Central African Republic
Local name: Bêafrîka
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- Capital
- Bangui
- Population
- 5.5 million
- 118th in the world (2025)
- Area
- 622,984 km²
- 42nd in the world
- Density
- 9 people/km²
- 183rd in the world
In brief
The Central African Republic is a country in Central Africa. Its capital is Bangui. With 5.5 million inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 118th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 622,984 km². Landlocked, it shares land borders with Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Sudan.
GDP per capita stands at $556 (2025), 191st in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 57.7 years (2024). 45% of the population lives in cities.
History of the Central African Republic
A French colony known as Ubangi-Shari, the Central African Republic became independent on 13 August 1960; its founder, Barthélemy Boganda, had died the year before. Jean-Bedel Bokassa, in power since 1966, had himself crowned emperor in 1977 before being overthrown in 1979. Since then the country has seen many coups and, from 2013, a civil war; a UN mission is deployed there.
Geography of the Central African Republic
At the heart of the continent and landlocked, the Central African Republic is a broad savanna plateau, forested in the south-west. The Ubangi forms the southern border. The ground holds diamonds and gold.
Map of the Central African Republic
Flag of the Central African Republic
The flag of the Central African Republic is red, white, blue, green and yellow. Its official proportions are 2:3 (height to width).
- Yellow22%
- Green21%
- White21%
- Blue20%
- Red17%
Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.
What the flag stands for
Four bands, blue, white, green and yellow, cut by a vertical red band, with a yellow star. Designed by Boganda, it combines the French and pan-African colours; the red crossing them is the common blood that unites the peoples.
Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Central African Republic” and “Flag of the Central African Republic”.
See also: flags with a star.
Fact file
| Official name | Central African Republic |
|---|---|
| Capital | Bangui |
| Official languages | French, Sango |
| Currency | Central African CFA franc (XAF, Fr) |
| Demonym | Central African |
| Continent | Africa, Central Africa |
| Access to the sea | No, landlocked |
| Area | 622,984 km² |
| Calling code | +236 |
| Internet domain | .cf |
| UN status | Member state |
Economy and society
GDP per capita
$556
191st in the world (2025)
Life expectancy
57.7 years
at birth (2024)
Urban population
45%
Sources: World Bank (2025) for population and economy, Natural Earth for the map, mledoze/countries and Wikidata for reference data. Method.