Africa is massive. Like, mind-bogglingly big. If you look at a standard classroom wall map, you’d probably think it’s roughly the same size as Greenland or maybe a bit bigger than North America. Honestly, that’s just a lie of cartography.
The Mercator projection—the map we all grew up with—stretches things near the poles and shrinks things near the equator. Because most of Africa sits right on the belt of the planet, it gets shortchanged. In reality, you could fit the United States, China, India, Japan, and most of Europe inside the African borders, and you’d still have room left over for a few smaller countries.
When people search for a map of Africa with the countries, they’re usually looking for a simple list or a colorful graphic. But the "map" isn't just lines on paper. It's a shifting, breathing jigsaw puzzle of 54 (or 55, depending on who you ask) distinct nations, each with its own vibe, history, and internal borders that don't always show up on Google Maps.
The Big Confusion: 54 or 55?
You've probably seen the number 54 tossed around. That’s the official United Nations count. However, if you head over to the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, they’ll tell you there are 55.
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The "extra" one is the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara).
Morocco claims that territory. Most of the world is kinda split on it. Some maps show a dotted line; some just group it with Morocco. It’s one of those geopolitical headaches that makes "simple" mapping almost impossible. Then you have Somaliland in the east. It functions like a totally independent country—has its own currency, army, and government—but on a standard map of Africa with the countries, it’s usually just tucked inside the borders of Somalia.
It’s complicated. Geography usually is.
A Tour of the "Real" Regions
Most people just think of "North" and "Sub-Saharan." That’s lazy. To actually understand what you're looking at, you have to break it down the way the locals do.
The Maghreb and the North
Up top, you’ve got the heavy hitters like Algeria (the largest country on the continent by land area) and Egypt. People forget that Libya and Tunisia are right there, too. This area is defined by the Sahara, but also by deep Mediterranean roots.
West Africa: The Powerhouse
This is the most crowded part of the map. You have 16 countries crammed into this bulge. Nigeria is the giant here—not just in the region, but on the whole continent. By the way, Nigeria’s population is projected to pass the U.S. by 2050. Think about that next time you look at its relatively small size on a map. Surrounding it are places like Ghana, Senegal, and the "M" countries: Mali and Mauritania.
East Africa and the Horn
This is the "cradle of humanity." Ethiopia is the big name here—one of the only African nations never colonized. Then you have the safari giants: Kenya and Tanzania. Don't overlook Rwanda and Burundi; they're tiny, landlocked, but incredibly dense and mountainous.
Central Africa: The Green Heart
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) dominates the center. It’s nearly the size of Western Europe on its own. It’s mostly jungle, massive rivers, and incredible mineral wealth. It’s also where you’ll find the Central African Republic and Gabon.
Southern Africa: The Tip
South Africa is the most famous, obviously. But the map of Africa with the countries in the south includes some of the most stunning landscapes on earth—the deserts of Namibia, the deltas of Botswana, and the mountains of Lesotho (a country entirely surrounded by another country).
Names That Might Trip You Up
Maps change. If you’re looking at an old atlas from the 90s, you’re going to get lost.
- Eswatini: Formerly Swaziland. The King changed the name in 2018 because people kept confusing it with Switzerland. True story.
- North and South Sudan: They split in 2011. South Sudan is the youngest country in the world.
- Democratic Republic of the Congo vs. Republic of the Congo: These are two different countries. They sit right next to each other. Don't mix them up; the DRC is the massive one, the "other" Congo is the smaller one to the west.
- Cabo Verde: People used to call it Cape Verde, but they officially requested the Portuguese version be used internationally.
Why the Borders Look So Weird
If you look at a map of Africa with the countries, you’ll notice a lot of straight lines. Nature doesn't work in straight lines.
Most of these borders were drawn in 1884 at the Berlin Conference. A bunch of European leaders sat in a room with a map and a ruler. They didn't care about ethnic groups, languages, or natural watersheds. They just carved it up. This is why you often find the same ethnic group split between two different countries, or two groups that don't get along forced into one.
Modern cartographers like those at Woolpert Africa or the South African Geomatics Institute spend a lot of time trying to map the actual movement of people vs. these artificial lines.
Actionable Tips for Using an African Map
If you’re planning a trip or just trying to learn the layout, stop using the Mercator projection. Look for a Gall-Peters projection or a Kavrayskiy VII map. These actually show the countries in their correct relative sizes.
- Check the "Double Landlocked" status: Notice that only two countries in the world are "double landlocked" (surrounded by countries that are also landlocked). One is Liechtenstein, the other is Uzbekistan... wait, none are in Africa. But Africa has the most landlocked countries (16 total). If you're shipping goods or traveling, this is a massive deal.
- Scale is everything: When you're looking at a map of Africa with the countries, remember that driving from Cairo to Cape Town is about 10,000 kilometers. That’s like driving from New York to London and back.
- Identify the "Island Six": Don't forget the ones not attached to the mainland. Madagascar is the famous one, but you’ve also got Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Cabo Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
The map is more than just a school tool. It's a way to realize that "Africa" isn't a monolith. It’s a collection of vastly different worlds.
Next step: Download a "True Size" interactive map app to see how your home country actually compares to the African giants like Algeria, DRC, or Chad. It’ll change your perspective instantly.