thumb|400px| A United Nations map of the Central African Republic
thumb| Location of the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic is a landlocked nation within the interior of the African continent. It is bordered by Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. Much of the country consists of flat, or rolling plateau savanna, about above sea level. In the northeast are the Fertit Hills, and there are scattered hills in the southwestern part of the country. To the northwest is the Karre Mountains (also known as Yade Massif), a granite plateau with an altitude of .
At , the Central African Republic is the world's 45th-largest country (after Somalia). It is comparable in size to Ukraine.
Much of the southern border is formed by tributaries of the Congo River, with the Mbomou River in the east merging with the Uele River to form the Ubangi River. In the west, the Sangha River flows through part of the country. The eastern border lies along the edge of the Congo-Nile watershed.
In the Central African Republic forest cover is around 36% of the total land area, equivalent to 22,303,000 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, down from 23,203,000 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 22,301,000 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 2,000 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 9% was reported to be primary forest (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity). For the year 2015, 91% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership and 9% private ownership. In 2021, the rate of deforestation in the Central African Republic increased by 71%. The forest is highly diverse and includes commercially important species of Ayous, Sapele and Sipo.
Climate
thumb|250px|Central African Republic map of Köppen climate classification.
The climate of the Central African Republic is generally a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), although there are areas with a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) and in the north there is also a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). There is a wet season and a dry season, and the temperature is hot throughout the year. The northern areas are subject to harmattan winds, which are hot, dry, and carry dust. The tip of the northern regions have been subject to desertification. The remainder of the country is prone to flooding from nearby rivers. About one third of the Central African Republic's population do not have access to clean water.
{{Weather box
|location = Bangui (381 m), Central African Republic (1931–1955)
|width = auto
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high C = 37.2
|Feb record high C = 38.8
|Mar record high C = 39.5
|Apr record high C = 38.0
|May record high C = 38.6
|Jun record high C = 35.8
|Jul record high C = 34.3
|Aug record high C = 34.4
|Sep record high C = 35.9
|Oct record high C = 35.7
|Nov record high C = 36.7
|Dec record high C = 36.2
|Jan high C = 32.9
|Feb high C = 33.9
|Mar high C = 33.5
|Apr high C = 32.9
|May high C = 31.9
|Jun high C = 30.9
|Jul high C = 29.9
|Aug high C = 29.9
|Sep high C = 30.6
|Oct high C = 30.7
|Nov high C = 31.4
|Dec high C = 31.8
|year high C = 31.7
|Jan mean C = 26.0
|Feb mean C = 27.1
|Mar mean C = 27.4
|Apr mean C = 27.1
|May mean C = 26.5
|Jun mean C = 25.3
|Jul mean C = 25.1
|Aug mean C = 25.1
|Sep mean C = 25.4
|Oct mean C = 25.5
|Nov mean C = 25.7
|Dec mean C = 25.7
|year mean C = 26.0
|Jan low C = 19.5
|Feb low C = 20.2
|Mar low C = 21.3
|Apr low C = 21.4
|May low C = 21.1
|Jun low C = 19.7
|Jul low C = 20.3
|Aug low C = 20.3
|Sep low C = 20.2
|Oct low C = 20.2
|Nov low C = 20.0
|Dec low C = 19.3
|year low C = 20.3
|Jan record low C = 13.0
|Feb record low C = 13.1
|Mar record low C = 16.2
|Apr record low C = 14.4
|May record low C = 16.0
|Jun record low C = 16.5
|Jul record low C = 15.0
|Aug record low C = 17.0
|Sep record low C = 17.2
|Oct record low C = 17.3
|Nov record low C = 16.9
|Dec record low C = 13.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 20
|Feb precipitation mm = 39
|Mar precipitation mm = 116
|Apr precipitation mm = 142
|May precipitation mm = 167
|Jun precipitation mm = 134
|Jul precipitation mm = 174
|Aug precipitation mm = 240
|Sep precipitation mm = 185
|Oct precipitation mm = 190
|Nov precipitation mm = 89
|Dec precipitation mm = 24
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 2
|Feb precipitation days = 5
|Mar precipitation days = 10
|Apr precipitation days = 12
|May precipitation days = 14
|Jun precipitation days = 13
|Jul precipitation days = 14
|Aug precipitation days = 17
|Sep precipitation days = 16
|Oct precipitation days = 17
|Nov precipitation days = 11
|Dec precipitation days = 4
|Jan humidity = 70
|Feb humidity = 64
|Mar humidity = 71
|Apr humidity = 76
|May humidity = 79
|Jun humidity = 81
|Jul humidity = 83
|Aug humidity = 83
|Sep humidity = 83
|Oct humidity = 83
|Nov humidity = 81
|Dec humidity = 75
|Jan sun = 203
|Feb sun = 201
|Mar sun = 191
|Apr sun = 184
|May sun = 193
|Jun sun = 158
|Jul sun = 138
|Aug sun = 138
|Sep sun = 143
|Oct sun = 158
|Nov sun = 171
|Dec sun = 220
| source 1 = Deutscher Wetterdienst<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_646500_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Bangui / Zentralafrikanische Rep.
