Geography and location
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country located in the heart of the African continent. It shares borders with six nations: Cameroon to the west, Chad to the north, Sudan and South Sudan to the northeast and east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, and the Republic of the Congo to the southwest.
the Illustration above is a creative digital artwork shaped like a large fingerprint, with the distinct ridges and swirls formed entirely from the colors and elements of the Central African Republic flag: vertical bands of yellow, green, and white on the left side transitioning to blue with a prominent yellow star on the right in the upper portion, intersected by a bold horizontal red band across the middle, while the lower section mirrors the pattern with yellow and green on the left and blue on the right. Illustration by CatsWithGlasses / Pixabay.Com.
Topography
Much of the country consists of a vast, flat to gently rolling plateau savanna lying around 1,640 feet (500 m) above sea level. In the northeast rise the Fertit Hills, while scattered hills dot the southwest. The northwest features the Karre Mountains (also known as the Yade Massif), a granite plateau reaching 3,750 feet (1,143 m) in elevation.
Size
Covering 622,984 square kilometres (240,535 sq mi), the Central African Republic is the world’s 45th-largest country — roughly the same size as Ukraine.
Rivers and drainage
The Central African Republic is divided into two major drainage basins: the southern Congo River Basin (covering about two-thirds of the country) and the northern Lake Chad Basin.
In the south, the Ubangi River (Oubangui) forms much of the southern border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is formed by the confluence of the Mbomou River (from the east) and the Uele River. The Ubangi is a major waterway, navigable for parts of the year, and serves as a vital corridor for trade and transport, particularly connecting Bangui to Brazzaville and beyond. Key tributaries include the Kotto, Ouaka, Lobaye, and Mpoko rivers.
In the southwest, the Sangha River (and its tributaries such as the Mambéré and Kadei) flows southward to join the Congo River system. These rivers drain the dense forest regions and are important for local transport.
The country’s eastern border largely follows the Congo-Nile watershed divide. Northern rivers, such as the Ouham (Bahr Sara), Bamingui, and Aouk, flow northward into the Chari River system toward Lake Chad. Many rivers experience significant seasonal fluctuations, with extensive floodplains forming during the rainy season (typically July–October), leading to regular flooding that affects agriculture, settlements, and infrastructure. These rivers support inland navigation (especially the Ubangi) and provide water for communities, though low water levels in the dry season limit navigability.
Forests
As of 2020, forest cover in the Central African Republic accounted for around 36% of the country’s total land area, equivalent to approximately 22.3 million hectares. This represents a modest decline from 23.2 million hectares in 1990. The vast majority is naturally regenerating forest, with only a tiny fraction (around 2,000 hectares) consisting of planted forest. Roughly 9% of the naturally regenerating forest qualifies as primary forest — intact native tree stands showing no clear signs of human disturbance.
The country’s most significant forests lie in the southwest (part of the larger Congo Basin rainforest) and in smaller eastern blocks such as the Bangassou forest. These humid tropical forests are exceptionally biodiverse, supporting hundreds of tree species — including commercially valuable ones such as Ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon), Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum), Sipo (Entandrophragma utile), and Sapelli (Entandrophragma cylindricum) — as well as iconic wildlife like Forest Elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis), Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus), and numerous primates and bird species. As part of the Congo Basin, CAR’s forests serve as a vital global carbon sink, storing an estimated 2.9 billion tons of carbon.
In 2015, 91% of forests were under public ownership and 9% private. While overall deforestation rates have historically remained relatively low compared with other Congo Basin countries, they have increased in recent years, driven mainly by small-scale agriculture, shifting cultivation, fuelwood collection, and artisanal logging. Certain southwestern prefectures (such as Lobaye and Sangha-Mbaéré) have experienced more pronounced losses. The forests also provide essential ecosystem services, including water regulation, soil protection, non-timber forest products, and support for rural livelihoods. They hold significant potential for nature-based tourism and sustainable economic development.
Climate
The Central African Republic has a predominantly tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw). Some areas experience a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am), while the far north has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). Temperatures remain high year-round, with a clear division between a wet season and a dry season.
Northern regions are regularly affected by the harmattan — strong, hot, dry winds from the Sahara that carry dust and sand. The northernmost areas have been subject to desertification, while the rest of the country is prone to seasonal flooding from its major rivers. Access to clean water is limited, with approximately one-third of the population lacking reliable sources of safe drinking water.
