Africa is the continent of superlatives. It is divided into more than 50 countries, more than 1000 different languages are spoken there and with the Namib Desert and the Sahara, both the oldest and the largest desert on earth are located on the continent. In addition, the cradle of the world, as Africa is also called, has the greatest diversity of animal species on earth. To keep it that way, there are numerous protected areas and reserves in Africa. Well over 100 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the Medina of Tunis in Tunisia or the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, bear witness to the continent's impressive diversity.
List of countries in Africa
On this page you will find a list of all countries in Africa. Click on a country in the map to go directly to the respective travel guide.
01
Nigeria is a West African country with 36 states and the capital Abuja. It is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world. Nigeria is bordered by Benin to the west, Chad and Cameroon to the east, Niger to the north and the Gulf ...
02
Ethiopia is located in northeastern Africa and is known as the roof of Africa because it is the highest country on the continent. The country has a 3,000-year history and is home to more than 90 ethnic groups. Ethiopia is the country of origin of coffee and has nine UNESCO World ...
The Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire, is located in Central Africa and borders the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second largest state in Africa and has great ethnic and linguistic diversity. The country's history is marked by long Belgian colonial rule, political conflicts and civil wars. Although ...
South Africa is a country on the southern coast of Africa and is considered the most developed economy on the African continent. The republic is culturally diverse and is often referred to as the "Rainbow Nation." The country's history is marked by conflicts between the different population groups, especially during ...
05
Tanzania is an East African country on the Indian Ocean, bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. With a population of about 62 million, it is the fifth largest country in Africa. The country consists of a coastal plain, savannahs and a plateau ...
06
Kenya is a country in East Africa bordered by South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and the Indian Ocean. It has over 47 million inhabitants and is the economically strongest country in East and Central Africa. Today, Kenya is known for its wildlife, including the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino ...
07
Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. Most of the country lies in the White Nile River basin, including a large portion of Lake Victoria. Uganda has diverse wildlife and numerous national parks and is known ...
08
In terms of its size, Algeria is the second largest country on the African continent. However, apart from a few cities on the Mediterranean, it is quite sparsely populated. It is the immensity of the largely vegetationless Sahara that characterizes Algeria and takes up a considerable part of the country. ...
09
Sudan is located in northeastern Africa. It borders Chad, Egypt, Libya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The country's history dates back to Pharaonic times and includes the rule of the Egyptian New Kingdoms and the rise of the Kingdom of Kush. In the 19th century, Sudan ...
10
Morocco is located in northwestern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The country was ruled by various independent dynasties before falling under French and Spanish rule in the 1910s. In 1956, Morocco regained its independence and has since been a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. Morocco is ...
11
The wealth of the African country of Angola gushes from the earth. Only Nigeria produces more crude oil on the continent than Angola. The economy experienced booming years with a double-digit growth spurt. It was the Portuguese navigator Diogo Cao who sailed across the Congo estuary in 1482, tying Angola to ...
Mozambique is a country in southeastern Africa with a long coastline on the Indian Ocean, with marine parks and popular beaches. The country borders Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini. Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal in 1975, but a subsequent civil war and the spread of IS since 2015 ...
13
Ghana is a West African country located on the Gulf of Guinea and bordered by Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Togo. The country is known for its biodiverse wildlife, its beaches, and its forts that commemorate the slave trade. Ghana was closely linked to Great Britain in colonial times ...
Madagascar is a large island nation in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. The island is known for its unique wildlife, including the endemic lemurs, as well as its rainforests, beaches and reefs. Historically, Madagascar has been shaped by Asian, African and European influences. Sights include the ...
Ivory Coast is a West African country on the Atlantic Ocean. It was settled by French missionaries and sailors in the seventeenth century and was known in colonial times for the export of ivory, gold and pepper. The country has a rich wildlife with elephants and monkeys, but also a ...
16
Cameroon is a country in West and Central Africa bordered by Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of Congo. Cameroon's history includes pre-colonial times, colonization by the Germans, division into French and British mandated territories after World War I, the declaration of independence and ...
17
Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa surrounded by seven neighboring countries. The country is largely covered by the Sahara Desert and is one of the poorest countries in the world. The country's economy is focused on agriculture and the export of raw materials such as uranium. The country's ...
Lacking water and fertile soil, Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world and suffers from climate change to a particular degree. People in this part of West Africa repeatedly complain of droughts and thus crop failures, and the livelihoods of countless small farmers in this landlocked ...
