List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa

This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa. It includes both fully recognized states, states with limited recognition, and dependent territories of both African and non-African states. It lists 54 sovereign states and 10 non-sovereign territories.

Malta and parts of France, Italy, Portugal and Spain are located on the African continental plate, some considerably closer to the African than European mainland, but politically are generally considered European by convention. Similarly, the island of Socotra is also on the African plate and much closer to Africa, but is politically part of the Asian state of Yemen. Egypt, although extending into Asia through the Sinai Peninsula, is considered an African state.

Sovereign states

Recognised states

The following 54 fully recognised states are all members of the United Nations,^[1] and as of 2015, all except Morocco and the Central African Republic are members of the African Union.^[2][3][4]

*	= Membership Withdrawn[n 1]

*	= Membership Suspended[n 2]

Flag	Map	English short and formal names [5][6][7]	Domestic short and formal names[5][6]	Capital [7][8][9]	Population^[a]^[b] [10]	Area^[a]^[b] [11]
		Algeria People's Democratic Republic of Algeria	Arabic: الجزائر — الجمهورية الجزائرية الديمقراطية الشعبية (al-Jazāʼir — al-Jumhūriyya al-Jazāʾiriyya d-Dimuqrāṭiyya al-Šaʾbiyya)	Algiers Arabic: الجزائر (al-Jazā’er)	33,333,267	2,381,740 km^2 (919,595 sq mi)
		Angola Republic of Angola	Portuguese: Angola — República de Angola	Luanda Portuguese: Luanda	16,941,000	1,246,700 km^2 (481,354 sq mi)
		Benin Republic of Benin	French: Bénin — République du Bénin	Porto-Novo French: Porto-Novo	8,439,000	112,622 km^2 (43,484 sq mi)
		Botswana Republic of Botswana	English: Botswana — Republic of Botswana Tswana: Botswana — Lefatshe la Botswana	Gaborone English: Gaborone Tswana: Gaborone	1,839,833	581,726 km^2 (224,606 sq mi)
		Burkina Faso	French: Burkina Faso	Ouagadougou French: Ouagadougou	13,228,000	274,000 km^2 (105,792 sq mi)
		Burundi Republic of Burundi	Kirundi: Burundi — Republika y'u Burundi French: Burundi — République du Burundi	Bujumbura Kirundi: Bujumbura French: Bujumbura	7,548,000	27,830 km^2 (10,745 sq mi)
		Cameroon Republic of Cameroon	English: Cameroon — Republic of Cameroon French: Cameroun — République du Cameroun	Yaoundé English: Yaoundé French: Yaoundé	17,795,000	475,442 km^2 (183,569 sq mi)
		Cape Verde Republic of Cabo Verde	Portuguese: Cabo Verde — República de Cabo Verde	Praia Portuguese: Praia	420,979	4,033 km^2 (1,557 sq mi)
		Central African Republic	Sango: Ködörösêse tî Bêafrîka French: République centrafricaine	Bangui French: Bangui	4,216,666	622,984 km^2 (240,535 sq mi)
		Chad Republic of Chad	Arabic: تشاد — جمهورية تشاد (Tšād — Jumhūriyyat Tšād) French: Tchad — République du Tchad	N'Djamena Arabic: نجامينا (Nijāmīnā) French: Ndjamena	10,146,000	1,284,000 km^2 (495,755 sq mi)
		Comoros Union of the Comoros	Arabic: جزر القمر — جمهورية القمر المتحدة (Juzur al-Qamar — Jumhūriyyat al-Qamar al-Muttaḥida) Comorian: Komori — Udzima wa Komori French: Comores — Union des Comores	Moroni Arabic: موروني (Mūrūnī) French: Moroni	798,000	2,235 km^2 (863 sq mi)
		Democratic Republic of the Congo[n 3]	French: République démocratique du Congo	Kinshasa French: Léopoldville	75,507,308	2,344,858 km^2 (905,355 sq mi)
		Republic of the Congo[n 4]	French: République du Congo	Brazzaville French: Brazzaville	4,012,809	342,000 km^2 (132,047 sq mi)
		Djibouti Republic of Djibouti	Arabic: جيبوتي — جمهورية جيبوتي (Jibūti — Jumhūrīyat Jibūti) French: Djibouti — République de Djibouti	Djibouti City Arabic: مدينة جيبوتي (Jibūti Madīna) French: Ville de Djibouti	906,000	23,200 km^2 (8,958 sq mi)
		Egypt Arab Republic of Egypt[n 5]	Arabic: مصر — جمهورية مصر العربية (Miṣr — Jumhūrīyat Miṣr al-ʿArabiyya)	Cairo Arabic: القاهرة (al-Qāhirah)	90,850,000	1,001,449 km^2 (386,662 sq mi)
