Economy of Central African Republic

Infrastructure in the Central African Republic (CAR) is limited and often unreliable. The country's electrical supply primarily relies on hydroelectric plants situated in Boali, but the supply is frequently disrupted. Transportation and communication networks are also constrained, with only 429 kilometers of paved roads, limited international air service, and no domestic rail service. The Oubangui River serves as a transportation route, but it becomes impassable from April to July. Additionally, conflict in the region can disrupt shipments between Kinshasa and Bangui. The telephone system functions inconsistently, and while there are several radio stations, one television station, and publications, internet access is provided by only one company. Access to fuel is challenging, with supplies often arriving by barge or truck from Cameroon, leading to shortages of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

The Central African Republic (CAR) possesses rich natural resources, including forestry, which contributes significantly to its economy. In 2014, forest products exports amounted to 59.3 million US dollars, constituting 40% of the total export earnings in CAR. Despite this potential, much of the country's forestry remains unexploited.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with approximately 74% of the population engaged in this sector as of 2013. The country's economy is heavily reliant on the cultivation and sale of food crops such as yams, cassava, peanuts, maize, sorghum, millet, sesame, and plantains. Cassava, in particular, serves as a staple food for most Central Africans, with annual production ranging from approximately 200,000 to 300,000 tons. Despite the importance of food crops, the CAR does not export them in large quantities. They remain the primary cash crops for the country due to the significant income generated from the periodic sale of surplus food crops. Additionally, many rural and urban women engage in processing food crops into alcoholic beverages such as sorghum beer or hard liquor, contributing substantially to their household income. Much of this income is informal and not accounted for in official economic statistics, leading to inaccuracies in per capita income calculations for the CAR.

Finance and banking in the Central African Republic (CAR) represent the smallest sector within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), with limited contributions to economic growth. The CAR's financial system faces challenges stemming from weak market infrastructure, legal frameworks, and judicial systems. As a result, the sector remains underdeveloped and primarily dominated by commercial banks. Economic and security issues have further constrained the operations of financial institutions, including microfinance institutions (MFIs), which have increasingly centralized their activities in the capital city of Bangui in recent years.