Central African Republic vs New Zealand

Central African Republic is 2.32 times larger than New Zealand. New Zealand would fit into Central African Republic about 2.3 times.

Central African RepublicNew ZealandCentral African Republic moved onto New Zealand · Equal-area projection
2.32×
Central African Republic is 2.32× the area of New Zealand.
Central African RepublicNew Zealand
Area622,984 km²268,021 km²
Population5,513,2825,324,700
Density8.8 / km²20 / km²
CapitalBanguiWellington
RegionMiddle AfricaAustralia and New Zealand
CoastlineLandlockedHas a coast
Neighbours60

Why the map you grew up with disagrees

On a Mercator map, area grows with distance from the equator. Central African Republic sits at about 7°N and is stretched to 1.01× its true area; New Zealand at 42° S is stretched to 1.79×. That difference is why New Zealand looks so much bigger than it is next to Central African Republic. The figure above uses the Equal Earth projection, where every square kilometre is drawn the same size.

Questions about this pair

Is Central African Republic bigger than New Zealand?
Yes. Central African Republic is 2.32 times larger than New Zealand. Central African Republic covers 622,984 km² and New Zealand covers 268,021 km².
How many times does New Zealand fit into Central African Republic?
About 2.3 times: Central African Republic has 2.32× the area of New Zealand.
Why do Central African Republic and New Zealand look different on Google Maps?
Web maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches area with distance from the equator. Central African Republic is drawn about 1.01× its true area there and New Zealand about 1.79×. That is why New Zealand looks so much bigger than it really is next to Central African Republic. Kartavera uses Equal Earth, where every square kilometre is drawn the same size.
Which has more people, Central African Republic or New Zealand?
Central African Republic: 5,513,282 people against 5,324,700. Density: Central African Republic 8.8 per km², New Zealand 20 per km².