Central African Republic: plugs, voltage, currency, time & travel facts

Plugs and voltage

The Central African Republic uses Types C and E sockets. Mains supply is 220 V at 50 Hz.

At 220 V, devices made only for 100–127 V (many American and Japanese hair dryers, curling irons and some shavers) will be damaged without a step-down converter. Chargers labelled “100–240V” work fine with just a plug adapter.

Money

FCFA Central African CFA Franc XAF

Average in 2025: 1 USD = 581.9 XAF (World Bank). No daily reference rate is published for this currency by the ECB; check a live rate before exchanging.

Central African CFA Franc: where it's used

Price level 44 (US = 100, 2025)

Everyday household prices in the Central African Republic are about 44% of US prices when converted at market exchange rates: cheaper than the median country (50). All countries

Language

Sangoofficial49%
Frenchofficial29%

Bars show the share of the population that speaks each language (CLDR estimates).

Time

UTC+1

The Central African Republic is on UTC+1, with no daylight saving time.

Driving

Traffic in the Central African Republic drives on the right, so the steering wheel is on the left.

Public holidays in the next 12 months

14 national public holidays from 2 November 2026. Banks, offices and many shops close; regional holidays are not shown. Dates marked “estimated” follow a lunar calendar and can move by a day.