Puneet Varma (Editor)

Demographics of the Central African Republic

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Population
  
4.616 million (2013)

GNI per capita
  
600 PPP dollars (2013)

Official languages
  
French, Sango

Life expectancy
  
49.48 years (2012)

Population growth rate
  
2.0% annual change (2013)

Demographics of the Central African Republic httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons66

Fertility rate
  
4.45 births per woman (2012)

This article is about the demographic features of the population of the Central African Republic, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Contents

Map of Central African Republic

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.

Population

According to the 2010 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 4 401 000 in 2010, compared to only 1 327 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 40.4%, 55.6% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 4% was 65 years or older .

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in the Central African Republic not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population

4,920,157 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 2015 est.)

Median age

Total: 21.4 years Male: 19.6 years Female: 20.2 years (2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.12% (2016 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: 0.67 male(s)/female Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 50.07 years Male: 48.84 years Female: 51.35 years (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: 4.7% (2009 est.) People living with HIV/AIDS: 130,000 (2009 est.) Deaths: 11,000 (2010 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Degree of risk: very high Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever Vectorborne disease: malaria Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis Water contact disease: schistosomiasis Animal contact disease: rabies (2010)

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%

Religions

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

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% (2010 est.)

References

Demographics of the Central African Republic Wikipedia