Africa has the greatest number of sovereign countries of any continent.
The commonly used count is 54 internationally recognized sovereign states. The continent extends across the equator and includes enormous geographic variety, from the Sahara and Sahel to tropical rainforests, highlands, savannas, and the southern African deserts.
Africa’s present political map was shaped heavily by decolonization during the 20th century. Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence from European colonial rule in 1957, while many other states achieved independence in the following decades.
Counts can vary when sources include partially recognized territories or disputed entities. That is why some lists produce a different total, but 54 is the standard count for sovereign African states. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, while Algeria is its largest country by area. The continent is also home to the African Union, founded in 2002.