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Compare Western Sahara (2004) - Central African Republic (2008)

Compare Western Sahara (2004) z Central African Republic (2008)

 Western Sahara (2004)Central African Republic (2008)
 Western SaharaCentral African Republic
Administrative divisions none (under de facto control of Morocco) 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years: 41.6% (male 914,566/female 903,849)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 1,174,520/female 1,195,364)


65 years and over: 4.1% (male 71,355/female 109,384) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads) timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Airports 11 (2003 est.) 51 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total: 48


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 24


under 914 m: 13 (2007)
Area total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 622,984 sq km


land: 622,984 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about the size of Colorado slightly smaller than Texas
Background Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. Unrest in neighboring nations, Chad, Sudan, and the DRC, continues to affect stability in the Central African Republic as well.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population 33.52 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues: $250 million


expenditures: $273 million (2007 est.)
Capital none name: Bangui


geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E


time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Coastline 1,110 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution - ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27 December 2004
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
conventional long form: Central African Republic


conventional short form: none


local long form: Republique Centrafricaine


local short form: none


former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire


abbreviation: CAR
Currency Moroccan dirham (MAD) -
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 18.46 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external NA $1.153 billion (2007 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US none chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James PANOS


embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui


mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui


telephone: [236] 61 02 00


FAX: [236] 61 44 94


note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff
Diplomatic representation in the US none chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY


chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800


FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
Disputes - international Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991 but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals periodic skirmishes over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan persist
Economic aid - recipient NA ODA, $95.29 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France (2005 est.)
Economy - overview Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. 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.
Electricity - consumption 83.7 million kWh (2001) 101.4 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 90 million kWh (2001) 109 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m


highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Environment - current issues sparse water and lack of arable land tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation
Environment - international agreements party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Arab, Berber Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Exchange rates Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 9.574 (2003), 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.8 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)
Executive branch none chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)


head of government: Prime Minister Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since 22 January 2008)


cabinet: Council of Ministers


elections: under the new constitution, the president elected to a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 13 March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority


election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 35.4%
Exports NA (2001) 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities phosphates 62% diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts Belgium 30.7%, Spain 10.7%, Indonesia 8%, France 7.8%, China 6.9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6%, Turkey 5%, Italy 4.7% (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description - 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
GDP purchasing power parity - NA -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: 40% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 55%


industry: 20%


services: 25% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - NA -
GDP - real growth rate NA 4% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 30 N, 13 00 W 7 00 N, 21 00 E
Geography - note the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
Highways total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: 0.7%


highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)
Imports NA (2001) 2,201 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000) France 15.4%, Netherlands 15.1%, US 9.2%, Cameroon 8.9% (2006)
Independence - 13 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA 3% (2002)
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: 83.97 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.68 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 77.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA 4% (2007 est.)
International organization participation none ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land NA sq km 20 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judges appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Inferior Courts
Labor force 12,000 1.857 million (2006)
Labor force - by occupation animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50% -
Land boundaries total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
total: 5,203 km


border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km
Land use arable land: 0.02%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.98% (2001)
arable land: 3.1%


permanent crops: 0.15%


other: 96.75% (2005)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
Legal system - based on French law
Legislative branch - unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)


election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD 9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%, independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD 6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
total population: 43.74 years


male: 43.69 years


female: 43.79 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 51%


male: 63.3%


female: 39.9% (2003 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue none (landlocked)
Military branches - Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Ground Forces, General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), Military Air Service, National Police (2008)
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 1.1% (2006 est.)
National holiday - Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Nationality noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawi,Sahrawian, Sahraouian
noun: Central African(s)


adjective: Central African
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
Natural resources phosphates, iron ore diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Net migration rate - 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders - Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposed president); National Convergence or KNK; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 267,405 (July 2004 est.) 4,369,038


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 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate NA 1.505% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) -
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)
Religions Muslim indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%


note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Sex ratio NA at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.012 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.983 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.652 male(s)/female


total population: 0.978 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
general assessment: limited telephone service; fixed-line connections for well less than 1 per 100 persons coupled with mobile-cellular usage of only about 3 per 100 persons


domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication


international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use about 2,000 (1999 est.) 10,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 100,000 (2005)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (2001)
Terrain mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 4.32 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)
Waterways - 2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2006)
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