Situated in northwestern Africa along the Mediterranean Sea, Algeria is the second-largest country on the continent. Comparatively, it is slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas, with a total area of 2,381,740 sq km (919,595 sq mi). Extending about 2,400 km (1,500 mi) EâW and 2,100 km (1,300 mi) NâS, Algeria is bounded on the N by the Mediterranean Sea, on the E by Tunisia and Libya, on the SE by Niger, on the SW by Mali, on the W by Mauritania, and on the W and NW by the Western Sahara and Morocco; the total boundary length is 6,343 km (3,933 mi). Land boundary and claims disputes with Libya were unresolved as of late 2002.
Angola is located on the west coast of Africa, south of the equator. Angola is slightly less than twice the size of Texas, with a total area of 1,246,700 sq km (481,353 sq mi), including the exclave of Cabinda (7,270 sq km/2,810 sq mi), which is surrounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROCâ formerly Zaire) and the Republic of the Congo (ROC). Angola proper extends 1,758 km (1,092 mi) SE-NW and 1,491 km (926 mi) NEâSW; Cabinda extends 166 km (103 mi) NNEâSSW and 62 km (39 mi) ESEâWNW. Angola proper is bounded on the N and NE by the DROC, on the SE by Zambia, on the S by Namibia (South West Africa), and on the W by the Atlantic Ocean. Its total boundary length, including Cabinda's, is 5,198 km (3,233 mi).
The People's Republic of Benin (formerly Dahomey) is situated in West Africa on the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea, and has an area of 112,620 sq km (43,483 sq mi), extending 665 km (413 mi) NâS and 333 km (207 mi) EâW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Benin is slightly smaller than the state of Pennsylvania. Roughly wedge-shaped, Benin is bounded on the N by Niger, on the E by Nigeria, on the S by the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean), on the W by Togo, and on the NW by Burkina Faso, with a total boundary length of 1,989 (1,233 mi). The capital city of Benin, Porto-Novo, is located in the southeastern corner of the country.
A landlocked country in southern Africa, Botswana has a total area of 600,370 sq km (231,802 sq mi), extending 1,110 km (690 mi) NNEâSSW and 960 km (597 mi) EWEâWNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Botswana is slightly smaller than the state of Texas. It meets Zambia at a point in the N and is bordered on the NE by Zimbabwe, on the SE and S by South Africa, and on the W and N by Namibia, with a total boundary length of 4,013 km (2,494 mi).
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta), a landlocked country in West Africa, has an area of 274,200 sq km (105,869 sq mi), with a length of 873 km (542 mi) ENEâWSW and a width of 474 km (295 mi) SSEâNNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Burkina Faso is slightly larger than the state of Colorado. Bounded on the E by Niger, on the SE by Benin (formerly Dahomey), on the S by Togo, Ghana, and CĂŽte d'Ivoire, and on the W and N by Mali, Burkina Faso has a total boundary length of 3,192 km (1,983 mi).
Burundi is a landlocked country in east-central Africa with an area of 27,830 sq km (10,745 sq mi), of which about 7% consists of lakes. Comparatively, the area occupied by Burundi is slightly smaller than the state of Maryland. It extends 263 km (163 mi) NNEâSSW and 194 km (121 mi) ESEâWNW. Burundi is bounded on the N by Rwanda, on the E and S by Tanzania, and on the W by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), with a total boundary length of 974 km (605 mi).
Situated in West Africa, Cameroon, shaped like an elongated triangle, contains an area of 475,440 sq km (183,568 sq mi), extending 1,206 km (749 mi) NâS and 717 km (446 mi) EâW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Cameroon is slightly larger than the state of California. It is bordered on the N and NE by Chad, on the E by the Central African Republic, on the E and S by the Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, on the SW by the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean), and on the W and NW by Nigeria, with a total boundary length of 4,993 km (3,103 mi). The coastline accounts for 402 km (249 mi) of this length.
