Map of Africa

This is an interactive political map of Africa. It displays countries, rivers, lakes, and cities. Hover over the map for population, GDP, geography, and river names. To take a closer look, zoom in. For more information, scroll down.

Key
⬤	Country Capital	◯	City
	Lake or River		Ocean

Africa

Africa is located primarily in the Eastern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.

It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Red Sea to the northeast.

Africa is connected to Asia by the Isthmus of Suez, which separates it from the Sinai Peninsula.

It is the second-largest continent in terms of land area. It is between latitudes 37 degrees north and 35 degrees south and longitudes 17 degrees west and 51 degrees east.

If you want to read more about Africa, Amazon has Africa's Geography: Dynamics of Place, Cultures, and Economies. This book presents a comprehensive exploration of the most culturally diverse continent. This text provides thorough coverage of the historical, cultural, economic, and political forces that continue to shape Africa, applying geographic context to relevant past and contemporary issues.

Africa's Geography

Africa is an incredibly diverse continent. It emcompasses a wide range of landscapes and biomes.

Some of these include:

Coastlines

Africa has extensive coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Indian Ocean in the east.

The Cape of Good Hope in South Africa is a renowned landmark where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.

Unfortunately for the inhabitants of Africa, its coastal geography lacks features like bays, gulfs, coves, inlets, or fjords compared to other continents.

These coastal features bolster ports, harbors, and docks, promoting navigation and commerce. Africa's smooth coasts have hindered the continent's progress and growth.

African Deserts

The Sahara Desert, located in northern Africa, is the world's largest hot desert, covering an area roughly equivalent to the size of the United States.

It stretches across several countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan.

The Namib Desert in southwestern Africa and the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa are other notable deserts on the continent.

African Mountains

Africa boasts several prominent mountain ranges. The Atlas Mountains in the northwest stretch across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

The Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are known as the "Mountains of the Moon," featuring stunning glaciers and snow-capped peaks.

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is Africa's highest peak and attracts adventurers from around the world.

African Savannas

The African savannas are characterized by vast grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs.

These landscapes are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including iconic species like lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and cheetahs.

The Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya are famous savanna ecosystems known for their incredible wildlife migrations and breathtaking natural beauty.

African Rivers

Some of the world's longest and most significant rivers flow through Africa. The Nile, stretching over 6,650 kilometers, is the longest river globally, passing through eleven countries, including Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda.

The Congo River, with its immense volume and rich biodiversity, is the second-longest river in Africa. Other notable rivers include the Niger, Zambezi, and Limpopo.

As much as coastlines have negatively affected Africa's economy, so have its rivers. Africa's rivers are not navigable.

For example, you can sail into the river mouth of the Congo River for a short while. There is the seaport of Matadi. After that, there's a series of rapids and falls, and all goods must be transported by rail or road to Kinshasa.

That is also another reason why central Africa was the last of the blind spots on the maps.

Furthermore, many rivers are seasonal. During the rainy season, they are navigable. During the dry season they are not deep enough for large boats. The dry season, may last more than 6 months. Africa's Geography.

African Rainforests

The Congo Rainforest, located in the central part of the continent, is the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon.

It spans several countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo.

The Congo Rainforest is incredibly biodiverse, hosting a wide array of plant and animal species, including gorillas, chimpanzees, and forest elephants.

Africa's Economy

Africa's economy is varied and diverse, with significant differences among its countries and regions.

The continent is rich in natural resources, including minerals, oil, gas, and agricultural products.

However, it also faces challenges such as limited infrastructure, political instability, and persistent poverty in many areas.

As mentioned before, these challenges are also magnified by Africa's geographic features.

Africa's Mineral Resources

Africa is rich in mineral resources and is home to a vast array of valuable minerals that contribute to both its domestic economies and global markets.

If you are interested in Mining in Africa, Amazon sells Conflict Minerals, Inc.: War, Profit and White Saviourism in Eastern Congo (African Arguments). This book looks at the relationship between violent conflict and natural resources that have become a matter of intense public and academic debate.

Africa's Gold

Africa is a major producer of gold, with countries such as South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso being significant contributors.

Gold mining plays a crucial role in their economies and has been a historical driver of wealth and development in the region.

Africa's Diamonds

Africa is renowned for its diamond production, with substantial deposits found in countries like Botswana, South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zimbabwe.

These countries are key players in the global diamond market, both in terms of production and export.

Africa's Platinum

South Africa is the leading producer of platinum globally and has vast reserves of this precious metal.

Platinum is primarily used in catalytic converters for vehicles, jewelry, and industrial applications.

Africa's Aluminum

Guinea is home to some of the world's largest bauxite reserves.

Bauxite is the primary ore used to produce aluminum, a versatile metal used in various industries, including transportation, construction, and packaging.

Africa's GDP

Africa's highest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) countries are shown in the video below.

This timeline depicts how the GDP increases from 1960 to 2022.

African Countries and Capitals

This table displays the 57 countries in Africa.

Country	Capital	Country	Capital
Algeria	Algiers	Malawi	Lilongwe
Angola	Luanda	Mali	Bamako
Benin	Porto-Novo	Mauritania	Nouakchott
Botswana	Gaborone	Mauritius	Port Louis
Burkina Faso	Ouagadougou	Morocco	Rabat
Burundi	Gitega	Mozambique	Maputo
Cameroon	Yaounde	Namibia	Windhoek
Cape Verde	Praia	Niger	Niamey
Central African Republic	Bangui	Nigeria	Abuja
Chad	N'Djamena	Republic of the Congo	Brazzaville
Comoros	Moroni	Rwanda	Kigali
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Kinshasa	Sao Tome and Principe	São Tomé
Djibouti	Djibouti	Senegal	Dakar
Egypt	Cairo	Seychelles	Victoria
Equatorial Guinea	Malabo	Sierra Leone	Freetown
Eritrea	Asmara	Somalia	Mogadishu
Eswatini	Lobamba	South Africa	Bloemfontein
	Mbabane		Cape Town
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa		Pretoria
Gabon	Libreville	South Sudan	Juba
Ghana	Accra	Sudan	Khartoum
Guinea	Conakry	Tanzania	Dodoma
Guinea-Bissau	Bissau	The Gambia	Banjul
Ivory Coast	Yamoussoukro	Togo	Lomé
Kenya	Nairobi	Tunisia	Tunis
Lesotho	Maseru	Uganda	Kampala
Liberia	Monrovia	Zambia	Lusaka
Libya	Tripoli	Zimbabwe	Harare
Madagascar	Antananarivo