How Many Countries Are in Africa?

By region, that breaks down to Western Africa (16 countries), Eastern Africa (14), Northern Africa (6), Middle Africa (9), and Southern Africa (9).

What Is the First Country in Africa?

This question has two honest answers, depending on what “first” means to you.

If you mean the first African nation to formally exist as a modern republic, that is Liberia, founded in 1847 by freed African American settlers and never colonized by a European power. If you mean the oldest continuous nation with a documented history and culture, that title usually goes to Ethiopia, home to the ancient Kingdom of Aksum and one of only two African nations, alongside Liberia, that avoided European colonization entirely during the continent’s colonial era. The newest country in Africa, for contrast, is South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011.

The Richest Countries in Africa

“Richest” depends entirely on how you measure it, and the answer changes depending on which number you use.

• By GDP per capita (average wealth per person): Seychelles leads by a wide margin, with a GDP per capita over $21,000, driven by tourism and financial services. Mauritius and Gabon typically round out the top three.
• By total GDP (overall size of the economy): South Africa currently holds the top spot, with Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria close behind, all with large, diversified economies.

The gap between these two rankings is real. A small island nation can have a tiny total economy but a very high income per person, while a country like Nigeria has Africa’s largest population and a sizable total GDP, but that wealth divides across so many people that its per-person ranking drops far down the list.

The Poorest Countries in Africa

Burundi and South Sudan are consistently cited as the poorest countries in Africa by GDP per capita, both estimated in the low $200 to $300 range per person, per IMF data. Both economies remain heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture, and both have faced serious political instability, which compounds the economic challenges. Other countries frequently near the bottom of this list include the Central African Republic, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, all shaped by some combination of conflict, weak infrastructure, and limited industrial development.

Safest Countries to Visit in Africa

Based on the Global Peace Index, the safest countries in Africa for travelers are:

1. Mauritius, Africa’s top-ranked country globally on the Global Peace Index, with low crime and strong tourism infrastructure
2. Botswana, politically stable with world-class managed safari tourism
3. Namibia, safe and well suited to self-drive travel
4. Rwanda, known for low street crime and a notably clean, orderly capital
5. Sierra Leone, largely recovered and improving steadily since its civil war ended
6. Seychelles, an isolated island nation with very low crime
7. Ghana, West Africa’s most politically stable democracy
8. Zambia, peaceful and English-speaking with a strong safety record
9. Morocco, mature tourism infrastructure and strong security presence
10. Tanzania, professionally managed safari circuits with very low incident rates for travelers specifically

Top 3 Most Dangerous Countries in Africa

Based on the Global Peace Index and current travel advisories, the most consistently dangerous countries in Africa are:

1. South Sudan, shaped by ongoing ethnic violence and political instability since gaining independence in 2011
2. Somalia, facing frequent terrorist activity and active advisories against travel to large parts of the country
3. Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are both frequently cited alongside South Sudan and Somalia, driven by armed conflict, weak governance, and, in DR Congo’s case, ongoing fighting in the eastern regions

These rankings shift year to year as conflicts evolve, so always check current travel advisories before planning a trip to any of these specific regions.

Does It Snow in Africa?

Yes, genuinely, though only in specific high-altitude regions. At least 10 to 12 African countries record real snowfall or maintain snow-capped peaks.

• Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: Africa’s highest peak, with shrinking but still present permanent glaciers near the summit
• Mount Kenya, Kenya: permanent glaciers and seasonal snow near the peak
• Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda and DR Congo: glacier and snow-capped peaks known as the “Mountains of the Moon”
• Atlas Mountains, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia: heavy seasonal snowfall, home to Oukaimeden, Africa’s highest ski resort
• Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa and Lesotho: reliable winter snowfall, with Afriski and Tiffindell ski resorts operating seasonally
• Simien Mountains, Ethiopia: occasional snow and frost at the highest elevations

Even the Sahara has recorded rare snowfall near Aïn Sefra in Algeria, most notably in 2016 and 2018.

The Cleanest Country in Africa

Rwanda holds this title by a wide margin. The country banned plastic bags nationwide back in 2008, and it runs Umuganda, a mandatory monthly community clean-up day where citizens across the country spend a morning cleaning shared public spaces together. Kigali, the capital, is regularly ranked among the cleanest and most orderly cities on the entire continent.

