National Identity
- Official name
- Central African Republic
- Official name (in French)
- République Centrafricaine
- Official name (in Sango)
- Ködörösêse tî Bêafrîka
- Name etymology
self-descriptive name specifying the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia, "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent
Sources:- Presentation ↗ - Embassy of the Central African Republic in France
- The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
Translated from the Embassy of the Central African Republic in France Its emblem is the flag of five (5) colours, four (4) of which are in horizontal stripes of equal width in the colours blue, white, green and yellow, crossed perpendicularly at their middle by a stripe of equal width in the colour red, and charged in the upper left corner with a five (5)-pointed star in the colour yellow.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Embassy of the Central African Republic in France The star guides the steps of the black people towards freedom and emancipation. [...] The colours Blue-White-Red after the French flag, the former coloniser.
The colours Green-Yellow-Red, which are the Pan-African colours, the Central African Republic being destined to be the capital of the United States of Africa.Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Embassy of the Central African Republic in France The flag of the Central African Republic is the national flag of the Central African Republic. It was presented to the legislative assembly on 1 December 1958 by President Barthélemy Boganda.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Embassy of the Central African Republic in France At the beginning, a hand was depicted whose index finger was pointed at the star of MESAN (Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa).
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSources:- paris.diplomatie.gouv.cf ↗ - the Embassy of the Central African Republic in France
- paris.diplomatie.gouv.cf ↗ - the Embassy of the Central African Republic in France
- National anthem
- La Renaissance1:06
- Title (in French)
- La Renaissance
- Title (in Sango)
- E Zingo
- Title (in English, translated from French)
- The Renaissance
- Lyrics
Ô Centrafrique, ô berceau des Bantous! Reprends ton droit au respect, à la vie! Longtemps soumis, longtemps brimé partous, Mais de ce jour brisant la tyrannie. Dans le travail, l’ordre et la dignité, Tu reconquiers ton droit, ton unité, Et pour franchir cette étape nouvelle, De nos ancêtres la voix nous appelle.
ChorusAu travail dans l’ordre et la dignité, Dans le respect du droit dans l’unité, Brisant la misère et la tyrannie, Brandissant l’étendard de la Patrie.
Source: - Citizens
- Central Africans
- Official name:Presentation ↗ - Embassy of the Central African Republic in France
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- National flag:paris.diplomatie.gouv.cf ↗ - the Embassy of the Central African Republic in France
- National flag:paris.diplomatie.gouv.cf ↗ - the Embassy of the Central African Republic in France
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Total area
- 622,984 km²
- Land area
- 622,984 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- 5,920 km(6 countries)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- 1,747 km
- Chad
- 1,556 km
- South Sudan
- 1,055 km
- Cameroon
- 901 km
- Republic of the Congo
- 487 km
- Sudan
- 174 km
Source:- The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Coastline
- 0 km(Landlocked)
- Terrain
Vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest - Mean elevation
- 635 m
- Highest point
- 1,410 mMont Ngaoui
- Lowest point
- 335 mOubangui River
- Climate
Tropical hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers - Avg. temperature
- 25.8 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 21.2 to 31.6 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,302 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 33.8 26.2 19.4 4 February 35.3 27.9 21.2 12 March 35.1 28.4 23 54 April 33.4 27.6 23.3 110 May 31.4 26.3 22.6 141 June 29.8 25.1 21.7 141 July 28.7 24.2 21 180 August 28.5 24 20.9 216 September 29.2 24.3 20.9 205 October 29.9 24.6 21 182 November 31.8 25.4 20.5 49 December 33.1 25.7 19.4 6 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable2.9%Perm. crops1.4%Pasture4.8%Forest72.5%Other18.4%
- Arable land
- 1,800,000 hectares (2.9%)
- Permanent crops
- 878,800 hectares (1.4%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 2,990,000 hectares (4.8%)
- Forest
- 45,187,918 hectares (72.5%)
- Other land
- 11,441,282 hectares (18.4%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Epidemics8.0Very high#2/191River floods6.0High#72/191Drought3.0Low#99/191Earthquakes0.1Very low#127/191Tsunamis0.0Very lowTropical cyclones0.0Very lowCoastal floods0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate, Major rivers:The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +3.37% per year+185,702 people/yearWorld Rank1stof 237
- Birth rate
- 44.7 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 9.1 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −2.7 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 14.6 yearsWorld Rank237thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years48.2%15-64 years49.5%65 years +2.2%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 2.2%
- Share aged under 18
- 56.0%
- Total dependency ratio
- 102
- Youth dependency ratio
- 97
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 5
- Sex ratio
- 0.93 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.1% 0.1% 70-79 0.4% 0.6% 60-69 1.0% 1.5% 50-59 1.4% 2.1% 40-49 2.0% 2.8% 30-39 4.1% 5.2% 20-29 8.7% 9.4% 10-19 13.3% 13.2% 0-9 17.2% 16.9% - 2026
- 3.29 above the replacement level for the Central African Republic ()5.69 births per womanreplacement 2.40123456World Rank4thof 237
- 2.40 daughters per woman1.40 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.522.5
- 2026
- +35.6 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 35.6 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −2.7 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 45.0% live in cities2,563,688 urban residents
- Largest cities2021
- Bangui, Bimbo, Bégoua, CarnotRankCity or Urban LocalityPopulation (2021 estimate)1Bangui812,4072Bimbo348,8023Bégoua264,0674Carnot129,0325Berbérati103,7136Bambari83,0297Bouar71,6808Bossangoa55,3539Kaga-Bandoro55,04710Bangassou54,059Source:
- Central African Institute of Statistics and Economic and Social Studies (2021 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui.
