Which ethnic group is most numerous in western parts of the Central African Republic?

The Gbaya people are the most numerous ethnic group inhabiting the southwestern and western regions of the Central African Republic.1

While historical attempts by colonial administrators to categorize populations into rigid ethnic groups have been criticized as non-viable, the Gbaya are recognized as a significant people of the region, with a population numbering approximately 970,000 at the end of the 20th century. They speak a language belonging to the Adamawa-Ubangi subgroup and have a history of migration into the area from present-day Nigeria during the 19th century.12