Demographics of Central African Republic, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

There are more than 80 ethnic groups in the Central African Republic (CAR), each with its own language. About 50% are Baya-Mandjia and Banda--40% (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. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations programs seek to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living; to improve the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food and agricultural products; to promote rural development; and, by these means, to eliminate hunger. ... A people of the Central African Republic, some of whom also live in Congo (Kinshasa) and Cameroon and possibly in The Sudan. ... Sango (also spelt Sangho) is the primary language spoken in the Central African Republic: it has 5 million second-language speakers, but only 400,000 native speakers, mainly in the towns. ... The Ubangi River (also Oubangi) is a major tributary of the Congo River in Central Africa. ...

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. Bambari is the third largest city in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. ... Bangui, the only commune or federal district in the Central African Republic serves as its capital and largest city. ... Bangassou is a city in the south eastern Central African Republic, lying on the north bank of the Oubangui River. ...

Demographic data from the CIA World Factbook

Population

3,799,897

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 2005 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.5% (male 813,596/female 802,728)

15-64 years: 54% (male 1,010,696/female 1,041,903)

65 years and over: 3.4% (male 54,345/female 76,629) (2005 est.)

Median age

Total: 18.12 years

Male: 17.75 years

Female: 18.5 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate

1.49% (2005 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 91 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 97.84 deaths/1,000 live births

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

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 41.01 years

Male: 39.21 years

Female: 42.86 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: 13.5% (2003 est.)

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

Deaths: 23,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Degree of risk: very high

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vectorborne disease: malaria

Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

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%

a Sara woman about 1900 Sara is an ethnic group in Africa. ...

Religions

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

Note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

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% (2003 est.)

References

Some information in this article has been taken from the CIA World Factbook, 2005 edition. World Factbook 2004 cover The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...