Background: The Central African Republic (CAR) is a perennially weak state that sits at the crossroads of ethnic and linguistic groups in the center of the African continent. Among the last areas of Sub-Saharan Africa to be drawn into the world economy, its introduction into trade networks around the early 1700s fostered significant competition among its population. The local population sought to benefit from the lucrative Atlantic, trans-Saharan, and Indian Ocean trade in enslaved people and ivory. Slave raids aided by the local populations fostered animosity between ethnic groups that remains today. The territory was established as a French colony named Ubangui-Shari in 1903, and France modeled its administration of the colony after the Belgian Congo, subcontracting control of the territory to private companies that collected rubber and ivory. Although France banned the domestic slave trade in CAR in the 1910s, the private companies continued to exploit the population through forced labor. The colony of Ubangi-Shari gained independence from France as the Central African Republic in 1960, but the death of independence leader Barthelemy BOGANDA six months prior led to an immediate struggle for power. CAR’s political history has since been marred by a series of coups, the first of which brought Jean-Bedel BOKASSA to power in 1966. Widespread corruption and intolerance for any political opposition characterized his regime. In an effort to prolong his mandate, BOKASSA named himself emperor in 1976 and changed the country’s name to the Central African Empire. His regime’s economic mismanagement culminated in widespread student protests in 1979 that were violently suppressed by security forces. BOKASSA fell out of favor with the international community and was overthrown in a French-backed coup in 1979. After BOKASSA’s departure, the country’s name once again became the Central African Republic. CAR’s fifth coup in 2013 unseated President Francois BOZIZE after the Seleka, a mainly Muslim rebel coalition, seized the capital and forced BOZIZE to flee the country. The Seleka's widespread abuses spurred the formation of mainly Christian self-defense groups that called themselves the anti-Balaka, which have also committed human rights abuses against Muslim populations in retaliation. Since the rise of these groups, conflict in CAR has become increasingly ethnoreligious, although focused on identity rather than religious ideology. Elections in 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he was reelected in 2020. A peace agreement signed in 2019 between the government and the main armed factions has had little effect, and armed groups remain in control of large swaths of the country's territory. TOUADERA's United Hearts Movement has governed the country since 2016, and a new constitution approved by referendum on 30 July 2023 effectively ended term limits, creating the potential for TOUADERA to extend his rule.

Area
Total: 622,984 km²
Land: 622,984 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia

Land boundaries
Total: 5,920 km
Border countries (5): (6) Cameroon 901 km; Chad 1556 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km; , Republic of the Congo 487 km; South Sudan 1055 km; Sudan 174 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain: vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Elevation
Highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m
Lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
Mean elevation: 635 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 72.5% (2023 est.)
Other: 18.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 km² (2012)

Major rivers: Oubangui (Ubangi) river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km
Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common

Geography
Note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Population
Total: 5,650,957 (2024 est.)
Male: 2,814,497
Female: 2,836,460
Distribution: majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui, as shown in this population distribution map
Growth rate: 1.76% (2024 est.)

Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages

Religions: Roman Catholic 34.6%, Protestant 15.7%, other Christian 22.9%, Muslim 13.8%, ethnic religionist 12%, Baha'i 0.2%, agnostic/atheist 0.7% (2020 est.)
Note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Age structure
0-14 years: 38.5% (male 1,113,795/female 1,063,971)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,613,770/female 1,662,522)
65 years and over: 3.5% (2024 est.) (male 86,932/female 109,967)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 72.5 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 66.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 16.6 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 20.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 19.7 years
Female: 21.2 years

Population growth rate: 1.76% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 31.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 11.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui, as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 43.6% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 86.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 56.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 55.1 years
Female: 57.7 years

Total fertility rate: 3.94 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 51.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 63.7% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 87.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 69.8% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.4% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.9% (2024 est.); 5.9% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Bangui
Geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: established as a French military post in 1889; the name means 'rapids' in the local Bobangui language, because of the city's location above the first great rapid on the Ubangi River

Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (préfectures, singular - préfecture), 2 economic prefectures* (préfectures économiques, singular - préfecture économique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga

Legal system: civil law system based on the French model

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (since 30 March 2016)
Head of government: Prime Minister Félix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Election/appointment process: current president was directly elected for 5-year term; constitutional referendum in July 2023 removed term limits and instituted 7-year terms
Most recent election date: 27 December 2020
2020: Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 53.9%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 21%, other 25.1%
2015: Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 23.7%, Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 19.1%, Desire KOLINGBA (RDC) 12%, Martin ZIGUELE (MLPC) 11.4%, other 33.8%; percent of vote in second round - Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA 62.7%, Anicet-Georges DOLOGUELE 37.3%
Expected date of next election: December 2025

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 140 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 12/27/2020 to 7/25/2021
Parties elected and seats per party: United Hearts Movement (MCU) (63); National Movement of Independents (MOUNI) (9); Union for Central African Renewal (URCA) (7); Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) (7); Other (34); Independents (20)
Percentage of women in chamber: 11.4%
Expected date of next election: December 2025
Note 1: on 27 December 2020, the day of first round elections, voting in many electoral areas was disrupted by armed groups; on 13 February 2021, President TOUADERA announced that new first round elections would be held on 27 February 2021 for those areas controlled by armed groups and the second round on 14 March 2021; ultimately, two additional rounds were held on 23 May and 25 July 2021 in areas that continued to suffer from election security problems
Note 2: in accordance with article 98 of the constitution published in August 2023, the parliamentary term has increased from five to seven years and will be first applied to the legislature due to be elected in late 2025

Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in the center; a five-pointed yellow star sits in the top left corner of the flag, on the blue band

National anthem
Title: 'La Renaissance' (The Renaissance)
Lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
History: adopted 1960; BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 1.5% (2024 est.); 0.7% (2023 est.); 0.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 1.5% (2024 est.); 0.7% (2023 est.); 0.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 94.7% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 9.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 15.4% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 15.5% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -32.4% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 32.5% (2024 est.)
Industry: 17.8% (2024 est.)
Services: 40.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

Industrial production growth rate: 9.7% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 2 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.9% (2024 est.); 5.9% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.9% (2024 est.); 5.9% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $360.48 million (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $462.104 million (2021 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 8.2% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $425.306 million (2024 est.); $369.034 million (2023 est.); $293.074 million (2022 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, cotton (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $890.572 million (2024 est.); $742.108 million (2023 est.); $784.669 million (2022 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, tanks and armored vehicles (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 63,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 132.105 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 15.7% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 34.7%
Access electrification - rural areas: 1.6%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 99.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 3 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 313,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 313,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 954,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 2,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 1.83 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 8% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1,000 (2022 est.) Data available for 2019 only.
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Military expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 43 (2025)