19
Malawi is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, crossed by the Great Rift Valley and Lake Malawi. The country has a rich wildlife and beaches in the Lake Malawi National Park and Cape Maclear. Malawi gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and has a population of about 20.9 million. The ...
20
Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa with the capital Bamako. Most of the population lives in the south of the country, which is crossed by the Niger and Senegal rivers. The north extends deep into the Sahara and is sparsely populated. Mali was part of the French Sudan ...
21
Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa with Lusaka as its capital. The country was formerly the British colony of Northern Rhodesia and became independent in 1964. Zambia is rich in natural resources such as minerals, wildlife, forests, fresh water and farmland. Major attractions include Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall ...
22
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa, located between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It borders South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique and has the capital Harare. The country's history dates back to the Kingdom of Zimbabwe and later colonization by Great Britain. Zimbabwe is known for its stunning ...
23
Senegal is a state in West Africa bordered by Mauritania, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Dakar. The country became independent in 1960 and is today one of the few democratic states in Africa. Characteristic of the country are its rich culture, music and art, its hospitality ...
24
Chad is a landlocked country in central Africa bordered by Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger. Chad's natural environment includes a desert zone in the north, an arid Sahelian belt in the center, and a more fertile Sudanese savanna zone in the south. Major attractions include ...
25
Guinea is a West African coastal state bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The country's economy is primarily dependent on agriculture and mineral production. Guinea is the second largest producer of bauxite in the world and has significant diamond and gold ...
South Sudan is a landlocked country in East Africa bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Kenya. The state gained independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011. The country's history is marked by political conflicts and ethnic tensions, including a decades-long civil war. South ...
27
Rwanda is a landlocked country in East Africa and is known as the "land of a thousand hills" because of its hilly landscape. The country's history is marked by the 1994 genocide, in which some 800,000 people were killed. Since then, the country has undergone an economic reconstruction process and has seen ...
28
Tunisia is a North African country on the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Algeria and Libya. The country's history dates back to the 9th century BC, when Carthage was founded by the Phoenicians. Tunisia was then ruled by Romans, Arabs, Ottomans and French before gaining independence in 1956. Tunisia is known for its ...
29
It is long, narrow and very deep - Lake Tanganyika. The landlocked country of Burundi shares the waters with its neighbors Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The freshwater lake is the small country's biggest attraction and feeds many of its inhabitants. It is extremely rich in fish. ...
30
The historical kingdom of Benin gave this country its name. However, its territory was still on the territory of today's Nigeria. After the period of French colonialism and the autonomy of the small state, the inhabitants went through troubled years with an unstable government. This changed in December 1990 after the ...
31
Somalia is located in East Africa and borders Ethiopia, Djibouti, the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and Kenya. The landscape of Somalia consists mainly of plateaus, plains and highlands. Somalia was colonized by Italy and Britain in the late 19th century and was established as an independent republic in 1960. ...
32
Togo is located in West Africa and borders Ghana, Benin and Burkina Faso. In the south, it extends to the Gulf of Guinea, where the capital Lomé is located. After German colonial rule until the end of World War I, Togo became a French protectorate and gained independence in 1960. Togo ...
Sierra Leone is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordering Liberia to the southeast and Guinea to the north. The capital is Freetown. The country was founded by the British and gained independence in 1961.Typical of Sierra Leone are its cultural diversity, religious tolerance and its traditional drum ...
34
Libya is a country in North Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the north and surrounded by Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria and Tunisia. It is the fourth largest country in Africa and has a population of about 7 million people. Libya has a troubled history, ranging from ancient times through ...
The Republic of Congo is located on the west coast of Central Africa and is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and the Atlantic Ocean. The region was inhabited by Bantu-speaking tribes 3,000 years ago and became part of the French colony of ...
36
Liberia is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordering Sierra Leone, Guinea, the Ivory Coast and the Atlantic Ocean. The culture of the country is strongly influenced by traditional customs and ceremonies, in which songs, masks and dances play an important role. Among the most famous sights are ...
The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in Central Africa bordered by Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Congo, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. The country was colonized by France in the late 19th century and gained independence in 1960. Although rich in mineral resources, the Central African Republic is one ...
Mauritania is located in the northwest of Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, the Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali and Senegal. The population of 4.4 million people lives mainly in the south of the country, while 90% of the territory is in the Sahara. The country was conquered by the Arabs in the 7th ...
