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@Central African Republic
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Map
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Location: 7 00 N, 21 00 E -- Central Africa, north of Zaire

Flag
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Description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white,
green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a
yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band

Geography
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Location: Central Africa, north of Zaire

Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 622,980 sq km
land area: 622,980 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km,
Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered
hills in northeast and southwest
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mount Gaou 1,420 m

Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 64%
other: 28%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished
reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification
natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern
areas; floods are common
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

People
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Population: 3,274,426 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 724,914; female 718,423)
15-64 years: 52% (male 839,118; female 877,069)
65 years and over: 4% (male 53,418; female 61,484) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.08% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 39.97 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 17.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/