Biggest African Countries
Africa is the second biggest continent out of all the seven continents of the world, coming in after Asia. It has a total area of 30.2 million square kilometers or 11.7 million square miles.
With this total area, Africa takes in six percent of the planet’s total surface and approximately 20.4 percent of its land area. Bordering the country are several bodies of water: the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, Red Sea, Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.
Biggest African Countries
By land area, the following are the biggest countries in Africa:
1. Sudan – This is the largest African country, with a total area of 2,505,813 square kilometers or about 967,495 square miles. It has an estimated population of 43,939,598; making it the 31st most populous country in the world.
Officially called the Republic of Sudan, it is located in the northeastern section of Africa. Its total area makes it the 10th largest country in the world.
2. Algeria – Algeria comes in second after Sudan as the largest country in the African continent. Its total area is pegged at 2,381,741 square kilometers or roughly about 919,595 square miles.
Its total area makes it the 11th largest country in the world and it has an estimated population of 34,895.
It is officially called the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
3. Congo – Officially called the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is the third biggest country in the African continent. It has a total area of 2,345,409 square kilometers or about 905,355 square miles.
Its total area makes it the twelfth largest country in the world. Its estimated population of 70,916,439 makes it the 19th most populous country in the world and fourth most populous country in the African continent.
4. Libya – Officially called the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, this country is situated in northern Africa. It has a total area of 1,759,541 square kilometers or 679,359 square miles, making it the fourth biggest country in the African continent.
It has an estimated population of 6,420,000.
5. Niger – Officially called the Republic of Niger, this country is located in the western section of the African continent. It has a total area of 1,267,000 square kilometers or roughly about 489,678 square miles, eighty percent of which is taken up by the Sahara Desert.
Niger’s size makes it the 22nd largest country in the world.
It has an estimated population of 15,306,252; placing it on the 63rd place as the most populous country in the world.
