Geography of the Central African Republic

A United Nations map of the Central African Republic
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 1,640 feet (500 m) 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 3,750 feet (1,143 m).

At 622,984 square kilometres (240,535 sq mi), 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.[1][2] In 2021, the rate of deforestation in the Central African Republic increased by 71%.[3] The forest is highly diverse and includes commercially important species of Ayous, Sapele and Sipo.

Climate

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.

Climate data for Bangui (381 m), Central African Republic (1931–1955)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.2
(99.0) 		38.8
(101.8) 		39.5
(103.1) 		38.0
(100.4) 		38.6
(101.5) 		35.8
(96.4) 		34.3
(93.7) 		34.4
(93.9) 		35.9
(96.6) 		35.7
(96.3) 		36.7
(98.1) 		36.2
(97.2) 		39.5
(103.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 32.9
(91.2) 		33.9
(93.0) 		33.5
(92.3) 		32.9
(91.2) 		31.9
(89.4) 		30.9
(87.6) 		29.9
(85.8) 		29.9
(85.8) 		30.6
(87.1) 		30.7
(87.3) 		31.4
(88.5) 		31.8
(89.2) 		31.7
(89.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.0
(78.8) 		27.1
(80.8) 		27.4
(81.3) 		27.1
(80.8) 		26.5
(79.7) 		25.3
(77.5) 		25.1
(77.2) 		25.1
(77.2) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.5
(77.9) 		25.7
(78.3) 		25.7
(78.3) 		26.0
(78.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 19.5
(67.1) 		20.2
(68.4) 		21.3
(70.3) 		21.4
(70.5) 		21.1
(70.0) 		19.7
(67.5) 		20.3
(68.5) 		20.3
(68.5) 		20.2
(68.4) 		20.2
(68.4) 		20.0
(68.0) 		19.3
(66.7) 		20.3
(68.5)
Record low °C (°F) 13.0
(55.4) 		13.1
(55.6) 		16.2
(61.2) 		14.4
(57.9) 		16.0
(60.8) 		16.5
(61.7) 		15.0
(59.0) 		17.0
(62.6) 		17.2
(63.0) 		17.3
(63.1) 		16.9
(62.4) 		13.8
(56.8) 		13.0
(55.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 20
(0.8) 		39
(1.5) 		116
(4.6) 		142
(5.6) 		167
(6.6) 		134
(5.3) 		174
(6.9) 		240
(9.4) 		185
(7.3) 		190
(7.5) 		89
(3.5) 		24
(0.9) 		1,520
(59.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 2 5 10 12 14 13 14 17 16 17 11 4 135
Average relative humidity (%) 70 64 71 76 79 81 83 83 83 83 81 75 77
Mean monthly sunshine hours 203 201 191 184 193 158 138 138 143 158 171 220 2,098
Source 1: Deutscher Wetterdienst[4]
Source 2: Danish Meteorological Institute (sun only)[5]
Climate data for Bossangoa (2000-2016)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 35.7
(96.3) 		37.5
(99.5) 		38.3
(100.9) 		36.3
(97.3) 		34.4
(93.9) 		32.4
(90.3) 		31.2
(88.2) 		30.9
(87.6) 		31.5
(88.7) 		32.7
(90.9) 		34.3
(93.7) 		34.9
(94.8) 		34.2
(93.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.1
(77.2) 		27.9
(82.2) 		29.8
(85.6) 		29.4
(84.9) 		28.5
(83.3) 		26.9
(80.4) 		26.1
(79.0) 		25.9
(78.6) 		26.2
(79.2) 		26.6
(79.9) 		26.7
(80.1) 		25.0
(77.0) 		27.0
(80.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 14.3
(57.7) 		18.4
(65.1) 		21.3
(70.3) 		22.5
(72.5) 		22.0
(71.6) 		21.4
(70.5) 		20.9
(69.6) 		20.9
(69.6) 		20.7
(69.3) 		20.6
(69.1) 		19.0
(66.2) 		15.0
(59.0) 		19.8
(67.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 1
(0.0) 		6
(0.2) 		47
(1.9) 		92
(3.6) 		141
(5.6) 		166
(6.5) 		234
(9.2) 		279
(11.0) 		240
(9.4) 		159
(6.3) 		22
(0.9) 		1
(0.0) 		1,388
(54.6)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 265 242 211 211 227 188 165 155 172 198 248 266 2,548
Source 1: Normales et records pour la période 2000-2016 à Bossangoa ,[6]
Source 2: Climate Bossangoa - Central African Republic for rainfall totals ,[7] Étude méthodologique pour l'utilisation des données climatologiques de l'Afrique tropicale for sunshine hours[8]
Climate data for N'Délé (2002-2013)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 36.5
(97.7) 		37.8
(100.0) 		38.5
(101.3) 		37.0
(98.6) 		34.6
(94.3) 		31.8
(89.2) 		30.4
(86.7) 		29.4
(84.9) 		30.5
(86.9) 		31.7
(89.1) 		33.3
(91.9) 		34.7
(94.5) 		33.9
(92.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.2
(81.0) 		29.4
(84.9) 		30.1
(86.2) 		30.0
(86.0) 		28.6
(83.5) 		26.7
(80.1) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.9
(78.6) 		25.8
(78.4) 		25.1
(77.2) 		27.1
(80.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 18.0
(64.4) 		20.7
(69.3) 		21.3
(70.3) 		22.9
(73.2) 		22.6
(72.7) 		21.2
(70.2) 		20.7
(69.3) 		21.3
(70.3) 		20.4
(68.7) 		20.1
(68.2) 		18.5
(65.3) 		16.2
(61.2) 		20.3
(68.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0
(0) 		6
(0.2) 		24
(0.9) 		65
(2.6) 		122
(4.8) 		151
(5.9) 		205
(8.1) 		235
(9.3) 		231
(9.1) 		131
(5.2) 		9
(0.4) 		0
(0) 		1,179
(46.5)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 279 263 250 209 222 189 160 151 157 201 277 268 2,626
Source 1: Normales et records pour la période 2002-2013 à N'Dele,[9]
Source 2: Climate : N'Délé for rainfall totals,[10] Étude méthodologique pour l'utilisation des données climatologiques de l'Afrique tropicale for sunshine hours[11]
Climate data for Birao
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 34.7
(94.5) 		37.3
(99.1) 		39.4
(102.9) 		39.7
(103.5) 		37.9
(100.2) 		35
(95) 		31.4
(88.5) 		30.8
(87.4) 		32.1
(89.8) 		34.5
(94.1) 		35
(95) 		33.6
(92.5) 		35.1
(95.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 23.7
(74.7) 		26
(79) 		28.8
(83.8) 		30.4
(86.7) 		30.2
(86.4) 		28.3
(82.9) 		25.7
(78.3) 		25.3
(77.5) 		25.9
(78.6) 		26.5
(79.7) 		23.9
(75.0) 		22.5
(72.5) 		26.4
(79.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.7
(54.9) 		14.8
(58.6) 		18.3
(64.9) 		21.1
(70.0) 		22.5
(72.5) 		21.6
(70.9) 		20.1
(68.2) 		19.8
(67.6) 		19.7
(67.5) 		18.6
(65.5) 		12.8
(55.0) 		11.4
(52.5) 		17.8
(64.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(0.0) 		20
(0.8) 		67
(2.6) 		107
(4.2) 		189
(7.4) 		193
(7.6) 		146
(5.7) 		38
(1.5) 		1
(0.0) 		0
(0) 		762
(29.8)
Source: Climate-Data.org[12]

