Interesting Facts
Central African Republic
Learn Twenty-Six interesting facts about Africa’s Central African Republic's geography, history, climate, people, and the economy.
Twenty-Six Interesting Central African Republic Facts
1. Official name République Centrafricaine.
2. The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960.
3. The Central African Republic is also sometimes referred to as C.A.R.
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| Central African Republic girls |
4. Largest city and capital city is Bangui.
5. Population around 4.7 million.
6. Most of the country is savanna plateau, with rain forests in the south.
7. The Central African Republic is also well known for Harmattan winds. The Harmattan wind is strongest from November to March and is a very dry and very dusty trade wind that blows from the Atlantic Ocean across Africa.
8. CAR has no coastline and is a landlocked country almost in the precise center of Africa.
9. The Central African Republic is about 240,535 sq. miles in size.
10. CAR has one body of water, the Ubangi River, which eventually flows into the large Congo River.
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| Central African Republic militia members |
12. Life expectancy for men 48 years and women 51 years.
13. Ethnic Groups are Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, Other 2%.
14. Religion are Indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%.
15. Area 622,984 sq km or 240,535 sq miles, The Central African Republic is the 45th-largest country in the world and is slightly smaller than the US state of Texas.
16. Major languages spoken are French, Sangho.
17. Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA).
18. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, four of its five presidents have been overthrown through hostile coups.
19. Despite natural resources, including gold, timber, diamonds and uranium, the Central African Republic is among the poorest nations in the world.
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| Children in Birao, Central African Republic |
20. CAR is a possible hideout of Joseph Kony, the brutal leader of the Lord Resistance Army.
21. Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia was the first Muslim to hold the office of President in the mainly Christian country of The Central African Republic.
22. Republic form of government with two legislative houses.
23. The three most popular parks are Manovo-Gounda St Floris, known for its high concentration of hippos; Bamingui-Bangoran in the north; and Dzanga-Sangha in the southwest.
24. The Falls of Boali are a popular tourist destination.
25. Football (soccer), Basketball and Rugby the most popular sports.
26. Central African Republic athletes have participated in the Olympic Games since 1968.