39
Eritrea is located in northeast Africa and borders Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti and the Red Sea. Eritrea's history dates back to ancient times and includes the rule of various powers such as the Aksumite Empire and the Ethiopian emperors, as well as colonial rule by Italy and Great Britain. In 1993, the ...
40
Namibia is a country in southern Africa, located between Angola, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Windhoek. The arid landscape was originally settled by the San and Damara peoples. Namibia was a German colony and later under South African mandate administration before gaining independence in 1990. ...
41
Botswana is a country in southern Africa known for its national parks. The Moremi Game Reserve in northwestern Botswana was the first protected area in the African south to be established by locals before the country's sovereignty and independence from Great Britain. They must have been people with vision, because ...
42
Lesotho is a landlocked country in southern Africa, completely surrounded by South Africa. The form of government is a parliamentary monarchy with the capital in Maseru. From 1868 to 1966, the country belonged to the British Commonwealth as Basutoland, since then it has been independent. Because of its high altitude, it is ...
The Gambia is a small country in West Africa, completely surrounded by Senegal and with a narrow coastal strip on the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia River, which flows through the country, is known for its diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife. The country's history is marked by colonialism and slavery, which ...
44
Gabon is a central African country located on the Atlantic coast and bordered by Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Congo and the Gulf of Guinea. The country is best known for its large nature reserves, such as Loango and Lopé National Parks, which are home to diverse wildlife. Gabon ...
Guinea-Bissau is a West African country bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the southeast. The country was part of the Kaabu Kingdom and later the Mali Empire before being colonized by Portugal in the 19th century. Guinea-Bissau became independent in 1973, but has had an unstable political history ...
Equatorial Guinea is located on the west coast of Central Africa and consists of a mainland and an island region. The capital is Malabo on the island of Bioko. The country was formerly a Spanish colony and has experienced two dictatorships since its independence from Spain in 1968. Although it is ...
Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs. In the mountainous interior there is the Black River Gorges National Park with rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails and wildlife. The capital, Port Louis, offers attractions such as the Champs de Mars horse racing track, ...
48
Eswatini is a small country in the south of Africa. Surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, the country was formerly called "Swaziland" and is considered a transit point for vacationers on their way from Kruger National Park to the beaches of the Indian Ocean. For game viewing, Hlane Royal National ...
49
Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa and borders Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. It is characterized by dry bush steppes, volcanic formations and beaches on the Gulf of Aden. The population is mainly Somali and Afar. The country became independent from France in 1977 and has ...
50
Reunion is a French island in the Indian Ocean, known for its volcanic landscape, rainforests and beaches. The island is home to the active volcano Piton de la Fournaise, the extinct volcano Piton des Neiges and the three calderas of Reunion. The island was originally settled by Arabs and later ...
51
Comoros is an independent archipelago in the Indian Ocean in southeast Africa. It consists of three main islands and numerous smaller islands. Comoros was formerly a French colony and gained its independence in 1975. The capital and largest city is Moroni. Comoros is known for its beautiful beaches and coral reefs. ...
Western Sahara is a territory on the Atlantic coast of northwest Africa claimed by Morocco and largely annexed since Spain's withdrawal in 1975. The leftist Frente Polisario is fighting for an independent state, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Since the 1991 cease-fire, the Frente Polisario has controlled a "Free Zone" in the ...
Cape Verde is an island nation in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands. The Cape Verde Islands are located between 600 and 850 kilometers west of Africa and are known for their Portuguese-African Creole culture, traditional Morna music and their numerous beaches. Cape Verde was discovered and colonized by ...
54
Mayotte is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique. It is an overseas department and a region of France with Mamoudzou as its capital. Popular attractions include the coral reef that surrounds a lagoon and a marine reserve, as well as the ...
São Tomé and Príncipe is an African island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, west of Gabon. The two islands of São Tomé and Príncipe are part of a volcanic mountain range and offer remarkable landscapes with rainforests, beaches and rock formations. The Ôbo Nature Park ...
The Seychelles are an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. The archipelago is known for its picturesque white sand beaches, coral reefs and nature reserves, as well as rare animals such as the Aldabra giant tortoises. The capital, Victoria, is located on the ...
St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic. It consists of the islands of St. Helena, Ascension and the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, including Gough Island. The islands were discovered by Portuguese navigators in the early 16th century and later colonized by ...