| publisher = Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
| access-date = 2 November 2016}}
</ref>
| source 2 = Danish Meteorological Institute (sun only)<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf
|title=STATIONSNUMMER 64650
|publisher=Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate
|access-date=2 November 2016
|url-status=bot: unknown
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116071752/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf
|archive-date=16 January 2013
}}
</ref>
}}
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|location=Bossangoa (2000-2016)
|collapsed = yes
|Jan high C= 35.7
|Feb high C= 37.5
|Mar high C= 38.3
|Apr high C= 36.3
|May high C= 34.4
|Jun high C= 32.4
|Jul high C= 31.2
|Aug high C= 30.9
|Sep high C= 31.5
|Oct high C= 32.7
|Nov high C= 34.3
|Dec high C= 34.9
|Jan mean C= 25.1
|Feb mean C= 27.9
|Mar mean C= 29.8
|Apr mean C= 29.4
|May mean C= 28.5
|Jun mean C= 26.9
|Jul mean C= 26.1
|Aug mean C= 25.9
|Sep mean C= 26.2
|Oct mean C= 26.6
|Nov mean C= 26.7
|Dec mean C= 25.0
|Jan low C= 14.3
|Feb low C= 18.4
|Mar low C= 21.3
|Apr low C= 22.5
|May low C= 22.0
|Jun low C= 21.4
|Jul low C= 20.9
|Aug low C= 20.9
|Sep low C= 20.7
|Oct low C= 20.6
|Nov low C= 19.0
|Dec low C= 15.0
|rain colour= green
|Jan rain mm= 1
|Feb rain mm= 6
|Mar rain mm= 47
|Apr rain mm= 92
|May rain mm= 141
|Jun rain mm= 166
|Jul rain mm= 234
|Aug rain mm= 279
|Sep rain mm= 240
|Oct rain mm= 159
|Nov rain mm= 22
|Dec rain mm= 1
|Jan sun= 265
|Feb sun= 242
|Mar sun= 211
|Apr sun= 211
|May sun= 227
|Jun sun= 188
|Jul sun= 165
|Aug sun= 155
|Sep sun= 172
|Oct sun= 198
|Nov sun= 248
|Dec sun= 266
|source 1= Normales et records pour la période 2000-2016 à Bossangoa ,
|source 2= Climate Bossangoa - Central African Republic for rainfall totals , Étude méthodologique pour l'utilisation des données climatologiques de l'Afrique tropicale for sunshine hours"Étude méthodologique pour l'utilisation des données climatologiques de l'Afrique tropicale for sunshine hours"
}}
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = N'Délé (2002-2013)
| collapsed = yes
| Jan high C = 36.5
| Feb high C = 37.8
| Mar high C = 38.5
| Apr high C = 37.0
| May high C = 34.6
| Jun high C = 31.8
| Jul high C = 30.4
| Aug high C = 29.4
| Sep high C = 30.5
| Oct high C = 31.7
| Nov high C = 33.3
| Dec high C = 34.7
| Jan mean C = 27.2
| Feb mean C = 29.4
| Mar mean C = 30.1
| Apr mean C = 30.0
| May mean C = 28.6
| Jun mean C = 26.7
| Jul mean C = 25.4
| Aug mean C = 25.4
| Sep mean C = 25.4
| Oct mean C = 25.9
| Nov mean C = 25.8
| Dec mean C = 25.1
| Jan low C = 18.0
| Feb low C = 20.7
| Mar low C = 21.3
| Apr low C = 22.9
| May low C = 22.6
| Jun low C = 21.2
| Jul low C = 20.7
| Aug low C = 21.3
| Sep low C = 20.4
| Oct low C = 20.1
| Nov low C = 18.5
| Dec low C = 16.2
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 0
| Feb rain mm = 6
| Mar rain mm = 24
| Apr rain mm = 65
| May rain mm = 122
| Jun rain mm = 151
| Jul rain mm = 205
| Aug rain mm = 235
| Sep rain mm = 231
| Oct rain mm = 131
| Nov rain mm = 9
| Dec rain mm = 0
|Jan sun= 279
|Feb sun= 263
|Mar sun= 250
|Apr sun= 209
|May sun= 222
|Jun sun= 189
|Jul sun= 160
|Aug sun= 151
|Sep sun= 157
|Oct sun= 201
|Nov sun= 277
|Dec sun= 268
|source 1= Normales et records pour la période 2002-2013 à N'Dele,
|source 2= Climate : N'Délé for rainfall totals, Étude méthodologique pour l'utilisation des données climatologiques de l'Afrique tropicale for sunshine hours"Étude méthodologique pour l'utilisation des données climatologiques de l'Afrique tropicale for sunshine hours"
