A Complete List of African Countries and Key Facts | List of African Countries

Table of Contents:

• Northern Africa: What are the Characteristics of This Region?
• Western Africa: What is the Most Populous Country Here?
• Central Africa: What are the Largest Countries in This Area?
• Eastern Africa: What are the Growth Trends in This Region?
• Southern Africa: What Country Drives the Region's Economy?
• Important Details About African Nations
• FAQ

A Complete List of African Countries and Key Facts

Did you know that Africa holds 54 separate, fully recognized nations, each with its own special land, culture, as well as way the government works? These countries differ greatly in how big they are, how many people live there, and how strong their economy is. This difference means Africa is one of the most varied continents on Earth. This is a straightforward look at the list of African nations, set out by area, with simple facts about each region:

Northern Africa: What are the Characteristics of This Region?

Northern Africa sits by the Mediterranean Sea and spreads into the enormous Sahara Desert.

• Algeria
• Egypt
• Libya
• Morocco
• Sudan
• Tunisia
• Western Sahara (a territory where claims conflict)

Egypt, also Algeria count among the biggest countries on the continent in terms of physical area.

Western Africa: What is the Most Populous Country Here?

Western Africa includes many coastal nations and dry land nations.

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cabo Verde
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Liberia
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Togo

Nigeria holds the title of the nation with the most people in Africa. As of 2024, more than 230 million people make Nigeria their home, establishing it as a major spot for population and business.

Central Africa: What are the Largest Countries in This Area?

Central Africa contains large areas of dense forest and substantial mineral wealth.

• Angola
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Congo (Republic of the)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Gabon
• São Tomé and Príncipe

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second-largest nation by area in Africa. It possesses many natural resources. Equatorial Guinea as well as Congo face political troubles and human rights concerns.

Eastern Africa: What are the Growth Trends in This Region?

Eastern Africa shows some of the quickest population increases and city growth on the continent.

• Burundi
• Comoros
• Djibouti
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Rwanda
• Seychelles
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Kenya plus Ethiopia possess large populations. The area also deals with complicated government situations, with several nations holding elections soon.

Southern Africa: What Country Drives the Region's Economy?

Southern Africa features varied landscapes, from deserts to fertile farmlands.

• Botswana
• Eswatini (Swaziland)
• Lesotho
• Namibia
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

South Africa plays a vital role in the economy of the region and the whole continent. It has many different groups of people and good infrastructure.

Important Details About African Nations

• The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a state recognized by some, which lays claim to the Western Sahara area.
• Africa's nations show great differences in size. Algeria is the largest, while small island nations like Seychelles, also Comoros are much smaller.
• The continent goes through fast population growth, city expansion, in addition to government structure changes. Many elections are set to happen across various countries.

This list reflects the nations in Africa recognized around the world today, based on reliable sources. It gives you a basic grasp of Africa's political land layout.

FAQ

How many sovereign countries are there in Africa?

There are 54 recognized sovereign countries in Africa.

What is the largest country in Africa by area?

Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area.

Which African country has the largest population?

Nigeria is the country in Africa with the largest population.

Resources & References:

1. https://www.cfr.org/article/guide-countries-trumps-2025-travel-ban-list
2. https://africanarguments.org/2025/01/africa-elections-all-upcoming-votes/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Africa_Cup_of_Nations
4. https://talkafricana.com/list-of-african-countries-and-their-presidents-2022/
5. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1121246/population-in-africa-by-country/
6. https://2021-2025.state.gov/countries-and-areas-list/
7. https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-African-countries-by-area