Central African Republic at its true size
Central African Republic covers 622,984 km², number 44 of 194 countries by area. Home to 5,513,282 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.
Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
| Area | 622,984 km² Wikidata |
|---|---|
| Population | 5,513,282 World Bank, 2025 |
| Density | 8.8 per km² |
| Capital | Bangui |
| Local time in Bangui | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 IANA |
| Currency | Central African CFA franc (XAF) Wikidata |
| Languages | French, Sango |
| Traffic | On the right |
| Region | Middle Africa, Africa |
| Status | Independent state |
| Coast | Landlocked |
| Calling code | +236 |
| Codes | CF · CAF · 140 |
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Where Central African Republic ranks
Among the independent states, in 43 rankings. Each links to its table.
People
- Population#119 of 1945.5 million people#38 of 54 in Africa
- Population density#182 of 1948.8 people per km²#50 of 54 in Africa
- Urban population#140 of 19245% urban#31 of 54 in Africa
- Fertility rate#4 of 1925.95 births per woman#4 of 54 in Africa
- Population growth#7 of 192+3.37% a year#2 of 54 in Africa
- Birth rate#1 of 19246.2 births per 1,000 people#1 of 54 in Africa
- Death rate#48 of 1929.4 deaths per 1,000 people#7 of 54 in Africa
- Children under 15#1 of 19248.7% under 15#1 of 54 in Africa
- People over 65#187 of 1922.2% aged 65 and over#51 of 54 in Africa
- Net migration#156 of 192−2.7 per 1,000 people#50 of 54 in Africa
- Refugees abroad#5 of 190122.29 refugees abroad per 1,000 people#3 of 54 in Africa
Health & education
Economy
- GNI per capita#182 of 185$560 a person#50 of 52 in Africa
- Internet users#181 of 18414% online#49 of 52 in Africa
- GDP per capita (PPP)#183 of 184$1,314 a person#51 of 52 in Africa
- GDP growth#55 of 187+4.5% a year#27 of 52 in Africa
- Inflation#141 of 176+1.0% a year#41 of 50 in Africa
- Unemployment#68 of 1786.3% of the labour force#26 of 53 in Africa
- Extreme poverty#7 of 14971.6% under $3.00 a day#7 of 47 in Africa
- Income inequality (Gini)#24 of 149a Gini index of 43.0#13 of 47 in Africa
- Jobs in agriculture#7 of 17866.1% of jobs#6 of 53 in Africa
- Jobs in industry#146 of 17813.4% of jobs#31 of 53 in Africa
- Jobs in services#175 of 17820.5% of jobs#50 of 53 in Africa
- Foreign investment#112 of 1841.4% of GDP#36 of 52 in Africa
- Exports#135 of 16819.3% of GDP#35 of 49 in Africa
- Military spending#46 of 1552.3% of GDP#13 of 50 in Africa
- Mobile subscriptions#187 of 19139 subscriptions per 100 people#53 of 54 in Africa
Energy & environment
- CO₂ per person#180 of 1850.06 tonnes a person#51 of 53 in Africa
- Forest area#81 of 19236% forest#15 of 54 in Africa
- Renewable energy#5 of 19090.9% renewable#5 of 54 in Africa
- Access to electricity#189 of 19218.2% with electricity#51 of 54 in Africa
- Air pollution (PM2.5)#37 of 19133.3 µg/m³#21 of 54 in Africa
- Protected land#119 of 19114.8% of the land protected#30 of 54 in Africa
- Arable land#150 of 1902.9% of the land arable#44 of 54 in Africa
- Water stress#168 of 1760.3% of its available fresh water#48 of 53 in Africa
- Precipitation#67 of 1801,343 mm a year#15 of 54 in Africa
Governance & safety
Countries of a similar size
Every country within 25% of the Central African Republic’s area, lit up on the map →
- Somalia0.98×Central African Republic and Somalia are almost exactly the same size.
- Ukraine1.03×Central African Republic is 3% larger than Ukraine.
- France0.97×Central African Republic is 3% smaller than France.
- South Sudan0.97×Central African Republic is 3% smaller than South Sudan.
- Afghanistan0.96×Central African Republic is 4% smaller than Afghanistan.
- Madagascar1.06×Central African Republic is 6% larger than Madagascar.
How many times does Central African Republic fit into…
- Russia: about 27 times
- Canada: about 16 times
- United States: about 16 times
The land itself
Rivers, summits and lakes Central African Republic shares with the rest of the world. Turn on “Rivers & lakes” and “Physical names” in the atlas to see them on the map.
Rivers
- Chari1,400 km
- Ubangi1,060 km
- Sangha785 km
- Ouham676 km
- Kadeï554 km
Summits
- Mont Ngaoui1,410 m
Rivers are listed by the published length of their whole course, not the part inside Central African Republic. Figures from Wikidata, features from Natural Earth.
Neighbours
Questions about Central African Republic
- How big is Central African Republic?
- Central African Republic covers 622,984 km², which makes it number 44 of 194 countries by area. About 5,513,282 people live there (2025), 8.8 per km².
- Is Central African Republic bigger than Somalia?
- Central African Republic and Somalia are almost exactly the same size. Central African Republic: 622,984 km²; Somalia: 637,657 km².
- How much does the Mercator map distort Central African Republic?
- Central African Republic lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
- Which countries border Central African Republic?
- Central African Republic shares a land border with DR Congo, Sudan, Chad, South Sudan, Cameroon, Congo.