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Top 10 Largest Democratic Countries In Africa 2023
Nigeria may be among the largest democratic countries in Africa but it has the lowest voter turnout of any country with its size. Likewise,
African democracy has come a long way and the picture the media have painted about the African continent as being a barbaric people, underdeveloped, and difficult to accept change but the narratives have actually changed, the continent in itself is among the most democratic continents with Nigeria being the fourth largest democratic country in the world, African have really experience change and one which is visible enough and in this article we will discuss the largest democratic countries in Africa 2023.
Meanwhile, the world is becoming less democratic with regions like Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) all having less democratic governments and institutions, likewise in sub-Saharan African states including Sudan, Cameroon, and Ethiopia considered not-free states among the countries in Africa.
Lastly, there are different measures by which these democratic states are considered the largest democratic countries in Africa, which are a variety of indexes primarily devised by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as V-Dem Democracy indices, and the Democracy index by The Economist and according to the data made available by Wikipedia and other reliable and reputable sources.
1. Nigeria
largest democratic country in Africa
Nigeria is an African country located in the western region of the African continent, it is also the most populous black nation on earth with a total population of over 225 million people. Aside from its population, it is also one of the most creative nations on earth having diverse cultures and beliefs as a people, the country is the fourth largest democratic country in the world.
Although the nation had a long way coming before it became a democratic state, with military coups that almost mar its independence after it became a sovereign state from its colonial masters. Nigeria country is categorized as a Hybrid regime under the categories of democratic countries in the world and it is among the eleven states listed states as ‘free’ under the Freedom Index including the other African countries on this list.
2. South Africa
South Africa has also had its share of the struggle for independence which made it appear on this list as one of the most democratic countries in Africa. The country became a democratic state on 27 April 1994, which resulted in a fundamental change in the political landscape, but it also ushered in a new constitutional legal order unparalleled in the country’s history.
South Africa practices a parliamentary representative democratic government where the president who is elected by parliament is the head of government. Additionally, under the categorizing and ranking of the democratic country it is listed as flawed democracy and not a full democracy. It is also one of the most populated countries in Africa with over 60 million people.
3. Ghana
successful democracies in Africa
Ghana gained independence from colonial rule on 6th March 1957 when the Prime Minister of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah declare de country free from British Colonial rule and it became the first African country to do so. Although, Ghana from the inception of gaining its freedom from colonial masters by default became a democratic state, due to the constant toppling of the government by coups which are always led by power mongers from the military leaders who want to gain power, by all means, leads to Ghana having the first republic till the fourth before finally become a democratic state in 1993.
Additionally, Ghana is among the eleven countries in Africa listed as ‘free’ under the Freedom Index categories and with a score of 6.63% overall of 10 as a country with a flawed democracy. With a population of almost 34 million people as of 2022, Ghana remains one of the top largest democratic countries in Africa.
4. Senegal
When talking about its place in Africa, Senegal is one of the contributors to the growth of Africa, although not have a large population like some other democratic countries in Africa, with a population of almost 18 million people Senegal has produced some of the most amazing people from the continent. The West African country on the Atlantic Ocean coastline is one of the most democratic states in Africa, and it gained independence from France on 20 August 1960 and has since been a democratic state just like Nigeria which has earlier appeared on this list, Senegal practices a hybrid regime.
5. Benin
democratic countries in Africa
Benin Republic is another country from the West African region having a population of about 13 million people, a French-speaking West African nation, that is home to the former Dahomey Kingdom and is one of the largest democratic states in Africa. Meanwhile, all was not all perfect so to say about how Benin came to have the democracy they enjoy and practice today. Although, all was not rosy as the democracy was almost undermined by a series of military coups from various leaders who wanted a grab of power.
Finally, formerly known as Dahomey Republic, Benin Republic changed its name on 1 March 1990 after at adopted a new constitution and also adopting democracy. Its democracy is listed as a hybrid regime with the President of Benin serving as both head of state and head of government.
6. Tunisia
Tunisia has a population of about 12 million people, reportedly considered the northernmost country in Africa, Tunisia is home to Africa’s northernmost point, Cape Angela. The country is located in North Africa with a century-long intertwining in different cultures and ethnicities, the home to one of the important holds of the Roman Empire stronghold in Africa.
The North African country has been conquest by many ancient empires including the great Roman Empire that saw potential in the land and wanted a piece for themselves. Tunisia practices a unitary presidential republic kind of government. Although the country is a democratic nation one of the biggest in Africa, there are still some limitations to even the freedom that comes with democracy, the current system of government is by all indicators continuing to move even farther away from a liberal democratic form with Tunis being an Arab country, it is a republic with a strong presidential system dominated by a single political party.
7. Namibia
largest democratic countries
With a population of about 2.7 million people, Namibia is a country in the Southern Africa region with a popular motto for “Unity, Liberty, Justice”. The country practices a unitary dominant-party semi-presidential republic with the president who is both the head of state and the head of the government serving for a five-year term. Additionally, Namibia gained independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990, following the Namibian War of Independence.
Meanwhile, the country was a German colony in 1884 under Otto von Bismarck before South Africa gained control of the state following the Treaty of Versailles and continued to administer the areas as South West Africa.
8. Botswana
Botswana is among the countries listed as ‘free’ under the Freedom Index including the other African countries on this list. The country unlike many other African countries is categorized as flawed democracy and practices a unitary dominant-party parliamentary republic with an executive presidency. With a population of over 2.3 million people with the majority of its people being Christians with about 11.6 percent of its population living in large cities and the capital, Botswana is among the free countries in the world as well as Africa as a continent.
9. Mauritius
most democratic country in Africa
Mauritius is the only country in Africa to have full democracy even ahead of France and the United States and it ranks as #21 in the world as countries that have full democracy immediately after Austria. Although, the country is among the smallest country countries in Africa with both the population and area of land covered. With a population of about 1.3 million people, Mauritius which is located off the southeast coast of the African continent became a republic on March 12, 1992.
10. Cape Verde
Cape Verde almost has the same landmass as Mauritius just that Mauritius is almost 3 times larger in population than Cape Verde. The country is the westernmost point of continental Africa, situated in the central Atlantic Ocean with a lot of volcanoes, Cape Verde with over 500,000 people living on the island is ranked as 35th in the world with a flawed democracy while it practices a unitary semi-presidential republic. The small island country is ranked on this list of largest democratic countries in Africa because it is one of the eleven listed states as “free” according to Freedom Index.
Largest Democratic Countries In Africa 2023
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- Ghana
- Senegal
- Benin
- Tunisia
- Namibia
- Botswana
- Mauritius
- Cape Verde
Key Takeaways
- Nigeria is the largest democratic country in Africa with a population of over 230 million people
- Mauritius is the only African country that practices full democracy which makes it the first full democratic country in Africa and #21 in the world
- Cape Verde is the smallest democratic country in Africa on this list
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Sources: wikipedia.org, statista.com, un.org