Page last updated on February 08, 2019

Location:
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 622,984 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 622,984 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 46

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,920 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (6): Cameroon 901 km, Chad 1556 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km, South Sudan 1055 km, Sudan 174 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

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

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

Elevation:
mean elevation: 635 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: 335 m lowest point: Oubangui River
1410 highest point: Mont Ngaoui

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

Land use:
agricultural land: 8.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 2.9% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 5.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 36.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 55.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui

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

Environment - current issues:
water pollution; tap water is not potable; poaching and mismanagement have diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa