The largest countries in Africa by population. The largest countries in Africa by area

Africa occupies 6% of the Earth's total area and 20% of the total land surface. The territory of the mainland is divided into 55 states, the population of which does not depend on the size of the area. It is difficult to unequivocally answer the question which country in Africa is the largest. Borders are constantly changing due to political, military, and ethnic strife.

Africa ranks 10th in the world ranking in terms of scale

Not so long ago, Sudan was the leader in terms of square meters, but in the interests of a handful of African figures, it was divided. A significant piece of land left it and South Sudan appeared. Currently, the Algerian People's Democratic Republic is the largest territory on the African continent.

The scale of Algeria is impressive - 2,381.7 thousand km². The capital bears the same name in Arabic “Al-Jazair”, which means “islands”. Once upon a time there were islands near the settlement, which eventually joined the mainland. The state is located in the northern lands of Africa, the borders are on:

• the eastern side with Tunisia and Libya;
• western from Morocco;
• southern - Mauritania, Mali, Niger.

The northern borders approach the Mediterranean. The Atlas Mountains and the Algerian Sahara pass through the territory; it is also called the stone desert; tourists have something to admire here. The official language is Arabic, up to 40 million people live, a significant part of them adhere to the Muslim faith.

Algeria completes the list of the top ten largest countries in the world, which is headed by Russia.

7th largest population in the entire planet

Nigeria is the largest in Africa in terms of population and occupies an honorable 7th place in the world. With an occupied area of ​​923.7 thousand km², the number of inhabitants is 194 million people. According to the government system, it is a Federal Republic with the main city of Abuja. Located among the western territories of Africa, bordering on:

• Benin (west);
• Cameroon (east);
• Niger (north);
• Chadom (northeast).

The main waterways of the country, the Niger and Benue rivers, divide the territory into two regions:

The main language is English, but local residents speak 400 dialects, the main ones being:

• Igbo;
• Yoruba;
• Hausa.

Among the indigenous inhabitants of Nigeria there are many supporters of African religions; they worship the forces of nature, the cult of ancestors, totemism, and fetishism. According to traditional beliefs, the large population of this country is divided as follows:

• 50% followers of Islam;
• 40% Christians

The African continent is divided into a huge number of states where people of different nationalities and cultures live. The largest country in Africa in area can accommodate several small European states. And the largest African country could accommodate half of Russia’s population.

Largest area

• Algeria. This state ranks first in area among the countries of the African continent. The capital bears the same name. Algeria is considered a rather poor country. However, the foundations of the economy are natural resources – oil and gas. The country has a high unemployment rate - more than 15%. The inability to have a livelihood forces Algerians to leave the country. France most often becomes the new homeland of emigrants.
• Congo. In terms of area, the state ranks second on the mainland. The country is rich in mineral resources. Until 2002, Congo experienced economic decline due to civil war. After the end of hostilities, the country's situation improved significantly. Relations with international authorities were renewed.
• Sudan. A temporary constitution, created in 2005, is in force on the territory of the republic. The country receives its main income from agriculture. In addition, Sudan sells oil, production of which has increased from 2 to 49 thousand barrels per day over the past 25 years. Although the country has experienced significant economic growth since the late 2000s, 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. The unemployment rate exceeds 18%. In 2004, the authorities of the republic granted special administrative status to the Abyei region. Its territory is controlled by the northern government but disputed by the southern part of the state. The majority of the population is Arabs. The territory of the state is also inhabited by Cushites, Beja and some other peoples. The literacy rate among Sudanese residents reaches 71% for men and 50% for women. This is a good indicator for the African continent.
• Libya. During the reign of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya was considered one of the most prosperous countries on the continent. The attitude towards the leader was ambiguous. On the one hand, the country's population flourished. The state actively supported its citizens. In terms of living standards, Libya could compete with many European countries. Young families were provided with all kinds of benefits. On the other hand, Gaddafi was considered a tyrant who limited the civil liberties of Libyans. Foreigners coming to Libya to work were also limited in their rights.
• Chad. In 2008, administrative changes took place in the country. The territory of Chad was divided into 18 prefectures. Previously, the state was divided into 22 regions. The country has not yet completely gotten rid of the remnants of its colonial past. The policy of the state government is gradually becoming unitary. In the second half of the twentieth century, the country's foreign policy was focused on resolving conflicts with neighboring states.

