how many countries in africa

There are 54 internationally recognized countries in Africa as of 2026.

Quick Scoop: How many countries in Africa?

• Most global organizations, including the United Nations, list 54 sovereign countries in Africa.

• These 54 include 48 mainland countries and 6 island nations (Cape Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles).

• Africa is a continent , not a single country, and is the second-largest and second-most populous continent in the world.

Why you sometimes see “55 countries”

• The African Union (AU) often cites 55 members because it includes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara), whose statehood is disputed.

• The UN, however, does not count Western Sahara as a fully recognized sovereign state, keeping the tally at 54.

Mini snapshot of regions

Africa’s 54 countries are often grouped into five main regions.

• Northern Africa: Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, others.

• Western Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, etc.

• Central (Middle) Africa: DR Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, etc.

• Eastern Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, others.

• Southern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini.

A quick example list (sample, not full)

Here’s a small taste of African countries across different regions.

• Nigeria – Western Africa
• Egypt – Northern Africa
• Kenya – Eastern Africa
• South Africa – Southern Africa
• DR Congo – Central Africa

In current global use, when someone asks “how many countries in Africa?”, the standard, up‑to‑date answer is 54 countries , with a political footnote that some African and regional bodies count 55 because of Western Sahara.

TL;DR: Africa has 54 recognized countries by UN count, and 55 if you follow the African Union’s inclusion of Western Sahara.