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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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.

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Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

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7 00 N, 21 00 E

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Africa

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slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia

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0 km (landlocked)

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none (landlocked)

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

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

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diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

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10 sq km (2012)

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Oubangui (Ubangi) river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km <br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin

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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

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

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landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

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Baya 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peuhl) 6%, Mbum 6%, Ngbanki 5.5%, Zande-Nzakara 3%, other Central African Republic ethnic groups 2%, non-Central African Republic ethnic groups .1% (2003 est.)

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

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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.)

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<strong>note:</strong> animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

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1.74% (2025 est.)

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31.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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11.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-3.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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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

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958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023)

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692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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3.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.92 (2025 est.)

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0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

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7.5% (2016)

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18.4% (2022 est.)

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65.4% (2019 est.)

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water pollution; tap water not potable; poaching; wildlife mismanagement; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion

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

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25.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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141 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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presidential republic

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14 prefectures (<em>préfectures</em>, singular - <em>préfecture</em>), 2 economic prefectures* (<em>préfectures économiques</em>, singular - <em>préfecture économique</em>), 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

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civil law system based on the French model

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note 1:</strong> 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 6 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<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 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

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Action Party for Development or PAD<br>African Party for Radical Transformation and Integration of States or PATRIE<br>Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP<br>Be Africa ti e Kwe (also known as Central Africa for Us All or BTK)<br>Central African Democratic Rally or RDC<br>Central African Party for Integrated Development or PCDI<br>Democratic Movement for the Renewal and Evolution of Central Africa or MDREC<br>Kodro Ti Mo Kozo Si Movement or MKMKS<br>Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD<br>Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC<br>National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa or KNK)<br>National Movement of Independents or MOUNI<br>National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP<br>National Union of Republican Democrats or UNADER<br>New Impetus for Central Africa or CANE<br>Party for Democracy and Solidarity - Kélémba or KPDS<br>Party for Democratic Governance or PGD<br>Path of Hope or CDE<br>Renaissance for Sustainable Development or RDD<br>Socialist Party or PS<br>Transformation Through Action Initiative or ITA<br>Union for Central African Renewal or URCA<br>Union for Renaissance and Development or URD<br>United Hearts Movement or MCU<strong><br></strong>

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ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country) (suspended), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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13 August 1960 (from France)

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Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

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<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> combines the pan-African and French flag colors; red stands for blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue for the sky and freedom, white for peace and dignity, green for hope and faith, and yellow for tolerance; the star represents aspiring to a vibrant future

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elephant

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blue, white, green, yellow, red

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enormous natural resources; extreme poverty; weak public institutions and infrastructure; political and gender-based violence have led to displacement of roughly 25% of population; Bangui-Douala corridor blockade reduced activity and tax collection; strong agricultural performance offset COVID-19 downturn

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$2.752 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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cassava, groundnuts, yams, coffee, maize, sesame seeds, taro, sugarcane, beef, milk (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining

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9.7% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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2 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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68.8% (2021 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<strong>note:</strong> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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8.2% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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UAE 54%, China 14%, France 6%, Turkey 5%, Belgium 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, cotton (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<strong>note: </strong>GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 16%, Cameroon 14%, France 8%, Belgium 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, tanks and armored vehicles (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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government-owned network, Radiodiffusion T&eacute;l&eacute;vision Centrafricaine, provides limited TV broadcasting; state-owned radio network is supplemented by a small number of privately owned broadcast stations, as well as a few community radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2017)

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.cf

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TL

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43 (2025)

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Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine)<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), National Police (2025)

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<strong>note: </strong>the Special Republican Protection Group (Groupement Spécial Chargé de la Protection Républicaine or GSPR) provides protection to the head of state; it is part of the Army but reports to the president

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estimated 10-15,000 active FACA (2025)

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most of the military's heavy weapons and equipment were lost during the 2012–2014 civil war; prior to the war, most of its inventory was of French, Russian, or Soviet origin; in recent years, it has received some donated equipment from China and Russia, including armored vehicles, drones, helicopters, jet trainer aircraft, and some light weapons (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the CAR was under a UNSC arms embargo from 2013-July 2024

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18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription although the constitution provides for the possibility of conscription in the event of an imminent threat to the country (2025)

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the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) are focused on internal security; since the 2013 coup, multiple armed groups have been active in the country, carrying out attacks, controlling territory, and undermining security; the coup resulted in the institutional collapse of the FACA; its forces were overwhelmed and forced to flee to neighboring countries; it has been estimated that only 10% of the FACA returned afterwards; over the past decade, the FACA has sought to rebuild with considerable foreign assistance, including from France, the EU, Russia, Rwanda, Uganda, and the UN; Russian private military contractors and Rwandan military forces have assisted the FACA in its operations against rebel groups<br><br>the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has operated in the country since 2014; its mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s transitional government (2025)