Cape Verde, containing an area of 4,033 sq km (1,557 sq mi), is situated in the Atlantic Ocean about 595 km (370 mi) west of Dakar, Senegal. Comparatively, the area occupied by Cape Verde is slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. Extending 332 km (206 mi) SEâNW and 299 km (186 mi) NEâSW, it consists of 10 islands and five islets, divided into a northern windward group (Barlavento)âSanto AntĂŁo, SĂŁo Vicente, Santa Luzia (uninhabited), SĂŁo Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista, and two isletsâand a southern leeward group (Sotavento)âBrava, Fogo, SĂŁo Tiago, Maio, and three islets. The total coastline is 965 km (600 mi).
Located entirely within the tropical zone of Central Africa, the Central African Republic has an area of 622,984 sq km (240,535 sq mi), extending 1,437 km (893 mi) EâW and 772 km (480 mi) NâS. Comparatively, the area occupied by Central African Republic is slightly smaller than the state of Texas. Entirely landlocked, it is bordered on the north by Chad, on the east by Sudan, on the south by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DROCâthe former Zaire) and the Republic of the Congo (ROC), and on the west by Cameroon, with a total boundary length of 5,203 km (3,233 mi). The Oubangui and Mbomou rivers form much of the southern border; the eastern border coincides with the divide between the watersheds of the Nile and the Zaire rivers. The Central African Republic capital city, Bangui, is located in the southwestern part of the country.
A landlocked country situated in northern Central Africa, the Republic of Chad has an area of 1,284,000 sq km (495,755 sq mi), extending 1,765 km (1,097 mi) northâsouth and 1,030 km (640 mi) eastâwest. Comparatively, the area occupied by Chad is slightly more than three times the size of the state of California. It is bounded on the north by Libya, on the east by the Sudan, on the south by the Central African Republic, on the southwest by Cameroon, and on the west by Nigeria and Niger, with a total boundary length of 5,968 km (3,708 mi).
The Comoros are located at the northern entrance of the Mozambique Channel, between the eastern shore of the African continent and the island of Madagascar, which lies about 480 km (300 mi) to the SE. Comparatively, the area occupied by the Comoros Islands is slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, D.C. The islands have a combined area of 2,170 sq km (838 sq mi), of which Grande Comore (NjazĂdja), the largest and northernmost island, comprises 1,148 sq km (443 sq mi); MohĂ©li (Mwali), lying to the S of Grande Comore, 290 sq km (112 sq mi); and Anjouan (Nzwani) to the E of MohĂ©li, 424 sq km (164 sq mi). There are also several small islands. The Comoros extend about 180 km (110 mi) ESEâWNW and 100 km (62 mi) NNEâSSW, with a total coastline of 340 km (211 mi). Mayotte, the fourth major island in the Comoros Archipelago, covering an area of 374 sq km (144 sq mi), is claimed by the Comoros but remains under French territorial administration. The capital city Moroni, is located at the western edge of the island of Grande Comore.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROCâformerly Zaire) is situated in central Africa, and is crossed by the equator in its north-central region. It is the third-largest country on the continent, covering an area of 2,345,410 sq km (905,568 sq mi), with a length of 2,276 km (1,414 mi) SSEâNNW and a width of 2,236 km (1,389 mi) ENEâWSW. Comparatively, the area occupied by the country is slightly less than one-quarter the size of the United States, or about as large as the US east of the Mississippi River. On the N it is bounded by the Central African Republic, on the NE by Sudan, on the E by Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania, on the SE and S by Zambia, on the SW by Angola, and on the W by the Cabinda enclave of Angola and the Republic of the Congo (ROC), with a total boundary length of 10,744 km (6,661 mi). Its extreme western portion is a narrow wedge terminating in a strip of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The DROC and Zambia dispute the border to the east of Lake Mweru. Kinshasa, the capital, is located in the western part of the country.
Lying astride the Equator, the Republic of the Congo contains an area of about 342,000 sq km (132,047 sq mi), extending approximately 1,287 km (798 mi) NNEâSSW and 402 km (249 mi) ESEâWNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by the Congo is slightly smaller than the state of Montana. It is bounded on the N by Cameroon and the Central African Republic, on the E and S by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DROCâ formerly Zaire), on the SW by Cabinda (an enclave of Angola) and the Atlantic Ocean, and on the W by Gabon, with a total land boundary length of 5,504 km (3,413 mi) and a coastline of 169 km (105 mi).