		Equatorial Guinea Republic of Equatorial Guinea	French: Guinée équatoriale — République de Guinée équatoriale Portuguese: Guiné Equatorial — República da Guiné Equatorial Spanish: Guinea Ecuatorial — República de Guinea Ecuatorial	Malabo[n 6] French: Malabo Portuguese: Malabo Spanish: Malabo	504,000	28,051 km^2 (10,831 sq mi)
		Eritrea State of Eritrea	Arabic: إرتريا — دولة إرتريا (ʾIritriyā — Dawlat ʾIritriyā) English: Eritrea — State of Eritrea Tigrinya: ኤርትራ — ሃገረ ኤርትራ (ʾErtra — Hagere ʾErtra)	Asmara Arabic: أسمرة (ʾAsmara) Tigrinya: ኣስመራ(Asmera)	5,880,000	117,600 km^2 (45,406 sq mi)
		Ethiopia Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia	Amharic: Iትዮጵያ — የIትዮጵያ ፈደራላዊ ዲሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ (Ītyōṗṗyā — Ītyōṗṗyā Fēdēralāwī Dēmōkrāsīyāwī Rīpeblīk)	Addis Ababa Amharic: አዲስ አበባ (Addis Abäba)	85,237,338	1,104,300 km^2 (426,373 sq mi)
		Gabon Gabonese Republic	French: Gabon — République gabonaise	Libreville French: Libreville	1,384,000	267,668 km^2 (103,347 sq mi)
		Gambia Republic of the Gambia	English: Gambia — Republic of the Gambia	Banjul English: Banjul	1,517,000	10,380 km^2 (4,008 sq mi)
		Ghana Republic of Ghana	English: Ghana — Republic of Ghana	Accra English: Accra	23,000,000	238,534 km^2 (92,098 sq mi)
		Guinea[n 7] Republic of Guinea	French: Guinée — République de Guinée	Conakry French: Conakry	10,057,975	245,857 km^2 (94,926 sq mi)
		Guinea-Bissau Republic of Guinea-Bissau	Portuguese: Guiné-Bissau — República da Guiné-Bissau	Bissau Portuguese: Bissau	1,586,000	36,125 km^2 (13,948 sq mi)
		Ivory Coast Republic of Côte d'Ivoire	French: Côte d'Ivoire — République de Côte d'Ivoire	Yamoussoukro French: Yamoussoukro	17,654,843	322,460 km^2 (124,503 sq mi)
		Kenya Republic of Kenya	English: Kenya — Republic of Kenya Swahili: Kenya — Jamhuri ya Kenya	Nairobi English: Nairobi Swahili: Nairobi	34,707,817	580,367 km^2 (224,081 sq mi)
		Lesotho Kingdom of Lesotho	English: Lesotho — Kingdom of Lesotho Sotho: Lesotho — Muso oa Lesotho	Maseru English: Maseru Sotho: Maseru	2,067,000	30,355 km^2 (11,720 sq mi)
		Liberia Republic of Liberia	English: Liberia — Republic of Liberia	Monrovia English: Monrovia	4,128,572	111,369 km^2 (43,000 sq mi)
		Libya State of Libya	Arabic: ليبيا (Lībiyā) Berber: ⵍⵉⴱⵢⴰ (Libya)	Tripoli Arabic: طرابلس (Ṭarābulus) Berber: ⵟⵔⴰⴱⵍⴻⵙ (Ṭrables)	6,036,914	1,759,540 km^2 (679,362 sq mi)
		Madagascar Republic of Madagascar	French: Madagascar — République de Madagascar Malagasy: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara	Antananarivo French: Antananarivo Malagasy: Antananarivo	18,606,000	587,041 km^2 (226,658 sq mi)
		Malawi Republic of Malawi	Chichewa: Malaŵi — Dziko la Malaŵi English: Malawi — Republic of Malawi	Lilongwe Chichewa: Lilongwe English: Lilongwe	12,884,000	118,484 km^2 (45,747 sq mi)
		Mali Republic of Mali	French: Mali — République du Mali	Bamako French: Bamako	13,518,000	1,240,192 km^2 (478,841 sq mi)
		Mauritania Islamic Republic of Mauritania	Arabic: موريتانيا — الجمهورية الإسلامية الموريتانية (Mūrītānīyya — al-Jumhūriyya al-ʾIslāmiyya al-Mūrītānīyya)	Nouakchott Arabic: نواكشوط (Nuwākshūṭ)	3,069,000	1,030,700 km^2 (397,955 sq mi)
		Mauritius Republic of Mauritius	English: Mauritius — Republic of Mauritius French: Maurice — République de Maurice Mauritian Creole Moris — Republik Moris	Port Louis English: Port Louis French: Port-Louis Mauritian Creole: Port Louis	1,219,220	2,040 km^2 (788 sq mi)
		Morocco Kingdom of Morocco	Arabic : المغرب — المملكة المغربية (al-Maḡrib — al-Mamlaka al-Maḡribiyya) Berber: ⵜⴰⴳⵍⴷⵉⵜ ⵏ ⵍⵎⴰⵖⵔⵉⴱ (Tageldit n-Elmaġrib)	Rabat Arabic: الرباط (ar-Ribaaṭ) Berber: ⴰⵕⴱⴰⵟ (Aṛbaṭ)	35,757,175	446,550 km^2 (172,414 sq mi)The area 446,550 km2 (172,410 sq mi) excludes all disputed territories, while 710,850 km2 (274,460 sq mi) includes the Moroccan-administered parts of Western Sahara (claimed as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic by the Polisario Front).
		Mozambique Republic of Mozambique	Portuguese: Moçambique — República de Moçambique	Maputo Portuguese: Maputo	20,366,795	801,590 km^2 (309,496 sq mi)
		Namibia Republic of Namibia	English: Namibia — Republic of Namibia	Windhoek English: Windhoek	2,031,000	825,418 km^2 (318,696 sq mi)
