There are 54 countries in Africa

There are 54 countries in Africa today, according to the United Nations. That’s 54 different cultures, languages, peoples, heritage, history, etc.

Treating all African countries as the same is unhelpful because it fails to acknowledge the vast cultural, political, and economic differences that exist between them. Africa is a continent with a diverse range of nations, each with its own unique history, traditions, and current circumstances.

By lumping all African countries together, important differences are ignored, and generalisations are made that are not reflective of the reality on the ground. This can lead to a range of problems, such as incorrect assumptions about the state of development or the nature of conflicts, and the failure to address specific needs and challenges facing each country.

Moreover, treating all African countries as the same can also reinforce harmful stereotypes and contribute to a lack of understanding and appreciation of the diversity of the continent. It can also perpetuate the notion that Africa is a homogenous entity, ignoring the rich cultural and linguistic differences that exist within its borders.

A more nuanced and informed approach is needed that recognises and appreciates the differences between African countries and the specific challenges they each face.

Countries in Africa

# Country Population (2020) Sub-region
1 Nigeria 206,139,589 Western Africa
2 Ethiopia 114,963,588 Eastern Africa
3 Egypt 102,334,404 Northern Africa
4 DR Congo 89,561,403 Middle Africa
5 Tanzania 59,734,218 Eastern Africa
6 South Africa 59,308,690 Southern Africa
7 Kenya 53,771,296 Eastern Africa
8 Uganda 45,741,007 Eastern Africa
9 Algeria 43,851,044 Northern Africa
10 Sudan 43,849,260 Northern Africa
11 Morocco 36,910,560 Northern Africa
12 Angola 32,866,272 Middle Africa
13 Mozambique 31,255,435 Eastern Africa
14 Ghana 31,072,940 Western Africa
15 Madagascar 27,691,018 Eastern Africa
16 Cameroon 26,545,863 Middle Africa
17 Côte d’Ivoire 26,378,274 Western Africa
18 Niger 24,206,644 Western Africa
19 Burkina Faso 20,903,273 Western Africa
20 Mali 20,250,833 Western Africa
21 Malawi 19,129,952 Eastern Africa
22 Zambia 18,383,955 Eastern Africa
23 Senegal 16,743,927 Western Africa
24 Chad 16,425,864 Middle Africa
25 Somalia 15,893,222 Eastern Africa
26 Zimbabwe 14,862,924 Eastern Africa
27 Guinea 13,132,795 Western Africa
28 Rwanda 12,952,218 Eastern Africa
29 Benin 12,123,200 Western Africa
30 Burundi 11,890,784 Eastern Africa
31 Tunisia 11,818,619 Northern Africa
32 South Sudan 11,193,725 Eastern Africa
33 Togo 8,278,724 Western Africa
34 Sierra Leone 7,976,983 Western Africa
35 Libya 6,871,292 Northern Africa
36 Congo 5,518,087 Middle Africa
37 Liberia 5,057,681 Western Africa
38 Central African Republic 4,829,767 Middle Africa
39 Mauritania 4,649,658 Western Africa
40 Eritrea 3,546,421 Eastern Africa
41 Namibia 2,540,905 Southern Africa
42 Gambia 2,416,668 Western Africa
43 Botswana 2,351,627 Southern Africa
44 Gabon 2,225,734 Middle Africa
45 Lesotho 2,142,249 Southern Africa
46 Guinea-Bissau 1,968,001 Western Africa
47 Equatorial Guinea 1,402,985 Middle Africa
48 Mauritius 1,271,768 Eastern Africa
49 Eswatini 1,160,164 Southern Africa
50 Djibouti 988,000 Eastern Africa
51 Comoros 869,601 Eastern Africa
52 Cabo Verde 555,987 Western Africa
53 Sao Tome & Principe 219,159 Middle Africa
54 Seychelles 98,347 Eastern Africa

First dropped: | Last modified: February 13, 2023

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