Island Nations of Africa
All 6 island countries of Africa, with capitals, populations, areas and independence dates.
Last updated: September 2026
Africa has 6 island countries: Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe in the Atlantic, and Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar is by far the largest (587,041 km², about 32 million people), while Seychelles is Africa's smallest country by both area and population.
| Country | Capital | Ocean | Population | Area | Independence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) | Praia | Atlantic Ocean | 0.52 million | 4,033 km² | 1975 (Portugal) |
| Comoros | Moroni | Indian Ocean | 0.87 million | 1,862 km² | 1975 (France) |
| Madagascar | Antananarivo | Indian Ocean | 32.0 million | 587,041 km² | 1960 (France) |
| Mauritius | Port Louis | Indian Ocean | 1.27 million | 2,040 km² | 1968 (UK) |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | São Tomé | Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea) | 0.24 million | 964 km² | 1975 (Portugal) |
| Seychelles | Victoria | Indian Ocean | 0.13 million | 459 km² | 1976 (UK) |
Population: UN 2024 estimates. Area includes all islands of each country.
About Africa's Island Nations
- Madagascar is the world's fourth-largest island. It split from the African mainland about 160 million years ago, and most of its wildlife, including all lemurs, is found nowhere else.
- Mauritius and Seychelles have the highest incomes per person in Africa, built on tourism, financial services and fishing.
- Cabo Verde is an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands about 570 km off Senegal; its capital Praia is Africa's westernmost capital city.
- Comoros claims the island of Mayotte, which voted to remain French and is now an overseas department of France.
- São Tomé and Príncipe lies on the Equator in the Gulf of Guinea and is Africa's second-smallest country.
Island Countries by Ocean
Atlantic Ocean: Cabo Verde lies off the coast of Senegal and Mauritania, and São Tomé and Príncipe lies in the Gulf of Guinea off Gabon. Both were uninhabited until Portuguese settlement in the 15th century, and both use Portuguese as their official language.
Indian Ocean: Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles work together, with France (for Réunion), in the Indian Ocean Commission. In Comoros most people speak Comorian, and Arabic and French are also official; Mauritius and Seychelles use English, French and a French-based Creole; Madagascar's official languages are Malagasy and French. Madagascar is counted as East Africa in the UN grouping and is a member of SADC.
Getting there usually means flying: Madagascar (Antananarivo), Mauritius, Seychelles and Cabo Verde have regular international flights, while Comoros and São Tomé are reached mainly via connections in East Africa, Lisbon or Libreville.
African Islands That Are Not Countries
Many islands off Africa belong to other states or to mainland African countries: the Canary Islands (Spain), Madeira (Portugal), Réunion and Mayotte (France), Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK), Socotra (Yemen), Zanzibar (part of Tanzania) and Bioko, where Equatorial Guinea's capital Malabo stands. These are not counted among Africa's island countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many island countries are there in Africa?
Six: Cabo Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles.
What is the largest island country in Africa?
Madagascar, with an area of 587,041 km² and about 32 million people. It is the fourth-largest island in the world.
What is the smallest country in Africa?
Seychelles, with about 459 km² and around 130,000 people.
Is Zanzibar a country?
No. Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania. It merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania.