Central African Republic
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Bangui
- Population
- 5,750,570 (2025 est.)
- Area
- 622,984 sq km
- Government
- presidential republic
- 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.)
- Ethnic Groups
- 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.)
- Currency
- Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF)
- Life Expectancy
- 56.4 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .cf
- Climate
- tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
- Terrain
- vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
- Natural Resources
- diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
- Major Exports
- gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, cotton (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
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.