Demographics of the Central African Republic
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Demographics of Central African Republic, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

There are more than 80 ethnic groups in the Central African Republic (CAR), each with its own language. About 50% are Baya-Mandjia, 40% Banda (largely located in the northern and central parts of the country), and 7% are M'Baka (southwestern corner of the CAR). Sangho, the language of a small group along the Oubangui River, is the national language spoken by the majority of Central Africans. Only a small part of the population has more than an elemental knowledge of French, the official language.

More than 55% of the population of the CAR lives in rural areas. The chief agricultural areas are around the Bossangoa and Bambari. Bangui, Berberati, Bangassou, and Bossangoa are the most densely populated urban centers.

Demographic data from the CIA World Factbook

Population

4,303,356

Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 907,629/female 897,153)

15-64 years: 53.9% (male 1,146,346/female 1,173,268)

65 years and over: 4.2% (male 71,312/female 107,648) (2006 est.)

Median age

Total: 18.4 years

Male: 18 years

Female: 18.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate

1.53% (2006 est.)

Birth rate

33.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

18.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 85.63 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 92.44 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 78.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 43.54 years

Male: 43.46 years

Female: 43.62 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: 13.5% (2003 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 260,000 (2003 est.)

Deaths: 23,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Degree of risk: very high

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vectorborne disease: malaria

Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

Nationality

Noun: Central African(s)

Adjective: Central African

Ethnic groups

Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%; About 15,000 Europeans (mostly French) live in the CAR.

Religions

Indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%

Note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Languages

French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages

Literacy

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Total population: 51%

Male: 63.3%

Female: 39.9% (2003 est.)

References

This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook (2006 edition) which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.