African Country Lists & Rankings
Rankings and lists of Africa's 54 countries by size, population, economy, language and geography.
- Largest Countries in Africa by Area
- Most Populous Countries in Africa
- Richest Countries in Africa by GDP
- Poorest Countries in Africa by GDP per Capita
- Landlocked Countries in Africa
- Island Nations of Africa
- French-Speaking Countries in Africa
- English-Speaking Countries in Africa
- Arabic-Speaking Countries in Africa
- Portuguese-Speaking Countries in Africa
Africa at a Glance: Quick Answers
| Question | Answer | Full list |
|---|---|---|
| Largest country by area | Algeria (2,381,741 km²) | Largest countries |
| Smallest country | Seychelles (459 km²) | Island countries |
| Most populous country | Nigeria (about 233 million, 2024) | Most populous |
| Largest economies | South Africa and Egypt (about $400 billion each, 2024) | Richest countries |
| Lowest GDP per person | South Sudan | Poorest countries |
| Landlocked countries | 16 | Landlocked countries |
| Island countries | 6 | Island countries |
| French official or working language | 21 countries | French-speaking |
| English official language | 23 countries | English-speaking |
| Arabic official language | 11 countries | Arabic-speaking |
| Portuguese official language | 6 countries | Portuguese-speaking |
Many countries have more than one official language, so the language lists overlap (Cameroon, for example, is on both the French and English lists). Population figures are 2024 UN estimates; economic figures are IMF estimates and change every year with exchange rates.
More Ways to Explore
For countries grouped by geography, see the five regions of Africa. For how today's borders were drawn, see the Scramble for Africa timeline and the African independence timeline. Each list links to a full country profile.