There are 54 fully recognized sovereign states in Africa.
That count refers to the African countries that are broadly recognized as independent states and are members of both the United Nations and the African Union. It excludes dependent territories such as Réunion and Mayotte, as well as territories or entities whose sovereignty is disputed or only partially recognized.
The number can be confusing because different lists use different definitions. Some sources count 55 or 56 political entities by including Western Sahara or other limited-recognition cases. Geographic definitions can also vary: Egypt is counted as an African country even though the Sinai Peninsula lies in Asia, while several European territories located on or near the African continental plate are not normally treated as African states.
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent, and its 54 recognized countries include island nations such as Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles. The African Union has 55 members because it also includes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, whose status is disputed.