The Republic of CĂŽte d'Ivoire, on the south coast of the western bulge of Africa, has an area of 322,460 sq km (124,502 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by CĂŽte d'Ivoire is slightly larger than the state of New Mexico. Roughly rectangular in shape, it extends 808 km (502 mi) SEâNW and 780 km (485 mi) NEâSW. It is bordered on the N by Mali and Burkina Faso, on the E by Ghana, on the S by the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, and on the W by Liberia and Guinea, with a total boundary length of 3,110 km (1,932 mi) and a coastline of 515 km (322).
Djibouti (formerly known as French Somaliland and then as the Territory of the Afars and the Issas) is situated on the east coast of Africa along the Bab al-Mandab, the strait that links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. It is bordered by Eritrea to the N, Ethiopia N, W, and S, by Somalia on the SE, and by the Bab al-Mandab, Gulf of Tadjoura, and Gulf of Aden on the E. Djibouti encompasses approximately 22,000 sq km (8,494 sq mi) and has a total boundary length of 830 km (516 mi), which includes a coastline of 314 km (195 mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Djibouti is slightly smaller than the state of Massachusetts.
Situated at the northeastern corner of Africa, the Arab Republic of Egypt has an area of 1,001,450 sq km (386,662 sq mi), extending 1,572 km (997 mi) SEâNW and 1,196 km (743 mi) NEâ SW. However, the cultivated and settled area (Nile Valley, Delta, and oases) constitutes only about 3.5% of Egypt's land area; the Libyan and Western deserts occupy about 75% of the total. Comparatively, the area occupied by Egypt is slightly more than three times the size of the state of New Mexico. Beyond the Suez Canal in the east, the Sinai Peninsula overlaps into Asia; the Sinai was occupied by Israeli forces from 1967 to 1982.
Located on the west coast of Africa, Equatorial Guinea consists of a mainland enclave, RĂo Muni, and five inhabited islands: Bioko (between 1973 and 1979, MacĂas Nguema Biyogo, and before that Fernando PĂło), AnnobĂłn (Pagalu during the 1970s), Corisco, Elobey Chico, and Elobey Grande. The total area is 28,051 sq km (10,831 sq mi), of which RĂo Muni, along with Corisco and the Elobeys, accounts for 26,017 sq km (10,045 sq mi) and Bioko, along with AnnobĂłn, 2,034 sq km (785 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Equatorial Guinea is slightly larger than the state of Maryland. RĂo Muni is bounded on the N by Cameroon, on the E and S by Gabon, and on the W by the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean), with a length of 248 km (154 mi) ENEâWSW and 167 km (104 mi) SSEâNNW. Bioko, situated 56 km (35 mi) W of Cameroon and about 259 km (161 mi) NW of RĂo Muni, extends 74 km (46 mi) NEâSW and 37 km (23 mi) SEâNW. AnnobĂłn is 686 km (426 mi) SW of Bioko; Corisco and the Elobeys are off the SW coast of Bioko, within sight of Gabon. The total boundary length of Equatorial Guinea is 835 km (519 mi), of which 296 km (183 mi) is coastline.
Eritrea is located in eastern Africa. The area occupied by Eritrea is slightly larger than the state of Pennsylvania with a total area of 121,320 sq km (46,842 sq mi). Eritrea shares boundaries with the Red Sea on the NE, Djibouti on the SE, Ethiopia on the S, and Sudan on the W, and has a total land boundary of 1,626 km (1,010 mi) and a coastline of 2,234 km (1,388 mi).
Situated in eastern Africa, Ethiopia (formerly called Abyssinia) has an area of approximately 1,127,127 sq km (435,186 sq mi), with a length of 1,639 km (1,018 mi) EâW and a width of 1,577 km (980 mi) NâS. Comparatively, the area occupied by Ethiopia is slightly less than twice the size of the state of Texas. It is bounded on the N by Eritrea, on the NE by Djibouti, on the E and SE by Somalia, on the S by Kenya, and on the W by Sudan, with a total boundary length of 5,328 km (3,311 mi). The Ogaden region of eastern Ethiopia is claimed by Somalia and has been the subject of sporadic military conflict between the two nations since 1961; the southeastern boundary has never been demarcated. Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa, is located near the center of the country.
