Africa is the second-largest continent in the world with a landmass of approximately 30.2 million km². It is located in the eastern and northern hemispheres and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Indian Ocean to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the northeast. Africa has a rich cultural heritage, diverse wildlife, and a variety of natural resources. In this article, we will be discussing the top 10 largest countries in Africa in terms of landmass.
1. Algeria — 2,384,741 km² (919,595 mi²)
Algeria is the largest country in Africa and the tenth largest in the world. It is located in North Africa and shares borders with Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, and the Mediterranean Sea. The country has a population of approximately 43 million people and its capital city is Algiers. Algeria is known for its vast Sahara Desert, which covers more than 80% of the country’s land area.
2. Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo) — 2,344,860 km² (905,356 mi²)
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second-largest country in Africa and the eleventh largest in the world. It is located in Central Africa and shares borders with Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Republic of Congo. The country has a population of approximately 89 million people and its capital city is Kinshasa. The Democratic Republic of Congo is known for its rich natural resources, including copper, diamonds, gold, and cobalt.
3. Sudan — 1,854,105 km² (715,874 mi²)
Sudan is the third-largest country in Africa and the sixteenth largest in the world. It is located in Northeast Africa and shares borders with Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the Red Sea. The country has a population of approximately 43 million people and its capital city is Khartoum. Sudan is known for its diverse wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, and lions.
4. Libya — 1,759,540 km² (679,362 mi²)
Libya is the fourth-largest country in Africa and the seventeenth largest in the world. It is located in North Africa and shares borders with Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and the Mediterranean Sea. The country has a population of approximately 6.8 million people and its capital city is Tripoli. Libya is known for its vast Sahara Desert and its rich oil reserves.
5. Chad — 1,284,000 km² (495,755 mi²)
Chad is the fifth-largest country in Africa and the twenty-first largest in the world. It is located in Central Africa and shares borders with Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. The country has a population of approximately 16 million people and its capital city is N’Djamena. Chad is known for its diverse wildlife, including elephants, lions, and crocodiles.
6. Niger — 1,267,000 km² (489,191 mi²)
Niger is the sixth-largest country in Africa and the twenty-second largest in the world. It is located in West Africa and shares borders with Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The country has a population of approximately 24 million people and its capital city is Niamey. Niger is known for its vast Sahara Desert and its uranium reserves.
7. Angola — 1,246,700 km² (481,354 mi²)
Angola is the seventh-largest country in Africa and the twenty-third largest in the world. It is located in Southern Africa and shares borders with Namibia, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Atlantic Ocean. The country has a population of approximately 32 million people and its capital city is Luanda. Angola is known for its rich oil reserves and its diverse wildlife, including elephants, lions, and zebras.
8. Mali — 1,240,190 km² (478,840 mi²)
Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa and the twenty-fourth largest in the world. It is located in West Africa and shares borders with Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. The country has a population of approximately 20 million people and its capital city is Bamako. Mali is known for its diverse wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, and hyenas.
9. South Africa — 1,219,090 km² (470,693 mi²)
South Africa is the ninth-largest country in Africa and the twenty-fifth largest in the world. It is located in Southern Africa and shares borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho. The country has a population of approximately 59 million people and its capital city is Pretoria. South Africa is known for its diverse wildlife, including lions, elephants, and rhinos.
10. Ethiopia — 1,136,242 km² (438,705 mi²)
Ethiopia is the tenth-largest country in Africa and the twenty-seventh largest in the world. It is located in East Africa and shares borders with Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Sudan. The country has a population of approximately 109 million people and its capital city is Addis Ababa. Ethiopia is known for its rich cultural heritage and its diverse wildlife, including baboons, hyenas, and zebras.
