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How many countries are in Africa?

Countries in Africa with Explanation

There are 54 independent sovereign countries in Africa. There are two countries whose independence is disputed that are Western Sahara and Somaliland. Africa Continent is one continent but how many countries in Africa is one of the most prevalent questions that we often come across. The answer to this is a bit complicated with confusion over Morocco and Somaliland.

Well, the simple and the most accepted answer to this question is that in total there are 54 independent sovereign countries in Africa with their Capital states and are recognized by both the African Union as well as the United States. Further, Africa is the second largest continent in the world and is a homeland to 54 i.e. the largest number of countries within a continent in the world. The Atlantic Ocean binds it on the west, the red sea and Indian ocean on the east, the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the mingling waters of Indian and Atlantic Ocean on the south. Africa’s accounts for a total land area of about 30,365,000 sq. km or 11,724,000 sq. mi. and extends to about 7,400 km from east to west and 8,000 km from north to south.

List of countries in Africa

Country Capital Language/Currency/Time Zone/ Calling Code
Algeria Algiers
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is the Algerian dinar.
  • The calling code is +213
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hour.
Egypt Cairo
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is Pound.
  • The calling code is +20
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hour.
Libya Tripoli
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is Dinar.
  • The calling code is +218
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hour.
Morocco Rabat
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is the Moroccan dirham.
  • The calling code is +212
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hour.
Sudan Khartoum
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is Pound.
  • The calling code is +249
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Tunisia Tunis
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is Dinar.
  • The calling code is +216
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Burundi Gitega
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +257
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Comoros Moroni
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +269
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Djibouti Djibouti
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +253
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Eritrea Asmara
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is Nakfa.
  • The calling code is +291
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Ethiopia Addis Ababa
  • The official language of the nation is Amharic
  • The currency used is Birr.
  • The calling code is +251
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Kenya Nairobi
  • The official language of the nation is Swahili
  • The currency used is SHILLING.
  • The calling code is +254
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Madagascar Antananarivo
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Ariary.
  • The calling code is +261
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Malawi Lilongwe
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Ariary.
  • The calling code is +261
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Mauritius Port Louis
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Rupee.
  • The calling code is +230
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +4 hours.
Mozambique Maputo
  • The official language of the nation is Portuguese
  • The currency used is the Mozambican Metical.
  • The calling code is +258
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Rwanda Kigali
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +250
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Seychelles Victoria
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Rupee.
  • The calling code is +248
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +4 hours.
Somalia Mogadishu
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is Shilling.
  • The calling code is +252
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
South Sudan Juba
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Pound.
  • The calling code is +211
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Tanzania Dodoma
  • The official language of the nation is Swahili
  • The currency used is Shilling.
  • The calling code is +255
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Uganda Kampala
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Shilling.
  • The calling code is +256
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +3 hours.
Zambia Lusaka
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Kwacha.
  • The calling code is +260
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Zimbabwe Harare
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Dollar.
  • The calling code is +263
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Angola Luanda
  • The official language of the nation is Portuguese
  • The currency used is Kwanza.
  • The calling code is +244
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Cameroon Yaounde
  • The official language of the nation is French and
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +237
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Central African Republic Bangui
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +236
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Chad N'Djamena
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +235
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Benin Porto Novo
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +229
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Botswana Gaborone
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Pula.
  • The calling code is +267 and
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Burkina Faso Ouagadougou
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +226
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Cabo Verde Praia
  • The official language of the nation is Portuguese
  • The currency used is Escudo.
  • The calling code is +238
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is -1 hour.
Congo, The Democratic Republic Kinshasa
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +243
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Congo, Republic Brazzaville
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +242
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Cote d'Ivoire Yamoussoukro
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +225
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Equatorial Guinea Malabo
  • The official language of the nation is Spanish
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +240
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Eswatini(formerly Swaziland) Mbabane
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Rand.
  • The calling code is +372
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Gabon Libreville
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +241
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Gambia Banjul
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Dalasi.
  • The calling code is +220
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Ghana Accra
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Cedi.
  • The calling code is +233
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Guinea Conakry
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +224
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Guinea-Bissau Bissau
  • The official language of the nation is Portuguese
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +245
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Lesotho Maseru
  • The official language of the nation is Sesotho
  • The currency used is Loti.
  • The calling code is +266
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Liberia Monrovia
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Dollar.
  • The calling code is +231
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Mali Bamako
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +223
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Mauritania Nouakchott
  • The official language of the nation is Arabic
  • The currency used is Ouguiya.
  • The calling code is +222
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Namibia Windhoek
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Dollar.
  • The calling code is +264
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Niger Naimey
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +227
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Nigeria Abuja
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Naira.
  • The calling code is +234
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome
  • The official language of the nation is Portuguese
  • The currency used is Dobra.
  • The calling code is +239
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +1 hours.
Senegal Dakar
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +221
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
Sierra Leone Free Town
  • The official language of the nation is English
  • The currency used is Leone.
  • The calling code is +232
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.
South Africa Pretoria
  • The official language of the nation is Afrikaans
  • The currency used is Rand.
  • The calling code is +27
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +2 hours.
Togo Lome
  • The official language of the nation is French
  • The currency used is Franc.
  • The calling code is +228
  • UTC/GMT standard time followed is +0 hours.

