Situated about 500 mi (805 km) north of the equator, the Central African Republic is a landlocked nation bordered by Cameroon, Chad, the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of Congo. The Ubangi and the Shari are the largest of many rivers.
Country lead by President: Gen. François Bozizé (2003)
Prime Minister: Elie Doté (2005)
Population
4,303,356 (growth rate: 1.5%); birth rate: 33.9/1000; infant mortality rate: 85.6/1000; life expectancy: 43.5; density per sq mi: 18
Land Area
240,533 sq mi (622,980 sq km)
Monetary unit
CFA Franc Language
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca, national), tribal languages
Ethnicity Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Religion indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant and Roman Catholic (both with animist influence) 25% each, Islam 15%
Transportation Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 23,810 km; paved: 643 km; unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.). Waterways: 2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2004). Ports and harbors: Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga. Airports: 50 (2004 est.).
