African Countries and Their Geography Explained

Table of Contents

The continent of Africa is the world’s second-largest based on land area and population just after Asia. It has a population of around one billion people (as of 2009) and covers 20.4% of the Earth’s land area. Africa is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Africa is known for its biodiversity, varied topography, culture and varied climate.

The continent straddles the equator and encompasses the entire tropical band. Africa’s northern and southernmost countries also stretch out of the tropics (from 0° to 23.5° N and S latitude) and into the northern and southern temperate latitudes (latitudes above the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn).

As the world’s second-largest continent, Africa is divided into 53 officially recognized countries. The following is a list of Africa’s countries ordered by land area. For reference, the country’s population and capital city have also been included.

1: Sudan

Area: 967,500 square miles (2,505,813 sq km)
Population: 39,154,490
Capital: Khartoum

African Countries and Their Geography Explained — histoyr of Sudan

2: Algeria

Area: 919,594 square miles (2,381,740 sq km)
Population: 33,333,216
Capital: Algiers

3: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Area: 905,355 square miles (2,344,858 sq km)
Population: 63,655,000
Capital: Kinshasa

4: Libya

Area: 679,362 square miles (1,759,540 sq km)
Population: 6,036,914
Capital: Tripoli

5: Chad

Area: 495,755 square miles (1,284,000 sq km)
Population: 10,146,000
Capital: N’Djamena

6: Niger

Area: 489,191 square miles (1,267,000 sq km)
Population: 13,957,000
Capital: Niamey

7: Angola

Area: 481,353 square miles (1,246,700 sq km)
Population: 15,941,000
Capital: Luanda

8: Mali

Area: 478,840 square miles (1,240,192 sq km)
Population: 13,518,000
Capital: Bamako

9: South Africa

Area: 471,455 square miles (1,221,037 sq km)
Population: 47,432,000
Capital: Pretoria

10: Ethiopia

Area: 426,372 square miles (1,104,300 sq km)
Population: 85,237,338
Capital: Addis Ababa

11: Mauritania

Area: 396,955 square miles (1,030,700 sq km)
Population: 3,069,000
Capital: Nouakchott

12: Egypt

Area: 386,661 square miles (1,001,449 sq km)
Population: 80,335,036
Capital: Cairo

13: Tanzania

Area: 364,900 square miles (945,087 sq km)
Population: 37,849,133
Capital: Dodoma

14:Nigeria

Area: 356,668 square miles (923,768 sq km)
Population: 154,729,000
Capital: Abuja

15: Namibia

Area: 318,695 square miles (825,418 sq km)
Population: 2,031,000
Capital: Windhoek

16:Mozambique

Area: 309,495 square miles (801,590 sq km)
Population: 20,366,795
Capital: Maputo

17: Zambia

Area: 290,585 square miles (752,614 sq km)
Population: 14,668,000
Capital: Lusaka

18: Somalia

Area: 246,200 square miles (637,657 sq km)
Population: 9,832,017
Capital: Mogadishu

19:Central African Republic

Area: 240,535 square miles (622,984 sq km)
Population: 4,216,666
Capital: Bangui

20: Madagascar

Area: 226,658 square miles (587,041 sq km)
Population: 18,606,000
Capital: Antananarivo

21: Botswana

Area: 224,340 square miles (581,041 sq km)
Population: 1,839,833
Capital: Gaborone

22: Kenya

Area: 224,080 square miles (580,367 sq km)
Population: 34,707,817
Capital: Nairobi

23: Cameroon

Area: 183,569 square miles (475,442 sq km)
Population: 17,795,000
Capital: Yaoundé

24: Morocco

Area: 172,414 square miles (446,550 sq km)
Population: 33,757,175
Capital: Rabat

25: Zimbabwe

Area: 150,872 square miles (390,757 sq km)
Population: 13,010,000
Capital: Harare

26: Republic of the Congo

Area: 132,046 square miles (342,000 sq km)
Population: 4,012,809
Capital: Brazzaville

27: Côte d’Ivoire

Area: 124,502 square miles (322,460 sq km)
Population: 17,654,843
Capital: Yamoussoukro

28: Burkina Faso

Area: 105,792 square miles (274,000 sq km)
Population: 13,228,000
Capital: Ouagadougou

