Africa has the largest amount of countries when you look at the world’s 7 continents.
How many countries in Africa do you ask?
We may earn affiliate commissions from websites we link to, at no cost to you. Click here for details.
The correct answer is there are 54 countries in Africa.
But you might come across a different number taking in some disputed African territories, most notably Western Sahara.
Also, a few years ago, the number was different as South Sudan was born, and this could change in the future.
Let’s look at some facts first.
There are 54 official countries in Africa, according to the UN.
When you think about it, a quarter of all countries in the world are located in Africa.
Did you know there are 193 countries worldwide, according to the United Nations? We wrote a detailed blog about how many countries in the world.
At the beginning of 2022, we visited 53 countries of Africa after finally visiting Libya. Read more about our experience in Libya here.
Eritrea is our final country on the African continent, and we hope to visit in the next few months.
And did you know that the newest country in the world is also located in Africa? The Republic of South Sudan became the world’s newest nation and Africa’s 54th country on 9 July 2011.
The richest country in Africa is Egypt. The largest country is Algeria. If you’re interested in visiting Algeria in the future, check out our detailed blogs on our Algeria Page.
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, The Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
If you check out the website of the African Union (AU) you will come across this: “The African Union or AU is made up of 55 Member States which represent all the countries on the African continent.”
Confused? Don’t be. According to African Union, there are 55 member states. The one country, Western Sahara (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) is not recognised by the United Nations.
This brings us to the next point: how many countries in Africa are disputed territories?
Defining a country can be difficult. While the UN recognises 54 countries in Africa, there are a few disputed territories as well as overseas territories that certainly feel like another country.
Let’s talk about the disputed territories.
Western Sahara or Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a disputed territory that has been claimed by both the Kingdom of Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation, known as the Polisario Front, which is an independent group based in neighbouring Algeria.
Some (African Union) consider it an independent state but not others (United Nations).
The UN considers it a disputed territory because only 39 of the UN countries recognise Western Sahara as an independent country.
By the way, this is the issue with UN-recognised countries. If only a few countries choose not to recognise a country, the country will never really be a country, according to the UN.
Perfect examples would be Taiwan and Kosovo – but recognised by the majority of the world, but not all, they are still on the list of disputed territories according to the UN.
But back to Western Sahara. Once upon a time, this was a Spanish colony while neighbouring Morocco was claimed by France. It is believed that Western Sahara has as yet untapped offshore oil deposits and phosphate reserves.
Maybe this is the reason why this largely desert land is disputed.
It depends on who you ask how many countries in Africa are there, as the answer might be 55.
Ever heard of Somaliland? No? Well, it is a self-declared state and an autonomous region of Somalia, which declared independence in 1991.
It has its own passports, money, and flag, so you would think this is a country, right? Well, if someone in Somaliland asks how many African countries are there, the number might just be 56.
However, Somaliland is not recognised by any country or international organisation as an independent country of Africa. We visited Somaliland and it was a really unique experience.
Read more about that here – Travel in Hargeisa Somaliland – Everything you need to know.
Get Connected with eSIM
Get connected easily on your travelsβbuy an eSIM! It works like an app: buy it, download it, and get connected in minutes! Itβs easy, affordable, and convenient. Keep your original phone number, too!
Use our code: RACHEL5045 to get $3 off your first purchase!
There are 5 small countries in Africa and they are all island nations:
The smallest country in Africa is Seychelles. The other small island nations are SΓ£o TomΓ©, PrΓncipe, Mauritius, Comoros, and Cape Verde. The largest island in Africa is Madagascar.
But there are also islands and overseas territories that belong to other countries in Europe. Territories of France (Reunion and Mayotte), Spain (Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla) Portugal (Azores, Madeira) and Itlay (Pelagie Islands).
And UK dependant territory Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.
So how many countries in Africa are there? 54, 55 or 56? It’s up to you to decide. There might even be a new country in Africa as Ambazonia, a region in Cameroon that has previously pushed for independence.
Why not learn more about how many countries are there in North America and how many countries are there in Europe?
Our most popular African posts areΒ Madagascar in two weeks – the perfect itinerary, andΒ the best 14 days itinerary for Tunisia.Β
Want to learn more about the cuisine across the entire continent of Africa? Check out our delicious Food Map of Africa!
We have many travel guides and tips for Africa β what a massive continent!
Have you ever wondered how many countries in Africa there are? 54 or 55? We cover them in depth in our ultimate Africa bucket list.
There is some delicious cuisine to be enjoyed across Africa, and these ten best African countries for food will inspire your food journey.
Check out how many of these 15 most popular foods you can taste.
If you’re wondering what they eat for breakfast in Africa, check out these 20 popular breakfast foods.
For food lovers, our Food Map of AFRICA lists the quintessential dish you need to eat in every nation!
Itβs worth reading these 17 ESSENTIAL Things to know before travelling to West Africa, and our packing list for Africa may be helpful to you.
Donβt miss our recap of our travels across West Africa for even more helpful tips, and try these popular West African dishes; they’re fantastic!
Youβll need to stay connected while travelling in Africa. We recommend eSIM. Itβs easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual countries in Africa, or consider a regional eSIM for Africa (which covers 36 countries)
If your travels in Africa are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text Global eSIM. This eSIM has been a game-changer for us, and we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.
If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming departures in Africa, or view Tourradar for deals on group tours in Africa.
Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.
βοΈ Flights: We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.
π¨ Accommodation: Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation. We use Vrbo to book apartments and long-term stays.
π₯ Travel Insurance: We recommend Heymondo (Get 5% off Heymondo) & SafetyWing
π Transportation: Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.
π Car Rental: We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.
π« Group Tours: We now offer Group Trips; view them here! Alternatively, we recommend searching the Tourradar website. For Europe, Expat Explore is a good choice. *Get 5% off when you quote code VERYHUNGRYNOMADS to your Expat reservations agent. (*Valid for new clients only).
πΈ Day Tours & Trips: GetYourGuide & Viator are the only two platforms you need.
π Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks, and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)
π Luggage: Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack or Samsonite Luggage Range.
π What to Pack: Donβt forget your Universal charger and a good power bank. To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers.
πΆ Become a House Sitter: Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.
π° Send Money Anywhere: WISE & Revolut are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.
πΆ Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination, and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product! Use code RACHEL5045 to get $3 off your first Airalo eSIM.
β Check out our Travel Gear and Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!
1 Comment. Leave new
This is Soooo Key – Thank You So Much for Traveling and Writing about all of these Wonderful Resources. I am visiting Africa soon and this IS KEY!!!