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Compare Western Sahara (2005) - Central African Republic (2001)

Compare Western Sahara (2005) z Central African Republic (2001)

 Western Sahara (2005)Central African Republic (2001)
 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, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years:
43.23% (male 778,885; female 767,414)

15-64 years:
53% (male 929,717; female 965,947)

65 years and over:
3.77% (male 59,364; female 75,557) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads) cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Airports 11 (2004 est.) 52 (2000 est.)
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 (2000 est.)
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:
49

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
10

914 to 1,523 m:
23

under 914 m:
15 (2000 est.)
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 - a civilian government was installed in 1993.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population 37.05 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues:
$638 million

expenditures:
$1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888 million (1994 est.)
Capital none Bangui
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 - passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995
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 - Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 18.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external NA $790 million (1999 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US none chief of mission:
Ambassador Robert C. PERRY

embassy:
Avenue David Dacko, Bangui

mailing address:
B. P. 924, Bangui

telephone:
[236] 61 02 00

FAX:
[236] 61 44 94
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, administered by the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals none
Economic aid - recipient NA $172.2 million (1995); note - traditional budget subsidies from France
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 half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 54%. 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. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 2%. The IMF approved an Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998 and the World Bank extended further credits in 1999 and approved a $10 million loan in early 2001. The government has set targets of 3.5% GDP growth in 2001 and 2002. As of January 2001, many civil servants were owed as much as 30 months pay, leading them to go on strike and further damaging the economy.
Electricity - consumption 83.7 million kWh (2002) 94.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 90 million kWh (2002) 102 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
20.59%

hydro:
79.41%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
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 its 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Arab, Berber Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 1,500 French)
Exchange rates Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003), 11.0206 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.6256 (2000) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro
Executive branch none chief of state:
President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)

head of government:
Prime Minister Martin ZIGUELE (since 1 April 2001)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 19 September 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Ange-Felix PATASSE reelected president; percent of vote - Ange-Felix PATASSE 51.63%, Andre KOLINGBA 19.38%, David DACKO 11.15%
Exports NA $166 million (f.o.b., 2000)
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 Benelux 64%, Cote d'Ivoire, Spain, China, Egypt, France (1999)
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 - $6.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: 40% (1996 est.)
agriculture:
53%

industry:
20%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - NA purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 3.5% (2000 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)
total:
23,810 km

paved:
429 km

unpaved:
23,381 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
0.7%

highest 10%:
47.7% (1993)
Imports NA $154 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products
Imports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts France 35%, Cameroon 13%, Benelux, Cote d'Ivoire, Germany, Japan (1999)
Independence - 13 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA NA%
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
105.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA 3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation none ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch - Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (all judges appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts
Labor force 12,000 NA
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%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
75%

other:
17% (1993 est.)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
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; note - there were 85 seats in the National Assembly before the 1998 election)

elections:
last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)

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

note:
the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together they are called the Congress or Congres
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
total population:
43.8 years

male:
42.17 years

female:
45.48 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


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

total population:
60%

male:
68.5%

female:
52.4% (1995 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 (includes Army, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, Police Force)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $29 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.2% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
824,139 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
430,922 (2001 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 (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders - Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Francois PEHOUA]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum 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 [the party of the president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [leader NA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 273,008 (July 2005 est.) 3,576,884

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 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate NA 1.85% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) Bangui, Nola
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios - 283,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Muslim indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11%

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

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 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:
fair system

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

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use about 2,000 (1999 est.) 10,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 570 (1997)
Television broadcast stations NA NA
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 4.86 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 6% (1993)
Waterways - 900 km

note:
traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river, navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m
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