List of African Countries and their Capitals

Africa is a vast and diverse continent made up of 54 sovereign countries, each with a rich tapestry of history, culture, and geography. Home to over a billion people, Africa is the second most populous continent after Asia and is renowned for its natural wealth—ranging from minerals and oil to gas and fertile lands—that continue to fuel economic growth across the region. 

The continent is divided into five major regions: Northern, Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. Each region reflects its own unique blend of languages, traditions, political systems, and levels of development. At the heart of every nation is its capital city—often a hub of political power, economic activity, and cultural identity. 

This article presents a comprehensive list of African countries and their capitals to help readers explore and better understand the geography of this remarkable continent.
 

List of African Countries and Their Capitals

Below is a list of all African countries and their capital cities in alphabetical order:

1. Algeria – Algiers
2. Angola – Luanda
3. Benin – Porto-Novo
4. Botswana – Gaborone
5. Burkina Faso – Ouagadougou
6. Burundi – Gitega
7. Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) – Praia
8. Cameroon – Yaoundé
9. Central African Republic – Bangui
10. Chad – N'Djamena
11. Comoros – Moroni
12. Democratic Republic of the Congo – Kinshasa
13. Republic of the Congo – Brazzaville
14. Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) – Yamoussoukro
15. Djibouti – Djibouti
16. Egypt – Cairo
17. Equatorial Guinea – Malabo
18. Eritrea – Asmara
19. Eswatini (Swaziland) – Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative)
20. Ethiopia – Addis Ababa
21. Gabon – Libreville
22. The Gambia – Banjul
23. Ghana – Accra
24. Guinea – Conakry
25. Guinea-Bissau – Bissau
26. Kenya – Nairobi
27. Lesotho – Maseru
28. Liberia – Monrovia
29. Libya – Tripoli
30. Madagascar – Antananarivo
31. Malawi – Lilongwe
32. Mali – Bamako
33. Mauritania – Nouakchott
34. Mauritius – Port Louis
35. Morocco – Rabat
36. Mozambique – Maputo
37. Namibia – Windhoek
38. Niger – Niamey
39. Nigeria – Abuja
40. Rwanda – Kigali
41. São Tomé and Príncipe – São Tomé
42. Senegal – Dakar
43. Seychelles – Victoria
44. Sierra Leone – Freetown
45. Somalia – Mogadishu
46. South Africa – Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative)
47. South Sudan – Juba
48. Sudan – Khartoum
49. Tanzania – Dodoma
50. Togo – Lomé
51. Tunisia – Tunis
52. Uganda – Kampala
53. Zambia – Lusaka
54. Zimbabwe – Harare
     

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About African Countries & Capitals

1. How many countries are there in Africa?
   There are 54 recognized sovereign countries in Africa.

2. What is the capital of Nigeria?
   The capital of Nigeria is Abuja.

3. What is the smallest capital city in Africa by population?
   Victoria, the capital of Seychelles, is among the smallest by population.

4. Is Yamoussoukro the only capital of Côte d'Ivoire?
   Yamoussoukro is the official capital, but Abidjan serves as the economic capital and is home to many government offices.

5. What is the newest capital city in Africa?
   Gitega became the capital of Burundi in 2019, replacing Bujumbura.

6. Which African countries have the same name as their capital?
   Djibouti is both the name of the country and its capital.

7. Which African capital is located on an island?
   Praia (Cabo Verde) and São Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) are examples.

8. What is the capital of South Sudan?
   The capital of South Sudan is Juba.

9. Are all African capitals located in the largest city of the country by population?
   No, not always. For example, Nigeria’s capital Abuja is not its largest city; Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria.

10. What is the highest capital city in Africa by elevation?
    Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is one of the highest capital cities in the world.

11. Are all capitals in Africa safe for tourists?
    Safety varies by country and current events. It’s best to check government travel advisories before visiting.

12. Which African capital is considered a major diplomatic hub?
    Addis Ababa is home to the African Union and many international organizations.

13. Can a country have more than one capital city?
    Yes, South Africa is a prime example of a country with more than one capital.

14. What is the capital of Kenya?
    Nairobi.

15. What is the capital of Ghana?
    Accra.

16. Which is the largest country in Africa by land area?
    Algeria is the largest African country by land area.

17. Which African country has the most populous capital city?
    Egypt’s capital, Cairo, is the most populous capital city in Africa.

18. What is the newest African country?
    South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, is the newest country in Africa.

19. Which African country has multiple capital cities?
    South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (judicial), and Cape Town (legislative).

20. What are the most visited capital cities in Africa by tourists?
    Popular capital cities for tourism include Cairo (Egypt), Nairobi (Kenya), Cape Town (South Africa), and Accra (Ghana).

21. Are African capital cities generally coastal or inland?
    African capitals vary—some like Luanda (Angola) and Dakar (Senegal) are coastal, while others like Kampala (Uganda) are inland.

22. What is the capital of Africa?
    Africa is a continent, not a country, so it doesn’t have a single capital. Each country within Africa has its own capital city.

Africa's countries and capitals reflect the continent’s incredible diversity, heritage, and growth. Whether you're learning for fun, exams, or travel, knowing these capitals deepens your understanding of African geography and global affairs.