Geography of the Central African Republic

Last updated

A United Nations map of the Central African Republic Un-central-african-republic.png
A United Nations map of the Central African Republic
Location of the Central African Republic LocationCentralAfricanRepublic.svg
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).

Contents

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 Koppen climate classification. Koppen-Geiger Map CAF present.svg
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)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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)251012141314171617114135
Average relative humidity (%)70647176798183838383817577
Mean monthly sunshine hours 2032011911841931581381381431581712202,098
Source 1: Deutscher Wetterdienst [4]
Source 2: Danish Meteorological Institute (sun only) [5]
Climate data for Bossangoa (2000-2016)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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 2652422112112271881651551721982482662,548
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)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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 2792632502092221891601511572012772682,626
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
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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. Satellite map of the Central African Republic.png
A satellite map of the Central African Republic.
Topography of Central African Republic. Central African Republic Topography.png
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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Botswana</span>

Botswana is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa, north of South Africa. Botswana occupies an area of 581,730 square kilometres (224,610 sq mi), of which 566,730 km2 (218,820 sq mi) are land. Botswana has land boundaries of combined length 4,347.15 kilometres (2,701.19 mi), of which the constituent boundaries are shared with Namibia, for 1,544 km (959 mi); South Africa 1,969 km (1,223 mi); Zimbabwe, 834 km (518 mi) and Zambia, 0.15 km (0.093 mi). Much of the population of Botswana is concentrated in the eastern part of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Burkina Faso</span>

Burkina Faso is a landlocked Sahel country that shares borders with six nations. It lies between the Sahara desert and the Gulf of Guinea, south of the loop of the Niger River, mostly between latitudes 9° and 15°N, and longitudes 6°W and 3°E. The land is green in the south, with forests and fruit trees, and semi-arid in the north. Most of central Burkina Faso lies on a savanna plateau, 198–305 metres (650–1,001 ft) above sea level, with fields, brush, and scattered trees. Burkina Faso's game preserves – the most important of which are Arly, Nazinga, and W National Park—contain lions, elephants, hippopotamus, monkeys, common warthogs, and antelopes. Previously the endangered painted hunting dog, Lycaon pictus occurred in Burkina Faso, but, although the last sightings were made in Arli National Park, the species is considered extirpated from Burkina Faso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Chad</span>

Chad is one of the 47 landlocked countries in the world and is located in North Central Africa, measuring 1,284,000 square kilometers (495,755 sq mi), nearly twice the size of France and slightly more than three times the size of California. Most of its ethnically and linguistically diverse population lives in the south, with densities ranging from 54 persons per square kilometer in the Logone River basin to 0.1 persons in the northern B.E.T. (Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti) desert region, which itself is larger than France. The capital city of N'Djaména, situated at the confluence of the Chari and Logone Rivers, is cosmopolitan in nature, with a current population in excess of 700,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Cameroon</span>

At 475,440 km2 (183,570 sq mi), Cameroon is the world's 53rd largest country. It is slightly larger than the nation of Sweden and the US state of California. It is comparable in size to Papua New Guinea. Cameroon's landmass is 472,710 km2 (182,510 sq mi), with 2,730 km2 (1,050 sq mi) of water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of the Democratic Republic of the Congo</span>

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the largest country of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying some 2,344,858 square kilometres (905,355 sq mi). Most of the country lies within the vast hollow of the Congo River basin. The vast, low-lying central area is a plateau-shaped basin sloping toward the west, covered by tropical rainforest and criss-crossed by rivers. The forest center is surrounded by mountainous terraces in the west, plateaus merging into savannas in the south and southwest. Dense grasslands extend beyond the Congo River in the north. High mountains of the Ruwenzori Range are found on the eastern borders with Rwanda and Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Gabon</span>

Gabon is a country in Central Africa, lying along the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Bight of Biafra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Niger</span>

Niger is a landlocked nation in West Africa located along the border between the Sahara and Sub-Saharan regions. Its geographic coordinates are longitude 16°N and latitude 8°E

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of the Republic of the Congo</span>

