Central African Republic vs US size comparison
How Big Is the Central African Republic Compared to the US?
The US is about 16 times the size of the Central African Republic. Drag the Central African Republic over the US below to see the difference at true size.
Hawaii and the territories are not drawn.
Printable Central African Republic vs US size comparison
Free to print or share: the Central African Republic laid over the US at true size, with both areas, on one landscape A4 or US Letter page.
Key facts
- Area of the Central African Republic
- 622,984 km² (240,535 sq mi)
- Area of the US
- 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi)
- Size difference
- The US is about 16 times bigger
- Closest US state in size
- Texas (695,668 km²)
- Population (2025)
- The Central African Republic 5,513,282; the US 341,784,857
- The Central African Republic's rank by area
- 45th-largest of 197
How big the Central African Republic is compared with the US
The US is about 16 times the size of the Central African Republic: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 622,984 km² (240,535 sq mi). Even the 48 contiguous states alone, without Alaska, could hold the Central African Republic about 13 times. The Central African Republic is bigger than 48 of the 50 US states and smaller than the other 2; the state closest in size is Texas (695,668 km²). It is the 45th-largest of the world's 197 countries, and the 21st-largest of 54 in Africa; the US is the third-largest.
The Central African Republic has about 6 million people (2025), the 119th-most populous country in the world, against 342 million in the US. With 8.8 people per km² it is far emptier than the US (35 per km²): the US is about 3.9 times as crowded.
The Central African Republic and the US on a world map
The Central African Republic reaches from 2°N to 11°N; the US from 19°N to 71°N, with Hawaii in the south and Alaska in the far north. Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which enlarges places more the further they are from the Equator. It draws the Central African Republic about 1.01 times its real size and the US about 2.3 times (Alaska far more than Florida). So on a normal world map the US looks about 36 times the size of the Central African Republic, when it is really about 16 times. The equal-area map above shows the real difference.
Where the Central African Republic is
The Central African Republic's capital, Bangui, is 10,190 km (6,330 miles) from Washington, D.C. as the crow flies. The Central African Republic borders 6 countries: DR Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Sudan, South Sudan and Chad. It has no coast.
Central African Republic and US in numbers
| Central African Republic | US | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 622,984 km² 240,535 sq mi | 9,833,517 km² 3,796,741 sq mi | The US is 16× bigger |
| Population (2025) | 5,513,282 | 341,784,857 | The US has 62× more |
| Rank by area | 45th-largest | Third-largest | of 197 countries |
| People per km² | 9 | 35 | The US is 3.9× denser |
| Capital | Bangui | Washington, D.C. | 10,190 km apart |
| Neighbouring countries | 6 | 2 |
Central African Republic compared with US states
Frequently asked questions
Is the Central African Republic bigger than the US?
No. The US is about 16 times the size of the Central African Republic: 9,833,517 km² (3,796,741 sq mi) against 622,984 km² (240,535 sq mi).
How many times would the Central African Republic fit into the US?
About 16 times (15.78). Into the 48 contiguous states alone, about 13 times.
Which US state is the Central African Republic closest in size to?
Texas (695,668 km²). Texas is about 1.12 times the size of the Central African Republic.
Which has more people, the Central African Republic or the US?
The US: about 342 million people in 2025, about 62 times the 6 million in the Central African Republic.
Why does the Central African Republic look so small on a world map?
Most world maps use the Mercator projection, which stretches places more the further they are from the Equator. The US is further from the Equator than the Central African Republic, so it is stretched more. On a Mercator map the US looks about 36 times the size of the Central African Republic, not 16.
Where does the Central African Republic rank by size?
The Central African Republic is the 45th-largest of the world's 197 countries by total area and the 21st-largest in Africa. The US is the third-largest.
How far is the Central African Republic from the US?
The Central African Republic's capital, Bangui, is 10,190 km (6,330 miles) from Washington, D.C. in a straight line.
Sources
- Areas: CIA World Factbook (total area, land and water). US states: US Census Bureau.
- Populations: World Bank, World Development Indicators (2025).
- Outlines are drawn on an equal-area projection, so their sizes on the map match their real areas.