Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa by Land Area (2025 Update)
Africa’s Largest Countries by Land Area
The continent of Africa—often called the Cradle of Civilization—is the world’s second largest by both land area and population, after Asia. This list ranks the top 20 largest countries in Africa by land size, with quick geography facts and links to learn more.
Which are the top twenty largest and smallest African countries by land area? Let’s explore their size, diversity, and global importance.
Map of Africa showing the continent’s five largest countries by area.
Africa’s Largest Countries Ranked by Land Area
Which are the top twenty largest, smallest, and territorial country in Africa by land area?
2. Top five largest countries of Africa are Algeria, Congo Democratic Republic of the, Sudan, Libya and Chad.
3. Top five smallest African countries and territories are Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Saint Helena and Mayotte.
| African Country from largest to smallest | Area sq mile | Area sq km |
|
Algeria |
919,595 |
2,381,740 |
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) |
905,568 |
2,345,410 |
|
Sudan |
718,723 |
1,861,484 |
|
Libya |
679,362 |
1,759,540 |
|
Chad |
495,755 |
1,284,000 |
|
Niger |
489,191 |
1,267,000 |
|
Angola |
481,354 |
1,246,700 |
|
Mali |
478,767 |
1,240,000 |
|
South Africa |
471,011 |
1,219,912 |
|
Ethiopia |
435,186 |
1,127,127 |
|
Mauritania |
397,955 |
1,030,700 |
|
Egypt |
386,662 |
1,001,450 |
|
Tanzania |
364,900 |
945,087 |
|
Nigeria |
356,669 |
923,768 |
|
Namibia |
318,696 |
825,418 |
|
Mozambique |
309,496 |
801,590 |
|
Zambia |
290,586 |
752,614 |
|
South Sudan |
248,777 |
644,329 |
|
Somalia |
246,201 |
637,657 |
|
Central African Republic (CAR) |
240,535 |
622,984 |
|
Botswana |
231,804 |
600,370 |
|
Madagascar |
226,657 |
587,040 |
|
Kenya |
224,962 |
582,650 |
|
Cameroon |
183,568 |
475,440 |
|
Morocco |
172,414 |
446,550 |
|
Zimbabwe |
150,804 |
390,580 |
|
Republic of Congo |
132,047 |
342,000 |
|
Cote d'Ivoire |
124,503 |
322,460 |
|
Burkina Faso |
105,869 |
274,200 |
|
Gabon |
103,347 |
267,667 |
|
Western Sahara |
102,703 |
266,000 |
|
Guinea |
94,926 |
245,857 |
|
Ghana |
92,456 |
239,460 |
|
Uganda |
91,136 |
236,040 |
|
Senegal |
75,749 |
196,190 |
|
Tunisia |
63,170 |
163,610 |
|
Eritrea |
46,842 |
121,320 |
|
Malawi |
45,745 |
118,480 |
|
Benin |
43,483 |
112,620 |
|
Liberia |
43,000 |
111,370 |
|
Sierra Leone |
27,699 |
71,740 |
|
Togo |
21,925 |
56,785 |
|
Guinea-Bissau |
13,946 |
36,120 |
|
Lesotho |
11,720 |
30,355 |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
10,831 |
28,051 |
|
Burundi |
10,745 |
27,830 |
|
Rwanda |
10,169 |
26,338 |
|
Djibouti |
8,880 |
23,000 |
|
eSwatini |
6,704 |
17,363 |
|
The Gambia |
4,363 |
11,300 |
|
Capo Verde |
1,557 |
4,033 |
|
Reunion |
972 |
2,517 |
|
Comoros |
838 |
2,170 |
|
Mauritius |
788 |
2,040 |
|
São Tomé and Príncipe |
386 |
1,001 |
|
Seychelles |
176 |
455 |
|
Saint Helena |
158 |
410 |
|
Mayotte |
144 |
374 |
 |
| Africa |
Frequently Asked Questions About Africa’s Largest Countries
What is the largest country in Africa by land area?
Algeria is the largest country in Africa, covering about 2.38 million square kilometers.
What is the smallest country in Africa?
Seychelles is the smallest African country, with a total area of just 455 square kilometers.
Which African countries are landlocked?
Chad, Niger, Mali, Zambia, and several others have no coastline, relying on neighbors for port access.
What region has the most large countries in Africa?
Northern and Central Africa dominate, with Algeria, Sudan, Libya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo leading the list.
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