What are the most populated countries in Africa? After Asia, Africa is the second-largest continent and the second largest in the world. With a size of approximately about 30.3 million square kilometers (11.7 million square miles) which includes islands that are nearby, Africa covers six per cent (6%) of the surface of the earth and twenty per cent (20%) of its area with a population of about 1.3 billion people.
As of 2018, Africa consists of about sixteen per cent (16%) of the human population although the population of Africa is the youngest population in all the continents.
Despite the fact that Africa possesses a lot of natural resources it is the least rich continent per capita, even with this low concentration of wealth recent expansion in economics, a large and young population makes the continent an important economic market in a global context.
The Mediterranean Sea surrounds Africa to the north, isthmus Suez and the red sea area to the northeast, in the south-east is the Indian ocean and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. Africa includes Madagascar and different archipelagos, it has fifty-four (54) fully sovereign and independent states, territories are eight and two de facto independent with limited recognition.
By area, Algeria is the largest country and Nigeria is the largest when it comes to population, African countries cooperate more through the establishment of the African Union (A.U) which headquarters is in Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia.
Africa extends along the equator and the prime meridian and this makes it the only continent in the world that is situated on the four cardinal hemispheres, it stretches from temperate regions north to south.
Most of the countries in Africa are in the northern hemisphere with a large portion and a sizeable number of nations in the southern hemisphere. The history of Africa is both long and complex and has been looked down upon by the world’s historical community.
Africa, especially eastern Africa has been accepted widely as the origin of humanity, due to the fact that Africa is the longest continent that has been inhabited by anthropologists Africa to be the most genetically diverse continent in the world.
Early human cultures appeared first in Africa particularly Egypt, Africa hosts a lot of different ethnicities, languages and cultures.
Top 10 Most Populated Countries In Africa
Africa as a continent is well known for its enormous size and cultural differences, the continent covers almost thirteen million square kilometres, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, Africa has the youngest population in the world with 41% per cent under the age of fifteen (15).
With fifty-four (54) countries on the continent, Africa presents a different range of landscapes, languages, beliefs, and cultures. we have listed the top ten populous countries in Africa in view with data from the world bank.
10. SUDAN, Population – 42,813,240
Sudan is the tenth African country by population. Sudan is the vast area of open savannah plains that stretches across Africa which is between the southern borders of the desert of the Sahara, and the northern borders of the equatorial rain forest. The name of the country is derived from Arabic ‘bilad al-Sudan” which means land of the black people in English.
The term has been in use since the twelfth (12) century. With a population of about or exceeding forty-three million people, the exact population is forty-two million eight hundred and thirteen thousand, two hundred and forty (42,813,240).
Sudan is one of the most populated countries in Africa, the country borders South Sudan and Egypt. Although most of the Sudan soil is arid home to a number of large settlements along the banks of its river.
9. ALGERIA, Population – 43,053,050
Another one of the most populated countries in Africa is Algeria. Algeria is a large country with most of its citizens practising Islam, the country is in the north of Africa. From the Mediterranean Sea, in which a majority of its inhabitants live, Algeria exists south deep into the heart of the Sahara Desert where the earth’s warmest surface temperatures have been observed and put on record and this makes up four-fifths of the country’s territory.
The Sahara and its climate dominate the country. Algeria has nine hundred and nineteen thousand six hundred (919,600) square kilometers of which most are deserts.
The population of Algeria is forty-three million fifty-three thousand and fifty (43,053,050) and with a yearly population increase of about 1.85%, the population is expected to double by 2050.
8. UGANDA, Population – 44,269,590
Uganda is a country in east-central Africa, it is about the size of Great Britain. Uganda is populated by various ethnic groups but English and Christianity assist in bringing these diverse groups who connect in the ever-busy city of Kampala.
The Swahili language also unites the citizens with its East African neighbours like Tanzania and Kenya. Uganda is home to forty-four million two hundred and sixty-nine thousand five hundred and ninety (44,269,590), with an annual increase of 3.2 per cent it is the fastest-growing population in the world, the median age for Uganda is 16.7 years.
7. KENYA, Population – 52,573,900
Kenya is one of the most populated countries in Africa. The western provinces of Kenya are marked by rivers and lakes, are forested and a small part of the north is desert and semi-desert. Kenya’s various wildlife and panoramic geography bring many visitors across Europe and North America.
Kenya is well known for its safari and the east African economy has had rapid growth over the years, it is one of the youngest countries in Africa with a population of fifty-two million five hundred and seventy-three thousand, nine hundred and seventy (52,573,900), it represents 0.6 per cent of the total population of the world. And expected to double by 2040.
6. TANZANIA, Population – 58,005,460
Tanzania is located in the east of Africa south of the equator, it was established as a sovereign state in 1964 through the unity of Zanzibar and Tanganyika. Tanganyika covers more than ninety-nine per cent of the total area of the territories, Dar es Salam is the largest city and port of the country.
The population of Tanzania is fifty-eight million five thousand, four hundred and sixty (58,005,460), their population growth is ranked among the highest at 2.98 per cent with a doubling expected in 24 years.
5. SOUTH AFRICA, Population – 58,558,270
South Africa is the southernmost country on the continent of Africa, it is well known for its varied topography, natural beauty and its various cultures. Which made it a favourite destination for tourists since the end of apartheid in 1994.
The population of South Africa is fifty-eight million five hundred and fifty-eight thousand two hundred and seventy (58,558,270), it is the fifth country in Africa population and makes up 0.76 per cent of the world’s population and is one of the most developed African countries.
4. THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, Population – 86,790,570
The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country located in central Africa, it has a twenty-five-mile coastline on the Atlantic Ocean but it is also landlocked it is the second-largest in Africa after Algeria. After rapid growth in population in recent years, it is now the fourth-largest in Africa.
In the land area, it is the second-largest and one of the fastest-growing countries in the world, its population is eighty-six million, seven hundred and ninety thousand five hundred and seventy (86,790,570).
3. EGYPT, Population – 100,388,070
Egypt is a country located in the north of Africa, the Nile river valley and the delta used to be home to cultures of the ancient middle east, after Egypt was conquered was Alexander the Great in 323 BC the country became an integral part of the world.
The population of Egypt is one hundred million three hundred and eighty-eight thousand and seventy (100,388,070), it makes up 1.31 per cent of the world population and experiences growth of 1.94 per cent yearly.
2. ETHIOPIA, Population – 112,078,730
Ethiopia is a country in the horn of Africa, it is situated in the tropical latitudes and compact. The capital Addis Ababa is located in the centre of the country, it is the largest and most populous country in the horn of Africa and with the retirement of Eritrea Ethiopia became landless.
The population of Ethiopia is one hundred and twelve million seventy-eight thousand seven hundred and thirty (112,078,730), it has an annual growth of 2.6 per cent.
1. NIGERIA, Population – 206,963,600
Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. It is likewise the most populated country in West Africa. Nigeria is on the west coast of West Africa, it has a different geography and a climate that ranges from arid to humid equator. Hundreds of languages are spoken in the country like Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Paula, Ibibio, Edo, Tiv and English.
The country has a population of two hundred and six million, nine hundred and sixty-three thousand six hundred (206,963,600). It makes 2.64 per cent of the world population and it is the seventh most populated country in the world.
CONCLUSION
As the second-largest continent in the world, Africa houses the largest desert in the world which is the Sahara Desert and the Nile river which is the longest river in the world.
