11 December 2012 Last updated at 09:05 ET

Central African Republic profile

Boy running across path of cattle in a rural area After years of conflict and poverty, average life expectancy in CAR is just 39 years
  • Full name: Central African Republic
  • Population: 4.6 million (UN, 2012)
  • Capital: Bangui
  • Area: 622,984 sq km (240,535 sq miles)
  • Major languages: French, Sangho (lingua franca)
  • Major religions: Christianity, Islam, indigenous beliefs
  • Life expectancy: 48 years (men), 51 years (women) (UN)
  • Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
  • Main exports: Diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
  • GNI per capita: US $480 (World Bank, 2011)
  • Internet domain: .cf
  • International dialling code: +236

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