Prefectures of the Central African Republic

Since 10 December 2020, The Central African Republic is administratively divided into 20 prefectures (French: préfectures, Sango: kodoro kômanda-kôta) and the capital city of Bangui, which is an autonomous commune (French: commune autonome, Sango: kôta-gbata).^[1]

Prefectures and the commune of the Central African Republic Préfectures et la commune de la République centrafricaine (French)
Category	Unitary state
Location	Central African Republic
Number	20 Prefectures
Populations	(Prefectures only): 43,229 (Bamingui-Bangoran) – 430,506 (Ouham-Pendé)
Areas	(Prefectures only): 17,210 km2 (6,643 sq mi) (Kémo) – 86,700 km2 (33,460 sq mi) (Haute-Kotto)
Government	Prefecture government, National government
Subdivisions	Sub-Prefecture

Each prefecture is governed by a local assembly called General Council (Conseil Général), presided by a Prefect (Préfet). The prefectures are further subdivided into 71 sub-prefectures.

Prefectures are all named after major rivers passing through their areas:

• Ubangi, Nana, Mambéré, Kadeï, Lobaye, M'Poko, Ombella, Sangha, Kémo, Ouaka, Kotto, and Mbomou all flow into the Congo River.
• Pendé, Ouham, Gribingui, Bamingui, Bangoran, and Vakaga all flow into the Chari River, and then into Lake Chad.

(Basse ("Lower") means downstream, and Haut or Haute ("Upper") means upstream.)