Africa Map

North Africa: Countries, Map & Complete Guide

🏜️ North Africa Region

The gateway between Africa and Europe, North Africa is home to ancient civilizations, vast deserts, and the mighty Nile River. Spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, this region combines Arab, Berber, and African cultures.

6
Countries
~246M
Population
8.2M
km² Area
Arabic
Main Language

Interactive Map of North Africa

Countries in North Africa

About North Africa

Geography & Climate

North Africa is dominated by the Sahara Desert, the world's largest hot desert. The region features diverse landscapes including:

  • The Nile River Valley: Supporting one of the world's oldest civilizations in Egypt
  • Atlas Mountains: Stretching across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia
  • Mediterranean Coast: Fertile coastal plains with a Mediterranean climate
  • Sahara Desert: Covering most of the region's interior

Culture & Languages

North Africa is predominantly Arab-speaking and Muslim, though indigenous Berber (Amazigh) populations and languages remain significant, especially in Morocco and Algeria. The region is part of the broader MENA (Middle East and North Africa) cultural sphere.

History

North Africa boasts some of humanity's oldest civilizations:

  • Ancient Egypt: Pyramids, pharaohs, and 5,000 years of recorded history
  • Carthage: Powerful ancient civilization in modern Tunisia
  • Roman Africa: Major province of the Roman Empire
  • Islamic Caliphates: Centers of learning and culture during the Middle Ages
  • Colonial Period: French and British control in the 19th-20th centuries

Economy

The region's economy is driven by:

  • Oil & Gas: Algeria and Libya are major petroleum producers
  • Tourism: Ancient monuments, beaches, and cultural heritage sites
  • Agriculture: Dates, olives, citrus fruits in coastal regions
  • Suez Canal: Egypt's vital global shipping route
  • Phosphates: Morocco has 75% of world's phosphate reserves

Major Cities

  • Cairo, Egypt: Largest city in Africa (~21 million metro area)
  • Alexandria, Egypt: Historic Mediterranean port city
  • Casablanca, Morocco: Economic capital and largest port
  • Algiers, Algeria: Capital and cultural center
  • Tripoli, Libya: Capital and largest city
  • Tunis, Tunisia: Capital and historic center

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

North Africa contains numerous UNESCO sites including:

  • Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)
  • Ancient Thebes with Luxor & Karnak (Egypt)
  • Medina of Fez (Morocco)
  • Kairouan (Tunisia)
  • Timgad Roman ruins (Algeria)
  • Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Libya)

The Maghreb

The western part of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and sometimes Mauritania) is known as the Maghreb (Arabic for "the West"). These countries share close cultural, linguistic, and historical ties.

Explore Other African Regions