The continent is not only large in land size or population but is also known to be a host of diverse ethnicities and cultures. This is in the sense that it is the only continent where human species reportedly originated from. This article is meant to acquaint you with the number and names of all the African countries. The Capitals are in bold letters to allow for visual clarity. The African continent is home to the majority of blacks or dark-skinned people in the world (Yes, the black race originates from Africa). 5. The distance between the most southerly point at Cape Agulhas and the most northerly point at Ras ben Sakka, Tunisia is an estimated 5,000 miles. The variation is a result of disputed territories and inconsistencies around the inclusion of island nations off the coast of Africa. The 54 are referred to as “recognized states” because they are member states of the African Union (AU). All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com. There are 54 countries in Africa today, according to the United Nations. Anthropologists have unearthed numerous fossils as well as other evidence which suggest that the continent has been inhabited as far back as seven million years ago BP (Before Present). Morocco is an African country that is not recognized as part of the African Union but is an accepted member of the United Nations. The full list is shown in the table below, with current population and subregion (based on the United Nations official statistics). Up to 3,000 languages are spoken throughout Africa's 54 countries. Autonomous city of Ceuta, (nos 3-5 owned by Spain). The transcontinental country in this region is Egypt, also having a small part of its territory in Asia, on the other side of the Suez Canal, but politically it is a member of the African Union. 53 countries in Africa belong to both the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) lists. The continent straddles the equator, and it is home to multiple climate areas. Morocco withdrew from the predecessor of African Union: the Organisation of African Union (O.A.U) in 1984 following the approval of the membership of the … The 54 are referred to as “recognized states” because they are member states of the African Union (AU). Africa's average population is the youngest amongst all the continents; the medianage in 2012 was 19.7, when the worldwide median age was 30.4. The smallest country in mainland Africa is the Republic of The Gambia. The distance between the most easterly points at Ras Fun, Somalia to the most westerly projection in Cape Verde is approximately 4,600 miles. 53 countries in Africa belong to both the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) lists. The African continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean sea which also lies between Europe and Asia. Africa has a long history of harbouring Europeans and people from other continents. Asia: 15 428 398 cases; the five countries reporting most cases are India (9 309 787), Iran (908 346), Iraq (544 670), Indonesia (516 753) and Bangladesh (456 438). The next 2 are called “de facto states” because, by structure and government, they can be called a country but they are not recognized as they do not belong to the AU. Read also: This is the True Size of Africa- You’ve Been Wrong All Along. In fact, there are thousands of ethnic groups in the African continent, each having a different language, culture, and values. What is His Net Worth? Dlamini, Dog The Bounty Hunter’s Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids. The domestication of animals, agriculture, and ironworking all facilitated settlement in various parts of the continent. More than 3,000 protected areas, 198 marine protected areas, as well as biosphere and wetlands reserves, have been established on the continent. Africa has a rich diversity of languages and ethnicities with an estimated 1250-3000 languages spoken across the continent. 6. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Christianity entered Africa through Egypt from Judaea while the Arab expansion into Egypt in the 7th century introduced Islam to the continent. There are 54 countries located in Africa. In fact, it is always preferable to simply say you don’t know when this question stares you in the face than to embarrass yourself. The continent of Africa has 54 countries in total according to the United Nations, including recognized states and territories. Africa: 2 120 818 cases; the five countries reporting most cases are South Africa (778 571), Morocco (340 684), Egypt (114 475), Ethiopia (107 669) and Tunisia (92 475). At about 30.3 million km (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area. Africa's population is the youngest of all the continents, with a median age of 19.7 (in comparison to the global median age of 30.4). Some of Africa's largest cities include Cairo, Khartoum, Accra, Johannesburg, Casablanca, Lagos, Nairobi, and Algiers. The Mediterranean Sea separates Africa and Europe while the Isthmus of Suez joins Africa and Asia. See Also: List Of African Currencies You Really Should Know. Who is Debby Clarke Belichick ‘Bill Belichick’s Ex-Wife’? Unique Features Of King Monada’s Massive House and The Cars He Splurged on For... Thuso Mbedu’s Relationship with Alleged Boyfriend Musa Mthombeni and Other Rumored Hookups, Payment Methods for SABC TV Licence and The Consequences of Defaulting. Africa is surrounded by the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and finally the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Aside from 54 recognized states, there are two states whose independence is disputed (Western Sahara and Somaliland). This includes all internationally recognized territories and states on the continent. Who Is Andy Bassich and What Happened To His Wife? While some are known to be members of either the African Union, others are recognized by the United Nations as members. The exact number of countries in Africa has been disputed especially recently that some territories are getting recognized by some international groups. The Romans and Greeks were the first Europeans to explore Africa. The following is a list of all recognized countries in Africa and their capitals sorted out in alphabetical order. Growth rate, median age, fertility rate, area, density, population density, urbanization, urban … According to the African Union, there are 55 Countries in Africa. The late 19th century saw European powers scramble for various regions in Africa and only Liberia and Ethiopia were spared of colonialism. Countries That Make Up The African Continent, Top 10 Largest International Airports in Africa in 2020, List Of African Currencies You Really Should Know, This is the True Size of Africa- You’ve Been Wrong All Along, These Three African Empires Shook The World, How to Buy Telkom Data, Recharge or Convert your Airtime, Different Ways to Check Data or Airtime Balance on Telkom Mobile. However, given Africa's complex political situation and the legacy of its colonial history, the exact makeup of the continent and number of officially recognized countries is still a contentious issue. Africa is known for harboring populations of wild animals ranging from giraffes, lions, camels, snakes, buffalo, crocodiles, cheetahs, and elephants. Does Gabriel Iglesias Have A Wife, Son or Family? Types Of Crimes By Number Of Offenses In The US. Africa is made up of 54 fully recognized sovereign states (countries), ten territories and two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition. This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa.It includes both fully … Africa is made up of 54 fully recognized sovereign states (countries), ten territories and two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition.The 54 are referred to as “recognized states” because they are member states of the African Union (AU). There are many countries that are claiming to be independent and full-fledged African states, but the fact is that not all meet the criteria that qualify them to be recognized as African countries. The total number of independent states in Africa is 54. Before colonization, Africa was home to about 10,000 different polities and states. Despite a wide range of natura… The Mediterranean Sea separates Africa and Europe while the Isthmus of Suez joins Africa and Asia. Not included in this total of "countries" and listed separately are: Africa was the cradle of such civilizations as the Pharaonic civilization in medieval Egypt. It may sound ridiculous but the truth is that most Africans do not know the number of countries in Africa. Note: The Sahwari Arab Democratic Republic and the Republic of Somaliland claim to be and are recognized in a few neighbouring countries as sovereign states but they are actually de facto states. Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan de Cuhna, (governed by the UK). Active Telkom USSD Codes in 2020 and the Issues You Can Use Them to... Understanding Jessica Nkosi’s Relationship With Baby Daddy T.K. The distance between the most southerly point at … Africa is the second largest continent in the world, both by land area and population. Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases.