List Of 15 Smallest Countries In Africa As Of 2022 [You Need To Know]
List Of 15 Smallest Countries In Africa… Are you looking for the list of the smallest countries in Africa? If yes, then this informative article is for you. You will be given detailed information about the list of the 15 smallest countries in Africa as of 2022.
Some of these tiny African countries are islands and traveling to them makes it an amazing experience. They will give you an opportunity of a lifetime to explore their culture and scenery. Many of these countries are also perfect for a fantastic holiday. Now, let’s take a look at the 15 smallest countries in Africa.
1. Seychelles
Which country in Africa has the smallest population? Seychelles has the lowest population of about 94,223 people with an area of 459 square kilometers. The nation’s capital city is known as Victoria, which is 1500 kilometers to the East of East Africa.
The country gained its independence in 1976 from the United Kingdom. It contains 26 districts. Here, English and French are the languages officially spoken alongside Seychellois. Seychelles is an archipelago and major tourist attraction among the 115 islands of the Indian Ocean.
2. Sao Tome and Principle
Sao Tome and Principle is the second smallest country in Africa, located in the Gulf of Guinea. Sao Tome and Principle are two islands among the 115 islands of the Indian Ocean and about 140 kilometers apart from each other. It has an area of 1001 square kilometers.
The nation (two islands) was initially uninhibited until it was discovered by the Portuguese explorers in the 15th and 16th century. It later attained peaceful independence in 1975. Sao Tome and Principle is the smallest state speaking Portuguese.
It has a population of about 199,910 people (157000 people in Sao Tome and 6000 in Principle approximately). It is divided into six administrative districts.
3. Comoros
Comoros is one of the smallest African countries by size. It has an area of 1659 square kilometers and an approximate population of 765,601. Moroni is the biggest and the capital of Comoros. The common language in Comoros is Comorian (Shikomori) alongside Latin and Arabic.
The country’s main religion is known as Sunni Islam. Within Comoros are other islands which include Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), Moheli (Mwali), and Mayotte (Maore) which was voted against independence by France in the year 1974.
4. Mauritius
Mauritius covers an area of 2040 square kilometers with a population of 1,265,577 people. It is one of the smallest countries in Africa by population. Port Louis is the largest and the capital city of Mauritius. The country is known for reefs, lagoons, and beaches.
Other islands that are within Mauritius are Rodrigues, St. Brandon and Agalega. English and French are the major languages used in Mauritius. It is a secular country with Hinduism as the main religion alongside Christianity and Islam.
5. Cape Verde
Cape Verde is officially known as the Republic of Cabo Verde which is an archipelago of the ten islands of the Atlantic Ocean. The nation is made up of 10 islands and 8 islets, which is horseshoe, shaped and cover an area of 4033 square kilometers with a population of 513,096.
The capital city is Praia. Initially, Cape Verde was uninhibited until its discovery by the Portuguese explorers in the 15th century. It gained independence in the year 1975 from Portugal. Portuguese is the language used here, and the dominant religion is Christianity. It is the 5th smallest nation in Africa.
6. The Gambia
The Gambia is the smallest country in West Africa. It is surrounded by Senegal with a coastline of the Atlantic Ocean to the West. It lies in West Africa, and the capital city is Banjul. The state has a population of about 1,857,181 and covers an area of 10,689 square kilometers. The country was colonized by the United Kingdom and attained its independence in the year 1965.
It has a variety of ethnic groups; Wolof, Fula, Mandinka, Manjong, Aku Marabou, Serers, and Jahanka. It has attraction sites and its well-known for bird- watching since it has about 540 spicies. The common language is English alongside Mandinka, Krio, Serer, Wolof and Wula. Majority of the people are Muslims.
7. Swaziland
Swaziland is officially the Kingdom of Eswatini. The country is a landlock lying in southern Africa and the 7th smallest country in Africa. The nation has a population of 1,411,218 people. Eswatini covers an area of 17,364 square kilometers. Majority of its people in terms of ethnicity are Swazis, and the common language is Swazi. Swaziland got independence in 1968 from Britain.