}}
{{Weather box
|width = auto
| location = Birao
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan high C = 34.7
| Feb high C = 37.3
| Mar high C = 39.4
| Apr high C = 39.7
| May high C = 37.9
| Jun high C = 35
| Jul high C = 31.4
| Aug high C = 30.8
| Sep high C = 32.1
| Oct high C = 34.5
| Nov high C = 35
| Dec high C = 33.6
| Jan mean C = 23.7
| Feb mean C = 26
| Mar mean C = 28.8
| Apr mean C = 30.4
| May mean C = 30.2
| Jun mean C = 28.3
| Jul mean C = 25.7
| Aug mean C = 25.3
| Sep mean C = 25.9
| Oct mean C = 26.5
| Nov mean C = 23.9
| Dec mean C = 22.5
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 12.7
| Feb low C = 14.8
| Mar low C = 18.3
| Apr low C = 21.1
| May low C = 22.5
| Jun low C = 21.6
| Jul low C = 20.1
| Aug low C = 19.8
| Sep low C = 19.7
| Oct low C = 18.6
| Nov low C = 12.8
| Dec low C = 11.4
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm=0
|Feb rain mm=0
|Mar rain mm=1
|Apr rain mm=20
|May rain mm=67
|Jun rain mm=107
|Jul rain mm=189
|Aug rain mm=193
|Sep rain mm=146
|Oct rain mm=38
|Nov rain mm=1
|Dec rain mm=0
|source 1 = Climate-Data.org<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://en.climate-data.org/location/32023/
|title = Climate: Birao |publisher=Climate-Data.org
|access-date = August 14, 2019}}</ref>
}}
Forests
Tree cover extent and loss
Global Forest Watch publishes annual estimates of tree cover loss and 2000 tree cover extent derived from time-series analysis of Landsat satellite imagery in the Global Forest Change dataset.<ref name="GFWCAFdashboard">{{cite web
|title=Central African Republic Deforestation Rates & Statistics
|website=Global Forest Watch
|url=https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/CAF/
}}</ref><ref name="HansenEtAl2013">{{cite journal
|last1=Hansen
|first1=Matthew C.
|last2=Potapov
|first2=Peter V.
|last3=Moore
|first3=Rebecca
|last4=Hancher
|first4=Matt
|last5=Turubanova
|first5=Svetlana A.
|last6=Tyukavina
|first6=Alexandra
|display-authors=3
|title=High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change
|journal=Science
|volume=342
|issue=6160
|year=2013
|pages=850-853
|doi=10.1126/science.1244693
}}</ref><ref name="GFWTCLossAbout">{{cite web
|title=Tree cover loss
|website=Global Forest Watch Open Data Portal
|url=https://data.globalforestwatch.org/documents/gfw::tree-cover-loss/about
}}</ref><ref name="GFWTCCover2000About">{{cite web
|title=Tree cover (2000)
|website=Global Forest Watch Open Data Portal
|url=https://data.globalforestwatch.org/documents/gfw::tree-cover-2000/about
}}</ref> In this framework, tree cover refers to vegetation taller than 5 m (including natural forests and tree plantations), and tree cover loss is defined as the complete removal of tree cover canopy for a given year, regardless of cause.<ref name="GFRTreeCoverLoss2023">{{cite web
|title=How much forest was lost in 2023?
|website=Global Forest Review
|url=https://gfr.wri.org/global-tree-cover-loss-data-2023
}}</ref>
For the Central African Republic, country statistics report cumulative tree cover loss of from 2001 to 2024 (about 2.3% of its 2000 tree cover area). For tree cover density greater than 30%, country statistics report a 2000 tree cover extent of . The charts and table below display this data. In simple terms, the annual loss number is the area where tree cover disappeared in that year, and the extent number shows what remains of the 2000 tree cover baseline after subtracting cumulative loss. Forest regrowth is not included in the dataset.