The Republic of the Congo is located in the western part of central Africa, on the Equator. Congo has several important ports. The Republic of the Congo covers an area of 342,000 km², of which 341,500 km² is land while 500 km² is water. Congo claims 200 nautical miles (370 km) of territorial sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Senegal</span>

Senegal is a coastal West African nation located 14 degrees north of the equator and 14 degrees west of the Prime Meridian. The country's total area is 196,190 km2 of which 192,000 km2 is land and 4,190 km2 is water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Turkmenistan</span>

Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea to the west, Iran and Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the north-east, and Kazakhstan to the north-west. It is the southernmost republic of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the loose federation created at the end of 1991 by most of the Post-Soviet states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Zambia</span>

Zambia is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa, to the east of Angola. It has a total area of 752,618 square kilometres, of which 9 220 km2 is water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Mauritania</span>

Mauritania, a country in the Western Region of the continent of Africa, is generally flat, its 1,030,700 square kilometres forming vast, arid plains broken by occasional ridges and clifflike outcroppings. Mauritania is the world’s largest country lying entirely below an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). It borders the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara, Mali and Algeria. It is considered part of both the Sahel and the Maghreb. A series of scarps face southwest, longitudinally bisecting these plains in the center of the country. The scarps also separate a series of sandstone plateaus, the highest of which is the Adrar Plateau, reaching an elevation of 500 metres or 1,640 feet. Spring-fed oases lie at the foot of some of the scarps. Isolated peaks, often rich in minerals, rise above the plateaus; the smaller peaks are called Guelbs and the larger ones Kedias. The concentric Guelb er Richat is a prominent feature of the north-central region. Kediet ej Jill, near the city of Zouîrât, has an elevation of 915 metres or 3,002 feet and is the highest peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Uganda</span>

Uganda is located in Eastern Africa, West of Kenya, South of South Sudan, East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and North of Rwanda and Tanzania. While much of its border is on lakeshores, Uganda is landlocked with no access to the sea port but it is a fertile and well-watered country that consists of many lakes and rivers including the largest, Lake Victoria. The country sits in the heart of the Great Lakes region, with Lake Edward, Lake George and Lake Albert on its Western border, Lake Kyoga in the Eastern part of Uganda. It is found in Central Saharan Africa and receives reliable rainfall throughout the year. Rivers are River Nile the longest river in Africa, River Kagera, River Katonga, River Semiliki and River Sezibwa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atar, Mauritania</span> Commune and town in Adrar Region, Mauritania

Atar is a town in northwestern Mauritania, the capital of the Adrar Region and the main settlement on the Adrar Plateau. Situated on the oued Seguellil, it is home to an airport, a museum and a historic mosque, constructed in 1674.

N'Délé or Ndele is a market town and sub prefecture in the north eastern Central African Republic, lying east of the Bamingui-Bangoran National Park. Ndélé is the capital of Bamingui-Bangoran, one of the 16 prefectures of the Central African Republic. N'Délé had a population of 10,850 as of the 2003 census; and a calculated 2013 population of 13,704.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bossangoa</span> Place in Ouham, Central African Republic

Bossangoa is the capital of Ouham, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic. The town has a population of 36,478. It is located 303 km (189 mi) north of the country's capital, Bangui. The Ouham River passes through Bossangoa and on through a number of waterfalls east of the city before turning north to join the Chari River in Chad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sudanian savanna</span> Tropical savanna ecoregion in Africa

The East Sudanian savanna is a hot, seasonally dry tropical savanna ecoregion of Central and East Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of the Central African Republic</span> Overview of and topical guide to the Central African Republic

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Central African Republic:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Angola</span>

Angola is located on the western Atlantic Coast of Southern Africa between Namibia and the Republic of the Congo. It also is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to the east. The country consists of a sparsely watered and somewhat sterile coastal plain extending inland for a distance varying from 50 to 160 km. Slightly inland and parallel to the coast is a belt of hills and mountains and behind those a large plateau. The total land size is 1,246,700 km2 (481,400 sq mi). It has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 518,433 km2 (200,168 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of South Sudan</span>

The geography of South Sudan describes the physical features of South Sudan, a country in East Africa. South Sudan is a landlocked country and borders – clockwise – Sudan from the north, Ethiopia from the east, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the south and the Central African Republic from the west.

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.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.