The population in Africa is more than 1 billion people.
Africa is considered the ancestral home of humanity, because it was on the territory of this continent that the remains of the most ancient species of Homosapiens were discovered. In addition, Africa can be called the birthplace of religions, because in the regions of Africa you can find a huge variety of cultures and religions.
In Africa live:

• Algerian, Moroccan, Sudanese, Egyptian Arabs;
• Yoruba;
• Hausa;
• Amhara;
• other nationalities.

On average, 22 people live per 1 km2, but the most densely populated place on the continent is the island of Mauritius (about 500 people live per 1 km2), and the least populated is Libya (1-2 people live per 1 km2).
The northern part of the African continent is inhabited by peoples of the Indo-Mediterranean race, peoples of the Negro-Australoid race live south of the Sahara (they are divided into 3 small races - Negro, Negrillian, Bushman), and northeast Africa is inhabited by peoples of the Ethiopian race.
There is no official language in Africa: they are the languages ​​of groups that have lived in this territory for a long time. The main ones are Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan, Niger-Kordofanian, Khoisan, Indo-European language families. But the actual language is English.
Large cities in Africa: Lagos (Nigeria), Cairo (Egypt), Alexandria (Egypt), Casablanca (Morocco), Kinshasa (Congo), Nairobi (Kenya).
The population of Africa professes Islam, Christianity, Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism.

Lifespan

Africans live on average 50 years.
The African continent is characterized by fairly low life expectancy rates (on average, people in the world live up to 65 years).
Tunisia and Libya are the leaders: here people live on average up to 73 years, residents of Central and East Africa - up to 43 years, and Zambia and Zimbabwe have the lowest rates - here people live only 32-33 years (this is due to the widespread prevalence of AIDS) .
Low life expectancy is due to outbreaks of epidemics: people die not only from HIV/AIDS, but also from tuberculosis. And children often die from measles, malaria and malnutrition.
Health problems largely depend on the lack of medical workers (doctors and nurses flock to developed countries).

Traditions and customs of the peoples of Africa

An integral part of the customs and traditions of the peoples of Africa are shamans who have supernatural abilities and unique knowledge. Shamans perform all rituals in special masks, which can be made in the form of the head of a non-existent animal or monster.
Africa has its own ideals of female beauty: beautiful women here are those who have long necks, so they hang rings on their necks and never take them off (otherwise the woman will die, because wearing hoops causes the neck to lose muscle).
Africa is a hot and wild continent: despite the fact that today planes fly to all its corners, it is still a mysterious land of alluring dreams for us.

The article gives an idea of ​​the largest country on the African continent. Provides explanations about what factors influenced the placement of African states in the ranking. The article provides interesting facts about Algeria and its history.

The largest country in Africa by area

The largest country in Africa is Algeria. A more accurate name is the Algerian People's Democratic Republic.

Rice. 1. Algeria on the map.

Its area is 2,381,740 square meters. km. In terms of area, the state occupies a leading position among the largest countries in Africa and 10th place in the world. There is no country on the continent larger than Algeria. Sand, as well as rocky plateaus and mountains occupy 4/5 of the entire area of ​​the settlement. People tend to inhabit the oases of the Sahara. Between the oases you can often meet Berbers leading a nomadic lifestyle. The highest density of human-populated areas is located in the coastal zone from the sea to the Atlas Mountains. The population concentration in this area is 93%.

Nigeria is recognized as the largest country in terms of population on the continent. Its population exceeds 186 million people! Second on this list is Ethiopia.

