Largest Countries in Africa by Area
The 15 largest countries in Africa ranked by total area.
Last updated: September 2026
Algeria is the largest country in Africa, at about 2,381,741 km² (919,595 sq mi), followed by DR Congo (2,344,858 km²) and Sudan (1,886,068 km²). Algeria alone covers almost 8% of Africa's 30.3 million km². Sudan was Africa's largest country until South Sudan became independent in 2011.
| Rank | Country | Area (km²) | Area (sq mi) | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Algeria | 2,381,741 km² | 919,595 sq mi | North Africa |
| 2 | DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) | 2,344,858 km² | 905,354 sq mi | Central Africa |
| 3 | Sudan | 1,886,068 km² | 728,214 sq mi | North Africa |
| 4 | Libya | 1,759,540 km² | 679,362 sq mi | North Africa |
| 5 | Chad | 1,284,000 km² | 495,755 sq mi | Central Africa |
| 6 | Niger | 1,267,000 km² | 489,191 sq mi | West Africa |
| 7 | Angola | 1,246,700 km² | 481,353 sq mi | Central Africa |
| 8 | Mali | 1,240,192 km² | 478,840 sq mi | West Africa |
| 9 | South Africa | 1,221,037 km² | 471,445 sq mi | Southern Africa |
| 10 | Ethiopia | 1,104,300 km² | 426,372 sq mi | East Africa |
| 11 | Mauritania | 1,030,700 km² | 397,955 sq mi | West Africa |
| 12 | Egypt | 1,002,450 km² | 387,048 sq mi | North Africa |
| 13 | Tanzania | 947,300 km² | 365,754 sq mi | East Africa |
| 14 | Nigeria | 923,768 km² | 356,669 sq mi | West Africa |
| 15 | Namibia | 825,615 km² | 318,772 sq mi | Southern Africa |
Total area including inland water, rounded; sources differ slightly for some countries (for example Sudan and Egypt, which have disputed border areas). Morocco's figure excludes Western Sahara.
How Big Are Africa's Largest Countries?
Africa is the world's second-largest continent, and its biggest countries are very large by world standards. Algeria is larger than Greenland, and DR Congo is roughly the size of Western Europe. Nine African countries cover more than 1.2 million km² each. Many of them have modest populations because much of their land is desert (Algeria, Libya, Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania) or dense rainforest (DR Congo).
Smallest Countries in Africa
The five smallest countries are all islands: Seychelles (459 km²), São Tomé and Príncipe (964 km²), Comoros (1,862 km²), Mauritius (2,040 km²), Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) (4,033 km²). The smallest country on the African mainland is The Gambia (10,689 km²).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest country in Africa?
Algeria, with an area of about 2,381,741 km². It is also the tenth largest country in the world.
What is the second largest country in Africa?
DR Congo (the Democratic Republic of the Congo), at about 2,344,858 km². Sudan is third.
Why is Sudan no longer the largest country in Africa?
Sudan was the largest until 9 July 2011, when South Sudan became independent and took about a quarter of its territory. Algeria then became Africa's largest country.
What is the smallest country in Africa?
Seychelles, an island nation of about 459 km². The smallest mainland country is The Gambia (10,689 km²).