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.578 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining | petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes |
| Industrial production growth rate | 3.9% (2017 est.) | -3% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | cassava, yams, groundnuts, taro, bananas, sugar cane, beef, maize, plantains, milk | cassava, sugar cane, oil palm fruit, cassava leaves, bananas, plantains, roots/tubers, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas |
| Exports | $113.7 million (2017 est.) $101.5 million (2016 est.) | $4.193 billion (2017 est.) $4.116 billion (2016 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | lumber, gold, diamonds, sea vessels, cocoa paste (2019) | crude petroleum, copper, lumber, ships, refined petroleum (2019) |
| Exports - partners | China 41%, United Arab Emirates 19%, France 7% (2019) | China 49%, United Arab Emirates 15%, India 6%, Italy 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $393.1 million (2017 est.) $342.2 million (2016 est.) | $2.501 billion (2017 est.) $5.639 billion (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | refined petroleum, packaged medicines, natural gas, broadcasting equipment, second-hand clothing (2019) | ships, chicken products, refined petroleum, processed fish, packaged medicines (2019) |
| Imports - partners | India 18%, France 12%, United States 11%, China 9%, Netherlands 7%, Belgium 7%, Malta 6% (2019) | China 15%, France 12%, Belgium 6%, Angola 5% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $779.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) $691.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.605 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $4.721 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Exchange rates | Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) | Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 579.8 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 52.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 56% of GDP (2016 est.) | 130.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 128.7% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $304.3 million (31 December 2017 est.) $252.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $505.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) $727.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$163 million (2017 est.) -$97 million (2016 est.) | -$1.128 billion (2017 est.) -$5.735 billion (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $1.937 billion (2017 est.) | $8.718 billion (2017 est.) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 35.6 (2020) Starting a Business score: 63.2 (2020) Trading score: 52.4 (2020) Enforcement score: 31.4 (2020) | Overall score: 39.5 (2020) Starting a Business score: 65.8 (2020) Trading score: 19.7 (2020) Enforcement score: 44 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 14.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 22.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 95.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 8.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 13.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 12% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -29.5% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 47.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 9.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 42.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 62.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -62.7% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 5.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 8.2% of GDP (2016 est.) 4.2% of GDP (2015 est.) | 19.5% of GDP (2017 est.) -12.8% of GDP (2016 est.) 6.6% of GDP (2015 est.) |
Energy
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 171.4 million kWh (2016 est.) | 1.696 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 159.4 million kWh (2016 est.) | 912 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 22 million kWh (2015 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 18 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 340,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 254,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 1.6 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | 90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 1.387 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 1.387 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 38,300 kW (2016 est.) | 591,500 kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 50% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 64% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 50% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 36% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 15,760 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 2,800 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 17,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 5,766 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 2,799 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 7,162 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 3% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 7% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 0.4% (2019) | electrification - total population: 72% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 89% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 36% (2019) |
Telecommunications
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 2,934 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 17,076 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 1,595,294 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30.86 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 4,933,529 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95.34 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .cf | .cg |
| Internet users | total: 249,336 percent of population: 4.34% (July 2018 est.) | total: 437,865 percent of population: 8.65% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and at low-capacity; ongoing conflict has obstructed telecommunication and media development, although there are ISP (Internet service providers) and mobile phone carriers, radio is the most-popular communications medium (2018) domestic: very limited telephone service with less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; with the presence of multiple providers mobile-cellular service has reached 33 per 100 mobile-cellular subscribers; cellular usage is increasing from a low base; most fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone services are concentrated in Bangui (2019) international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: suffering from economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty; primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable with services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order; youth are seeking the Internet more than their parents and often gain access through cyber cafes; only the most affluent have Internet access in their homes; operator has plans to upgrade national broadband through fiber link to WACS landing station at Pointe-Noire with connections to Angola and DRC; fiber network project with aims to connect north and south regions; DRC operator added fiber link between Brazzaville and Kinshasa (2020) (2020)domestic: fixed-line infrastructure inadequate, providing less than 1 fixed-line connection per 100 persons; in the absence of an adequate fixed-line infrastructure, mobile-cellular subscribership has surged to 95 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 242; WACS submarine cables to Europe and Western and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadcast media | government-owned network, Radiodiffusion Television Centrafricaine, provides limited domestic 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) | 1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available |
Transportation
