How Many Countries in Africa? All 54 Nations, Regions, and Disputed Territories

Africa has 54 internationally recognized sovereign countries, making it the continent with the second-most nations after Europe. The African Union recognizes all 54 states. With over 1.4 billion people, 2,000+ languages, and territory stretching across all four hemispheres, Africa is the most ethnically and linguistically diverse continent on Earth.

The Answer: 54 Countries

Africa has 54 internationally recognized sovereign countries. All 54 are members of the African Union (AU), the continent's main political and economic organization headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Of these, 54 are also UN member states. The count can rise if you include disputed territories like Western Sahara and Somaliland, though neither holds widespread international recognition as independent states.

Countries by Region

North Africa (6 Countries)

Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia. North Africa is dominated by the Sahara Desert, the world's largest hot desert. Egypt's Nile Valley and the Mediterranean coast are the most densely populated areas. Algeria is the largest country in Africa at 2.38 million km2. This region has strong cultural ties to the Arab world.

West Africa (16 Countries)

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

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa (over 220 million people) and the region's economic powerhouse. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) promotes regional integration. The Niger River and its delta dominate the region's geography.

Central Africa (9 Countries)

Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe. The Congo Basin contains the world's second-largest tropical rainforest. The DRC is the second-largest country in Africa by area and rich in minerals including cobalt, copper, and coltan.

East Africa (14 Countries)

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

East Africa is defined by the Great Rift Valley, which stretches from Mozambique to the Red Sea. Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) in Tanzania is Africa's highest peak. Ethiopia is the continent's oldest independent country, never colonized except for a brief Italian occupation (1936-1941).

Southern Africa (9 Countries)

Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Southern Africa features the Kalahari Desert, the Drakensberg Mountains, and Victoria Falls on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border. South Africa is the region's largest economy and has three capital cities: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). Lesotho is unique as an enclave entirely surrounded by South Africa.

Africa's Newest Countries

South Sudan became the world's newest country on July 9, 2011, when it gained independence from Sudan following a referendum in which 98.83% voted for separation. Before that, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year war. Namibia was the last African country to gain independence from colonial rule, breaking free from South African administration in 1990.

Disputed Territories

Western Sahara is claimed by Morocco, which controls most of the territory, but the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), backed by the Polisario Front, claims sovereignty. The SADR is an AU member, but Western Sahara is listed by the UN as a Non-Self-Governing Territory. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and operates as a de facto independent state with its own government, currency, and military, but is not recognized by any UN member state.

Key Statistics

Key Facts

• Africa has 54 countries -- more than any other continent except arguably Europe (44-50 depending on definition).
• Africa is the only continent that lies in all four hemispheres: north, south, east, and west.
• The Sahara Desert covers roughly 9.2 million km2, nearly the size of the United States.
• The Nile (6,650 km) is the longest river in the world, flowing through 11 countries.
• Africa is projected to have 2.5 billion people by 2050, making it the world's most populous continent.

Fun Facts

• Madagascar, off Africa's southeast coast, is home to over 200,000 species, 80% of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
• Lake Victoria, shared by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, is Africa's largest lake and the world's second-largest freshwater lake by area.
• Africa has the youngest population of any continent -- the median age is just 19.7 years.
• Ethiopia uses its own calendar, which is roughly 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar and has 13 months.
• The Congo River is the deepest river in the world, reaching depths of over 220 m.