The 2010 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

"Le Renaissance" (The Renaissance)

      lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER

      note: adopted 1960; Barthelemy BOGANDA, who wrote the anthem's lyrics, was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory

      Economy ::Central African Republic

      Economy - overview:

      Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, 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 GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 40%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

      GDP (purchasing power parity):

      $3.468 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $3.345 billion (2009 est.)

      $3.289 billion (2008 est.)

      note: data are in 2010 US dollars

      GDP (official exchange rate):

      $2.113 billion (2010 est.)

      GDP - real growth rate:

      3.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 1.7% (2009 est.)

      2% (2008 est.)

      GDP - per capita (PPP):

      $700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 222 $700 (2009 est.)

      $700 (2008 est.)

      note: data are in 2010 US dollars

      GDP - composition by sector:

      agriculture: 55%

      industry: 20%

      services: 25% (2001 est.)

      Labor force:

      1.926 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 121

      Unemployment rate:

      8% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 note: 23% unemployment for Bangui

      Population below poverty line:

      NA%

      Household income or consumption by percentage share:

      lowest 10%: 2.1%

      highest 10%: 33% (2003)

      Distribution of family income - Gini index:

      61.3 (1993) country comparison to the world: 6

      Inflation rate (consumer prices):

      0.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

      Central bank discount rate:

      4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 92 4.75% (31 December 2008)

      Commercial bank prime lending rate:

      NA% (31 December 2009 est.)

      NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

      Stock of narrow money:

      $288.8 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 167 $241.3 million (31 December 2008)

      Stock of broad money:

      $343.4 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $292.9 million (31 December 2008 est.)

      Stock of domestic credit:

      $357.6 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 167 $339.1 million (31 December 2008)

      Market value of publicly traded shares:

      $NA

      Agriculture - products:

      timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber

      Industries:

      gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

      Industrial production growth rate:

      3% (2002) country comparison to the world: 107

      Electricity - production:

      115 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

      Electricity - consumption:

      107 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

      Electricity - exports:

      0 kWh (2008 est.)

      Electricity - imports:

      0 kWh (2008 est.)

      Oil - production:

      0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

      Oil - consumption:

      2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

      Oil - exports:

      0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

      Oil - imports:

      2,203 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

      Oil - proved reserves:

      0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

      Natural gas - production:

      0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

      Natural gas - consumption:

      0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

      Natural gas - exports:

      0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

      Natural gas - imports:

      0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

      Natural gas - proved reserves:

      0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

      Current account balance:

      -$77 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

      Exports:

      $146.7 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

      Exports - commodities:

      diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

      Exports - partners:

      Belgium 32.57%, China 10.49%, Indonesia 10.36%, Morocco 10.24%,

       Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.87%, France 5.79% (2009)

      Imports:

      $237.3 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

      Imports - commodities:

      food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

      Imports - partners:

      South Korea 19.29%, France 11.95%, US 7.78%, Cameroon 7.39%,

       Netherlands 6.77% (2009)

      Debt - external:

      $1.153 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

      Exchange rates:

      Cooperation