Africa Facts

Africa is known for the origin of human civilization, written language dating back over 4000 years, hottest place on the planet, Nile - the longest river in the world stretching 4,132 miles, world's largest desert- Sahara - which is almost the size of China or the United States, largest waterfall - Victoria Falls is 355 feet high and one mile wide, and the world's second largest and second most-populous continent after Asia. The continent is enclosed by the Indian Ocean to the southeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea to the northeast. The continent comprised of Madagascar and various archipelagos. Africa has 54 fully recognized countries, 09 territories and two de facto independent states with limited recognition across the world. The landmass is cut almost similarly in two by the Equator. The tropical region bounded on the north by the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn on the south. Algeria is the largest and Gambia is the smallest country in Africa. The population of the continent is over 1.216 billion.

Africa Geography

Africa, being the second largest continent in the world, it inhabits nearly 11.7 million square miles and surrounding the adjacent islands as well. The Mediterranean Sea plays an important role in separating separates Africa from Europe, whereas, Isthmus of Suez connects Africa with Asia. Moreover, the continent finds the Indian Ocean to the southeast, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to the northeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Measuring the distance from the extreme south point - Cape Agulhas to the last north point - Ras ben Sakka is estimated to be 5,000 miles. Similarly, from the extreme eastern point - Ras Fun to the last western point - Cape Verde is approximately 4,600 miles.

Africa History

It is estimated by Anthropologists by digging unearthed numerous fossils that the continent has been inhabited life as far as back seven million years ago. Since, 150,000 to 100,000 years, Africa has been the home to communities of hunter-gatherers. By visiting its 54 countries located all over the continent, it has been observed that taming of animals, agriculture, and iron-work are the major work that supported the human civilization in Africa. Christianity was introduced by European countries, and Islam was introduced by Romans, Greeks, Egypt, and Arab countries which invaded the continent during the 7th century. In addition, the slavery system was practiced in the continent from the 7th century to the 20th century. But, after World War II, the colonial regions began stirring for independence. Today, almost, all of the countries have their own government and constitution along with their flag in Africa.

Ecology and Biodiversity of Africa

Africa is known for harboring over 3,000 biosphere 198 marine and wetlands reserves. The establishments have been raised encouraging wildlife population ranging from giraffes, lions, crocodiles, cheetahs, camels, snakes, buffalo, and elephants. However, the rich biodiversity is under threat due to increasing population, civil conflicts, habitat destruction, poaching, and deforestation.

Attractions in African countries

African is known for thick forest, desert, and longest river. The countries in Africa are the home for wild animals, beautiful birds, the hub of natural sceneries, and has extremely mesmerizing flora and fauna.

These are the fifteen most adventurous and exciting locations in Africa.

  1. Rhinos at Solio Reserve, Kenya
  2. The great migration, Tanzania
  3. Table Mountain, South Africa
  4. Sahara Dunes, Morocco
  5. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
  6. Nyika Plateau National Park, Malawi
  7. Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
  8. Draa Valley, Morocco
  9. Lower Zambezi, Zambia
  10. Djemaa el Fna, Morocco
  11. Sossusvlei Dunes, Namibia
  12. Mountain gorillas, Rwanda
  13. Victoria Falls, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
  14. Spitzkoppe, Namibia
  15. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

The richest countries in Africa

Mauritius, Algeria, South Africa, Egypt, Gabon, Botswana, Tunisia, and Namibia

The countries of Africa having the highest poverty

Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Liberia, Niger, Central African Republic, Malawi, and Mozambique

Highly populated countries in Africa

Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Algeria, and Uganda

Less populated countries in Africa

Seychelles,  São Tomé and Príncipe,  Mayotte,  Cape Verde, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Guinea-Bissau, and Gabon.

Growing industries in countries in Africa

  • Technology & Telecommunications
  • Digital healthcare
  • Renewable energy
  • Transportation
  • FMCG
  • Manufacturing

Official languages in Africa

Swahili, Amharic, Yoruba, Oromo, Hausa, Igbo, Zulu, Shona, Arabic, Portuguese, and French

Conclusion

The best answer to the question that we have come up with is that Africa is a land of diverse cultures, about 2000 languages, crores of inhabitants and is home to 54 independent countries recognized by the UN as well as African Union.

Located both in the northern and southern hemisphere Africa is the only continent that has landed both at the Equator as well as Prime Meridian. Africa is also the site of tourist attractions as well.