Rice. 2. Nigeria on the map.

History of African states

The territories where Berber tribes lived since ancient times were once crossed by conquerors from Arab and Asian countries. The descendants of these people still live there today. Therefore, Arabic is recognized as the official language of these places.

Until recently, Sudan was considered the largest state in Africa.

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Rice. 3. Sudan on the map.

But in the course of political and military actions, an impressive fragment broke away from the country. Today this part is called South Sudan. As a result of military-political actions that took place on the territory of Sudan in the past.

• The largest country in Africa is Algeria.
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo firmly secured second place in the ranking of African countries.
• The third position is given to Sudan.

Algeria is a country with unique climatic conditions.

The nature here is quite diverse and specific. The state territory has desert, mountains, lakes and sea. There are also forests with a variety of vegetation. In summer, temperatures can reach +50°, and in winter it even snows in some areas.

More than a dozen (12) African countries are members of the club of countries whose area exceeds one million square kilometers.

The overall population level in African countries is growing steadily. According to conservative estimates, the figure has already crossed the billion mark. This figure is 15% of the total population of the Earth.

There is not a single church in Algeria that professes Orthodoxy. The latter was closed due to the almost complete lack of parishioners.

Top 10 most dangerous African countries for tourists to visit. Africa is the birthplace of humanity, a place where you can immerse yourself in the genuine beauty of wildlife, but at the same time, visiting many African countries is associated with a great risk to life.

Once the most prosperous and wealthy state in Africa, in which the human development index was equal to some European countries, today it exists only on the map. In 2010, Muammar Gaddafi abandoned the development of chemical and nuclear weapons. And already in 2011, a civil war provoked from outside began in the country, during which the rebels were supported by NATO and European Union countries. Support came in the form of funding and direct participation of troops and aviation. In October 2011 Muammar Gaddafi was killed, and power passed to a temporary government body - the Transitional National Council. In August 2012, after the elections of the General National Congress, power passes to the legitimate government.

Despite the full financial and military support of the uprising from the United States, almost immediately after the overthrow of Gaddafi, the US ambassador to Libya was torn to pieces.

Despite the overthrow of the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, the power of the official authorities extends only to the territory of Tripoli and surrounding areas. The rest of the country is divided into several quasi-states - autonomous regions with their own governments and army. The Fezzan region, the Western Mountains region, the Benghazi region, and the city-state of Misurata have a high degree of autonomy. At the same time, the cities of Bani Walid and Sirte were destroyed for supporting the Gaddafi regime. Safety for a traveler in Libya depends on the region where he is going. Only Tripoli can be considered relatively safe. In other parts of the country, armed attacks and kidnappings often occur; it is not for nothing that in ancient times the territory of Libya and its coastal waters were considered the most dangerous in terms of pirate attacks. There are many stories from people about constant torture and sexual violence in various camps and prisons almost throughout the country.

Despite the significant security threat, there are people who still strive to get to Libya, since its territory contains many architectural monuments of the ancient period and the period of the Roman Empire. These are the cities of Cyrene, Apollo, Sirtik (Leptis Magna), Sabratha. In the Tadrart-Akakus mountains you can see examples of ancient rock art. In the southwest of the country there is the oasis of Ghadames.

Somalia is best known as a country of pirates. Indeed, attacks on ships still occur in coastal waters. Since 1991, Somalia has been in a civil war that has led to the division of the country into five independent territories (Somaliland, Puntland, Maakhir, Galmudug and Northern Somalia), which are ruled by paramilitary leaders. Somalia has no central government and the political situation is chaotic. Somaliland is considered the most prosperous, but even there, armed guards are required to visit the Laas Gaal cave.

Rare travelers in the country are subject to threats of armed attack, kidnapping for ransom, mine explosion, capture by pirates, etc.