- Ethnic groups2003
- Baya28.8%Banda22.9%Mandjia9.9%Sara7.9%M'Baka-Bantu7.9%Arab-Fulani (Peuhl)6.0%Mbum6.0%Ngbanki5.5%Zande-Nzakara3.0%Other Central African Republic ethnic groups2.0%Non-Central African Republic ethnic groups.1%
- Religions2020
- Roman Catholic34.6%Protestant15.7%Other Christian22.9%Muslim13.8%Ethnic religionist12.0%Baha'i0.2%Agnostic/atheist0.7%
Animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority.
Source:- The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Languages
- French (Français), Sango (Sängö)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Central African Institute of Statistics and Economic and Social Studies (2021 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe President of the Republic is elected by direct universal suffrage in two rounds for a renewable seven-year term; the Constitution calls the state "united and indivisible" (Arts. 1, 67).
- System of government
- Semi-presidentialAlthough often described as presidential, the Central African Republic is classified as semi-presidential because it combines a directly elected President with a Government, headed by a Prime Minister, that the National Assembly can remove by a two-thirds censure (Arts. 86, 94, 95).
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Capital
- Bangui812,407 people(2021)
- National holidays
- 14 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- FriMar 20Eid al-Fitr (estimated)
- SunMar 29Barthélemy Boganda Day
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- ThuMay 14Ascension Day
- MonMay 25Pentecost Monday
- WedMay 27Eid al-Adha (estimated)
- TueJun 30General Prayer Day
- ThuAug 13Independence Day
- SatAug 15Assumption Day
- SunNov 1All Saints' Day
- TueDec 1National Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- WATWest Africa TimeUTC+1
- Currency
- Central African CFA Franc (XAF)
- Calling code
- +236
- Internet TLD
- .cf
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- CF, CAF
- Infrastructure
- Aircraft registration prefix
- TL
Source:- The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- 2025
- 24 / 100World Rank150thof 182Confidence interval
Corruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 26 22 30 2013 25 16 34 2014 24 22 26 2015 24 22 26 2016 20 13 27 2017 23 18 28 2018 26 24 28 2019 25 22.7 27.3 2020 26 24.5 27.5 2021 24 22.4 25.6 2022 24 22.7 25.3 2023 24 22.4 25.6 2024 24 21.4 26.6 2025 24 20.6 27.4 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Constitution of the Central African Republic, 30 August 2023, French text ↗
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Constitution of the Central African Republic, 2023, unofficial English translation (All Laws Worldwide) ↗
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- Low income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +2.7% per yearWorld Rank104thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $891 (185th in the world)
Source:- 2023
- Services40.5% of GDPIndustry20.7% of GDPAgriculture28.6% of GDPManufacturing18%part of industry
- Households
- +94.6%
- Government
- +10.3%
- Investment
- +9.3%
- Exports
- +19.3%
- Imports
- −33.6%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 3.5%up 2.5 percentage points2.5pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 2 million (37% of population)World Rank126thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 73.4% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 6.3%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 10.0% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $1.5 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 3.5% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 3.3% of GDP, $165 million deficit
Source: - Debt
- Central government debt202460.7% of GDPHousehold debt20222.2% of GDPCompany debt202210.1% of GDPInterest on debt20240.9% of GDP
- Trade2023
- Source:
- The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Agricultural products2024
- Melonseed, Sesame seed, Coffee (green), and 7 more
- 1Melonseed121.5×
- 2Sesame seed92.7×
- 3Coffee (green)87.2×
- 4Groundnuts (in shell)28.9×
- 5Cassava (fresh)10.7×
- 6Yams7.5×
- 7Taro7.4×
- 8Meat of cattle with the bone (fresh or chilled)4.5×
- 9Plantains and cooking bananas2.6×
- 10Seed cotton (unginned)2.1×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining
- Income level, GDP by sector:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- 2024
- FCFA 35,000 per month, gross$58 (USD), $133 (PPP)
- Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.414LowWorld Rank191stof 193Central African RepublicWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Central African Republic World 1990 0.342 0.608 1991 0.336 0.611 1992 0.321 0.614 1993 0.321 0.617 1994 0.323 0.620 1995 0.326 0.625 1996 0.323 0.631 1997 0.325 0.636 1998 0.328 0.641 1999 0.332 0.646 2000 0.333 0.651 2001 0.335 0.657 2002 0.337 0.662 2003 0.338 0.669 2004 0.342 0.675 2005 0.346 0.681 2006 0.350 0.688 2007 0.356 0.694 2008 0.362 0.698 2010 0.358 0.707 2011 0.377 0.713 2012 0.385 0.717 2013 0.359 0.721 2014 0.319 0.726 2015 0.377 0.731 2016 0.376 0.735 2017 0.356 0.739 2018 0.391 0.741 2019 0.279 0.745 2020 0.386 0.742 2021 0.339 0.742 2023 0.414 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2021
- 43
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 4 years
- Expected for a child today
- 7.4 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2019
- 42.4% of adults
- Education expenditure2023
- 1.8% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 10%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2019
- 7.5% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 4.5%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2019
