velopment projects with growth averaging 5%
annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The world decline in
oil prices, however, has forced the government to launch an austerity
program to cope with declining receipts and mounting foreign debts.

_#_GDP: $2.26 billion, per capita $1,050; real growth rate 0.6%
(1989 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.6% (1989 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: NA%

_#_Budget: revenues $522 million; expenditures $767 million,
including capital expenditures of $141 million (1989)

_#_Exports: $751 million (f.o.b., 1988);

commodities--crude petroleum 72%, lumber, plywood, coffee, cocoa,
sugar, diamonds;

partners--US, France, other EC

_#_Imports: $564 million (c.i.f., 1988);

commodities--foodstuffs, consumer goods, intermediate manufactures,
capital equipment;

partners--France, Italy, other EC, US, FRG, Spain, Japan, Brazil

_#_External debt: $4.5 billion (December 1988)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 1.2% (1989); accounts for
33% of GDP, including petroleum

_#_Electricity: 133,000 kW capacity; 300 million kWh produced,
130 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Industries: crude oil, cement, sawmills, brewery, sugar mill, palm
oil, soap, cigarettes

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing and
forestry); cassava accounts for 90% of food output; other crops--rice,
corn, peanuts, vegetables; cash crops include coffee and cocoa; forest
products important export earner; imports over 90% of food needs

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $60
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $2.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $15 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $338 million

_#_Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

_#_Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF)
per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

_#_Fiscal year: calendar year

_*_Communications
_#_Railroads: 797 km, 1.067-meter gauge, single track (includes 285 km
that are privately owned)

_#_Highways: 12,000 km total; 560 km bituminous surface treated;
850 km gravel, laterite; 5,350 km improved earth; 5,240 km unimproved
roads

_#_Inland waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide
1,120 km of commercia