th:
total population:
42.94 years
male:
41.46 years
female:
44.45 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Central African(s)
adjective:
Central African
Ethnic divisions:
Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans
6,500 (including 3,600 French)
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%,
other 11%
note:
animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Languages:
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic,
Hunsa, Swahili
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
27%
male:
33%
female:
15%
Labor force:
775,413 (1986 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry 3%, government 3%
note:
about 64,000 salaried workers; 55% of population of working age (1985)

*Central African Republic, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Central African Republic
conventional short form:
none
local long form:
Republique Centrafricaine
local short form:
none
former:
Central African Empire
Abbreviation:
CAR
Digraph:
CT
Type:
republic; one-party presidential regime since 1986
Capital:
Bangui
Administrative divisions:
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures*, (prefectures
economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1
commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui** Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto,, Haute-Sangha,
Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere,
Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga, Independence:
13 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
21 November 1986
Legal system:
based on French law
National holiday:
National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic)
Political parties and leaders:
Central African Democratic Party (RDC), the government party, Laurent
GOMINA-PAMPALI; Council of Moderates Coalition includes; Union of the People
for Economic and Social Development (UPDS), Katossy SIMANI; Liberal
Republican Party (PARELI), Augustin M'BOE; Central African Socialist
Movement (MSCA), Michel BENGUE; Concerted Democratic Forces (CFD), a
coalition of 13 parties, including; Alliance for Democracy and Progress
(ADP), Francois PEHOUA; Central African Republican party (PRC), Ru