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Roadways | total: 24,000 km (2018) paved: 700 km (2018) unpaved: 23,300 km (2018) | total: 23,324 km (2017) paved: 3,111 km (2017) unpaved: 20,213 km (2017) note: road network in Congo is composed of 23,324 km of which 17,000 km are classified as national, departmental, and routes of local interest: 6,324 km are non-classified routes |
| Waterways | 2,800 km (the primary navigable river is the Ubangi, which joins the River Congo; it was the traditional route for the export of products because it connected with the Congo-Ocean railway at Brazzaville; because of the warfare on both sides of the River Congo from 1997, importers and exporters preferred routes through Cameroon) (2011) | 1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui Rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, necessitating a rail connection to Pointe Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) (2011) |
| Ports and terminals | river port(s): Bangui (Oubangui) Nola (Sangha) | major seaport(s): Pointe-Noire oil terminal(s): Djeno river port(s): Brazzaville (Congo) Impfondo (Oubangi) Ouesso (Sangha) Oyo (Alima) |
| Airports | total: 39 (2013) | total: 27 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 1 (2019) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | total: 8 (2017) over 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 37 (2013) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 19 (2013) under 914 m: 6 (2013) | total: 19 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2013) under 914 m: 2 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 46,364 (2015) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015) | number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 333,899 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.6 million mt-km (2018) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | TL | TN |
Military
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine), General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG); National Police (2020) | Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Gendarmerie (2021) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18 years of age for military service; no conscription (2019) | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in the Armed Forces (2019) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 1.5% of GDP (2019 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2018 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2016 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | 2.7% of GDP (2019) 2.5% of GDP (2018) 4.3% of GDP (2017) 6.4% of GDP (2016) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | information varies; approximately 10,000 active troops, including an air component of 100-200 and up to 2,000 Gendarmerie (2020) | the Congolese Armed Forces (FAC) have approximately 12,000 active duty troops (8,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2020) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the FACA is lightly and poorly armed with mostly outdated weapons; since 2010, it has received small amounts of second-hand equipment from China, Russia, and Ukraine (2020) note: since 2013, CAR has been under a UNSC arms embargo; the embargo bans all supplies of arms and related materiel to the country except to the CAR security forces if approved in advance by the relevant UN Sanctions Committee | the FAC is armed with mostly ageing Russian/Soviet-era weapons, with some French and South African equipment; the leading supplier of arms to the FAC since 2010 is South Africa (2020) |
Transnational Issues
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | periodic skirmishes persist over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan | the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is undefined except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons | refugees (country of origin): 5,774 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2021) IDPs: 727,161 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2021) | refugees (country of origin): 20,867 (Central African Republic), 28,579 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2021) IDPs: 304,430 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2021) |
| Trafficking in persons | current situation: Central African Republic (CAR) is a source, transit, and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking, women subjected to forced prostitution, and adults subjected to forced labor; most victims appear to be CAR citizens exploited within the country, with a smaller number transported back and forth between the CAR and nearby countries; armed groups operating in the CAR, including those aligned with the former SELEKA Government and the Lord's Resistance Army, continue to recruit and re-recruit children for military activities and labor; children are also subject to domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced labor in agriculture, mines, shops, and street vending; women and girls are subject to domestic servitude, sexual slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced marriage tier rating: Tier 3 - the Central African Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government conducted a limited number of investigations and prosecutions of cases of suspected human trafficking in 2014 but did not identify, provide protection to, or refer to care providers any trafficking victims; the government did not directly provide reintegration programs for demobilized child soldiers, leaving victims vulnerable to further exploitation or retrafficking by armed groups, including those affiliated with the government; in 2014, an NGO and the government began drafting a national action plan against trafficking but no efforts were reported to establish a policy against child soldiering or to raise awareness about existing laws prohibiting the use of children in the armed forces (2015) | current situation: the Republic of the Congo is a source and destination country for children, men, and women, subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most trafficking victims are from Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and, to a lesser extent, other neighboring countries and are subjected to domestic servitude and market vending by West African and Congolese nationals; adults and children, the majority from the DRC, are also sex trafficked in Congo, mainly Brazzaville; internal trafficking victims, often from rural areas, are exploited as domestic servants or forced to work in quarries, bakeries, fishing, and agriculture tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Republic of the Congo does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the country drafted an action plan based on anti-trafficking legislation, which remains pending in the Supreme Court; the government made minimal anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts in 2014, failing to prosecute or convict suspected traffickers from cases dating back to 2010; serious allegations of official complicity continue to be reported; the government lacks a systematic means of identifying victims and relies on NGOs and international organizations to identify victims and NGOs and foster families to provide care to victims; the quality of care varied widely because the foster care system was allegedly undermined by inadequate security and official complicity (2015) |
Environment
| Central African Republic | Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 49.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 22.44 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 38.67 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.24 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 60.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 12 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 63.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 24 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 8.99% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 3.17% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,105,983 tons (2014 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 451,200 tons (1993 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 118,214 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 26.2% (2005 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
