Part 12

_#_Environment: 80% of population concentrated within 160 km of US border; continuous permafrost in north a serious obstacle to development

_#_Note: second-largest country in world (after USSR); strategic location between USSR and US via north polar route

_*_People _#_Population: 26,835,036 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Canadian(s); adjective--Canadian

_#_Ethnic divisions: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%

_#_Religion: Roman Catholic 46%, United Church 16%, Anglican 10%

_#_Language: English and French (both official)

_#_Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)

_#_Labor force: 13,380,000; services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%, construction 3%, other 4% (1988)

_#_Organized labor: 30.6% of labor force; 39.6% of nonagricultural paid workers

_*_Government _#_Long-form name: none

_#_Type: confederation with parliamentary democracy

_#_Capital: Ottawa

_#_Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

_#_Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)

_#_Constitution: amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to Canada 17 April 1982; charter of rights and unwritten customs

_#_Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

_#_National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

_#_Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

_#_Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an upper house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house or House of Commons (Chambre des Communes)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Raymond John HNATSHYN (since 29 January 1990);

Head of Government--Prime Minister (Martin) Brian MULRONEY (since 4 September 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Donald Frank MAZANKOWSKI (since NA June 1986)

_#_Political parties and leaders: Progressive Conservative, Brian MULRONEY; Liberal, Jean CHRETIEN; New Democratic, Audrey McLAUGHLIN

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

House of Commons--last held 21 November 1988 (next to be held by November 1993); results--Progressive Conservative 43.0%, Liberal 32%, New Democratic Party 20%, other 5%; seats--(295 total) Progressive Conservative 159, Liberal 80, New Democratic Party 44, independent 12

_#_Communists: 3,000

_#_Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB, BIS, C, CCC, CDB, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OAS, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Derek BURNEY; Chancery at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 785-1400; there are Canadian Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle;

US--Ambassador Edward N. NEY; Embassy at 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa (mailing address is P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430); telephone (613) 248-25256, 25106, 25271, and 25170; there are US Consulates General in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver

_#_Flag: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band

_*_Economy _#_Overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented economic system, and pattern of production. Since World War II the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. In the 1980s Canada registered one of the highest rates of real growth among the OECD nations, averaging about 3.2%. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada has excellent economic prospects. In mid-1990, however, the long-simmering problems between English- and French-speaking areas became so acute that observers spoke openly of a possible split in the confederation; foreign investors were becoming edgy.

_#_GDP: $516.7 billion, per capita $19,500; real growth rate 0.9% (1990)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1990)

_#_Unemployment rate: 8.1% (1990)

_#_Budget: revenues $105.8 billion; expenditures $131.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90 est.)

_#_Exports: $126.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--newsprint, wood pulp, timber, grain, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, ferrous and nonferrous ores, motor vehicles and parts;

partners--US, Japan, UK, FRG, other EC, USSR

_#_Imports: $116.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities--processed foods, beverages, crude petroleum, chemicals, industrial machinery, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods, electronic computers;

partners--US, Japan, UK, FRG, other EC, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico

_#_External debt: $247 billion (1987)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate - 2.7% (1990); accounts for 34% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 105,000,000 kW capacity; 500,000 million kWh produced, 18,840 kWh per capita (1990)

_#_Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

_#_Agriculture: accounts for about 3% of GDP; one of the world's major producers and exporters of grain (wheat and barley); key source of US agricultural imports; large forest resources cover 35% of total land area; commercial fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is exported

_#_Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors

_#_Economic aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $7.2 billion

_#_Currency: Canadian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents

_#_Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1--1.1559 (January 1991), 1.1668 (1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260 (1987), 1.3895 (1986), 1.3655 (1985)

_#_Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

_*_Communications _#_Railroads: 93,544 km total; two major transcontinental freight railway systems--Canadian National (government owned) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service--VIA (government operated)

_#_Highways: 884,272 km total; 712,936 km surfaced (250,023 km paved), 171,336 km earth

_#_Inland waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway

_#_Pipelines: oil, 23,564 km total crude and refined; natural gas, 74,980 km

_#_Ports: Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), Saint John's (Newfoundland), Toronto, Vancouver

_#_Merchant marine: 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 532,062 GRT/727,118 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 5 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 13 cargo, 2 railcar carrier, 1 refrigerated cargo, 8 roll-on/roll-off, 1 container, 27 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 6 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 8 bulk; note--does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes

_#_Civil air: 636 major transport aircraft; Air Canada is the major carrier

_#_Airports: 1,397 total, 1,154 usable; 443 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 328 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: excellent service provided by modern media; 18.0 million telephones; stations--900 AM, 29 FM, 53 (1,400 repeaters) TV; 5 coaxial submarine cables; over 300 earth stations operating in INTELSAT (including 4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and domestic systems

_*_Defense Forces _#_Branches: Canadian Armed Forces (including Mobile Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Communications Command, Canadian Forces Europe, Training Commands), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 7,243,909; 6,297,520 fit for military service; 188,996 reach military age (17) annually

