Africa has the greatest number of independent countries of any continent.
Africa is commonly counted as having 54 sovereign states, although the exact total can vary when disputed or partially recognized territories are included. The continent extends across the equator and includes deserts, tropical forests, savannas, highlands, and Mediterranean climates.
Its countries reflect a wide range of histories and political traditions. Borders were heavily shaped by European colonial rule in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, while modern states gained independence at different times. Sudan became independent in 1956, and South Sudan became the world’s newest widely recognized country in 2011.
Africa is also the second-largest continent by both area and population. Nigeria is its most populous country, while Algeria is its largest by area. The African Union, founded in 2002, promotes cooperation among the continent’s states, but it is not a single country or a replacement for national governments.