The prime minister is the head of the government, and the king is the head of the state. The seventh smallest country of Swaziland is divided into 4 regions; Manzini, Shiselweni, Hhohho, and Lubombo. Christianity is the main religion in Swaziland.
8. Djibouti
Djibouti is the eighth smallest country in Africa by size. It lies in the horn of Africa with Ethiopia to the South and Eritrea to the North. To the East of this country is the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The capital city is Djibouti. The Republic of Djibouti covers an area of 23,200 square kilometers with a population of 942,333 people.
It is dominated by two ethnic groups; the Afar and the Somalis, though the Somali are the majority. The main religion here is Islamic with their official languages being French, Arabic, Somali, and Afar. Djibouti attained independence in the year 1977 from France.
9. Rwanda
The landlocked state is located in East Africa a few degrees South of the equator. Kigali is its capital city. Rwanda has a population of 11,262,564 people. The total area is 26,338 square kilometers. The nation gained independence from Belgium in 1962. Rwanda’s official language is English.
Other languages include French, Swahili, and Kinyarwanda. The country has one cultural group which is further divided into the Tutsi, the Hutu, and Twa. In 1994, the country experienced one of the most gruesome ethnic clashes of the century, known as the Genocide and is still commemorated to date. The nation’s most practiced faith is Christianity.
10. Burundi
The Republic of Burundi is in the midst of the African Great Lakes region. It is a landlocked nation. The capital city is Gitega having changed from Bujumbura in February 2019. Burundi has a population of approximately 10,524,117, and it occupies a total area of 27,834 square kilometers.
The state has 18 provinces, 117 commune, and 2638 collines. Majority of the people speak Kirundi which is the national language while French and English are the official languages. The ethnic groups in Burundi are Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. Most people in Burundi are Roman Catholics.
11. Equatorial Guinea
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea lies in Central Africa on the West coast. It is the only country that was colonized by Spain in sub-Saharan Africa. Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968. The nation borders Gabon to the South and Cameroon to the North. It occupies an area of 28,050 square kilometers and has a population of 1,358,276.
Fang is the largest ethnic group here. Other groups include Bubi, Ndowe, Annobon, Bujeba, and Igbo. Spanish, French, and Portuguese are the official languages though Spanish is the administrative and education language. Other languages include Fang, Bube, Combe, Pidgin English, and Annabon. The capital and the largest city are Malabo and Bata respectively.
12. Lesotho
The kingdom of Lesotho borders South Africa and is the 12th smallest of Africa. It was colonized by the United Kingdom in 1966. Lesotho occupies an area of 30,355 square kilometers, with a population of 2,203,821 people. It is divided into ten administrative districts which are further divided into 80 constituencies.
It is located in Southern Africa and landlocked since it is entirely bounded by South Africa. Majority of the people who live here are Bantus called Basotho. Sesotho is the official and national language of these people. The most practiced religion is Christianity. The capital city of Lesotho is Maseru.
13. Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea of Bissau is located in West Africa. Being the 13th smallest country in Africa, it has an area of about 36,125 square kilometers with an approximate population of 1,815,698. It attained its independence in 1973 from the Portuguese.
The ethnic groups found in Bissau are Fula, Balanta, Mandinka, and Manjaco. Majority of the people are Christians and Muslims. The biggest and the capital city is known as Bissau. The official and national language is Portuguese.
14. Togo
Togo marks the 14th smallest country in Africa and is officially known as the Togolese Republic. Togo is found in West Africa where Burkina Faso borders Togo to the north, Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. Its capital and largest city is Lomé.
It occupies an area of 56,785 square kilometers with a population of 7,965,055. It attained independence from France in 1960. It is divided into five administrative regions which are further divided into 30 prefectures. It is a multilingual nation with 39 languages though French is the official language.
15. Sierra Leone
The Republic of Sierra Leone is the 15 smallest country in Africa found in West Africa on the South coast. The state has a population of 7,075,641 and an area of 71,740 square kilometers. It gained independence in the year 1962 from the United States. The official language spoken is English alongside Temne, Krio, and Mende. There are about 16 ethnic groups who live in Sierra Leone.
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