Official Name Central African Republic

Population 4,303,356

Capital City Bangui (838,000)

Largest Cities Bangui, Berbérati, Carnot, Bouar

Currency CFA Franc

Latitude/Longitude 4º36' N, 18º56' E

Languages French (official), Sangho, others


National Day 1 December; Republic Day

Religions Local beliefs, Protestant, Catholic

Land

Land Area 622,436 sq km (240,324 sq miles) - slightly smaller than Texas

Landforms The Central African Republic is in essence an undulating plateau.

Central and south is a series of forested, rolling hills, with some topping 2000 ft. A dense tropical rainforest in the southeast fronts the Ubangi River, and in the north, the land flattens into a treeless, desert-like savanna grassland.

On the western border with Cameroon the land rises into the high granite plateau of the Karre Mountains. The Bongos Massif in the far northeast extends into Sudan.

Numerous tributaries of the Chair (Shari) and Longone rivers crisscross the land, central and north, while the Ubangi River system dominates the south, as it forms much of the country's southern border with the DRC.

Highest Pt. Mt. Kayagangiri (1,420 m) (4,660 ft)

Lowest Pt. Oubangui River (335 m) (1,099 ft)

Land Divisions 14 prefectures, 2 economic prefectures* and 1 commune**; including 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* andVakaga

Natural Resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower