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Top 10 Largest Countries in Africa by Population in 2023

This is a list of the top 10 Largest Countries in Africa by Population in 2023, listed according to the current and future projections of the population

Published

2 years ago

April 14, 2023

Oluwafemi Afolayan

Top 10 Largest Countries in Africa by Population in 2023 - RNN

It is not a falsehood that the African continent is a rich soil, blessed with people of creativity and diverse cultures and thousands of languages with over 75 of those with millions of speakers also in the world today the entire African continent holds approximately 16.72% of the total world population with the top nine largest countries in Africa by population holding approximately 55.17% of the continent’s population.

Although the population of the African continent is approximately 1.4 billion people in 2023, reports show that this figure will double in the next 27 years, that is by 2050 according to statistics, the African population is projected to be around 2.5 billion people in total with Nigeria being the most populated country in Africa, overtaking the United States, even before 2050.

Additionally, the diversity and population of African counties serve as an advantage to them which means there are people of diverse thought that could actually bring about profitable growth to the development of the continent. Likewise, as there are advantages, there are also disadvantages of population growth and the effect on the majority masses, and in the article, we will be listing some of the largest countries in Africa by population in 2023.

1. Nigeria – 230,842,743

The largest country in Africa by population

As the most populated country in Africa, Nigeria has the largest number of people with over 300 languages locally spoken and Lagos is the business hub of Africa, Nigeria is referred to as the giant of Africa. The country, Nigeria, does not only have the largest population in Africa, but it is equally rich in natural resources such as natural gas, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, gem, gold, diamond, niobium, lead, zinc, and arable land. According to analysis and projection of Nigeria’s population, it will surpass that of the United State before 2050 while by 2100, the population of the entire continent will equal that of Asia.

2. Ethiopia – 122,922,416

Ethiopia is one of the largest countries in Africa by population. The country is located in East Africa and it is one of the oldest civilizations in the world aside from its population being the second most populated country in Africa, Ethiopia is filled with archaeological finds dating back more than 3 million years, it’s a place of ancient culture and it is also one of the two countries in Africa that were never colonized because of its location, economic viability, and unity.

3. Egypt – 106,981,048

African countries by population 2023

There are a lot of stories about Egypt, the ancient country is situated along the northeastern corners of Africa, linking northeast Africa with the Middle East, and is filled with monuments from ancient times from the ancient civilization dating far back to the time of Pharaoh. Egypt takes about 7.65% of the overall African population with over 43% of the population living in urban areas.

4. Democratic Republic of the Congo – 96,511,54

The Democratic Republic of the Congo popularly abbreviated as DRC is a country located in Central Africa, with a population of about 97 million people. The country is surrounded by Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya is having one of the largest land masses in Africa and in the world, only second to Algeria and the 11th largest in the world. DRC population makes up 6.57% of the overall African population and is also the most populous officially Francophone country in the world, even bigger than France.

5. Tanzania – 63,931,876

The biggest countries in Africa by population

Tanzania is an East African country that is located just west of the Indian Ocean, it is the fifth largest country in Africa by population. According to reports, Tanzania’s growth rate is around 3.0%, which means if the streak of growth continues by 2050 the population of the country would have to double what it is now, which will rank them among the top populated countries in the world.

6. South Africa – 61,081,076

Ranked as the sixth largest country in Africa by population, South Africa is home to approximately 61 million people with a 4.9% annual growth rate South Africa is bound to overtake many European countries in the world as so long the streak continues. The country which is located in the southern African part of the continent is filled with a long of natural reserves and has one of the best and biggest safaris in the world.

7. Kenya – 56,645,588

African countries by population

Kenya is a country in East Africa with a population of more than 56 million people. Additionally, Kenya is home to wildlife like lions, elephants, and rhinos with one of the best safaris and national parks and reserves in the world. Most importantly Kenya is known for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife preserves. Like, Kenya is home to some of the best marathon winners in the world with the country being the most successful nation in the discipline, having won eight gold medals overall.

8 Uganda – 49,333,704

Also located in East Africa, the landlocked country Uganda is situated east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the southwest by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania has a population of more than 49 million people with diverse culture and beliefs. Uganda is home to a vast number of species, including a population of mountain gorillas and many other wildlife and reserves. Additionally, Uganda’s annual growth rate is 3.5% with the projection of its population by 2050 put at 87.6 million.

9 Sudan – 47,342,103

African countries by population

Sudan has overtaken Algeria to cling to the ninth place on this list with a population of 47.3 million people from its previous population between 2020-2021 reaching almost 43 million people. This North African country which borders South Sudan and Egypt is located in Northeast Africa

10 Algeria – 45,753,509

Algeria is the largest country in Africa by land area though it is the tenth by population it is also tenth in the world by landmass. Meanwhile, most of the country’s approximately 46 million inhabitants reside in its urban areas or near water sources. Additionally, with it the annual growth rate put at almost 3.5%, the Algerian population is expected to double by the end of 2050. The North African country with a Mediterranean coastline and a Saharan desert is one of the largest countries in Africa by population.