Mayotte, the southernmost of four main islands in the Comoros Archipelago, with an area of 374 sq km (144 sq mi), lies in the Mozambique Channel about 480 km (300 mi) NW of Madagascar, at 12° 49âČ S and 45° 17âČ E. Mayotte is surrounded by a coral reef, which encloses the islets of M'Zambourou (Grand Terre) and Pamanzi.
Situated on the west coast of Africa and straddling the equator, Gabon has an area of 267,667 sq km (103,347 sq mi), extending 717 km (446 mi) NNEâssw and 644 km (400 mi) ESEâWNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Gabon is slightly smaller than the state of Colorado. It is bordered on the N by Cameroon, on the E and S by the Republic of the Congo (ROC), on the W by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the NW by Equatorial Guinea, with a total boundary length of 3,436 km (2,135 mi), of which 885 km (550 mi) is coastline.
Located on the west coast of Africa, The Gambia has an area of 11,300 sq km (4,363 sq mi), extending 338 km (210 mi) EâW and 47 km (29 mi) NâS. Comparatively, the area occupied by The Gambia is slightly less than twice the size of the state of Delaware. Bounded on the N, E, and S by Senegal (with which it is joined in the Confederation of Senegambia) and on the W by the Atlantic Ocean, The Gambia has a total boundary length of 820 km (510 mi), of which 80 km (50 mi) is coastline. The Gambia's capital city, Banjul, is located on the Atlantic coast.
Situated on the southern coast of the West African bulge, Ghana has an area of 238,540 sq km (92,100 sq mi), extending 458 km (284 mi) NNEâSSW and 297 km (184 mi) ESEâWNW. Bordered on the E by Togo, on the S by the Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea), on the W by CĂŽte d'Ivoire, and on the NW and N by Burkina Faso, Ghana has a total boundary length of 2,633 km (1,635mi), of which 539 km (334 mi) is coastline. Comparatively, the area occupied by Ghana is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. Ghana's capital city, Accra, is located on the Gulf of Guinea coast.
Guinea, on the west coast of Africa, has an area of 245,857 sq km (94,926 sq mi), extending 831 km (516 mi) SEâNW and 493 km (306 mi) NEâSW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Guinea is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. Bordered on the N by Senegal, on the N and NE by Mali, on the E by CĂŽte d'Ivoire, on the S by Liberia and Sierra Leone, on the W by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the NW by Guinea-Bissau, Guinea has a total boundary length of 3,719 km (2,311 mi), of which 320 km (199 mi) is coastline.
Situated on the west coast of Africa, Guinea-Bissau, formerly Portuguese Guinea, has a total area of 36,120 sq km (13,946 sq mi), about 10% of which is periodically submerged by tidal waters. Comparatively, the area occupied by Guinea-Bissau is slightly less than three times the size of the state of Connecticut. Besides its mainland territory, it includes the BijagĂłs Archipelago and various coastal islandsâJeta, Pecixe, Bolama, and Melo, among others. Extending 336 km (209 mi) NâS and 203 km (126 mi) EâW, Guinea-Bissau is bordered on the N by Senegal, on the E and SE by Guinea, and on the SW and W by the Atlantic Ocean, with a total boundary length of 1,074 km (667 mi).
Situated on the eastern coast of Africa, Kenya lies astride the equator. Its total area, including 11,230 sq km (4,336 sq mi) of water, is 582,650 sq km (224,962 sq mi), with a maximum length of 1,131 km (703 mi) SSEâNNW and a maximum width of 1,025 km (637 mi) ENEâWSW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Kenya is slightly more than twice the size of the state of Nevada. Kenya is bounded on the N by Sudan and Ethiopia, on the E by Somalia, on the SE by the Indian Ocean, on the S by Tanzania, and on the W by Lake Victoria and Uganda, with a total land boundary length of 3,477 km (2,161 mi) and a coastline of 536 km (333 mi).
Lesotho is an enclave within the Republic of South Africa, with an area of 30,355 sq km (11,720 sq mi), extending 248 km (154 mi) NNEâSSW and 181 km (112 mi) ESEâWNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Lesotho is slightly smaller than the state of Maryland.
