<P> Africa is the world 's second largest and second most - populous continent ( behind Asia in both categories ) . At about 30.3 million km ( 11.7 million square miles ) including adjacent islands , it covers 6 % of Earth 's total surface area and 20 % of its land area . With 1.2 billion people as of 2016 , it accounts for about 16 % of the world 's human population . The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north , the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea to the northeast , the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west . The continent includes Madagascar and various archipelagos . It contains 54 fully recognised sovereign states ( countries ) , nine territories and two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition . The majority of the continent and its countries are in the Northern Hemisphere , with a substantial portion and number of countries in the Southern Hemisphere . </P>
<P> Africa is the world 's second largest and second most - populous continent ( behind Asia in both categories ) . At about 30.3 million km ( 11.7 million square miles ) including adjacent islands , it covers 6 % of Earth 's total surface area and 20 % of its land area . With 1.2 billion people as of 2016 , it accounts for about 16 % of the world 's human population . The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north , the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea to the northeast , the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west . The continent includes Madagascar and various archipelagos . It contains 54 fully recognised sovereign states ( countries ) , nine territories and two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition . The majority of the continent and its countries are in the Northern Hemisphere , with a substantial portion and number of countries in the Southern Hemisphere . </P>
how many countries make up the africa continent
how many countries make up the africa continent
54 fully recognised sovereign states ( countries nine territories two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition
54 fully recognised sovereign states ( countries nine territories two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition