Africa contains the greatest number of sovereign states, with 54 widely recognized countries.
The continent is the second-largest by both land area and population, after Asia. It extends from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian oceans in the south, and from the Atlantic coast to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
Africa’s modern political map was shaped heavily by European colonial rule, especially during the late 19th-century “Scramble for Africa.” Most African states became independent during the 20th century, with Ghana’s independence in 1957 often seen as a major turning point.
The exact count can vary if territories, partially recognized states or membership in international organizations is used as the criterion. The standard geographic answer is 54 sovereign countries, while the African Union has 55 member states because it includes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.