Located on the west coast of Africa, Liberia has an area of about 111,370 sq km (43,000 sq mi), with a length of 548 km (341 mi) ESEâWNW and a width of 274 km (170 mi) NNEâSSW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Liberia is slightly larger than the state of Tennessee. On the N it is bounded by Guinea, on the E by CĂŽte d'Ivoire, on the S and SW by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the NW by Sierra Leone, with a total land boundary length of 1,585 km (985 mi) and a coastline of 579 km (360 mi).
Situated on the coast of North Africa, Libya is the fourth-largest country on the continent, with an area of 1,759,540 sq km (679,362 sq mi), extending 1,989 km (1,236 mi) SEâNW and 1,502 km (933 mi) NEâSW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Libya is slightly larger than the state of Alaska. It is bounded on the N by the Mediterranean Sea, on the E by Egypt, on the SE by the Sudan, on the S by Chad and Niger, on the W by Algeria, and on the NW by Tunisia, with a total land boundary length of 4,348 km (2,702 mi) and a coastline of 1,770 km (1,100 mi). The Aozou Strip (114,000 sq km/44,000 sq mi) in northern Chad was claimed and had been occupied by Libya since 1973; in a judgment of 3 February 1994, the UN International Court of Justice returned the Aozou strip to Chad. Monitored by an observer force deployed by the UN Security Council, Libyan forces withdrew on 31 May 1994. However, Chadian rebels from the Aozou still reside in Libya. Libya also claims about 19,400 sq km (7,490 sq mi) of Nigerian territory.
Situated off the southeast coast of Africa, Madagascar is the fourth-largest island in the world, with an area of 587,040 sq km (226,657 sq mi), extending 1,601 km (995 mi) NNEâSSW and 579 km (360 mi) ESEâWNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Madagascar is slightly less than twice the size of Arizona. It is separated from the coast of Africa by the Mozambique Channel, the least distance between the island and the coast being about 430 km (267 mi). The coastline of Madagascar is 4,828 km (3,000 mi). Madagascar claims a number of small islands in the Mozambique Channelâthe Ăles Glorieuses, Bassas da India, Juan de Nova, and Europaâcovering about 28 sq km (11 sq mi), which are administered by France.
A landlocked country in southeastern Africa, Malawi (formerly Nyasaland) has an area of 118,480 sq km (45,745 sq mi), of which 24,400 sq km (9,420 sq mi) consists of water, chiefly Lake Malawi (also known as Lake Niassa). Comparatively, the area occupied by Malawi is slightly smaller than the state of Pennsylvania. Malawi extends 853 km (530 mi) NâS and 257 km (160 mi) EâW. It is bounded on the N and E by Tanzania, on the E, S, and SW by Mozambique, and on the W by Zambia, with a total boundary length of 2,881 km (1,790 mi).
A landlocked country in West Africa, Mali has an area of about 1,240,000 sq km (478,767 sq mi), extending 1,852 km (1,151 mi) ENEâWSW and 1,258 km (782 mi) NNWâSSE. Comparatively, the area occupied by Mali is slightly less than twice the size of the state of Texas. Bounded on the N and NE by Algeria, on the E and S by Niger, on the S by Burkina Faso and CĂŽte d'Ivoire, on the SW by Guinea, on the W by Senegal, and on the W and NW by Mauritania, Mali has a total boundary length of 7,243 km (4,661 mi). Mali's capital city, Bamako, is located in the southwestern part of the country.
Situated in West Africa, Mauritania has an area of 1,030,700 sq km (397,955 sq mi). Mauritania extends 1,515 km (941 mi) NEâ SW and 1,314 km (816 mi) SEâNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Mauritania is slightly larger than three times the size of the state of New Mexico. It is bordered on the NE by Algeria, on the E and S by Mali, on the SW by Senegal, on the W by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the NW and N by the Western Sahara, with a total estimated boundary length of 5,828 km (3,621 mi), of which 754 km (469 mi) is coastline.