_#_Defense expenditures: $11.3 billion, 2% of GDP (FY90) _%_ _@_Cape Verde _*_Geography _#_Total area: 4,030 km2; land area: 4,030 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

_#_Land boundaries: none

_#_Coastline: 965 km

_#_Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

_#_Climate: temperate; warm, dry, summer precipitation very erratic

_#_Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

_#_Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin, fish

_#_Land use: arable land 9%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 6%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 85%; includes irrigated 1%

_#_Environment: subject to prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active; deforestation; overgrazing

_#_Note: strategic location 500 km from African coast near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site

_*_People _#_Population: 386,501 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 48 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 63 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 63 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Cape Verdean(s); adjective--Cape Verdean

_#_Ethnic divisions: Creole (mulatto) about 71%, African 28%, European 1%

_#_Religion: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

_#_Language: Portuguese and Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African words

_#_Literacy: 66% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)

_#_Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.); agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981); 51% of population of working age (1985)

_#_Organized labor: Trade Unions of Cape Verde Unity Center (UNTC-CS)

_*_Government _#_Long-form name: Republic of Cape Verde

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Praia

_#_Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos, singular--concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

_#_Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

_#_Constitution: 7 September 1980; amended 12 February 1981, NA December 1988, and 28 September 1990 (legalized opposition parties)

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

_#_Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy minister, secretaries of state, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--President Antonio Mascarenhas MONTEIRO (since 22 March 1991);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)

_#_Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and chairman; African Party for Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

President--last held 17 February 1991 (next to be held February 1996); results--Antonio Mascarenhas MONTEIRO (MPD) received 72.6% of vote;

People's National Assembly--last held 13 January 1991 (next to be held January 1996); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(79 total) MPD 56, PAICV 23; note--this multiparty Assembly election ended 15 years of single-party rule

_#_Communists: no Communist party

_#_Member of: ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Luis de Matos Monteiro da FONSECA; Chancery at 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007; telephone (202) 965-6820; there is a Cape Verdean Consulate General in Boston;

US--Ambassador Francis T. (Terry) McNAMARA; Embassy at Rua Hojl Ya Yenna 81, Praia (mailing address is C. P. 201, Praia); telephone [238] 614-363 or 614-253

_#_Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; in the upper portion of the red band is a black five-pointed star framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea-Bissau which is longer and has an unadorned black star centered in the red band

_*_Economy _#_Overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, a 17-year drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is service oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for 65% of GDP during the period 1985-88. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, agriculture's share of GDP is only 16%; the fishing sector accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. In 1988 fishing represented only 3.5% of GDP. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from emigrants and foreign aid.

_#_GDP: $262 million, per capita $740; real growth rate 3.2% (1988 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.2% (1988 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: 25% (1988)

_#_Budget: revenues $98.3 million; expenditures $138.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)

_#_Exports: $10.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--fish, bananas, salt;

partners--Portugal, Angola, Algeria, France, Italy

_#_Imports: $107.8 million (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--petroleum, foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products;

partners--Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, France, Brazil, FRG

_#_External debt: $150 million (December 1990 est.)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 18% (1988 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 13,000 kW capacity; 15 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1990)

_#_Industry: fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship repair, construction materials, food and beverage production

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP; largely subsistence farming; bananas are the only export crop; other crops--corn, beans, sweet potatoes, coffee; growth potential of agricultural sector limited by poor soils and limited rainfall; annual food imports required; fish catch provides for both domestic consumption and small exports

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75-89), $88 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $590 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $36 million

_#_Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (plural--escudos); 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos

_#_Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1--64.10 (November 1990), 74.86 (December 1989), 72.01 (1988), 72.5 (1987), 76.56 (1986), 85.38 (1985)

_#_Fiscal year: calendar year

_*_Communications _#_Ports: Mindelo and Praia

_#_Merchant marine: 7 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,708 GRT/19,000 DWT

_#_Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft (4 owned, 1 leased)

_#_Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: interisland radio relay system, high-frequency radio to mainland Portugal and Guinea-Bissau; 1,740 telephones; stations--5 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

_*_Defense Forces _#_Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP)--Army and Navy are separate components of FARP; Militia, Security Service

_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 70,771; 41,844 fit for military service

_#_Defense expenditures: $15 million, 11% of GDP (1981) _%_ _@_Cayman Islands (dependent territory of the UK) _*_Geography _#_Total area: 260 km2; land area: 260 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

_#_Land boundaries: none

_#_Coastline: 160 km

_#_Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 3 nm

_#_Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

_#_Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

_#_Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 8%; forest and woodland 23%; other 69%

_#_Environment: within the Caribbean hurricane belt

_#_Note: important location between Cuba and Central America

_*_People _#_Population: 27,489 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 33 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Caymanian(s); adjective--Caymanian

_#_Ethnic divisions: 40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates of various ethnic groups

_#_Religion: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations

_#_Language: English

_#_Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

_#_Labor force: 8,061; service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

_#_Organized labor: Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union

_*_Government _#_Long-form name: none

_#_Type: dependent territory of the UK

_#_Capital: George Town

_#_Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

_#_Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

_#_Legal system: British common law and local statutes

_#_Constitution: 1959, revised 1972

_#_National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 1 July 1991

_#_Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

_#_Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987);

Head of Government--Governor and President of the Executive Council Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)

_#_Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

Legislative Assembly--last held NA November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results--percent of vote NA; seats--(15 total, 12 elected)

_#_Communists: none

_#_Member of: CDB, IOC

_#_Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK, Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK;

US--none

_#_Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

_*_Economy _#_Overview: The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of export earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the region.

