African Countries And Their Capitals

Have you ever tried to name all the countries in Africa? It’s harder than you think! With 54 diverse nations spanning the second-largest continent, Africa is home to over 1.3 billion people. Whether you’re an aspiring geographer, planning a trip across the continent, or you just want to test your knowledge of the world, this complete list of African countries and their capitals is an awesome resource. From Algeria to Zimbabwe, we’ve got every African nation covered. With this guide, you’ll be able to impress your friends and expand your knowledge of this remarkable continent.

Overview of African Countries

Africa is home to 54 independent countries recognized by the United Nations. These countries make up the African continent geographically located in the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Many of these African countries were colonized by European countries like Britain, France, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal during the era of colonialism and gained independence in the mid-20th century.

African countries are subdivided into the following:

North Africa

The northern region of Africa borders the Mediterranean Sea and is home to countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt. Egypt’s capital and largest city is Cairo, a bustling metropolis in the Nile River valley that is home to iconic landmarks like the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Heading west, Morocco’s capital is Rabat, a port city on the Atlantic coast.

West Africa

West African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire were once home to powerful kingdoms and are now diverse, populous nations. Nigeria’s capital is Abuja, a planned city built in the 1980s. Accra is the capital of Ghana, a coastal city with a vibrant nightlife, beaches, and historical forts from its colonial past. Yamoussoukro is the official capital of Côte d’Ivoire, though its largest city remains the port of Abidjan.

East Africa

East African nations like Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia are known for stunning natural landscapes, including Mount Kilimanjaro and the Great Rift Valley. Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, a modern city often called the “Silicon Savannah” for its growing tech scene. Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, sits at over 7,000 feet in elevation, giving it a comfortable climate and lush greenery.

Southern Africa

The southern region includes South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana, home to sprawling savannas and the Kalahari desert. Pretoria is the executive capital of South Africa, its judicial capital is Bloemfontein, and its legislative capital is Cape Town. Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, sits in a highland valley, a fast-growing city in the center of the country.  Gaborone is the capital of Botswana, a city in the southeast of the country near the border with South Africa.

Central Africa

Central Africa contains countries like Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea. The central African countries have tropical rainforests and were colonized by France, Belgium, and Spain. There are more than 700 languages spoken in central Africa by over 150 million people.

In summary, Africa’s 54 diverse countries contain over 1.3 billion people, accounting for roughly 17.89% of the world’s population. The African continent is rich in natural resources and has stunning geographical diversity, with deserts, jungles, savannas, and coastlines along the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

African Countries and Their Capitals

Africa is home to 54 countries, each with a unique culture, history, and people. Africa is also known for its vast natural resources, including minerals, oil, and gas. Every country also has an administrative capital city, where the government is centered. Learning about these African nations and capitals can help give you a better sense of this diverse continent.

Here is a list of African countries their capital cities:

African Countries Capitals

Algeria Algiers

Angola Luanda

Benin Porto-Novo

Botswana Gaborone

Burkina Faso Ouagadougou

Burundi Bujumbura

Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) Praia

Cameroon Yaoundé

Central African Republic Bangui

Chad N’Djamena

Comoros Moroni

Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa

Republic of the Congo Brazzaville

Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (de facto)

Djibouti Djibouti

Egypt Cairo

Equatorial Guinea Malabo

Eritrea  Asmara

Eswatini (Swaziland) Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative)

Ethiopia Addis Ababa

Gabon Libreville

Gambia Banjul

Ghana Accra

Guinea Conakry

Guinea-Bissau Bissau

Kenya Nairobi

Lesotho Maseru

Liberia Monrovia

Libya Tripoli

Madagascar Antananarivo

Malawi Lilongwe

Mali Bamako

Mauritania Nouakchott

Mauritius Port Louis

Morocco Rabat

Mozambique Maputo

Namibia Windhoek

Niger Niamey

Nigeria Abuja

Rwanda Kigali

Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome

Senegal Dakar

Seychelles Victoria

Sierra Leone Freetown

Somalia Mogadishu

South Africa Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)

South Sudan Juba

Sudan Khartoum

Tanzania Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (de facto)

Togo Lomé

Tunisia Tunis

Uganda Kampala

Zambia Lusaka

Zimbabwe Harare

Whether you’re planning a trip to Africa or just want to improve your geography knowledge, familiarizing yourself with the countries and capitals in Africa is useful. This region includes everything from the tropics to the Kalahari desert.

Cc: WithinNigeria