		Niger Republic of Niger	French: Niger — République du Niger	Niamey French: Niamey	13,957,000	1,267,000 km^2 (489,191 sq mi)
		Nigeria Federal Republic of Nigeria	English: Nigeria — Federal Republic of Nigeria	Abuja English: Abuja	174,507,539	923,768 km^2 (356,669 sq mi)
		Rwanda Republic of Rwanda	English: Rwanda — Republic of Rwanda French: Rwanda — République du Rwanda Kinyarwanda Rwanda — Repubulika y'u Rwanda	Kigali English: Kigali French: Kigali Kinyarwanda Kigali	7,600,000	26,798 km^2 (10,347 sq mi)
		São Tomé and Príncipe Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe	Portuguese: São Tomé e Príncipe — República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe	São Tomé Portuguese: São Tomé	183,176	964 km^2 (372 sq mi)
		Senegal Republic of Senegal	French: Sénégal — République du Sénégal	Dakar French: Dakar	11,658,000	196,723 km^2 (75,955 sq mi)
		Seychelles Republic of Seychelles	English: Seychelles — Republic of Seychelles French: Seychelles — République des Seychelles Seychellois Creole: Sesel— Repiblik Sesel	Victoria English: Victoria French: Victoria Seychellois Creole: Victoria	80,654	451 km^2 (174 sq mi)
		Sierra Leone Republic of Sierra Leone	English: Sierra Leone — Republic of Sierra Leone	Freetown English: Freetown	6,144,562	71,740 km^2 (27,699 sq mi)
		Somalia Federal Republic of Somalia	Arabic: الصومال — جمهورية الصومال الديموقراطية (Aṣ-Ṣomāl — Jumhūriyya aṣ-Ṣomāl al-Fidrāliyya) Somali: Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya	Mogadishu Somali: Muqdisho Arabic: مقديشو (Maqadīshū)	10,532,017	637,657 km^2 (246,201 sq mi)
		South Africa Republic of South Africa	Afrikaans: Suid-Afrika — Republiek van Suid-Afrika 10 other official names English: South Africa — Republic of South Africa Tsonga: Afrika Dzonga — Riphabliki ra Afrika Dzonga Tswana: Aforika Borwa — Rephaboliki ya Aforika Borwa Southern Ndebele: Sewula Afrika — iRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika Northern Sotho: Afrika-Borwa — Repabliki ya Afrika-Borwa (Southern) Sotho: Afrika Borwa — Rephaboliki ya Afrika Borwa Swati: Ningizimu Afrika — iRiphabhulikhi yeNingizimu Afrika Xhosa: uMzantsi Afrika — iRiphabliki yomZantsi Afrika Venda: Afurika Tshipembe — Riphabuḽiki ya Afurika Tshipembe Zulu: Ningizimu Afrika — iRiphabhuliki yaseNingizimu Afrika	Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative), and Pretoria (executive)	52,981,991	1,221,037 km^2 (471,445 sq mi)
		South Sudan Republic of South Sudan	English: South Sudan — Republic of South Sudan	Juba English: Juba	8,260,490	644,329 km^2 (248,777 sq mi)
		Sudan Republic of Sudan	Arabic: السودان — جمهورية السودان (As-Sūdān — Jumhūriyya as-Sūdān) English: Republic of the Sudan	Khartoum Arabic: الخرطوم (al-Kharṭūm)	36,787,012	1,861,484 km^2 (718,723 sq mi)
		Swaziland Kingdom of Swaziland	English: Swaziland — Kingdom of Swaziland Swazi: eSwatini — Umbuso weSwatini	Lobamba (royal and legislative) Mbabane (administrative) English: Lobamba, Mbabane Swazi: Lobamba, ÉMbábáne	1,032,000	17,364 km^2 (6,704 sq mi)
		Tanzania United Republic of Tanzania	English: Tanzania — United Republic of Tanzania Swahili: Tanzania — Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania	Dodoma English: Dodoma Swahili: Dodoma	44,929,002	945,203 km^2 (364,945 sq mi)
		Togo Togolese Republic	French: Togo — République Togolaise	Lomé French: Lomé	7,154,237	56,785 km^2 (21,925 sq mi)
		Tunisia Tunisian Republic	Arabic: تونس — الجمهورية التونسية (Tūnis — al-Jumhūriyya at-Tūnisīyya)	Tunis Arabic: تونس (Tūnis)	10,102,000	163,610 km^2 (63,170 sq mi)
		Uganda Republic of Uganda	English: Uganda — Republic of Uganda Swahili: Uganda — Jamhuri ya Uganda	Kampala English: Kampala Swahili: Kampala	27,616,000	236,040 km^2 (91,136 sq mi)
		Zambia Republic of Zambia	English: Zambia — Republic of Zambia	Lusaka English: Lusaka	14,668,000	752,614 km^2 (290,586 sq mi)
		Zimbabwe Republic of Zimbabwe	English: Zimbabwe — Republic of Zimbabwe	Harare English: Harare	13,010,000	390,757 km^2 (150,872 sq mi)