Mauritius is situated in the Indian Ocean, about 900 km (559 mi) E of Madagascar and 2,000 km (1,250 mi) off the nearest point of the African coast. The island of Rodrigues, an integral part of Mauritius, is located about 560 km (350 mi) off its northeastern coast. The two islands of Agalega lie 1,122 km (697 mi) to the north of Mauritius; also to the north is the St. Brandon Group (Cargados Carajos Shoals). Mauritius has a total area of about 2,040 sq km (7788 sq mi), of which the island of Mauritius occupies 1,860 sq km (720 sq mi); the island of Rodrigues, 110 sq km (42.5 sq mi); and the other offshore islands, 71 sq km (27 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Mauritius is slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington, DC. Mauritius extends 61 km (38 mi) NâS and 47 km (29 mi) EâW, and has a coastline of 177 km (110 mi). The nation also claims Diego Garcia, a British dependency about 1,900 km (1,200 mi) to the northeast, and a French possession, Tromelin Island, about 555 km (345 mi) to the northwest. The O
Situated at the northwestern corner of Africa, with its northernmost point only 29 km (18 mi) south of Gibraltar, Morocco claims a total area of 446,550 sq km (172,414 sq mi), of which the Western Sahara comprises 252,120 sq km (97,344 sq mi). The Western Sahara is claimed and administered by Morocco, but as of late 2002, sovereignty is unresolved. Comparatively, the area occupied by Morocco is slightly larger than the state of California. Morocco extends 1,809 km (1,124 mi) NEâSW and 525 km (326 mi) SEâNW. Morocco proper is bordered on the N by the Mediterranean Sea and the two Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, on the E and SE by Algeria, on the S by Western Sahara, and on the W by the Atlantic Ocean, with a total land boundary length of 2,018 km (1,254 mi) and a coastline of 1,835 km (1,140 mi).
Located on the southeastern coast of Africa, opposite the island of Madagascar, Mozambique (Moçambique), formerly known as Portuguese East Africa, has an area of 801,590 sq km (309,496 sq mi), of which land constitutes 784,090 sq km (302,738 sq mi) and inland water 17,500 sq km (6,757 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Mozambique is slightly less than twice the size of the state of California. The country extends 2,016 km (1,253 mi) NNEâSSW and 772 km (480 mi) ESEâWNW. It is bordered by Tanzania on the N, the Indian Ocean (Mozambique Channel) on the E, the Republic of South Africa on the S, Swaziland, South Africa, and Zimbabwe on the W, and Zambia and Malawi on the NW, with a total boundary length of 7,041 km (4,375 mi), of which 2,470 km (1,535 mi) is coastline.
A vast land of desert and semidesert along the southwestern coast of Africa, Namibia covers 825,418 sq km (318,696 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Namibia is slightly more than half the size of the state of Alaska. It extends 1,498 km (931 mi) SSE-NNW and 880 km (547 mi) ENE-WSW (excluding the Caprivi Strip). Namibia is bordered by Angola and Zambia in the N, by Botswana in the E, by South Africa in the SE and S, and by the Atlantic Ocean to the W, with a total land boundary length of 3,936 km (2,446 mi) and a coastline of 1,572 km (977 mi).
A landlocked country, the Republic of the Niger is the largest state in West Africa, with an area of 1,267,000 sq km (489,191 sq mi), extending 1,845 km (1,146 mi) ENE-WSW and 1,025 km (637 mi) NNW-SSE. Comparatively, the area occupied by Niger is slightly less than twice the size of the state of Texas. Bordered on the N by Libya, on the E by Chad, on the S by Nigeria, on the SW by Benin and Burkina Faso, on the W by Mali, and on the NW by Algeria, Niger has a total boundary length of 5,697 km (3,540 mi). Niger's capital city, Niamey, is located in the southwestern part of the country.
Located at the extreme inner corner of the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa, Nigeria occupies an area of 923,768 sq. km (356,669 sq mi), extending 1,127 km (700 mi) EâW and 1,046 km (650 mi) NâS. Comparatively, the area occupied by Nigeria is slightly more than twice the size of the state of California. It is bordered by Chad on the NE, by Cameroon on the E, by the Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea) on the S, by Benin (formerly Dahomey) on the W, and by Niger on the NW and N, with a total boundary length of 4,900 km (3,045 mi), of which 853 km (530 mi) is coastline. The borders between Nigeria and Chad and Nigeria and Cameroon are disputed, and there have been occasional border clashes.
