How many countries are there in Africa? Latest data and hot spot analysis
As the second largest continent in the world, Africa's number of countries has always been a topic of concern to geography enthusiasts. Combining recent hot discussions on the Internet and the latest data from international organizations, this article will clearly present the composition of African countries for you, along with analysis of recent hot topics.
1. Authoritative statistics on the number of African countries
| Classification | Quantity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| United Nations Member States | 54 | Including the latest addition, South Sudan (2011) |
| AU member states | 55 | Contains Western Sahara (disputed) |
| Generally recognized internationally | 54 | Morocco rejoins AU after withdrawing from it |
2. Special instructions for disputed areas
| area name | Current situation | International recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Western Sahara | AU recognized by UN as non-self-governing territories | recognized by some countries |
| Somaliland | Facts independent but not internationally recognized | Zero recognition |
3. Recent hot topics in Africa (last 10 days)
1.East Africa Drought Alert: The United Nations report shows that Kenya, Somalia and other countries are facing serious food crises.
2.Nigeria Cryptocurrency Craze: Bitcoin transaction volume hit a record high, with young people’s participation reaching 73%.
3.South Africa election follow-up: The ruling party ANC lost its absolute majority for the first time, and the political landscape is being reshaped.
4.Competition for resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Cobalt mining rights triggered a new round of bidding by international companies.
4. Classified Statistics of African Countries
| Regional division | Number of countries | represent the country |
|---|---|---|
| north africa | 7 | Egypt, Morocco, Algeria |
| west africa | 16 | Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire |
| central africa | 9 | Congo (DRC), Chad, Central Africa |
| east africa | 14 | Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania |
| southern africa | 5 | South Africa, Namibia, Botswana |
| island country | 6 | Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius |
5. Common misunderstandings
1.The question of belonging to Morocco: Although it is located in North Africa, it has been outside African organizations for a long time and rejoined the African Union in 2017.
2.Sudan's split: After South Sudan became independent in 2011, the total number of African countries increased from 53 to 54.
3.Overseas territories are not included in the calculation: The Canary Islands (belonging to Spain), Reunion (an overseas province of France), etc. are not sovereign countries.
6. Data update instructions
According to the 2023 African Union Communiqué, among all sovereign states:
| youngest country | South Sudan (independence 2011) |
| The largest area | Algeria (2.38 million square kilometers) |
| Most populous | Nigeria (226 million) |
| GDP highest | Nigeria ($477 billion) |
In summary, Africa has54 internationally recognized sovereign states, plus the disputed Western Sahara region, there will be 54-55 results under different statistical calibers. Recently, the African continent has not only faced the existential challenges brought about by climate change, but also demonstrated the development vitality of emerging fields such as the digital economy. The stories of 54 countries in this young continent are still being updated.
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