Overview

Central African Republic

Following outbreaks of violence in October 2002 and March 2003, political instability and public insecurity in the Central African Republic (CAR) compounded the difficulties of the country's 4 million people to achieve economic and social development. A sharp increase in investments is needed for reconstruction and improvement in social sector infrastructure and services, particularly in areas affected by armed conflict. With negative economic growth and population growth hovering around 1.4 per cent per year, poverty is increasing, particularly for women, young people and those living in rural areas.

—ICPD Goals —MDG Indicators

STATISTICS
POPULATION			1990			Most Recent
Population in Thousands, 2003, Total, Male				1,421.1			1,903.0
Population in Thousands, 2003, Total, Female				1,522.0			2,008.9
Population Growth Rate, Per Cent				2.2			1.3
Crude Birth Rate per 1,000 Population				42.6			37.7
Crude Death Rate per 1,000 Population				18.0			22.1
Urban Population, Per Cent				37.5			43.8
Sex Ratio at Birth, Male Births per Female Birth				n/a			1.03
Sex Ratio of Population, Males per Females				93.37			94.88
Women 15-49, Thousands				684.6			913.1
Women 15-49, Per Cent				0.4			0.5
Total Fertility Rate per Woman 15-49				5.69			4.92
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate for Women 15-49, Modern Method, Per Cent				n/a			6.9
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate for Women 15-49, Any Method, Per Cent				n/a			27.9
Maternal Mortality Ratio per 100,000 Live Births (MMR)				700			1,100
MMR, Lower Bound				n/a			670
MMR, Upper Bound				n/a			1,600
Infant Mortality Rate per 1,000 Live Births				116.1			100.4
Under Age 5 Mortality Rate, Total				n/a			173
Under Age 5 Mortality Rate, Female				n/a			157
Under Age 5 Mortality Rate, Male				n/a			189
Life Expectancy at Birth, Combined, Years				47.6			39.5
Life Expectancy at Birth, Female, Years				50.6			40.6
Life Expectancy at Birth, Male, Years				44.9			38.5
Median Age of Total Population				18.5			18.1
Population 60 Years and Over, Per Cent				6.1			6.1
Population 0-14 as Proportion of Population 65+				888			885

INDICATORS
SOCIOECONOMIC & HEALTH INDICATORS			1990			Most Recent
Gross Domestic Product Per Capita, Purchasing Power Parity, International Dollars				1,010			1,170
Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate, Annual Per Cent				-2			-1
Income Group per World Bank Classification				n/a			Low income
UNFPA Country Priority Classification				n/a			A
Population Below $1/Day, Per Cent				n/a			66.6
Population Living Below National Poverty Line, Per Cent				n/a			n/a
Access to Improved Water Supply, Per Cent				12			60
Antenatal Care, At Least One Visit, Per Cent				38			75
Deliveries Attended by Skilled Attendants, Per Cent				66			44
Family Planning Programme Effort Index, 1999 (Total Mean Score)				n/a			50.0
Illiteracy Rate, Per Cent of Population 15 and Over, Male				53			34
Illiteracy Rate, Per Cent of Population 15 and Over, Female				79			57
Illiteracy Rate, Per Cent of Population 15 to 24, Male				34			20
Illiteracy Rate, Percent of Population 15 to 24, Female				61			32
Primary School Enrolment, Gross Per Cent of School Age Population, Male				n/a			89
Primary School Enrolment, Gross Per Cent of School Age Population, Female				n/a			61
Secondary School Enrolment, GrossPer Cent of School Age Population, Male				n/a			n/a
Secondary School Enrolment, Gross Per Cent of School Age Population, Female				n/a			n/a
Ratio of Girls to Boys, Primary Education				0.65			0.69
Ratio of Girls to Boys, Secondary Education				n/a			n/a
Children Underweight Under 5, Male, Per Cent				n/a			25
Children Underweight Under 5, Female, Per Cent				n/a			24
Stunted Children under 5, Moderate, Per Cent				n/a			39
Stunted Children under 5, Severe, Per Cent				n/a			19
Wasted Children under 5, Moderate, Per Cent				n/a			9
Wasted Children under 5, Severe, Per Cent				n/a			2
Refugees, Number				19,000			50,725
Internally Displaced Persons, Number				n/a			n/a
Asylum Seekers, Number				n/a			5,348
Married by 18, Percent, Female, 25-49				n/a			56.7
ADOLESCENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INDICATORS			1990			Most Recent
Proportion of Population 15-24				18.4			20.6
Median Age at First Sexual Intercourse, Female, 25-49				n/a			15.9
Age-Specific Fertility Rate per 1000 Women, 15-20				n/a			131.7
Mean Age at Marriage, Male				n/a			24.1
Mean Age at Marriage, Female				n/a			19.1
HIV knowledge, Women 15-24 Who Know That a Person Can Protect Herself from HIV by Consistent Condom Use, Per Cent				n/a			20
HIV knowledge, Men 15-24 Who Know That a Person Can Protect Himself from HIV by Consistent Condom Use, Per Cent				n/a			n/a
HIV/AIDS Prevalence, 15-24, Lower Bound, Female				n/a			10.8
HIV/AIDS Prevalence, 15-24, Upper Bound, Female				n/a			16.3
HIV/AIDS Prevalence, 15-24, Lower Bound, Male				n/a			4.7
HIV/AIDS Prevalence, 15-24, Upper Bound, Male				n/a			7.0
Estimated HIV/AIDS Prevalence, 15-24, Total				n/a			9.7
GENDER EQUALITY INDICATORS			1990			Most Recent
Gender Empowerment Measure, Value				n/a			n/a
Gender Empowerment Measure, Rank				n/a			n/a
Labor Force Participation Rate, 15-64, Total				n/a			77.9
Labor Force Participation Rate, 15-64, Male				n/a			87.6
Labor Force Participation Rate, 15-64, Female				n/a			69.0
Women in Managerial or Technical Positions, Thousands				n/a			n/a
Seats in Parliament Held by Women, Per Cent				4.0			7.3
RH COMMODITY SECURITY INDICATORS			1990			Most Recent
Projected Increase/Decrease in Women of Reproductive Age 2000-2015, Thousands				n/a			256.8
Projected Increase/Decrease in Women of Reproductive Age 2000-2015, Per Cent				n/a			29.4
Unmet Need for Family Planning, Spacing, Per Cent				n/a			11.6
Unmet Need for Family Planning, Limiting, Per Cent				n/a			4.6
Unmet Need for Family Planning, Total, Per Cent				n/a			16.2
Unmet Need for Family Planning, Millions				n/a			0.1
INTERNAL DISPARITIES
Total Fertility Rate per Woman 15-49			Most Recent			Province
Urban				4.9