# Bangui

> capital city of the Central African Republic

**Wikidata**: [Q3832](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3832)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bangui

## Summary
Bangui is the capital city of the Central African Republic, founded in 1889. It serves as a prefecture and a major urban center located on the banks of the Ubangi River, from which it derives its name. As of 2020, the city had an estimated population of 889,231.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Capital city, prefecture of the Central African Republic, border city, and big city.
- **Location**: Situated in the Central African Republic (since 1958) along the Ubangi River; shares borders with Ombella-M'Poko Prefecture and Sud-Ubangi.
- **Coordinates**: 4.37325° N, 18.562833333333° E.
- **Area**: 67,339,690 square meters.
- **Elevation**: 369 meters above sea level.
- **Population**: 889,231 (2020 estimate); other recorded figures include 747,109 (2013), 734,350 (2012), and 622,771 (2003 census).
- **Inception**: 1889.
- **Time Zone**: UTC+01:00.
- **ISO 3166-2 Code**: CF-BGF.
- **UN/LOCODE**: CFBGF.
- **Official Languages**: French and Sango.
- **Additional Languages**: Ali, Gobu, Yakoma, Kpagua.
- **Demonym**: Banguissois (masculine singular), Banguissoise (feminine singular).
- **Head of Government**: Émile Gros Raymond Nakombo (starting 2016).
- **Local Dialing Code**: 22.
- **Sister Cities**: Dodoma and Chécy (twinning started in 2010).

## FAQs
**What is the geographical setting of Bangui?**
Bangui is a border city located in the Central African Republic along the Ubangi River. It covers an area of approximately 67.3 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 369 meters.

**How has the population of Bangui evolved?**
The city has grown from 427,435 residents in 1988 to an estimated 889,231 in 2020. Other population milestones include 622,771 in the 2003 census and 747,109 in 2013.

**Who governs Bangui?**
The city is a prefecture of the Central African Republic. Its head of government is Émile Gros Raymond Nakombo, who assumed office in 2016.

**What languages are spoken in Bangui?**
While the official languages are French and Sango, residents also use languages such as Ali, Gobu, Yakoma, and Kpagua.

## Why It Matters
As the political and administrative capital, Bangui is the central hub of the Central African Republic. Its status as a "big city" and prefecture makes it the primary location for national governance, including the office of the head of government. Founded in 1889, it has a long history as a strategic settlement, evolving from its days in Ubangi-Shari to its current role in the independent republic. Its location on the Ubangi River defines it as a critical border city, influencing trade and transport in the region.

## Notable For
- Being the capital city and a prefecture of the Central African Republic.
- Its location as a border city on the Ubangi River.
- A population growth to nearly 900,000 people by 2020.
- Serving as the seat of government for the nation.
- Its twin city relationships with Dodoma and Chécy.
- A unique demonym: Banguissois/Banguissoise.
- High visibility in global knowledge bases, with identifiers across Wikidata, GeoNames, VIAF, and many others.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Bangui is located at 4.37325° N, 18.562833333333° E, covering a total area of 67,339,690 square meters. It sits at an elevation of 369 meters above sea level. The city is a large human settlement, classified as a big city and a border city. It is situated on the Ubangi River, which flows alongside it, and shares borders with the Ombella-M'Poko Prefecture and Sud-Ubangi.

The population has shown consistent growth over recent decades. Key population figures include:
- **1988**: 427,435
- **2003**: 622,771 (census)
- **2005**: 684,190
- **2012**: 734,350
- **2013**: 747,109
- **2020**: 889,231 (estimate)
Residents are known as Banguissois (masculine singular) and Banguissoise (feminine singular).

### Governance and Administration
Bangui functions as a prefecture of the Central African Republic. It has been the capital since 1958, prior to which it was part of Ubangi-Shari from 1903 to 1958. The city's administration is led by a head of government, currently Émile Gros Raymond Nakombo, who started his term in 2016. The city operates in the UTC+01:00 time zone and uses the local dialing code 22.

### Culture and Language
The official languages of Bangui are French and Sango. In addition, the languages Ali, Gobu, Yakoma, and Kpagua are used within the city. Bangui maintains cultural and administrative ties internationally, notably through sister city relationships with Dodoma and Chécy (active since 2010). The city is extensively documented in global databases, including VIAF (147752788), GeoNames (2389853, 2596686), and MusicBrainz (d3dc7cd0-03b6-4ddc-aac2-0a910d863e08). Its Wikipedia presence spans numerous languages, reflecting its global recognition.

## References

1. [Coopération décentralisée Chécy – Bangui (Centrafrique](https://www.checy.fr/cooperation-decentralisee-checy-bangui-centrafrique/)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. FIPS 10-4
5. MusicBrainz
6. [Source](http://www.stat-centrafrique.com/Donnees/donnees%20structurelles/demographie/population%20prefecture.htm)
7. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
8. GeoNames
9. BBC Things
10. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/cf.htm)
11. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
12. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
13. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)