March - 25 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Population Peoples   Over 100 ethnic groups.  Sudanic   90%. Over 38 languages. Largest: Banda 607,000; Gbaya 542,000; Sango 361,000; Manja 270,000; Mbum 195,000; Kare 72,000; Azande 72,000; Sara 72,000; Tana 63,000; Nzakara 54,000; Maba 44,000; Pana 36,000; Ngbaka 31,000; Kaba Dunjo 31,000; Mbati 27,000; Runga 23,000.  Bantu   3.2%. 11 languages. Largest: Kaka 67,000.  Arab   2.3%. Chad and Baggara Arabs.  West Atlantic   1.9%. Bororo Fulani 58,000.  Chadic-Hausa   1%. Ten languages, mainly on northern borders.  Pygmy   0.8%. Bayaka 18,000; three other small groups.  Other   0.8%. Mainly French. Literacy   40%, but 73% of population have not had any formal schooling. Official languages: French, Sango, the latter a trade language used by most of the population. All languages 94. Languages with Scriptures 5Bi 4NT 5por. Cities   Capital: Bangui 597,000. Urbanization 41%. Economy   Underdeveloped subsistence economy due to poor communications with distant seaports. Diamonds and other gemstones are the main exports. Unemployment 30%. Foreign debt/person $264. Income/person $760 (3.6% of USA). Politics   One-party or military governments 1981-87. A gradually developing multi-party democracy since then. |  |
 
  |