Central Africa Map
Central Africa sits at the heart of the continent, dominated by the vast Congo Basin rainforest and the mighty Congo River. This region of nine countries ranges from the massive Democratic Republic of the Congo to the tiny island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe. Learn to identify each country by its shape, borders, and geographic features.
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Study the Countries
Cameroon Cameroon
Borders: Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea
Area: 475,442 km² · Coastline: 402 km
Cameroon is located at the junction of West and Central Africa on the Gulf of Guinea. The country is often called "Africa in miniature" because it features nearly every type of African landscape: coastal plains, mountains, savanna, rainforest, and semi-arid regions. Mount Cameroon, at 4,095 meters, is the highest peak in West-Central Africa.
Shape: A roughly triangular country that narrows as it extends northward toward Lake Chad, with a wider southern base along the Gulf of Guinea.
Fun Facts
- Cameroon is called "Africa in miniature" because it contains nearly every type of African landscape.
- Mount Cameroon is the highest peak in Central and West Africa at 4,095 meters and is an active volcano.
- Cameroon borders six countries, making it a major crossroads between West and Central Africa.
Central African Republic Central African Republic
Borders: Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cameroon
Area: 622,984 km² · Landlocked
The Central African Republic is a landlocked country located near the geographic center of Africa. The terrain is mostly flat to rolling savanna plateau, with the Ubangi River forming much of the southern border and the Chari River in the northwest. Dense tropical rainforest covers the southwestern region.
Shape: A large, roughly oval-shaped landlocked country in the center of the continent, wider from east to west than from north to south.
Fun Facts
- The Central African Republic lies close to the geographic center of the African continent.
- The Ubangi River, a major tributary of the Congo, forms much of the country's southern border.
- The country borders six nations and is entirely landlocked with no access to the sea.
Chad Chad
Borders: Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger
Area: 1,284,000 km² · Landlocked
Chad is a large, landlocked country in north-central Africa. The landscape transitions dramatically from the Sahara Desert in the north through the semi-arid Sahel belt to tropical savanna in the south. Lake Chad, once one of Africa's largest lakes, sits at the western border and has shrunk dramatically over recent decades.
Shape: A large, roughly rectangular landlocked country oriented north-south, with an irregular western border defined partly by Lake Chad.
Fun Facts
- Lake Chad has shrunk by about 90% since the 1960s due to climate change and water diversion.
- Chad spans three distinct climate zones: Sahara in the north, Sahel in the center, and tropical in the south.
- The Tibesti Mountains in northern Chad contain the highest peak in the Sahara at 3,445 meters.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo
Borders: Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola
Area: 2,344,858 km² · Coastline: 37 km
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second-largest country in Africa, dominating the center of the continent. The vast Congo Basin contains the world's second-largest tropical rainforest. The Congo River, Africa's second-longest, arcs through the country, and the Great Rift Valley forms the eastern border with its chain of great lakes.
Shape: A massive country in the heart of Africa with an irregular shape, a tiny coastline in the far west, and a long eastern border running along the Great Rift Valley lakes.
Fun Facts
- The DR Congo is the second-largest country in Africa and the 11th-largest in the world.
- The Congo River is the deepest river in the world, reaching depths of over 220 meters.
- The country borders nine nations, more than any other country in Africa.
Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo
Borders: Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola
Area: 342,000 km² · Coastline: 169 km
The Republic of the Congo is located in western Central Africa, straddling the equator. The Congo River and its tributary the Ubangi form much of the eastern border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country has a short Atlantic coastline in the southwest and dense tropical rainforest covering much of the northern region.
Shape: An elongated country oriented roughly northwest to southeast, with the Congo River forming much of its eastern border and a small coastline in the southwest.
Fun Facts
- The Republic of the Congo straddles the equator, with territory in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
- Brazzaville and Kinshasa, capitals of the two Congos, face each other across the Congo River, forming the closest pair of capital cities in the world.
- About 65% of the country is covered by tropical rainforest.
Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea
Borders: Cameroon, Gabon
Area: 28,051 km² · Coastline: 296 km
Equatorial Guinea consists of a mainland region (Río Muni) on the coast of Central Africa and several islands in the Gulf of Guinea, including Bioko where the former capital Malabo is located. The new capital, Ciudad de la Paz, is in the mainland interior. Despite its name, the equator does not pass through the country but lies just to the south. The terrain is mostly flat coastal plains rising to interior hills.
Shape: A small country with a rectangular mainland portion wedged between Cameroon and Gabon, plus an island (Bioko) off the coast of Cameroon.
Fun Facts
- Equatorial Guinea is the only country in Africa with Spanish as an official language.
- The new capital, Ciudad de la Paz, is on the mainland; the former capital Malabo is on Bioko Island.
- Despite its name, the equator does not actually pass through Equatorial Guinea.
Gabon Gabon
Borders: Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo
Area: 267,668 km² · Coastline: 885 km
Gabon is located on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, straddling the equator. About 85% of the country is covered in dense tropical rainforest, making it one of the most forested countries in the world. The Ogooué River, the country's principal waterway, flows westward across the entire country to the Atlantic.
Shape: A compact, roughly rectangular country on the equator with a long Atlantic coastline and the Ogooué River running through its center.
Fun Facts
- About 85% of Gabon is covered by tropical rainforest, one of the highest percentages in the world.
- Gabon straddles the equator and has territory in both hemispheres.
- Lopé National Park in Gabon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site combining rainforest and savanna.
São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe
Area: 964 km² · Coastline: 209 km
São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, located about 250 km off the coast of Gabon near the equator. The two main volcanic islands have mountainous interiors covered in tropical rainforest. São Tomé is the larger island, with Príncipe about 140 km to the northeast.
Shape: Two small volcanic islands in the Gulf of Guinea, positioned near the equator off the coast of Gabon.
Fun Facts
- São Tomé and Príncipe is the smallest country in Africa by area at just 964 km².
- The islands sit almost exactly on the equator in the Gulf of Guinea.
- Pico de São Tomé, the highest point, reaches 2,024 meters on the main island.
Angola Angola
Borders: Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Namibia
Area: 1,246,700 km² · Coastline: 1,600 km
Angola is a large country on the southwestern Atlantic coast of Africa. The Cabinda province is an exclave separated from the rest of Angola by a narrow strip of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The terrain rises from a narrow coastal plain to a vast interior plateau. The Kwanza River is the country's longest entirely within its borders.
Shape: A large, roughly square country on the southwestern coast of Africa, with a small detached exclave (Cabinda) to the north separated by a strip of DR Congo.
Fun Facts
- Angola's Cabinda province is an exclave separated from the rest of the country by a strip of the DR Congo.
- Angola is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking country in the world by area.
- The Kalandula Falls on the Lucala River are among the largest waterfalls in Africa by volume.
Quick Reference
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About Central Africa Geography
Central Africa is dominated by the Congo Basin, which contains the world's second-largest tropical rainforest after the Amazon. The Congo River, Africa's most powerful river by discharge, drains this vast basin as it flows westward to the Atlantic. The region spans from the Sahara Desert fringe in northern Chad to tropical coastlines along the Gulf of Guinea.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are in Central Africa?
Central Africa has 9 countries: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
What is the largest country in Central Africa?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the largest country in Central Africa and the second-largest in all of Africa, covering approximately 2.34 million km².
What is the Congo Basin?
The Congo Basin is the world's second-largest tropical rainforest, covering about 2 million km² across several Central African countries. It is drained by the Congo River and is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.