The Most Educated Country in Africa

This is genuinely contested, since different ranking systems weigh different factors, literacy rate, university access, years of schooling, and education spending, differently.

• By adult literacy rate alone, Seychelles leads with around 99.2%
• By a broader combined education index used by the World Population Review, Libya currently ranks first, with Kenya and Zimbabwe close behind
• By university infrastructure and research output specifically, South Africa leads, with 95% adult literacy and the most universities ranked in Africa’s top tier

The honest takeaway is that no single country wins on every measure, but Seychelles, South Africa, Libya, Mauritius, Kenya, and Zimbabwe all show up consistently near the top.

Hottest Countries in Africa

By average national temperature, the countries most commonly ranked hottest include Mali, Sudan, Ethiopia, Chad, Somalia, and Djibouti. For a single specific location rather than a whole country, Dallol in Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression holds the record for the highest average annual temperature of any permanently inhabited place on Earth, around 34.6°C (94.3°F), with daytime highs regularly exceeding 45°C (113°F).

Best Tourist-Friendly Countries in Africa

Based on tourism infrastructure, safety, and ease of travel for first-time visitors, the countries that consistently come out on top include:

• Kenya and Tanzania, for the most established, well-run safari industry on the continent
• South Africa, for combining safari with genuine city travel in Cape Town and Johannesburg
• Morocco, for accessible, well-developed tourism infrastructure and rich cultural sites
• Rwanda, for gorilla trekking, safety, and cleanliness
• Mauritius and Seychelles, for beach and island travel with minimal safety concerns

For most first-time visitors to the continent specifically for a safari, Kenya and Tanzania remain the most tourist-friendly starting point, thanks to established infrastructure, English-language accessibility in Kenya, and operators experienced in guiding first-time travelers through every part of the trip.

Ready to Plan Your Africa Trip?

If you want help picking the right country and region for your first trip to Africa, message me directly on WhatsApp.

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A few trips to get you started:

• 5-Day Big Five Safari: Maasai Mara Road Adventure
• 8-Day Must See Kenya: Luxury Safari Journey
• 9-Day Ultimate Kenya Honeymoon: Savannah to Sea

Frequently Asked Questions

How many countries are in Africa?

There are 54 countries in Africa fully recognized by the United Nations, made up of 48 mainland countries and 6 island nations. The African Union counts 55, since it also recognizes Western Sahara.

How many countries are in each region of Africa?

Western Africa has 16 countries, Eastern Africa has 14, Middle Africa has 9, Southern Africa has 9, and Northern Africa has 6.

What is the richest country in Africa?

It depends on the measure. Seychelles is richest by GDP per capita, while South Africa currently has the largest total economy on the continent.

What is the poorest country in Africa?

Burundi and South Sudan are the most consistently cited poorest countries by GDP per capita, both in the low $200 to $300 range per person.

What is the safest country in Africa to visit?

Mauritius ranks as the safest country in Africa on the Global Peace Index, followed by Botswana and Namibia.

Does it snow in Africa?

Yes. At least 10 to 12 countries see real snowfall or maintain snow-capped peaks, including Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya’s Mount Kenya, and Morocco’s Atlas Mountains.

Blog Summary About African Countries

1. There are 54 countries in Africa, fully recognized by the United Nations.
2. Africa splits into 5 regions: Northern, Western, Eastern, Middle, and Southern Africa.
3. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with over 242 million people.
4. Seychelles is Africa’s least populous country, with about 135,000 people.
5. Liberia and Ethiopia are the only two African countries never colonized by a European power.
6. South Sudan is Africa’s newest country, gaining independence in 2011.
7. Seychelles has the highest GDP per capita in Africa, while South Africa has the largest total economy.
8. Mauritius ranks as the safest country in Africa on the Global Peace Index.
9. At least 10 African countries see real snowfall, including Tanzania, Kenya, and Morocco.
10. Rwanda is widely considered Africa’s cleanest country, thanks to a nationwide plastic bag ban and monthly community clean-up days.