There are 54 countries in Africa. This is the highest number of countries of any continent on Earth.

Here’s how the number of countries in Africa compares to other continents:

• Africa: consists of 54 countries.
• Asia: consists of approximately 49 countries.
• Europe: consists of around 44 countries.
• North America: including Central America and the Carribean, consists of 23 countries.
• South America: consists of 12 countries.
• Oceania: including Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, consists of 14 countries.
• Antarctica: managed under the Antarctic Treaty System by 54 signatory nations, consists of no countries.

List of the African Countries in Alphabetical Order

In addition to its 54 sovereign countries, Africa includes a number of territories and regions that are disputed, are dependencies or have special status, often governed by countries outside the continent. These territories are not considered independent countries and are not listed.

1. Algeria
2. Angola
3. Benin
4. Botswana
5. Burkina Faso
6. Burundi
7. Cabo Verde
8. Cameroon
9. Central African Republic
10. Chad
11. Comoros
12. Congo (Brazzaville)
13. Congo (Kinshasa)
14. Djibouti
15. Egypt
16. Equatorial Guinea
17. Eritrea
18. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
19. Ethiopia
20. Gabon
21. Gambia
22. Ghana
23. Guinea
24. Guinea-Bissau
25. Ivory Coast
26. Kenya
27. Lesotho
28. Liberia
29. Libya
30. Madagascar
31. Malawi
32. Mali
33. Mauritania
34. Mauritius
35. Morocco
36. Mozambique
37. Namibia
38. Niger
39. Nigeria
40. Rwanda
41. Sao Tome and Principe
42. Senegal
43. Seychelles
44. Sierra Leone
45. Somalia
46. South Africa
47. South Sudan
48. Sudan
49. Tanzania
50. Togo
51. Tunisia
52. Uganda
53. Zambia
54. Zimbabwe

The Size of Africa

Africa is the world’s second-largest continent, trailing only behind Asia in terms of both size and population. It covers an area of about 11.7 million square miles (30.3 million square kilometers). The continent accounts for approximately 20% of the Earth’s land area. To put Africa’s size into perspective, it’s large enough to fit the United States, China, India, Japan, and much of Europe within its borders.

Largest Countries in Africa by Land Area

1. Algeria – 919,595 square miles (2.38 million square kilometres)
2. Democratic Republic of the Congo – 903,563 square miles (2.34 million square kilometres)
3. Sudan – 718,723 square miles (1.86 million square kilometres)
4. Libya – 679,362 square miles (1.76 million square kilometres)
5. Chad – 495,755 square miles (1.28 million square kilometres)

Smallest Countries in Africa by Land Area

1. Seychelles – 174 square miles (451 square kilometres)
2. Sao Tome and Principe – 372 square miles (964 square kilometres)
3. Comoros – 719 square miles (1,861 square kilometres)
4. Cape Verde – 1,557 square miles (4,033 square kilometres)
5. Mauritius – 788 square miles (2,040 square kilometres)

The Population of Africa

Africa is the second-most populous continent. As of 2023, it had a population of approximately 1.3 billion people. The continent’s population is growing faster than that of any other global region. Projections suggest that Africa’s population could reach 2.5 billion by 2050, accounting for a quarter of the world’s population.

Most Populated Countries in Africa

1. Nigeria – Approximately 206 million inhabitants
2. Ethiopia – Approximately 115 million inhabitants
3. Egypt – Approximately 104 million inhabitants
4. Democratic Republic of the Congo – Approximately 87 million inhabitants
5. Tanzania – Approximately 59 million inhabitants

Least Populated Countries in Africa

1. Seychelles – Approximately 98,000 inhabitants
2. Sao Tome and Principe – Approximately 219,000 inhabitants
3. Cape Verde – Approximately 555,000 inhabitants
4. Comoros – Approximately 869,000 inhabitants
5. Djibouti – Approximately 988,000 inhabitants

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Africa

As of 2023, Africa’s combined GDP was estimated at around $2.6 trillion USD. By many standard economic measures, Africa is considered the poorest continent. This assessment is based on various indicators, including GDP per capita, income inequality, access to basic services, and living standards.

However, the GDP across African countries varies widely. Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa are among the continent’s largest economies. On the other end of the spectrum, many smaller economies, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, have GDPs well below $10 billion USD, reflecting varying stages of economic development and diverse economic bases.

Richest Countries in Africa by Most Recent GDP (USD)

1. Nigeria – $514 billion
2. Egypt – $394 billion
3. South Africa – $329 billion
4. Algeria – $151 billion
5. Morocco – $124 billion

Poorest Countries in Africa by GDP (USD)

1. Burundi – $2.7 billion
2. South Sudan – $3.2 billion
3. Eritrea – $3.4 billion
4. Gambia – $3.8 billion
5. Lesotho – $4.1 billion