Somalia is the second country in the world after North Korea for intolerance towards Christians. The majority of the population professes Islam (Sunni Muslims), and the country has Sharia law instead of secular laws. It is especially dangerous for women to be in Somalia.

Among the circumstances that can attract tourists are the most beautiful untouched beaches and diving spots. It should be borne in mind that women are prohibited from being naked on the beach. In addition to the beaches in Somalia, the Laas Gaal caves are of particular interest, where rock paintings dating back 10 thousand years have been preserved almost in their original form. Due to objective circumstances, most of the territory of Somalia has not yet been explored.

Somalia video. Sea monsters at the fish market.

3. Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Central African country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the poorest in the world according to IMF data for 2012. In addition to poverty and an unstable political situation, the country is constantly experiencing conflicts between tribes and communities, which are often bloody. Even in the 21st century, cases of cannibalism have been recorded in the Congo, there is the highest rate of rape of women, and sexual slavery exists.

Moving around the Congo, especially on your own, is extremely dangerous. Tourists may be caught up in fighting between tribes, many of whom are armed, or become victims of street robbers who are particularly hungry for gold. Tourists can be robbed by both criminals and ordinary residents or street urchins, for whom it is normal to take gold and valuables from a visitor. Police corruption is also enormous. If you were stopped by a policeman, then with a 90% probability you got money, at best.

Despite this, Congo is still visited by travelers, mainly because of the country's two unique attractions.

1. Volcano Nyiragongo

2.Mountain gorillas, which besides the Congo live in only two other countries - Uganda and Rwanda.

In Sudan, for a long time, as a result of the arbitrary division of borders and ignoring the ethnic component, a civil war was fought. Since 2011, the once united country has been divided into two states – Sudan itself and South Sudan. In both states, the remaining armed groups continue to fight. According to international data, Sudan is the last refuge for terrorists who fled from other countries. The situation in the province of Darfur remains very tense, where ethnic cleansing continues. A large number of the country's residents are forced to emigrate to the neighboring state of Chad. There is a dispute between Sudan and South Sudan over the Abyei region, where large quantities of oil are produced.

Radical armed groups, which strengthened their influence during the civil war, have not ceased to operate in Sudan. Each territory of Sudan has its own laws, and some areas (which make up most of the country) are prohibited for tourists. Anyone who violates the ban may face any danger.

Sudan has access to the Red Sea. The coastal area has excellent beaches with golden sand. But in a Muslim country, it is not advisable for women to appear on the beaches without outerwear. Pirate ships ply in coastal waters. Among the attractions in Sudan, many tourists strive to see the pyramids of Meroe, the Nubian Desert, and the Jebel Marra mountains.

5. CAR Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is one of the most unstable and dangerous countries in Africa. As of 2018, government forces control only 2/3 of the country's territory. The country has been practically in a state of civil war for 60 years. One of the most severe spikes in violence occurred in 2013-2014. There was a massacre between Christians and Muslims. Several tens of thousands of people died. The average income of the population is $400-700 per year, many live on less than $1 per day in local currency. In view of this, there is a very high crime rate, and local law enforcement agencies are almost not working. They can kill a person first and then see if he has anything in his pockets. In the summer of 2018, three Russian journalists who worked on instructions from Mikhail Khodorkovsky were killed in the Central African Republic.

In Algeria, the fragile order is maintained through constant military suppression of uprisings and the persecution of terrorist (al-Qaeda-linked) and fundamentalist (religious Islamic) groups. It is not uncommon for explosions and gunfire to be heard throughout the country, including at airports and hotels. Participating in or observing demonstrations is especially dangerous.

This behavior of the authorities can be understood; the memory of the civil war from the very end of 1980 to 2000 is still fresh. About the reasons for the war unleashed by the Front of Islamic Salvation (FIS) - that was the name of the party that won the elections at that time - this war was no less destructive for the country (in terms of the number of victims) than the struggle for National Liberation (1954-1962) with French colonialism. Contemporaries of those events say that human heads hanging on poles were commonplace.

