How does CAR compare with NZ? Well, one similarity I’ve found is that internationally, people know very little about either!
| CAR | |
| Size sq km | 622,941 (NZ 268,000 square kilometres)
|
| Lat | 2⁰ – 11⁰ (Wellington 41 S 174 E ) |
| Land type | Much of the country is flat or rolling plateau savannah. 8% covered by forest.
|
| Where am I? | Dzangha-Sangha National Park -south-western CAR- a tri-nation (CAR/Congo/Cameroon) protected rain forest area around the Sangha Rier – part of Congo river basin. Best known for its populations of forest elephants, gorillas and the local indigenous Pygmy tribes.
Temp 21° C – 34° C (Bay of Islands 10° – 30° C) Rainfall 178 cm (Bay of Islands 150 – 200 cm) |
| Population | 4.8M (NZ 4.79M ) |
| Age Distribution | 0-14 40% (NZ 20%)
15 – 24 20% 25 – 54 32% 55 – 64 4% 65+ 3% (NZ 60+ 18% and by 2050 predicted to be 29%) |
| Currency | Central African Franc (CFA ) also used in Cameroon etc |
| Literacy | male 51% Female 24% |
| Life Expectancy | 52 years (NZ females 84 / males 82) |
| Internet users: | 4.6% population |
| Infant mortality: | 88 deaths per1000 live births (NZ 4.1 per 1,000) |
| Pollution | In 2008 CAR was recorded as the world’s least light pollution affected country |
| Exports | Diamonds are the most important export (40-55% of export revenues) but it is estimated 30-50% of those produced each year leave the country clandestinely. |
| Religion | 80% Christian 15% Muslim. (Religious tensions between Muslims and Christians are high and many Muslims have fled the country in recent years to neighbouring Chad.) |
| Women | Approx 68% of girls marry before they turn 18.
4th highest maternal mortality rate in world. Approx 25% of women have undergone female genital mutilation. |
| Fertility Rate (2014) | 4.46 children born/woman (NZ 1.92) |
| Health | Malaria endemic – one of the leading causes of death.
HIV/AIDS prevalence (2009 estimate) 4.7% of adults 15 – 49. Government expenditure on health (2006) US$ 20 per person (10.9% total govt expenditure) (NZ $US 3328 per person) |
| Higher Education | University of Bangui includes a medical school and Euclid International University are the two Institutes of Higher Learning. |
Connecting Cheerfully 