States with limited recognition

The following are states that have established themselves in Africa as sovereign states, but remain limited in official recognition and are not members of the United Nations. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic however, is a member of the African Union.

Flag	Map	English short and formal names	Status	Domestic short and formal names	Capital	Population	Area
		Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic[n 8]	Claimed as the southernmost provinces of Morocco. Recognized by the African Union and 47 UN members as the representative government of Western Sahara.	Arabic: الجمهورية العربية الصحراوية الديمقراطية (al-Jumhūrīyah al-‘Arabīyah aṣ-Ṣaḥrāwīyah ad-Dīmuqrāṭīyah) Spanish: República Árabe Saharaui Democrática	El Aaiún (proclaimed)[n 9] Arabic: العيون (al-ʿuyūn) Spanish: El Aaiún	266,000	267,405 km^2 (103,246 sq mi)
		Somaliland Republic of Somaliland[12][13]	State within the Federal regions of Somalia.[14] Recognized by no UN member.[15][16]	Arabic: جمهورية أرض الصومال — أرض الصومال (Jumhūrīyat Arḍ aṣ-Ṣūmāl) Somali: Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland	Hargeisa Arabic: هرجيسا Somali: Hargeysa	4,000,000	137,600 km^2 (53,128 sq mi)

Non-sovereign territories

There are 10 non-sovereign territories currently located in Africa.

Dependent territories

This list contains territories that are politically administered as external dependencies of other nations.

Flag	Map	English short and formal names	Status[17]	Domestic short and formal names	Capital	Population	Area[11]
		French Southern and Antarctic Lands[n 10]	French overseas territory		Saint-Pierre[n 11]	No permanent population[18]	38.60 km^2 (15 sq mi)
		Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha	British overseas territory		Jamestown	5,661	420 km^2 (162 sq mi)

Other areas

This list contains territories that are administered as incorporated parts of a primarily non-African state.

