Demographics of the Central African Republic

There are more than 80 ethnic groups in the Central African Republic, each with its own language. About 50% are Baya-Mandjia and 40% Banda (most located in the northern and central part of the country) and 7% are M'Baka (in the southwest of the country).

Sangho, the language of a small group on the Oubangui River, is the national language spoken by the majority of Central Africans. Only a small part of the population has an elementary knowledge of French, the official language.

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

CIA World Factbook Demographics

Population

3,799.897

Note: Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of mortality due to HIV/AIDS: this may result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and mortality rates, lower population and rate of growth and changes in population distribution by age and sex that would otherwise be different. (July 2005 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.5% (men 813.596/women 802.728)

15-64 years: 54% (men 1.010.696/women 1.041.903)

65 and more years: 3.4% (men 54,345/women 76,629) (2005 est.)

Average age

Total: 18.12 years

men: 17.75 years

women: 18.5 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate

1.49% (2005 est.)

Birth rate

35.17 births/1,000 inhabitants (2005 est.)

Mortality rate

20.27 deaths/1,000 inhabitants (2005 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrants/1,000 inhabitants (2005 est.)

Distribution by sex

At birth: 1.03 men/women

Less than 15 years: 1.01 men/women

15-64 years: 0.97 men/women

65 years and more: 0.71 men/women

Total population: 0.98 men/women (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 91 deaths/1,000 live births

men: 97.84 deaths/1,000 live births

women: 83.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 4.01 years

men: 39,21 years

women: 42.86 (2005 est.)

Fertility rate

4.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: 13.5% (2003 st.)

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

Deaths: 23,000 (2003 est.)

Main infectious diseases

Risk Degree: Very high

Diseases transmitted in food or water: diarrhea caused by bacteria, hepatitis A and thyphoid fever

Vector diseases: malaria

Respiratory diseases: meningitis (2004)

Ethnic groups

Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%

Religions

Indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestants 25%, Catholics 25%, Muslims 15%

Note: Animist beliefs and practices strongly influence Christian beliefs

Languages

French language (official), Sangho (national language), tribal languages

Literacy

Definition: people 15 years and older who can read and write

Total population: 51 per cent

men: 63.3%

women: 39.9% (2003 est.)

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