Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of estimated GDP, although statistics are unreliable in the conflict-prone country. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked geography, poor transportation system, largely unskilled work force, and legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is highly unequal and grants from the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs. CAR shares a common currency with the Central African Monetary Union. The currency is pegged to the Euro.
Since 2009, the IMF has worked closely with the government to institute reforms that have resulted in some improvement in budget transparency, but other problems remain. The government's additional spending in the run-up to the 2011 election worsened CAR's fiscal situation. In 2012, the World Bank approved $125 million in funding for transport infrastructure and regional trade, focused on the route between CAR's capital and the port of Douala in Cameroon. In July 2016, the IMF approved a three-year extended credit facility valued at $116 million; in mid-2017, the IMF completed a review of CAR’s fiscal performance and broadly approved of the government’s management, although issues with revenue collection, weak government capacity, and transparency remain. The World Bank in late 2016 approved a $20 million grant to restore basic fiscal management, improve transparency, and assist with economic recovery.
Participation in the Kimberley Process, a commitment to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain, led to a partially lifted the ban on diamond exports from CAR in 2015, but persistent insecurity is likely to constrain real GDP growth.
4.3% (2017 est.)
4.5% (2016 est.)
4.8% (2015 est.)
2.7% (2019 est.)
1.6% (2018 est.)
4.2% (2017 est.)
$4.483 billion (2019 est.)
$4.354 billion (2018 est.)
$4.195 billion (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
$1.937 billion (2017 est.)
$945 (2019 est.)
$933 (2018 est.)
$913 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
5.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
8.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
4.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
agriculture: 43.2% (2017 est.)
industry: 16% (2017 est.)
services: 40.8% (2017 est.)
household consumption: 95.3% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 8.5% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 13.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 12% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -29.5% (2017 est.)
Overall score: 35.6 (2020)
Starting a Business score: 63.2 (2020)
Trading score: 52.4 (2020)
Enforcement score: 31.4 (2020)
cassava, yams, groundnuts, taro, bananas, sugar cane, beef, maize, plantains, milk
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining
3.9% (2017 est.)
2.242 million (2017 est.)
6.9% (2017 est.)
62% NA (2008 est.)
43.6 (2003 est.)
61.3 (1993)
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 33% (2003)
revenues: 282.9 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 300.1 million (2017 est.)
14.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
-0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
52.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
56% of GDP (2016 est.)
calendar year
-$163 million (2017 est.)
-$97 million (2016 est.)
$113.7 million (2017 est.)
$101.5 million (2016 est.)
China 41%, United Arab Emirates 19%, France 7% (2019)
lumber, gold, diamonds, sea vessels, cocoa paste (2019)
$393.1 million (2017 est.)
$342.2 million (2016 est.)
India 18%, France 12%, United States 11%, China 9%, Netherlands 7%, Belgium 7%, Malta 6% (2019)
refined petroleum, packaged medicines, natural gas, broadcasting equipment, second-hand clothing (2019)
$304.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$252.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$779.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$691.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
605.3 (2017 est.)
593.01 (2016 est.)
593.01 (2015 est.)
591.45 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)
NOTE: The information regarding Central African Republic on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Central African Republic 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Central African Republic 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.
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