Time in Central African Republic

The Central African Republic follows a single national time zone based on West Africa Time (WAT). The country operates on UTC+01 all year and does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so the local clock remains unchanged throughout the seasons.

Cities such as Bangui, Bimbo, Berbérati, Bambari, and Bossangoa all follow the same national time, simplifying scheduling and daily coordination.

Central African Republic Time Zone Info

• IANA Time Zone: Africa/Bangui

• UTC Offset: UTC +01 hour

• Time Zone Abbreviation: WAT (West Africa Time)

• DST: Not observed

• DST Abbreviation: None. The offset stays the same year-round

Central African Republic shares its time with several neighboring countries in Central Africa.

Central African Republic time zone(s)

The official IANA identifier for the country is Africa/Bangui.

Daylight Saving Time in Central African Republic

Central African Republic does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The country remains on UTC +01 throughout the year.

This ensures simple and stable timekeeping without clock adjustments.

Major cities in Central African Republic & their time

All cities use the same national time.

Brief info for Central African Republic time

• Number of time zones: 1

• Capital city: Bangui

• Default time: West Africa Time (WAT)

• Daylight Saving Time: Not used

• IANA Time Zone ID: Africa/Bangui

• Standard UTC offset: UTC +01

• Neighbouring countries with similar time: Cameroon, Chad, Republic of the Congo

• Regional differences: None. One national time zone

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. One national time zone simplifies administration.

2. No DST avoids confusion from clock changes.

3. Stable UTC offset year-round.

4. Simple scheduling for travel and communication.

5. Easy coordination with Central African neighbors.

Cons

1. Limited overlap with Asian business hours.

2. Some difference from GMT may affect coordination with the UK.