Because population lists are outdated even before they can be published, the following estimates have been rounded for easier comparison.
1. Nigeria – 237,528,000
Most populous country in Africa.
2. Ethiopia – 135,472,000
Highland nation in the Horn of Africa.
3. Egypt – 118,366,000
North African country centered on the Nile.
4. Democratic Republic of the Congo – 112,832,000
Vast Central African country in the Congo Basin.
5. Tanzania – 70,546,000
Home to Serengeti and Kilimanjaro.
6. South Africa – 64,747,000
Industrial and cultural hub at Africa’s southern tip.
7. Kenya – 57,532,000
East African nation known for savannas and Rift Valley.
8. Sudan – 51,662,000
Large country straddling the Nile in the northeast.
9. Uganda – 51,385,000
Great Lakes nation; source region of the Nile.
10. Algeria – 47,435,000
Largest African country by land area.
11. Angola – 39,040,000
Resource-rich nation on the southwest coast.
12. Morocco – 38,431,000
Northwest African kingdom on Atlantic and Mediterranean.
13. Mozambique – 35,632,000
Southeast African nation on the Indian Ocean.
14. Ghana – 35,064,000
West African country with deep cultural heritage.
15. Madagascar – 32,741,000
Island nation with unique biodiversity.
16. Côte d’Ivoire – 32,712,000
West African cocoa powerhouse.
17. Cameroon – 29,879,000
Central African nation with varied landscapes.
18. Niger – 27,918,000
Landlocked Sahelian country.
19. Mali – 25,199,000
Historic Sahel nation, home of Timbuktu.
20. Burkina Faso – 24,075,000
West African country on the savanna.
21. Malawi – 22,216,000
Great Rift Valley country along Lake Malawi.
22. Zambia – 21,914,000
Landlocked nation; Victoria Falls region.
23. Chad – 21,004,000
Spans Sahel to Sahara in Central Africa.
24. Somalia – 19,655,000
Horn of Africa nation with long coastline.
25. Senegal – 18,932,000
West African nation on the Atlantic.
26. Zimbabwe – 16,951,000
Southern African nation with rich heritage.
27. Guinea – 15,100,000
West African coastal country.
28. Benin – 14,814,000
West African nation bordering Nigeria.
29. Rwanda – 14,569,000
Land of a thousand hills in East Africa.
30. Burundi – 14,390,000
Densely populated Great Lakes country.
31. Tunisia – 12,349,000
North African nation on the Mediterranean.
32. South Sudan – 12,189,000
Africa’s youngest sovereign state.
33. Togo – 9,722,000
Narrow West African state on the Gulf of Guinea.
34. Sierra Leone – 8,820,000
West African nation on the Atlantic coast.
35. Libya – 7,459,000
Oil-rich North African country.
36. Republic of the Congo – 6,484,000
Central African nation on the Congo River.
37. Liberia – 5,731,000
West African nation founded by freed slaves.
38. Central African Republic – 5,513,000
Landlocked nation in Central Africa.
39. Mauritania – 5,315,000
Saharan country in Northwest Africa.
40. Eritrea – 3,607,000
Red Sea nation in the Horn of Africa.
41. Namibia – 3,093,000
Southwest African nation of deserts and coast.
42. The Gambia – 2,822,000
Riverine West African country.
43. Gabon – 2,593,000
Oil-producing country on the Atlantic.
44. Botswana – 2,562,000
Southern African nation known for wildlife.
45. Lesotho – 2,363,000
Mountain kingdom entirely within South Africa.
46. Guinea-Bissau – 2,250,000
Small West African coastal state.
47. Equatorial Guinea – 1,938,000
Central African country with mainland and islands.
48. Mauritius – 1,268,000
Island nation east of Madagascar.
49. Eswatini – 1,256,000
Small landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa.
50. Djibouti – 1,184,000
Strategic Horn of Africa port at Bab el-Mandeb.
51. Comoros – 883,000
Archipelago off East Africa.
52. Cabo Verde – 527,000
Island nation off West Africa.
53. São Tomé and Príncipe – 240,000
Island nation in the Gulf of Guinea.
54. Seychelles – 133,000
Indian Ocean archipelago nation.
The above is subject to change.
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