02How Many Countries Are in Africa?
Africa has 54 fully recognized sovereign countries, and every one of them is a member of the United Nations. That's more than a quarter of all UN member states, and more than any other continent.
You may occasionally see other numbers, and the difference usually comes down to two territories:
- Western Sahara — a disputed territory on the Atlantic coast. Morocco administers most of it, while the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic claims it and is a member of the African Union. It is not a UN member state.
- Somaliland — a self-declared state in the north of Somalia that has run its own government since 1991 but lacks broad international recognition and is not a UN member.
Quiz tip: When a trivia question asks how many countries are in Africa, the expected answer is almost always 54. If it asks about African Union members, the answer is 55, because the AU also includes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
03Africa's Five Regions at a Glance
The easiest way to learn 54 countries is to split them into manageable groups. The United Nations Statistics Division divides Africa into five regions. The cards below list every sovereign country in each one (dependent territories such as Réunion or Saint Helena are left out).
Add them up — 6 + 16 + 9 + 18 + 5 — and you get all 54. Note that the UN places Sudan in Northern Africa but South Sudan in Eastern Africa, and it counts Zambia and Zimbabwe as Eastern rather than Southern Africa. Other organizations sometimes group countries differently, so it's worth knowing which system a quiz is using.
04Record-Breaking African Countries
Superlatives are quiz favorites. Memorize this table and you'll be ready for a big share of the questions you're likely to meet.
| Record | Country | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Largest by area | Algeria | About 2.38 million km²; took the title when Sudan split in 2011 |
| Second-largest by area | DR Congo | The largest country in sub-Saharan Africa |
| Smallest by area | Seychelles | An Indian Ocean archipelago of roughly 460 km² |
| Smallest on the mainland | The Gambia | About 11,000 km², almost entirely surrounded by Senegal |
| Most populous | Nigeria | Well over 200 million people |
| Newest country | South Sudan | Independent from Sudan on 9 July 2011 |
| Largest island country | Madagascar | One of the largest islands on Earth |
| Highest point | Tanzania | Mount Kilimanjaro, 5,895 m |
| Lowest point | Djibouti | Lake Assal, about 155 m below sea level |
| Oldest republic | Liberia | Declared independence in 1847 |
One more favorite: Ethiopia is often described as never having been colonized. It successfully resisted Italy at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, although Italy occupied the country from 1936 to 1941.
05Africa's 16 Landlocked Countries
Sixteen African nations have no coastline at all — more than on any other continent. Many sit in the Sahel belt or in the interior of southern and eastern Africa.
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mali
- Niger
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world; it lost its coastline when Eritrea became independent in 1993. Lesotho is an enclave — completely surrounded by South Africa — and is the only country whose entire territory lies more than 1,000 metres above sea level.
06Countries That Changed Their Names
Many African nations adopted new names at or after independence, often to replace colonial-era labels or to honor older kingdoms and landscapes. These pairs show up again and again in quizzes.
| Former name | Current name | Year adopted |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Ghana | 1957 |
| Nyasaland | Malawi | 1964 |
| Northern Rhodesia | Zambia | 1964 |
| Bechuanaland | Botswana | 1966 |
| Basutoland | Lesotho | 1966 |
| Dahomey | Benin | 1975 |
| Rhodesia | Zimbabwe | 1980 |
| Upper Volta | Burkina Faso | 1984 |
| Zaire | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1997 |
| Cape Verde | Cabo Verde (official UN short name) | 2013 |
| Swaziland | Eswatini | 2018 |
07Capitals That Trip People Up
In several African countries, the best-known city is not the capital. These are the classic traps:
| Country | Capital | Commonly mistaken for |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Abuja (since 1991) | Lagos |
| Morocco | Rabat | Casablanca |
| Cameroon | Yaoundé | Douala |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Yamoussoukro (official) | Abidjan, the economic hub |
| Tanzania | Dodoma (official) | Dar es Salaam |
| Benin | Porto-Novo (official) | Cotonou, the seat of government |
| South Africa | Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein | Johannesburg |
South Africa is unusual: Pretoria is the executive capital, Cape Town the legislative capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital. Johannesburg, its largest city, holds none of those roles.
08Memory Tricks for Learning All 54
Rote lists fade quickly. These techniques help the countries stick:
Master one of the five regions before moving on. Five small groups are far easier than one list of 54.
Southern Africa: "Big Elephants Like Napping Silently" — Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa.
North Africa from west to east: "My Aunt Tasted Lemons, Eggs & Sugar" — Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan.
Place the big landmarks first — Algeria, DR Congo, Sudan, Libya — then fill in their neighbors around them.
Sketch or print an outline map and label it from memory. Check, correct, repeat a day later.
Short daily sessions beat one long cram. Retake the quiz above tomorrow and watch your stamp count grow.
09Quiz Answer Key
Finished the quiz, or want to check before you start? Open the panel below.
Show all 12 answers
- How many sovereign countries are in Africa? — 54
- Largest African country by area? — Algeria
- Most populous African country? — Nigeria
- Africa's newest country (2011)? — South Sudan
- Country completely surrounded by South Africa? — Lesotho
- Capital of Nigeria? — Abuja
- Smallest African country by area? — Seychelles
- Swaziland's name since 2018? — Eswatini
- Country where Mount Kilimanjaro stands? — Tanzania
- Country hosting the African Union headquarters? — Ethiopia
- Only African country with Spanish as an official language? — Equatorial Guinea
- Which listed country is landlocked? — Mali
10Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are in Africa?
There are 54 internationally recognized sovereign countries in Africa, all of them United Nations members. The African Union has 55 members because it also includes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
What is the largest country in Africa?
Algeria, at about 2.38 million km². Sudan held the title until South Sudan became independent in 2011.
Which African country has the most people?
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, with well over 200 million residents. Ethiopia and Egypt are next.
What is the newest country in Africa?
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011 after a referendum.
Is Egypt in Africa or Asia?
Both. Egypt is a transcontinental country: most of its territory is in northeastern Africa, while the Sinai Peninsula lies in Asia. It is usually counted as an African country.
How many African countries are landlocked?
Sixteen, including Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, Chad, Uganda and Zambia. See the full list in the landlocked section above.
Is Western Sahara a country?
Its status is disputed. It is not a UN member state, so it is not included in the standard count of 54 African countries.
11More Quizzes to Play
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12Sources & Fact-Checking
Every fact in this quiz and guide was checked against the reference sources below as of October 2026. Population figures are rounded because estimates change every year. Spotted something that needs updating? Let us know through our contact page and we'll review it promptly.