Central African Republic Administrative Divisions

Name: Central African Republic Administrative Divisions Dataset
Creator: GeoPostcodes
License: https://www.geopostcodes.com/pricing/

What is the hierarchy of administrative divisions in Central African Republic?

Central African Republic operates on a 3‑level system starting with 17 prefectures, then sub-prefectures, and communes as the smallest administrative units.

Here’s a breakdown of the hierarchy:

1. Prefectures: Central African Republic is divided into 17 prefectures.

2. Sub-prefectures: Prefectures are subdivided into sub-prefectures.

3. Communes: These are the smallest administrative units, often found within sub-prefectures.

List of Central African Republic's administrative divisions with their counts and names

These are the summarized administrative divisions. The full dataset is available in the Download Center.

iso	country	admin level 1	admin level 2	admin level 3	admin level 4
CF	Central African Republic	Bamingui-Bangoran (Prefecture)	2 Sub-prefectures	3 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Bangui (National capital)	This level doesn’t exist for this country.	8 Arrondissements	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Basse-Kotto (Prefecture)	6 Sub-prefectures	15 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Haute-Kotto (Prefecture)	3 Sub-prefectures	6 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Haut-Mbomou (Prefecture)	4 Sub-prefectures	5 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Kemo (Prefecture)	4 Sub-prefectures	8 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Lobaye (Prefecture)	5 Sub-prefectures	13 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Mambere-Kadei (Prefecture)	7 Sub-prefectures	13 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Mbomou (Prefecture)	5 Sub-prefectures	10 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Nana-Gribizi (Economic prefecture)	2 Sub-prefectures	6 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Nana-Mambere (Prefecture)	4 Sub-prefectures	16 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Ombella M'Poko (Prefecture)	6 Sub-prefectures	8 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Ouaka (Prefecture)	5 Sub-prefectures	16 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Ouham Pende (Prefecture)	6 Sub-prefectures	23 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Ouham (Prefecture)	7 Sub-prefectures	20 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Sangha-Mbaere (Economic prefecture)	3 Sub-prefectures	5 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
CF	Central African Republic	Vakaga (Prefecture)	2 Sub-prefectures	3 Communes	This level doesn’t exist for this country.

Why is building an Administrative Divisions Database complex?

The complexity arises from inconsistent global standards, frequent boundary changes, non-uniform naming conventions (e.g., “suburb” in Australia vs. “county” in the US), and variations in administrative levels across countries. Integrating and harmonizing data from multiple sources requires advanced normalization, versioning, and geospatial validation techniques.

How does GeoPostcodes solve the problem for you?

Our standardized database overcomes the complexity of different administrative division
systems worldwide. Our database follows a unified structure that you can integrate
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each country’s unique administrative hierarchy.

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Updated: June 10, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the administrative divisions of Central African Republic?

Central African Republic is divided into 1 national capital, 14 prefectures (Préfectures), and 2 economic prefectures (Préfectures économiques), which form the top-level administrative units. These are subdivided into 71 sub-prefectures (Sous-préfectures). The smallest administrative level consists of 170 communes and 8 arrondissements. Major national capital include Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui, and Basse-Kotto.

How many administrative levels does Central African Republic have?

Central African Republic has 3 administrative levels. Level 1: 1 national capital, 14 prefectures (Préfectures), and 2 economic prefectures (Préfectures économiques). Level 2: 71 sub-prefectures (Sous-préfectures). Level 3: 170 communes and 8 arrondissements.

How is Central African Republic organized into prefectures?

Central African Republic operates on a 3‑level system starting with 17 prefectures, then sub-prefectures, and communes as the smallest administrative units. Note that Bangui do not have sub-divisions at the next level.

What is the difference between national capital and prefectures in Central African Republic?

In Central African Republic, national capital and prefectures both sit at administrative level 1 but serve different functions. National capital — there is 1 — is typically a larger city or urban area that governs itself independently. Prefectures (préfectures) — there are 14 — group multiple smaller municipalities under a shared administration.

What are administrative divisions called in French?

Central African administrative divisions have specific local names at each level. In French, prefectures are called Préfectures; economic prefectures are called Préfectures économiques; sub-prefectures are called Sous-préfectures. These local-language terms appear in official documents, legal records, and government databases, so matching them correctly is important for data integration and compliance.

How often do administrative boundaries change in Central African Republic?

Administrative boundaries in Central African Republic change as governments reorganize regions, merge municipalities, or create new administrative units to reflect population shifts and political decisions. Changes most commonly affect the communes level, where Central African Republic currently has 178 units. Businesses that rely on Central African administrative data should use a regularly updated reference dataset to avoid mismatches in geocoding, tax jurisdiction mapping, and compliance reporting.