Notes

A satellite map of the Central African Republic.
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 ⁠3/4⁠ the size of New South Wales
  • Canada comparative: slightly smaller than Manitoba
  • United Kingdom comparative: slightly more than 2⁠1/2⁠ times the size of the United Kingdom
  • United States comparative: approximately ⁠1/10⁠ smaller than Texas
  • EU comparative: approximately ⁠1/5⁠ 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.

References

  1. ^ Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2023.
  2. ^ "Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Central African Republic". Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  3. ^ "Deforestation Surges in World's No. 2 Tropical Forest". Bloomberg. 10 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Klimatafel von Bangui / Zentralafrikanische Rep" (PDF). Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  5. ^ "STATIONSNUMMER 64650" (PDF). Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ "Normales et records pour la période 2000-2016 à Bossangoa". Infoclimat. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  7. ^ "Climate Bossangoa - Central African Republic for rainfall totals". Infoclimat. Archived from the original on 2018-07-28. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  8. ^ "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" (PDF). Infoclimat. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  9. ^ "Normales et records pour la période 2002-2013 à N'Dele". Infoclimat. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  10. ^ "Climate : N'Délé for rainfall totals". Infoclimat. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  11. ^ "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" (PDF). Infoclimat. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  12. ^ "Climate: Birao". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved August 14, 2019.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.