Within the Black Continent, 60 countries are located, including unrecognized and self-proclaimed states. The regions of Africa differ from each other in many criteria: cultural, economic, demographic, etc. How many of them stand out on the mainland? Which countries belong to them?
Features of the macro-zoning of the mainland: regions of Africa
Each of the African countries is unique and distinctive. However, some common features between these states (natural, historical, social and economic) allow geographers to divide the mainland into several large regions. There are five of them, according to the generally accepted UN classification.
All regions of Africa are listed below:
- North;
- Central, or Tropical;
- South;
- Western
- East Africa
Each of these macro-regions covers a number of countries in the corresponding part of the continent. So, the leader in the number of states is the Western region. Moreover, most of them can boast of access to the oceans. But North and South Africa are the largest regions of the mainland by area.
Most countries of the Eastern region in recent years have shown a significant increase in per capita GDP. In turn, the central part of Africa concentrated on its open spaces the poorest and most economically and backward states of the planet.
It should be noted that not everyone accepts the existing regionalization scheme proposed by the UN. So, for example, some researchers and travelers distinguish such a region as Southeast Africa. It includes only four states: Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Further, we will consider and describe in more detail all regions of Africa, indicating their largest countries and cities.
North Africa
The region covers six sovereign states and one partially recognized: Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco, Libya, Western Sahara (SADR), Egypt and Algeria. North Africa, in addition, also includes several overseas territories belonging to Spain and Portugal. The countries of this region are distinguished by relatively large areas.
Almost all North African states have wide access to the Mediterranean Sea. This fact played a significant role in their development, indicating fairly close economic ties with European countries. Most of the region’s population is concentrated in the narrow coastal strip of the Mediterranean, as well as in the Nile River Valley. The waters of the Red Sea wash the shores of two more states in this region: we are talking about Sudan and Egypt. On the map of North Africa, these countries occupy an extreme eastern position.
The average per capita GDP in the region is not so high. However, according to IMF forecasts, in the near future they will only increase. The poorest country in the macro-district is Sudan, and the wealthiest are the oil-producing states of Libya, Tunisia and Algeria.
North Africa has a fairly developed (by African standards) agriculture. Citrus fruits, dates, olives and sugarcane are grown here. This region is popular among travelers. Countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco are visited annually by millions of tourists from all over the world.
The largest cities in the region: Casablanca, Tunisia, Tripoli, Cairo, Alexandria.
Algeria and Egypt on a map of Africa: interesting facts
Egypt is a state within which one of the oldest world civilizations arose. This is a country of mysterious pyramids, secret treasures and legends. She is the absolute leader in the entire Black Continent in terms of development of the recreational and tourist sphere. At least 10 million tourists visit Egypt every year.
Not everyone knows that this country is one of the most industrialized on the mainland. Here, oil, gas, iron and manganese ores, gold, coal, etc. are actively mined and processed. The chemical, cement and textile industries are effectively operating in the industrial sector.
No less interesting state in North Africa is Algeria. This country is the largest in size on the continent. Curiously, she received this honorary title only in 2011, when Sudan collapsed. In addition to this record, Algeria is also interesting for other facts. For example, did you know that:
- about 80% of the territory of Algeria is occupied by the desert;
- one of the lakes of this amazing country is filled with real ink;
- there are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the territory of the state;
- in Algeria there is not a single McDonald's and an Orthodox church;
- alcohol is sold exclusively in specialized stores.
In addition, Algeria impresses travelers with the diversity of its natural landscapes. Here you can see everything: mountain ranges, and dense forests, and hot deserts, and cool lakes.
West Africa
This African region is the absolute leader in the total number of independent states. There are 16 of them here: Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Most of the countries in the region are underdeveloped countries with low GDP. One exception to this list is Nigeria. IMF forecasts for this region are disappointing: GDP per capita will not grow in the near future.
Almost 60% of the population of West Africa is engaged in agriculture. Cocoa powder, wood, palm oil are produced on a large scale here. The manufacturing industry is sufficiently developed only in Nigeria.
The main problems of the region include the following:
- poor development of the transport network;
- poverty and illiteracy;
- the presence of a large number of language conflicts and hot spots.
The largest cities in the region: Dakar, Freetown, Abidjan, Accra, Lagos, Abuja, Bamako.
Central africa
Central Africa is eight countries that vary significantly in size (Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, CAR, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, as well as the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe). The poorest country in the region is the Democratic Republic of the Congo with extremely low GDP: $ 330 per capita.
In the macroeconomic economy, the leading positions are held by agriculture and mining, which the countries inherited from colonial times. It produces gold, cobalt, copper, oil and diamonds. The economy of Central Africa has been and remains a commodity.
A significant problem in the region is the availability of hot spots and periodic military conflicts.
The largest cities in the region: Douala, N'Djamena, Libreville, Kinshasa, Bangui.
East africa
This region covers ten independent countries (Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, a country with the beautiful name of Rwanda and the newly formed South Sudan), as well as several unrecognized state entities and dependent territories.
East Africa is a region with young states, backward economies and a predominance of monocultural agriculture. In some countries, piracy flourishes (Somalia), and armed conflicts are not uncommon (both internal and between neighboring countries). In some states, the tourism industry is quite well developed. In particular, tourists come to Kenya or Uganda to visit local national parks and get acquainted with the wildlife of Africa.
The largest cities in the region: Juba, Addis Ababa, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Kampala.
South Africa
The last macrodistrict of the continent includes 10 countries: Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, as well as two enclaves (Lesotho and Swaziland). Madagascar and the Seychelles are also often referred to this region.
The countries of South Africa differ from each other in terms of development and indicators of GDP. The most economically developed state in the region is the Republic of South Africa. South Africa is an amazing country with three capital cities at once.
Tourism is quite well developed in some states of the region (primarily in South Africa, Botswana and the Seychelles). Swaziland attracts many travelers with its well-preserved culture and colorful traditions.
The largest cities in the region: Luanda, Lusaka, Windhoek, Maputo, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth.
Conclusion
All countries of the African continent are original, extremely interesting and often so different from each other. However, geographers were still able to group them according to historical, socio-economic and cultural criteria, identifying five macro-districts: North, West, Central, East and South Africa.