Country
May 12th, 2007 by Kersten Jauer, HDPT CAR
Central African Republic overview
Situated in the very middle of Africa, the Central African Republic (CAR) is landlocked between Chad, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo and Cameroon. Roughly the size of France or Texas, the country has endured several coup d’etats since its independence from France in 1960. While the CAR is rich in agricultural, water and mineral resources, its people are among the poorest in the world. The Central African Republic ranks 172nd out of 177 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index, and 67 percent of the population live on less than 1 dollar a day.
CAR overview map and areas affected by violence
Since September 2005, the insurgency in the northern prefectures has aggravated the humanitarian situation in the country. It is causing massive displacement of the civilian population, which faces violence committed not only by armed gangs, road-blockers and rebels, but also by governmental forces, which have tended to view the local population as sympathizers to the rebels. As a result, an estimated 295,000 Central Africans have been forced to flee their homes: 197,000 have been internally displaced, and some 98,000 fled into neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Sudan. In total, more than one million Central African are now in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.
The ongoing insecurity, deep-rooted poverty combined with harsh environmental conditions, minimal infrastructure and the near absence of basic services outside the capital and major regional towns all contribute to the Central African Republic’s chronic underdevelopment. Nonetheless, the international response to the precarious humanitarian situation in the country has so far not addressed all needs.
Country fact sheet
The Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team publishes a fact sheet with the most important socio-economic indicators for the CAR. It is updated every month, using the best available local and international sources. Click here to download the latest version.
Country briefing pack
The HDPT CAR Briefing Pack is a short presentation with key info on the country and the humanitarian situation, info on who works where, an overview on the Coordinated Aid Programme (CAP) for 2007 and a list of key contacts in all international aid agencies active in the CAR. Click here to download the latest version.
Country factoids
- One million people have been affected by violence since late 2005
- 290,000 people have been forced to flee their homes
- 67% of all Central Africans live on less than $1 a day (PPP)
- Almost no country in the world has a higher share of people living under $1 a day
- Average life expectancy declined from 49 years in 1988 to 41 years in 2007
- Average life expectancy in the CAR is lower than in 95% of the world’s countries
- 123,000 adults suffer from HIV/AIDS
- In the CAR, more women are likely to die during or immediately after their pregnancy than in almost any other country in the world
- One in five children do not live to their fifth birthday
- 106 out 1,000 children die in infancy, more than in almost any other country
- 38% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition
- Every third Central African woman does not know how to read and write
- Net primary school enrolment is among the lowest in the world
- In almost no country are there fewer kilometers of paved highway per capita
- In almost no country is doing business as difficult as in the Central African Republic
Country profiles
A non-exhaustive collection of links to CAR country profiles.
