All African Countries: Complete List with Capitals and Flags

How many countries are in Africa?

Africa has 54 sovereign countries recognized by the United Nations, spread across 30.37 million km² with over 1.4 billion people — roughly 18% of the world's population.

From the Sahara to equatorial rainforests, from Mediterranean shores to Indian Ocean beaches, Africa offers extraordinary geographic, cultural and linguistic diversity. Over 2,000 languages are spoken across the continent, which is home to the world's longest river (the Nile) and largest hot desert (the Sahara).

Ready to test your knowledge? After exploring this list, try our Listing quiz to name all African countries or our African flag quiz!

What are the countries of Northern Africa?

Northern Africa has 6 countries. Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Sahara to the south, it is a crossroads between Europe, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. The region is characterized by Arab-Berber influence and is home to some of the continent's largest countries.

What are the countries of Western Africa?

Western Africa has 16 countries, stretching from Mauritania to Nigeria, encompassing both coastal and Sahelian countries. The region stands out for its great ethnic and cultural diversity, and is home to Nigeria, the most populated country on the continent.

What are the countries of Central Africa?

Central Africa has 10 countries, dominated by the Congo Basin, the second largest tropical rainforest in the world. The region is home to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the second largest country in Africa by area.

What are the countries of Eastern Africa?

Eastern Africa has 16 countries, stretching from the Horn of Africa to the islands of the Indian Ocean. It is home to Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak (5,895 m), and the Great Rift Valley, the cradle of humanity.

What are the countries of Southern Africa?

Southern Africa has 6 countries. The southern tip of the continent is home to South Africa, the continent's largest economy, as well as landlocked countries like Lesotho, which is entirely surrounded by South Africa.

What are Africa's geographic records?

Africa is a continent of superlatives. Here are the most notable records:

• Largest country: Algeria (2,381,741 km2), the 10th largest country in the world
• Smallest country: Seychelles (452 km2), an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean
• Most populated country: Nigeria (223.8 million), the 6th most populated country in the world
• Least populated country: Seychelles (122,729 inhabitants)
• Highest mountain: Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5,895 m)
• Longest river: the Nile (6,650 km), flowing through 11 African countries
• Largest lake: Lake Victoria, shared between Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya
• Largest desert: the Sahara (9.2 million km2), covering much of Northern Africa

How can you learn African countries?

Think you know all the African countries? Challenge yourself with our interactive quizzes:

• Listing Mode: can you name all 54 African countries on a map? It's the ultimate challenge for geography enthusiasts.
• Flag Quiz Mode: can you recognize African flags? Test your visual memory with our flag quiz.
• MapGuessing Mode: place African countries on the map as precisely as possible. Every kilometer counts!

Whether you're a student, traveler, or simply curious, these quizzes are the best way to learn African geography while having fun.