Rwanda, a landlocked country in east-central Africa, has an area of 26,338 sq km (10,170 sq mi), extending 248 km (154 mi) NEâ SW and 166 km (103 mi) SEâNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Rwanda is slightly smaller than the state of Maryland. It is bordered on the N by Uganda, on the E by Tanzania, on the S by Burundi, and on the W and NW by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROCâthe former Zaire), with a total boundary length of 893 km (555 mi).
SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe, the smallest country in Africa, lies in the Gulf of Guinea, about 360 km (225 mi) off the west coast of Gabon. The nation has an area of 1,001 sq km (386 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe is slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, D.C. SĂŁo TomĂ© extends about 49 km (30 mi) NNEâSSW and 29 km (18 mi) ESEâ WNW. PrĂncipe has a length of approximately 21 km (13 mi) SSEâNNW and a width of 15 km (9 mi) ENEâWSW.
Situated on the western bulge of Africa, Senegal has a land area of 196,190 sq km (75,749 sq mi), extending 690 km (429 mi) SEâ NW and 406 km (252 mi) NEâSW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Senegal is slightly smaller than the state of South Dakota. It is bordered on the N and NE by Mauritania, on the E by Mali, on the S by Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, and on the W by the Atlantic Ocean. Its westernmost point is also that of the African mainland. On the NE the boundary is set by the Senegal River, and on the E by the FalĂ©mĂ© River. Senegal surrounds the long, narrow republic of the Gambia on three sides and is joined with it in the Confederation of Senegambia. The total boundary length of Senegal is 3,171 km (1,970 mi), of which 531 km (330 mi) is coastline.
Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, consists of an estimated 115 islands, most of which are not permanently inhabited. The second-smallest country in Africa, Seychelles has an area of 455 sq km (176 sq mi), of which MahĂ©, the principal island, comprises 144 sq km (56 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Seychelles is slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C. There are two main clusters: one is a granitic group, centering around MahĂ©; the other, to the SW, includes the coralline Aldabra Islands and the Farquhar group. Situated about 1,600 km (1,000 mi) off the east coast of Africa, MahĂ© extends 27 km (17 mi) NâS and 11 km (7 mi) EâW.
Situated on the west coast of Africa, Sierra Leone has an area of 71,740 sq km (27,699 sq mi), extending 338 km (210 mi) NâS and 304 km (189 mi) EâW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Sierra Leone is slightly smaller than the state of South Carolina. It is bounded on the N and E by Guinea, on the SE by Liberia, and on the S and W by the Atlantic Ocean, with a total boundary length of 1,360 km (845 mi), of which 402 km (250 mi) is coastline. In addition to the mainland proper, Sierra Leone also includes the offshore Banana and Turtle islands and Sherbro Island, as well as other small islets.
Situated on the horn of East Africa, Somalia has an area of 637,657 sq km (246,201 sq mi), extending 1,847 km (1,148 mi) NNEâSSW and 835 km (519 mi) ESEâWNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Somalia is slightly smaller than the state of Texas. It is bounded on the N by the Gulf of Aden, on the E and S by the Indian Ocean, on the SW by Kenya, on the W and NW by Ethiopia, and on the NW by Djibouti, with a total land boundary of 2,340 km (1,454 mi) and a coastline of 3,025 km (1,880). The boundary with Djibouti has been fixed by international agreement, but the western border with Ethiopia remains in dispute. Somalia is committed to supporting the right of self-determination for ethnic Somalis in all adjacent countries, including their right to join in a greater Somalia that would include the Ogaden, now part of Ethiopia.
The area of South Africa is 1,219,912 sq km (471,011 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by South Africa is slightly less than twice the size of the state of Texas. Considered as a whole, South Africa extends 1,821 km (1,132 mi) NEâSW and 1,066 km (662 mi) SEâNW. It is bounded on the N by Botswana and Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), on the NE by Mozambique and Swaziland, on the E by the Indian Ocean, on the S by the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, on the W by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the NW by Namibia. South Africa also controls two small islands, Prince Edward and Marion, which lie some 1,920 km (1,200 mi) southeast of Cape Town. South Africa's capital city, Pretoria, is located in the northeastern part of the country.