_#_GDP: $342 million, per capita $13,670 (1989); real growth rate 15% (1988)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (1988)

_#_Unemployment rate: NA%

_#_Budget: revenues $76 million; expenditures $56 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

_#_Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.);

commodities--turtle products, manufactured consumer goods;

partners--mostly US

_#_Imports: $136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.);

commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods;

partners--US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

_#_External debt: $15 million (1986)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate NA%

_#_Electricity: 74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced, 9,710 kWh per capita (1990)

_#_Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, building materials, furniture making

_#_Agriculture: minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $26.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $35.0 million

_#_Currency: Caymanian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

_#_Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--1.20 (fixed rate)

_#_Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

_*_Communications _#_Highways: 160 km of main roads

_#_Ports: George Town, Cayman Brac

_#_Merchant marine: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 372,732 GRT/604,395 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 6 cargo, 7 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 6 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 9 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry

_#_Airports: 3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: 35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access international services; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

_*_Defense Forces _#_Branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

_#_Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK _%_ _@_Central African Republic _*_Geography _#_Total area: 622,980 km2; land area: 622,980 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

_#_Land boundaries: 5,203 km total; Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km

_#_Coastline: none--landlocked

_#_Maritime claims: none--landlocked

_#_Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

_#_Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

_#_Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

_#_Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and woodland 64%; other 28%

_#_Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification

_#_Note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

_*_People _#_Population: 2,952,382 (July 1991), growth rate 2.6% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 18 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 138 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 45 years male, 49 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Central African(s); adjective--Central African

_#_Ethnic divisions: about 80 ethnic groups, the majority of which have related ethnic and linguistic characteristics; Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%; 6,500 Europeans, of whom 3,600 are French

_#_Religion: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11%; animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

_#_Language: French (official); Sangho (lingua franca and national language); Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili

_#_Literacy: 27% (male 33%, female 15%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 775,413 (1986 est.); agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry 3%, government 3%; about 64,000 salaried workers; 55% of population of working age (1985)

_#_Organized labor: 1% of labor force

_*_Government _#_Long-form name: Central African Republic (no short-form name); abbreviated CAR

_#_Type: republic, one-party presidential regime since 1986

_#_Capital: Bangui

_#_Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular--prefecture) and 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular--prefecture economique); Bamingui-Bangoran, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga; note--there may be a new autonomous commune of Bangui

_#_Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France; formerly Central African Empire)

_#_Constitution: 21 November 1986

_#_Legal system: based on French law

_#_National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the republic), 1 December (1958)

_#_Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) advised by the Economic and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together this is known as the Congress (Congres)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981)

_#_Political parties and leaders: only party--Centrafrican Democrtic Rally Party (RDC), Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 21

_#_Elections:

President--last held 21 November 1986 (next to be held November 1993); results--President KOLINGBA was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held 31 July 1987 (next to be held July 1992); results--RDC is the only party; seats--(52 total) RDC 52

_#_Communists: small number of Communist sympathizers

_#_Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET; Chancery at 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-7800 or 7801;

US--Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON; Embassy at Avenue du President David Dacko, Bangui (mailing address is B. P. 924, Bangui); telephone 61-02-00 or 61-25-78, 61-43-33

_#_Flag: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band

_*_Economy _#_Overview: The Central African Republic (CAR) had a per capita income of roughly $440 in 1990. Subsistence agriculture, including forestry, is the backbone of the economy, with over 70% of the population living in the countryside. In 1988 the agricultural sector generated about 40% of GDP. Agricultural products accounted for about 60% of export earnings and the diamond industry for 30%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation infrastructure, and a weak human resource base. Multilateral and bilateral development assistance plays a major role in providing capital for new investment.

_#_GDP: $1.3 billion, per capita $440; real growth rate 2.0% (1990 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 4.2% (1988 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: 30% in Bangui (1988 est.)

_#_Budget: revenues $132 million; current expenditures $305 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1989 est.)

_#_Exports: $148 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco;

partners--France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US

_#_Imports: $239 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.);

commodities--food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products;

partners--France, other EC, Japan, Algeria, Yugoslavia

_#_External debt: $671 million (December 1989)

_#_Industrial production: 0.8% (1988); accounts for 12% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 35,000 kW capacity; 84 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; self-sufficient in food production except for grain; commercial crops--cotton, coffee, tobacco, timber; food crops--manioc, yams, millet, corn, bananas