About the Central African Republic

Landlocked in the heart of Africa

Following French colonial rule, the Central African Republic achieved its independence in 1960. Today it is one of the 10 poorest countries in Africa, with many people living at a subsistence level.

Geography & climate

Landlocked in the centre of Africa, the Central African Republic (CAR) borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the east, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west.

CAR mostly consists of flat savanna, with more hilly terrain in the northeast (Fertit Hills) and the southwest part of the country. Higher elevations are found in the Yade Massif, a plateau with an altitude of 1,143 m.

Although CAR is mostly tropical, the northern part of the country has been subject to increasing desertification. Hot and dry, the harmattan winds batter the north while the remainder of the country is vulnerable to flooding from rivers.




Nature

CAR is mostly covered by wooded savannas, with a grassland savanna belt in the north and dense, tropical forests in the south. Some of the species found in the country include elephants, giraffes, forest and savanna buffalo, bongos, gorillas, chimpanzees, crocodiles and hippopotami.

Find out more about CAR’s forests.


Population & religion

CAR consists of more than 80 ethnic groups, each with its own language, the largest of which is the Baya. Others include the Banda, Mandjia, M'Baka 4%, and Yakoma. Half of the population is Christian, followed by indigenous beliefs, and Islam.


Economy & development

Most people in CAR live at a subsistence level and are self-sufficient in crops. These include cassava, peanuts, maize, sorghum, millet, sesame and plantains. But the country remains one of the poorest in the world.

Geographic location, limited business opportunities, a poor transportation system, a lack of skilled work force, and poor economic policies have limited the country’s development. Today, the economy relies on subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining.

In 2004, life expectancy at birth was 39 years and adult literacy rate for those aged 15 and older was 49%.