- 1.6 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 2,000
- Fixed broadband
- 0 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2017
- 3% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 4%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 14%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 9%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted2025
- 54,376 people
- Asylum seekers
- 8,326
- Internally displaced persons
- 427,000All due to conflicts
- Refugees from the Central African Republic abroad
- 683,166
Sources:- Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists2020latest available
- 34,600 arrivalsdown 60% against 201960% below 2019
- Per resident
- 0.7 arrivals per 100 residents
- $30.9 million
- Spending per arrival
- $893
- $174 million
- Hotel beds
- 1,097(2013, latest available)
- Average hotel stay
- 1.3 nights(2013, latest available)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2020A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 2 sites2 natural
Site Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park Sangha Trinational Forest Source:- The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Refugees hosted:Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- High8.0 out of 10Conflict and violence, FloodsSeverity by monthSep 2024 to Aug 2026What the score is made ofImpact of the crisis8.6Conditions of people affected7.9Complexity of the crisis7.7
Data reliability as rated by INFORM: High. Last updated Aug 31, 2026.
Source:- INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Prison population2023
- 52 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 2,678
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 58.2 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 10.7% of GDP$54 per person
- Physicians2023
- 0.07 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2011
- 1 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 64.8 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 692 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 2.1 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 37.7 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 0.34 Mt per yearup 1.5 percent on the previous year1.5% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 0.1 t per personWorld Rank204thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- < 0.01%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 8.25 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 4.38 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 0.48 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 13.4 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 30.1 µg/m³ of PM2.52.5 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted21stof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- water pollution
- tap water not potable
- poaching
- wildlife mismanagement
- desertification
- deforestation
- soil erosion
Source:- The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- International agreements
- 15 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 47 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1996 Kyoto Protocol in force 2008 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1993 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1993 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1995 CITES in force 1980 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) signed 1979, not ratified Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2009 Nagoya Protocol in force 2018 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 2006 World Heritage Convention in force 1981 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1996 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 2006 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) not a party Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2008 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2021 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea signed 1984, not ratified High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) not a party MARPOL 73/78 not a party Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 31.5% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 141 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 27,658 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 0% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 0.1 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 1%
- Water stress
- 0% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 22.7% of the population1.2 million people
- Obesity2024
- 10.9% of adults
- Men
- 6.7%
- Women
- 14%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2022
- 18.4% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 1.28 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- < 0.01%
- Supply
- Deficitproduces 7.4% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade0.1 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 0.1 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 0.1 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- No domestic productionconsumes 2,920 b/d in 2024Consumption20242,920 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 2.5% of GDP$71.2 million, 14.1% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- estimated 10,000–15,000active FACA
- Military service2025
- Voluntaryno conscription, although the constitution provides for the possibility of conscription in the event of an imminent threat to the country; men and women 18–22
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service:The World Factbook: Central African Republic - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