The north of the country – the Mediterranean coast and the Atlas Mountains – is considered a relatively safe area of ​​Algeria. The Sahara Desert is considered a dangerous territory, where it is not recommended to travel on your own. Travel can only be made with an organized tourist group and under reliable security. The danger of traveling in the Sahara is the same as in the neighboring countries of Tunisia or Morocco.

Under no circumstances should you intentionally or unintentionally offend the feelings of local residents. There is a ban in the country on photographing local residents, and especially photographing women and military personnel.

Zimbabwe has a totalitarian presidential regime Robert Mugabe, who is currently the oldest head of state (he is 93 years old). The reforms he carried out in agriculture, which implied the expropriation of the estates of “white” owners, led to devastation, inflation and unemployment. The adult unemployment rate was 95%, and the inflation rate in 2008 was . a record in the world – 231 million%. Inflation continues to rise to this day.

Both robbers and gangs, as well as police officers, pose a great danger to tourists. It is very dangerous to be on someone else’s territory, because the owner can easily shoot a stranger. Due to fuel shortages and rising prices, you may find yourself without transport in the middle of Zimbabwe. There are very frequent cases of mine explosions here. The main thing that can attract tourists to Zimbabwe are its numerous nature reserves and national parks. The famous Victoria Falls are located on the territory of this country.

The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria has gathered more than 200 ethnic groups within its borders. Clashes often occur between them, which significantly hinders the establishment of stability in the country. Many rebels in Nigeria are fighting government forces. Frequent clashes between gangs, rebels and government troops occur in the Delta, Bakassi and Bayelsa regions. Civilian locals and foreigners are often kidnapped here.

In addition to the risk of armed attack, tourists in Nigeria are at risk of contracting yellow fever, AIDS or other dangerous diseases.

Kenya is a country of African safari. This type of entertainment is especially popular among tourists. But the walk may not be as safe as it seemed at first glance. Most of the country's population lives very poorly, which provokes them into robbery and theft. Kenya has a high rate of AIDS. Residents of the capital Nairobi and other parts of the country are very rarely seen smiling. The streets are full of beggars and pickpockets. The Kibera slum area in Nairobi is considered particularly dangerous. Some guides can arrange excursions to this area, but no one can guarantee safety.

Also among local tribes in areas remote from large cities. Armed conflicts occur from time to time, mainly over livestock. Despite the unprecedented security measures taken by the authorities in the country, terrorist acts periodically occur in large crowded places.

From the beginning of the struggle for independence from Portugal (1950s) to the present day, Angola has been turbulent. For a long time, with the support of the USSR and Cuba, the country followed the communist path of development. After the collapse of the USSR, the ruling party reoriented itself towards the United States and began to carry out market reforms. But armed confrontations between the official authorities and the opposition still continue in the country. There is brutal persecution of members of opposition parties. Under the slogan of preserving the “spiritual and cultural heritage” of Angola, mosques in the country are being demolished.

In addition to constant armed confrontations, protests, and speeches, Angola has significant economic problems. There are high levels of poverty, unemployment, hunger, and rampant crime here. A lot of weapons have been preserved in the country since the war, some areas are mined. In some areas (especially in the Cabinda region), terrorist groups are common and can attack both the police and civilians and tourists. Street thefts are common in Angola's capital, Luanda. Wallets, bags, and mobile phones are often stolen on public transport. Robberies often occur in broad daylight, and especially at night. It's better not to stop anywhere on the road.

One of the most non-tourist countries in the world, there are only a few countries below it in the ranking. At a certain period, the Al-Qaeda terrorist group became widespread in certain regions of the country, which kidnapped several tourists in Atara, where the UNESCO-protected cities of Ouadan and Chinguitti are located. As a result of attacks on civilians, including the killing of four French tourists in 2007, the Dakar Rally, which took place through Mauritania, was moved to South America in 2009. In addition, slavery still exists in the country 0