Central African Republic:
Economy

Other pages in this profile of the Central African Republic:
Geography, People, Government, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Economy - overview	Definition Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% 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)	Definition - World rank and map $3.099 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)	Definition $1.714 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	Definition - World rank and map 4.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita	Definition - World rank and map $700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	Definition agriculture: 55% industry: 20% services: 25% (2001 est.)
Labor force	Definition 1.857 million (2006)
Unemployment rate	Definition - World rank and map 8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line	Definition NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share	Definition lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index	Definition - World rank and map 61.3 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	Definition - World rank and map 0.9% (2007 est.)
Budget	Definition revenues: $250 million expenditures: $273 million (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products	Definition timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Industries	Definition gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate	Definition - World rank and map 3% (2002)
Electricity - production	Definition - World rank and map 109 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 101.4 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 22.9 kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	Definition 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	Definition 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production	Definition - World rank and map 0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 2,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption per 1,000 people	Definition - World rank and map 0.5 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports	Definition - World rank and map 0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports	Definition - World rank and map 2,201 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (1 January 2006)
Current account balance	Definition - World rank and map -$77 million (2007 est.)
Exports	Definition - World rank and map $146.7 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities	Definition diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners	Definition Canada 38.9%, Belgium 15.6%, Indonesia 6.5%, Italy 5.3%, France 4.9%, Spain 4.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.6% (2006)
Imports	Definition - World rank and map $237.3 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities	Definition food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners	Definition France 16.4%, Netherlands 12.9%, Cameroon 9.6%, US 6.3% (2006)
Debt - external	Definition - World rank and map $1.153 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares	Definition $NA
Economic aid - recipient	Definition ODA, $95.29 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France (2005 est.)
Currency (code)	Definition Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Exchange rates	Definition Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.8 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)
Fiscal year	Definition calendar year

Central African Republic: Economy

Central African Republic:
Economy