Country Profile Central African Republic

More than four million people live in the country, 39 percent of them in urban areas. This sort of population distribution is standard for the region, though a per capita income of 750 is less than one-third of the regional average. The World Bank Group lists the Central African Republic as the 180th of 181 countries for ease of doing business, contributing to this extreme poverty.

The life expectancy of those who live in the Central African Republic is 48, compared to a regional average of 54 and a global average of 68. The poor state of health services, low immunization rate for children and a prevalence of disease lead to a much shorter life for this country’s citizens. The UNHCO places the number of HIV-infected people at 5 percent of the population, though UNHCO estimates place that number at closer to 11 percent.

Spending on health services is less than one-fourth of the regional average and counts of health personnel are very low. There is one doctor and just over four nurses and midwives per ten thousand people in the Central African Republic. This is much lower than the average and suggests selective medical care, possibly accompanied by overcrowding.

Infant mortality rates are higher than the average at 171 per 1000 compared to 127. Approximately 59 percent of these deaths are disease-related. Maternal mortality is also around one-third higher than the regional average. Some of this has to do with the infestation of the disease-carrying tsetse fly in the area, but much of it is due to minimal and inadequate health care. These numbers are dropping, though at a barely noticeable rate.

While only 53 percent of births are through skilled doctors, this is higher than the regional average. The disparity of quality health care between rural and urban populations is very large, as is that between the rich and the poor. This suggests a more affluent urban population with access to a semi-elite health care system.

Access to clean drinking water has been improving in the Central African Republic, but only in the urban areas. Both urban and rural areas have seen a steady rise in improved sanitation, though it is still low compared to their neighbors. Both of these factors serve to increase problems with disease.

The Central African Republic has all the signs of a country emerging from many years of war and still trying to establish a solid infrastructure. The statistics suggest that proper sanitation has been the first improvement on its agenda, and the country is known to have very low pollution levels. This probably has to do with the Central African Republic’s huge potential for ecotourism, as well as the country’s desire to conserve this resource and potentially use it to boost the economy. If the government of this country can institute a proper infrastructure, the Central African Republic may experience a significant change in the future.