Africa contains the largest number of sovereign states of any continent.
The continent is commonly counted as having 54 internationally recognized sovereign states that are members of the United Nations. The African Union has 55 member states because it includes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, whose status is disputed internationally.
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent. It is crossed by the Equator and includes major geographic regions such as the Sahara, the Congo Basin, the Great Rift Valley, and the southern African plateau.
Counts can differ when territories, partially recognized governments, or dependencies are included. That is why a precise question should distinguish UN member states from African Union membership. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, while Algeria is its largest by area.