Population figures
Total country population
5,915,627
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
43,078
Asylum-seekers:
29,431
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
453,301
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
0
Country context
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country located in the Central Africa Region, bordered by six countries: Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Republic of Congo. The country has been deeply impacted by decades of armed conflicts, mass displacement and socio-economic challenges leading to a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
The Central African Republic (CAR) is party to numerous international and regional legal instruments relating to human rights and the protection of refugees, including the 1951 Geneva Convention, the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, and the 1969 OAU Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa. CAR enacted a refugee law on 28 December 2007 and issued a Decree on 6 January 2009 on the organization and functioning of the bodies responsible for implementing the national policy on refugees. Prima facie recognition has been granted to various population groups including South Sudanese, Sudanese and Chadians who fled their country due to conflict. The 2007 national asylum law incorporates the broad OAU refugee definition and essential protection elements, such as a non-refoulement provision, and outlines the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures. The law grants refugees various rights under the same conditions as nationals, although significant challenges remain in its implementation.
...CAR has not ratified the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions which aims at the prevention and reduction of statelessness, including clear guidelines on nationality determination, thus limiting the full implementation of measures to reduce statelessness in CAR.
The protection environment in CAR continues to be constrained. Recurrent crises have weakened the capacity of authorities and communities to protect vulnerable populations, including children and people with specific needs. Access to protection and services is further hampered by funding shortfalls and logistical challenges. Since the 2019 signing of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation (APPR), which involved the government and 14 non state armed groups, the authorities have gradually increased presence in the regions outside of Bangui through decentralized administrative services. However, many violations of the APPR have occurred and several non-state armed groups have resumed fighting, leading to persistent insecurity in some localities. On 19 April 2025, the authorities signed a peace agreement with two additional armed groups as part of the APPR, renewing hope for peace and reconciliation.
CAR has signed four tripartite agreements with neighboring countries to organize and facilitate the voluntary return of CAR refugees abroad. Efforts have been made to ensure safe and dignified returns, although the security conditions and service gaps in many areas continue to pose challenges for the full reintegration of returnees. The country's fragile security environment, coupled with logistical challenges, continues to hinder effective protection and service delivery to all populations, including refugees and IDPs.
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Sources: UNHCR Refugee Data finder https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/ | 2024 mid-year figures. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects 2022, Online Edition https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Files/WPP2022_Data_Sources.pdf