29: Gabon

Area: 103,347 square miles (267,668 sq km)
Population, 1,387,000
Capital: Libreville

30: Guinea

Area: 94,925 square miles (245,857 sq km)
Population: 9,402,000
Capital: Conakry

31: Ghana

Area: 92,098 square miles (238,534 sq km)
Population: 23,000,000
Capital: Accra

32: Uganda

Area: 91,135 square miles (236,040 sq km)
Population: 27,616,000
Capital: Kampala

33: Senegal

Area: 75,955 square miles (196,723 sq km)
Population: 11,658,000
Capital: Dakar

34: Tunisia

Area: 63,170 square miles (163,610 sq km)
Population: 10,102,000
Capital: Tunis

35: Malawi

Area: 45,746 square miles (118,484 sq km)
Population: 12,884,000
Capital: Lilongwe

36: Eritrea

Area: 45,405 square miles (117,600 sq km)
Population: 4,401,000
Capital: Asmara

37: Benin

Area: 43,484 square miles (112,622 sq km)
Population: 8,439,000
Capital: Porto Novo

38: Liberia

Area: 43,000 square miles (111,369 sq km)
Population: 3,283,000
Capital: Monrovia

39: Sierra Leone

Area: 27,699 square miles (71,740 sq km)
Population: 6,144,562
Capital: Freetown

40: Togo

Area: 21,925 square miles (56,785 sq km)
Population: 6,100,000
Capital: Lomé

41: Guinea-Bissau

Area: 13,948 square miles (36,125 sq km)
Population: 1,586,000
Capital: Bissau

42: Lesotho

Area: 11,720 square miles (30,355 sq km)
Population: 1,795,000
Capital: Maseru

43: Equatorial Guinea

Area: 10,830 square miles (28,051 sq km)
Population: 504,000
Capital: Malabo

44: Burundi

Area: 10,745 square miles (27,830 sq km)
Population: 7,548,000
Capital: Bujumbura

45: Rwanda

Area: 10,346 square miles (26,798 sq km)
Population: 7,600,000
Capital: Kigali

46: Djibouti

Area: 8,957 square miles (23,200 sq km)
Population: 496,374
Capital: Djibouti

47: Swaziland

Area: 6,704 square miles (17,364 sq km)
Population: 1,032,000
Capital: Lobamba and Mbabane

48: Gambia

Area: 4,007 square miles (10,380 sq km)
Population: 1,517,000
Capital: Banjul

49: Cape Verde

Area: 1,557 square miles (4,033 sq km)
Population: 420,979
Capital: Praia

50: Comoros

Area: 863 square miles (2,235 sq km)
Population: 798,000
Capital: Moroni

51: Mauritius

Area: 787 square miles (2,040 sq km)
Population: 1,219,220
Capital: Port Louis

52: São Tomé and Príncipe

Area: 380 square miles (984 sq km)
Population: 157,000
Capital: São Tomé

53: Seychelles

Area: 175 square miles (455 sq km)
Population: 88,340
Capital: Victoria

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Africa’s geography so diverse?

Africa has many different landscapes. You can find deserts, mountains, forests, and grasslands. The continent is very large, so climates vary from place to place. Some areas are hot and dry, while others receive heavy rainfall. This diversity makes Africa unique and beautiful.

Which is the largest country in Africa?

Algeria is the largest country in Africa by land area. It is located in North Africa. Much of the country is covered by the vast Sahara Desert. Despite its dry climate, Algeria has modern cities and rich history. It is an important country in the region.

Why is the Sahara Desert important?

The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world. It stretches across several African countries. The desert influences weather and travel in the region. Many plants and animals have adapted to its harsh conditions. It is one of Africa’s most famous natural features.

Which African countries have famous mountains?

Several African countries are known for their mountains. Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Kenya has the beautiful Mount Kenya. These mountains attract climbers and nature lovers from around the world. They are also important sources of water for nearby communities.

How do rivers affect life in African countries?

Rivers play a major role in daily life across Africa. The Nile River helps support farming and provides water to millions of people. Other major rivers also help with transportation and fishing. Many cities and villages developed near rivers. They remain important for both people and wildlife today.

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