Africa continent | Africa map | List of countries in Africa

Africa is the world’s second largest and second most populated continent has a total 54 independent countries at this moment. Algeria is the largest country of Africa by area, and Nigeria is the largest by population.

Seychelles is the smallest country of Africa which is an archipelago off the east coast and Gambia is the smallest nation on the continental mainland. Lagos, Nigeria is the largest city of Africa followed by Cairo, Kinshasa, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Dar es Salaam, Alexandria, Abidjan, Kano and Casablanca.

Map of Africa

The Africa map covers over 20% of total land area and 6% of total surface area in the earth. The map of Africa also shows the border of the Africa the Mediterranean Sea to the north and by the South Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. The map of Africa represents the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, east of the Suez Canal is also considered some portion of Africa. Geographically, this continent is linked to Eurasia by the Isthmus of Suez and forms part of Afro-Eurasia.

How Many Countries Are In Africa

Different international authorities vary greatly on how many countries are in Africa, but most of the international authorities and current experts agreed on 54 countries in Africa which are fully recognized sovereign states, 9 territories and 2 de facto independent.

List of Countries in Africa

Before we discuss about the Africa, we should know some basic things first. We have represented a table below which contains all the necessary basics of this continent. The widely recognized 54 countries in Africa are listed by alphabetically with their current and estimated gross domestic product data collected from the International Monetary Fund for 2016.

Africa is the second largest continent in the world has a total area of 30,370,000 km² which is almost 21% of total landmass of the world. It is also the second most populated continent in the world, the population of Africa is 1.18 billion, which is over 16% of total population of the world.

The large amount of population of Africa makes an important role in the world economy. There are total 54 African countries in this continent which are known for its enormous diversity in terms of economics, environments, culture, historical background, ethnic groups and also the government systems. This continent has a large diversity of cultures, ethnicities and languages. In the delayed 19th century European countries occupied most of Africa.

Most current countries in Africa originate from a procedure of decolonization in the 20th century. Africa is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Indian Ocean to the south east and the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to the northeast along with the Sinai Peninsula.

Geography

Africa is the biggest of the three incredible southward projections from the biggest landmass of the planet. Isolated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea and it is connected to Asia at its north east boundary by the Isthmus of Suez which transected by the Suez Canal. Geologically, Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, east of the Suez Canal is also considered some portion of Africa.

From the northernmost part of the continent, Ras ben Sakka in Tunisia to the southernmost part, Cape Agulhas in South Africa, is a separation of around 8,000 km and from the westernmost part Cape Verde, to the most easternmost projection Ras Hafun in Somalia, is a distance of roughly 7,400 km.

The shoreline is 26,000 km stretched and the lack of indentations of the shore is outlined by the Europe, which covers just 10,400,000 km2 about 30% of the surface of Africa and has a 32,000 km coastline. The largest country of Africa is Algeria, and Seychelles is the smallest country which is an archipelago off the east coast. Gambia is the smallest nation on the mainland.

Climate

The weather of Africa varies from tropical to subarctic on its maximum peaks. The half of the northern part of Africa is mostly desert and the central and southern parts are savanna plains and dense jungle regions. In between the convergence point where vegetation patterns for example steppe and sahel dominate. The continent is the hottest continent ever on the planet and two third of the total land surface consists of dry lands and deserts. The highest ever temperature recorded in 1922 in Libya that was 58 °C (136 °F).

Ecology and Biodiversity

Africa has the biggest and most various wild creature populace on the planet. It is home to vast populace of predatory creatures, for example, lions, hyenas, and cheetahs. Africa is additionally home to the biggest land creature on the planet; the African elephant. There are likewise numerous herbivores creatures, for example, wild oxen, elephants, camels and giraffes going unreservedly in the fields of Africa.

Africa is likewise home to an assortment of wilderness creatures, for example, snakes, primates and oceanic creatures, for example, crocodiles and creatures of land and water. The thickness and scope of opportunity of exceptionally various wild creature populace in Africa is unique with whatever other landmasses on the planet.

Africa has more than 3000 confined territories. This incorporates 198 marine protected zones, 50 biosphere reserves and 80 wetland holds. It is exceptionally influenced by deforestation and degradation. The rate of deforestation occurrence in Africa is twice contrasted with the deforestation occurrence in the rest of the world.

More than four million hectares of timberland is lost in Africa consistently. Around 90% of the virgin woodlands in the West Africa have been wrecked throughout the years. 90% of the timberlands in Madagascar have additionally experienced annihilation since the entry of people there 2000 years prior. Increment in human populace, territory demolition and poaching is lessening the organic differences of Africa. Human infringement, common distress, destitution and introduction of non local species are additionally posturing risk to the biodiversity of the landmass.

Language and demographics

Africa is the most multilingual continent on the planet. There are more than thousand distinct dialects being used in Africa. Albeit the greater part of them are of African inception, a portion of the dialects talked there are from Europe or Asia.

A large portion of the general population talk numerous African dialects fluidly, additionally at least one European dialects also. Individuals utilize primarily four noteworthy indigenous African dialect families. The Afro-Asiatic dialects are talked in spots, for example, North Africa and south west Asia. The nilo Saharan dialect family is utilized by ethnic gatherings as a part of Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania.

The Niger Congo dialect is utilized as a part of sub Saharan Africa and the Khoisan dialects are utilized as a part of the southern Africa. People are also spoken English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese and italic in many parts of Africa.

Economy

Africa is the most underprivileged and immature continent on the planet. Last 25 positioned countries as indicated by the United Nations’ human development information of 2003 are all from Africa. Degenerate governments, elevated amounts of

Degenerate governments, elevated amounts of absence of education, failed central planning, absence of foreign capital, human rights infringement done by numerous administrations and `incessant tribal and military clash have brought about this terrible circumstance of the continent. Africa has inexhaustible common assets. Around 90% of world’s cobalt, 90% of platinum, 50% of gold stores, 30% of the diamond reserves and numerous different minerals, for example, chromium, uranium, manganese and bauxite are in Africa.

The development in Africa is presently determined primarily by administrations and not assembling and agribusiness. Subsequently it has been a development without occupations and no reduction in poverty.