Situated in northeast Africa, Sudan is the largest country on the continent, covering an area of 2,505,810 sq km (967,499 sq mi), with a length of 2,192 km (1,362 mi) SSEâNNW and a width of 1,880 km (1,168 mi) ENEâWSW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Sudan is slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US. It is bounded on the N by Egypt, on the NE by the Red Sea, on the E by Eritrea and Ethiopia, on the S by Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), on the W by the Central African Republic and Chad, and on the NW by Libya.
A landlocked country in southern Africa, Swaziland has an area of 17,363 sq km (6,704 sq mi), extending 176 km (109 mi) NâS and 135 km (84 mi) EâW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Swaziland is slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey. It is bounded by Mozambique on the NE and by the Republic of South Africa (including the homelands) on the SE, S, W, and N, with a total boundary length of 535 km (332 mi).
Situated in East Africa just south of the equator, mainland Tanzania lies between the area of the great lakesâVictoria, Tanganyika, and Malawi (Niassa)âand the Indian Ocean. It contains a total area of 945,087 sq km (364,900 sq mi), including 59,050 sq km (22,799 sq mi) of inland water. Comparatively, the area occupied by Tanzania is slightly larger than twice the size of the state of California. It is bounded on the N by Uganda and Kenya, on the E by the Indian Ocean, on the S by Mozambique and Malawi, on the SW by Zambia, and on the W by Zaire, Burundi, and Rwanda, with a total boundary length of 4,826 km (2,999 mi), of which 1,424 km (885 mi) is coastline. Tanzania claims part of Lake Malawi, although its internationally recognized boundary is the eastern shore.
Situated on the west coast of Africa, Togo has an area of 56,785 sq km (21,925 sq mi), extending 510 km (317 mi) NâS and 140 km (87 mi) EâW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Togo is slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia. Togo is bounded on the N by Burkina Faso, on the E by Benin, on the S by the Gulf of Guinea, and on the W by Ghana, with a total boundary length of 1,703 km (1,058 mi), of which 56 km (35 mi) is coastline.
Situated on the northern coast of Africa, Tunisia has an area of 163,610 sq km (63,170 sq mi), extending 792 km (492 mi) NâS and 350 km (217 mi) EâW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Tunisia is slightly larger than the state of Georgia. It is bounded on the N and E by the Mediterranean Sea, on the SE by Libya, and on the W by Algeria, with a total boundary length of 2,572 km (1,598 mi), of which 1,148 km (713 mi) is coastline.
A landlocked country in east-central Africa, situated north and northwest of Lake Victoria, Uganda has a total area of 236,040 sq km (91,136 sq mi), of which 36,330 sq km (14,027 mi) is inland water. Comparatively, the area occupied by Uganda is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. It extends 787 km (489 mi) NNEâSSW and 486 km (302 mi) ESEâWNW. Bounded on the N by Sudan, on the E by Kenya, on the S by Tanzania and Rwanda, and on the W by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC). Uganda has a total boundary length of 2,698 km (1,676 mi).
In November 1965, the United Kingdom created a new colony, the British Indian Ocean Territory, from three island groups (Aldabra, Farquhar, and Des Roches) and the Chagos Archipelago (formerly a dependency of Mauritius). Aldabra, Farquhar, and Des Roches became part of independent Seychelles in 1976.
A landlocked country in southcentral Africa, Zambia has an area of 752,614 sq km (290,586 sq mi), with a maximum length of 1,206 km (749 mi) EâW and a maximum width of 815 km (506 mi) NâS. Comparatively, the area occupied by Zambia is slightly larger than the state of Texas. Bounded on the NE by Tanzania, on the E by Malawi, on the SE by Mozambique and Zimbabwe, on the S by Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia (South West Africa), on the W by Angola, and on the W and N by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), Zambia has a total boundary length of 5,664 km (3,519 mi).
A landlocked country of southcentral Africa, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) lies between the Zambezi River on the N and the Limpopo River on the S. It has an area of 390,580 sq km (150,804 sq mi), with a length of 852 km (529 mi) WNWâESE and a width of 710 km (441 mi) NNEâSSW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Zimbabwe is slightly larger than the state of Montana. Bounded on the N and E by Mozambique, on the S by the Republic of South Africa, on the SW by Botswana, and on the NW and N by Zambia, Zimbabwe has a total boundary length of 3,066 km (1,905 mi). Zimbabwe's capital city, Harare, is located in the northeast part of the country.