Countries by continent
Africa has 54 countries recognized by the UN, from the largest, Algeria (2.38 million km²), to the smallest, the Seychelles (459 km²). It is the second most populous continent on Earth, led by Nigeria with some 220 million inhabitants. This table lists the African countries and their capitals, with the population and area of each one; click on a column header to sort the list.
List of the 54 African countries and their capitals
| Country | Capital | Population | Area (km²) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlgeriaAlgiers | Algiers | 46,814,3082,381,740 km² | 2,381,740 | |
| AngolaLuanda | Luanda | 37,885,8491,246,700 km² | 1,246,700 | |
| BeninPorto Novo | Porto Novo | 14,462,724114,760 km² | 114,760 | |
| BotswanaGaborone | Gaborone | 2,521,139581,730 km² | 581,730 | |
| Burkina FasoOuagadougou | Ouagadougou | 23,548,781274,200 km² | 274,200 | |
| BurundiBujumbura | Bujumbura | 14,047,78627,830 km² | 27,830 | |
| CameroonYaoundé | Yaoundé | 29,123,744475,440 km² | 475,440 | |
| Cape VerdePraia | Praia | 524,8774,030 km² | 4,030 | |
| Central African RepublicBangui | Bangui | 5,330,690622,980 km² | 622,980 | |
| ChadN'Djamena | N'Djamena | 20,299,1231,284,000 km² | 1,284,000 | |
| ComorosMoroni | Moroni | 866,6281,861 km² | 1,861 | |
| Democratic Republic of CongoKinshasa | Kinshasa | 109,276,2652,344,860 km² | 2,344,860 | |
| DjiboutiDjibouti | Djibouti | 1,168,72223,200 km² | 23,200 | |
| EgyptCairo | Cairo | 116,538,2581,001,450 km² | 1,001,450 | |
| Equatorial GuineaMalabo | Malabo | 1,892,51628,050 km² | 28,050 | |
| EritreaAsmara | Asmara | 3,535,603121,630 km² | 121,630 | |
| EswatiniMbabane | Mbabane | 1,242,82217,360 km² | 17,360 | |
| EthiopiaAddis Ababa | Addis Ababa | 132,059,7671,136,240 km² | 1,136,240 | |
| GabonLibreville | Libreville | 2,538,952267,670 km² | 267,670 | |
| GambiaBanjul | Banjul | 2,759,98811,300 km² | 11,300 | |
| GhanaAccra | Accra | 34,427,414238,533 km² | 238,533 | |
| GuineaConakry | Conakry | 14,754,785245,860 km² | 245,860 | |
| Guinea-BissauBissau | Bissau | 2,201,35236,130 km² | 36,130 | |
| Ivory CoastYamoussoukro | Yamoussoukro | 31,934,230322,460 km² | 322,460 | |
| KenyaNairobi | Nairobi | 56,432,944580,370 km² | 580,370 | |
| LesothoMaseru | Maseru | 2,337,42330,360 km² | 30,360 | |
| LiberiaMonrovia | Monrovia | 5,612,817111,370 km² | 111,370 | |
| LibyaTripoli | Tripoli | 7,381,0231,759,540 km² | 1,759,540 | |
| MadagascarAntananarivo | Antananarivo | 31,964,956587,295 km² | 587,295 | |
| MalawiLilongwe | Lilongwe | 21,655,286118,480 km² | 118,480 | |
| MaliBamako | Bamako | 24,478,5951,240,190 km² | 1,240,190 | |
| MauritaniaNouakchott | Nouakchott | 5,169,3951,030,700 km² | 1,030,700 | |
| MauritiusPort Louis | Port Louis | 1,259,5092,010 km² | 2,010 | |
| MoroccoRabat | Rabat | 38,081,173446,550 km² | 446,550 | |
| MozambiqueMaputo | Maputo | 34,631,766799,380 km² | 799,380 | |
| NamibiaWindhoek | Windhoek | 3,030,131824,290 km² | 824,290 | |
| NigerNiamey | Niamey | 27,032,4121,267,000 km² | 1,267,000 | |
| NigeriaAbuja | Abuja | 232,679,478923,770 km² | 923,770 | |
| Republic of the CongoBrazzaville | Brazzaville | 6,332,961342,000 km² | 342,000 | |
| RwandaKigali | Kigali | 14,256,56726,340 km² | 26,340 | |
| São Tomé and PríncipeSão Tomé | São Tomé | 235,536960 km² | 960 | |
| SenegalDakar | Dakar | 18,501,984196,710 km² | 196,710 | |
| SeychellesVictoria | Victoria | 121,354460 km² | 460 | |
| Sierra LeoneFreetown | Freetown | 8,642,02272,300 km² | 72,300 | |
| SomaliaMogadishu | Mogadishu | 19,009,151637,660 km² | 637,660 | |
| South AfricaPretoria | Pretoria | 64,007,1871,219,090 km² | 1,219,090 | |
| South SudanJuba | Juba | 11,943,408646,883 km² | 646,883 | |
| SudanKhartoum | Khartoum | 50,448,9631,878,000 km² | 1,878,000 | |
| TanzaniaDodoma | Dodoma | 68,560,157947,300 km² | 947,300 | |
| TogoLomé | Lomé | 9,515,23656,790 km² | 56,790 | |
| TunisiaTunis | Tunis | 12,277,109163,610 km² | 163,610 | |
| UgandaKampala | Kampala | 50,015,092241,550 km² | 241,550 | |
| ZambiaLusaka | Lusaka | 21,314,956752,610 km² | 752,610 | |
| ZimbabweHarare | Harare | 16,634,373390,760 km² | 390,760 |
FAQs about African countries
How many countries are there in Africa?
Africa has 54 sovereign countries recognized by the UN, making it the most politically fragmented continent. It covers about 30,370,000 km² with a population of 1.4 billion.
What is the largest country in Africa?
Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area (2.38 million km²). The African continent covers about 30,370,000 km², which is 20% of the world's land area.
Which is the most populous country in Africa?
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with over 220 million inhabitants. Africa is expected to reach 2.5 billion people by 2050.
What is the smallest country in Africa?
Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa with only 459 km². This Indian Ocean archipelago is known for its exceptional biodiversity and beaches.