Africa · True size
🇨🇫 Central African Republic
2.4×
Central African Republic is drawn 2.4× smaller on the old map than it really is.
True area
620,996 km²
On the old map
2.4×
drawn smaller than true
Distortion rank
#158
of 176 · 1 = most inflated
Share of world land
0.46%
On the old map
Central African Republic looks about the same size as Gabon on the old map — it isn't.
Shapes above: Central African Republic at the size the old map gives it, next to Gabon's true size. Central African Republic's real area is 620,996 km² — Gabon is 260,719 km².
By area
Central African Republic is big enough to fit Kenya inside it, by area — 594,857 km² combined.
Central African Republic would fit inside France, Chile and Turkey, by area.
How many fit?
The United Kingdom fits inside Central African Republic 2.6 times. United Arab Emirates fits inside Central African Republic 8.7 times.
Why the old map gets it wrong
The old map stretches land more the further it is from the equator — twice the area at 45°, four times at 60°. Central African Republic's middle sits at 7°N, where the stretch is about 1.0×.
Area stretch on the old map at each latitude, equator to 80°. The number at the top of this page compares Central African Republic's whole share of the old map with its real share of the world's land.