{{ChartDirect
|type=bar
|align=center
|width=100%
|x=2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024
|xType=integer
|y1=312.82,344.18,137.27,145.88,293.17,578.83,373.08,318.60,482.53,485.54,491.40,573.15,441.83,578.52,273.15,511.53,639.09,409.13,490.26,551.37,671.81,510.29,545.35,607.52
|y1Title=Annual tree cover loss (km²)
|caption=Annual tree cover loss in the Central African Republic, 2001–2024.
}}
{{ChartDirect
|type=line
|align=center
|width=100%
|x=2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024
|xType=integer
|y1=470422.24,470078.06,469940.79,469794.91,469501.74,468922.91,468549.83,468231.23,467748.70,467263.16,466771.76,466198.61,465756.78,465178.26,464905.11,464393.58,463754.49,463345.36,462855.10,462303.73,461631.92,461121.63,460576.28,459968.76
|y1Title=Extent minus cumulative loss (km²)
|caption=Tree cover extent in 2000 minus cumulative tree cover loss in the Central African Republic, 2001–2024 (loss-only residual; does not account for gain).
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Annual tree cover extent and loss
! Year
! Tree cover extent (km2)
! Annual tree cover loss (km2)
|-
| 2001 || 470,422.24 || 312.82
|-
| 2002 || 470,078.06 || 344.18
|-
| 2003 || 469,940.79 || 137.27
|-
| 2004 || 469,794.91 || 145.88
|-
| 2005 || 469,501.74 || 293.17
|-
| 2006 || 468,922.91 || 578.83
|-
| 2007 || 468,549.83 || 373.08
|-
| 2008 || 468,231.23 || 318.60
|-
| 2009 || 467,748.70 || 482.53
|-
| 2010 || 467,263.16 || 485.54
|-
| 2011 || 466,771.76 || 491.40
|-
| 2012 || 466,198.61 || 573.15
|-
| 2013 || 465,756.78 || 441.83
|-
| 2014 || 465,178.26 || 578.52
|-
| 2015 || 464,905.11 || 273.15
|-
| 2016 || 464,393.58 || 511.53
|-
| 2017 || 463,754.49 || 639.09
|-
| 2018 || 463,345.36 || 409.13
|-
| 2019 || 462,855.10 || 490.26
|-
| 2020 || 462,303.73 || 551.37
|-
| 2021 || 461,631.92 || 671.81
|-
| 2022 || 461,121.63 || 510.29
|-
| 2023 || 460,576.28 || 545.35
|-
| 2024 || 459,968.76 || 607.52
|}
Facts
thumb|450px|A satellite map of the Central African Republic.
thumb|450px|Topography of Central African Republic.
Location:
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Area comparative
Slightly smaller than Somalia
Slightly larger than Ukraine
Australia comparative: slightly more than the size of New South Wales
Canada comparative: slightly smaller than Manitoba
United Kingdom comparative: slightly more than 2 times the size of the United Kingdom
United States comparative: approximately smaller than Texas
EU comparative: approximately larger than Spain
Land boundaries:
total:
5,920 km
border countries:
Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1,556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, Sudan 174 km and South Sudan 1,055 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Terrain:
vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Oubangui River 335 m
highest point:
Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, petroleum, hydropower
Land use:
arable land:
2.89%
permanent crops:
0.13%
other:
96.98% (2012 est.)
Irrigated land:
1.35 km2 (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
144.4 km3 (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total:
0.07 km3/yr (83%/17%/1%)
per capita:
17.42 m3/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
Environment — current issues:
tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification
Environment — international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Geography — note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
Extreme points
This is a list of the extreme points of the Central African Republic, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.
- Northernmost point - unnamed location in the Aoukal river on the border with Chad, Vakaga Prefecture
- Easternmost point - unnamed location immediately East of the tripoint with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and south of the town of Ezo in South Sudan, Haut-Mbomou Prefecture
- Southernmost point - the tripoint with Cameroon and the Republic of Congo, Sangha-Mbaéré Prefecture
- Westernmost point - unnamed location on the border with Cameroon west of the town of Koundé in Central African Republic near Cameroon's Lokoti to Garoua Boulai road, Nana-Mambéré Prefecture
Notes
References
pt:República Centro-Africana#Geografia