Every recognised African nation has a profile on Africa Center, plus the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which the African Union recognises and the United Nations lists as a non-self-governing territory. Use the filters below to narrow the list by region, or search by name. Each card shows population, capital, and nominal GDP at a glance; click through for the full profile, including currency, languages, urbanisation, life expectancy, literacy, and growth rate.
Figures are taken from World Bank, IMF, UN agency and national statistics-office releases. For how we reconcile sources when they differ, see the methodology; for what each indicator means, see the glossary.
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Côte d'Ivoire
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Togo
Burundi
Comoros
Djibouti
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Kenya
Madagascar
Mauritius
Rwanda
Seychelles
Somalia
South Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
Angola
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
São Tomé and Príncipe
Botswana
Eswatini
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are there in Africa?
There are 54 fully recognised sovereign countries in Africa, grouped into five regions — North, West, East, Central and Southern Africa. Western Sahara is a disputed territory and is sometimes counted as a 55th.
What is the most populous country in Africa?
Nigeria is the most populous African country with over 220 million people, followed by Ethiopia, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Which African country has the largest economy?
By nominal GDP, South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria consistently rank among the largest economies in Africa, with the order shifting between data releases and exchange-rate movements.
What is the smallest country in Africa?
Seychelles is the smallest African country by both land area and population, followed by São Tomé and Príncipe. The Gambia is the smallest country on the African mainland.
Last reviewed: 28 April 2026.