| Economy - overview | 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. |
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| GDP | 1.1% (2006 est.) |
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| GDP - real growth rate | 3.5% (2006 est.) |
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| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.) |
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| Population below poverty line | NA% |
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Household income or consumption
by percentage share | lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1993) |
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Distribution of family income
- Gini index | 61.3 (1993) |
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| Labor force | NA |
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| Unemployment rate | 8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.) |
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| Budget | revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA |
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| Industries | gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles |
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| Industrial production growth rate | 3% (2002) |
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Electricity -
production | 109 million kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
production by source | fossil fuel: 19.8%
hydro: 80.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity -
consumption | 101.4 million kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
exports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
imports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2004) |
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| Oil - consumption | 2,420 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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| Oil - exports | NA bbl/day |
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| Oil - imports | NA bbl/day |
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| Agriculture - products | cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber |
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| Exports | $131 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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| Exports - commodities | diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco |
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| Exports - partners | Belgium 35%, France 9.7%, Spain 8.7%, Italy 8.1%, China 7.1%, Indonesia 6.3%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.7%, US 4.5%, Turkey 4.5% (2005) |
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| Imports | $203 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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| Imports - commodities | food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals |
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| Imports - partners | France 16.6%, Netherlands 10.3%, Cameroon 9.7%, US 7.3% (2005) |
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| Debt - external | $1.06 billion (2002 est.) |
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| Economic aid - recipient | ODA, $59.8 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France (2002 est.) |
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| Currency code | XAF |
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| Exchange rates | Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002) |
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| Fiscal year | calendar year |
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