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African countries quiz

Two quizzes, 20 questions, two levels. Every answer is explained as you play.

  • 2 quizzes
  • 20 questions
  • 2 levels
  • Printable list
Easy
Medium
Questions and answers — printable list
  1. Which African country is the largest by land area?AlgeriaAlgeria covers about 919,595 square miles, making it Africa's largest country by area, according to Britannica.
  2. As of 2026, which African country has the largest population?NigeriaNigeria is Africa's most populous country, with an estimated 239,430,000 people as of 2026, per Britannica.
  3. Which mountain is Africa's highest point, located in northeastern Tanzania?Mount KilimanjaroMount Kilimanjaro rises 19,340 feet and is Africa's highest point, according to Britannica.
  4. Which river is both the longest in Africa and the longest in the world?Nile RiverThe Nile stretches about 4,132 miles, making it the world's longest river, per Britannica.
  5. What is the name of the world's largest hot desert, covering much of northern Africa?Sahara DesertThe Sahara covers about 3,320,000 square miles, making it the world's largest hot desert, according to Britannica.
  6. Which African island nation is the smallest country on the continent by land area?SeychellesSeychelles covers only about 176 square miles, making it Africa's smallest country by area, per Britannica.
  7. Which animal found in Africa is considered the fastest land animal, reaching speeds up to 71 miles per hour?CheetahThe cheetah can reach up to 71 miles per hour, making it the fastest land animal, according to Britannica.
  8. Which animal is the tallest land animal in the world, with males sometimes exceeding 18 feet in height?GiraffeThe giraffe is the tallest land animal, with males exceeding 18 feet, per Britannica.
  9. Which African lake, bordered by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, is the continent's largest lake by area?Lake VictoriaLake Victoria covers about 26,828 square miles, making it Africa's largest lake by area, according to Britannica.
  10. Which country became the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence, in 1957?GhanaGhana, formerly the Gold Coast, became the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence on March 6, 1957, per Britannica.
  11. Founded as a settlement for freed and formerly enslaved Black Americans, which country declared independence in 1847 as Africa's first independent republic?LiberiaLiberia, founded by the American Colonization Society, declared independence on July 26, 1847, per Britannica.
  12. Which African country is completely surrounded by South Africa, making it one of only three enclaved countries in the world?LesothoLesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa, per Britannica; the only other enclaved countries are San Marino and Vatican City.
  13. Which West African country was known as Upper Volta until President Thomas Sankara renamed it in 1984?Burkina FasoUpper Volta became Burkina Faso on August 4, 1984, per Britannica.
  14. Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city, but which city is the country's official capital?DodomaTanzania's official capital is Dodoma, while Dar es Salaam remains its largest city and commercial center, per Britannica.
  15. Lake Assal, a saline crater lake more than 500 feet below sea level that marks Africa's lowest point, is located in which country?DjiboutiLake Assal, in the Afar region of central Djibouti, lies roughly 155 meters (over 500 feet) below sea level. It is the lowest point in Africa.
  16. Which South African cape, rather than the Cape of Good Hope, is the true southernmost point of mainland Africa?Cape AgulhasCape Agulhas, not the Cape of Good Hope, is the southernmost point of mainland Africa, per Britannica.
  17. The Okavango Delta, the world's largest inland delta, is found in which African country?BotswanaThe Okavango Delta in Botswana is the world's largest inland delta, fed by the Okavango River from Angola's highlands, per Britannica.
  18. As of 2026, which country is Africa's second most populous, after Nigeria?EthiopiaEthiopia, with roughly 130 to 139 million people in 2026 estimates, is Africa's second most populous country after Nigeria. Egypt (about 120 million) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (about 116 million) follow, while South Africa is further down the list.
  19. Victoria Falls, with a width of about 5,500 feet, lies on which river between Zambia and Zimbabwe?Zambezi RiverVictoria Falls is on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, per Britannica.
  20. Which landlocked African country changed its name from Swaziland in 2018, as announced by King Mswati III?EswatiniThe Kingdom of Swaziland officially became the Kingdom of Eswatini on April 19, 2018, as announced by King Mswati III (Britannica).

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About the African countries quiz

Africa is home to 54 sovereign countries, and sorting them out is harder than it looks: 16 are landlocked, more than on any other continent, and Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa. Names shift too — the Democratic Republic of the Congo was Zaire until 1997, Upper Volta became Burkina Faso in 1984, and Swaziland renamed itself Eswatini in 2018. South Sudan, independent only since 2011, is the newest of all.

The quizzes move from countries most Americans can place on a map to the finer points of African geography. The easy level asks about large, well-known countries by area and population, like Algeria and Nigeria. The medium level digs into landlocked nations, renamed countries, and official languages, such as Equatorial Guinea's Spanish. The hard level covers specifics like Africa's smallest country by area and its lowest point.

Frequently asked questions

What does the African countries quiz include?

The quiz works through African geography in three stages. Early questions focus on recognizing countries and their capitals on a map. Middle-level questions bring in details like landlocked nations, renamed countries, and official languages. The hardest questions ask about specific records — rivers, lakes, mountains, and deserts — the kind of detail that trips up even strong geography players.

How should I use the three difficulty levels?

Start with the easy level if you're brushing up on major countries and capitals. Move to medium once you're comfortable with less familiar nations, like the ones that changed names in recent decades. Save the hard level for last — it covers specific landmarks and geographic extremes that require more careful study, not just general knowledge of the continent.

No made-up answers

Every question here was written from a named source and reviewed before it went live.