Flag	Map	English short and formal names	Status[17]	Domestic short and formal names	Capital	Population	Area[11]
		Canary Islands	Spanish autonomous community	Spanish: Islas Canarias	Santa Cruz and Las Palmas[19] Spanish: Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria	2,205,247	7,447 km^2 (2,875 sq mi)
		Ceuta Autonomous City of Ceuta	Spanish autonomous city	Spanish: Ceuta — Ciudad autónoma de Ceuta	Ceuta Spanish: Ceuta	76,861	28 km^2 (11 sq mi)
		Madeira Autonomous Region of Madeira	Portuguese autonomous region	Portuguese: Madeira — Região Autónoma da Madeira	Funchal Portuguese: Funchal	267,785	828 km^2 (320 sq mi)
		Mayotte Department of Mayotte	French overseas department	French: Mayotte — Département de Mayotte	Mamoudzou French: Mamoudzou	186,452	374 km^2 (144 sq mi)
		Melilla Autonomous City of Melilla	Spanish autonomous city	Spanish: Melilla — Ciudad autónoma de Melilla	Melilla Spanish: Melilla	72,000	20 km^2 (8 sq mi)
		Plazas de soberanía	Spanish overseas territory	Spanish: Plazas de soberanía	N/A	74
		Réunion Réunion Island	French overseas region	French: Réunion — Îles Réunion	Saint-Denis French: Saint-Denis	793,000	2,512 km^2 (970 sq mi)
		Pelagie Islands	Italian territory	Italian: Isole Pelagie Sicilian: Ìsuli Pilaggî	Lampedusa e Linosa[n 12] Italian: Lampedusa e Linosa Sicilian: Lampidusa e Linusa	6,304	21.4 km^2 (8 sq mi)

See also

• List of African countries by population
• List of African countries by population density
• List of African countries by GDP
• List of African countries by GDP (PPP)

Notes

1. Morocco withdrew its membership from the preceding Organization of African Unity in 1984 due to the OAU's recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as the government of Western Sahara. Morocco remains withdrawn from the African Union for the same reason.
2. Central African Republic was suspended from the African Union on 25 March 2013 due to the ongoing Central African Republic conflict.
3. Also known as Congo-Kinshasa and formerly as Zaire.
4. Also known as Congo-Brazzaville.
5. Some territory could be argued to be a part of Asia or Africa.
6. Oyala is to be the future capital of Equatorial Guinea; currently under construction.
7. Also known as Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from neighboring Guinea-Bissau.
8. Occupies part of the territory of Western Sahara, disputed with Morocco.
9. Currently under Moroccan administration. Tifariti is the factual temporary capital, but Tindouf located in Algeria is tha place of some government and military facilities.
10. Only the Îles Éparses are considered part of the African continent. The remaining four districts lie outside the continental shelf in the Indian Ocean or Antarctica.
11. The main station on the Îles Éparses is on Tromelin. The headquarters of the district chief, however, is Saint-Pierre, in Réunion.
12. Geographically part of the archipelago (Lampedusa and Lampione) belongs to the African continent; politically and administratively, the islands fall within the Province of Agrigento in Sicily

References

1. "Member States". United Nations. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
2. "Member States". African Union. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
3. "African Union Welcomes South Sudan as the 54th Member State of the Union". StarAfrica.com. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
4. "African Union suspends Central African Republic after coup". Los Angeles Times. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
5. "Field Listing :: Names". CIA. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
6. "UNGEGN List of Country Names" (PDF). United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names. 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
7. "List of countries, territories and currencies". Europa. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
8. "Field Listing :: Capital". CIA. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
9. "UNGEGN World Geographical Names". United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
10. "Country Comparison :: Population". CIA. July 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
11. "Field Listing :: Area". CIA. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
12. Name used in The Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland
13. Susan M. Hassig, Zawiah Abdul Latif, Somalia, (Marshall Cavendish: 2007), p.10.
14. "The Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic" (PDF). University of Pretoria. 1 February 2004. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2010. "The Somali Republic shall have the following boundaries. (a) North; Gulf of Aden. (b) North West; Djibouti. (c) West; Ethiopia. (d) South south-west; Kenya. (e) East; Indian Ocean."
15. Lacey, Marc (5 June 2006). The Signs Say Somaliland, but the World Says Somalia. The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
16. "UN in Action: Reforming Somaliland's Judiciary" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-05-29.
17. "Field Listing :: Dependency Status". CIA. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
18. "French Southern and Antarctic Lands". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
19. "Estatuto de Autonomía de Canarias en la Página Web Oficial del Gobierno de Canarias". .gobiernodecanarias.org. Retrieved 2010-09-20.