Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent.

It covers roughly 30.3 million square kilometers of land. This area accounts for 20% of Earth's total land area. Africa also makes up 6% of the planet's entire surface. It is a massive region with diverse landscapes and many people. As of 2021, nearly 1.4 billion people lived on the continent. This represents about 18% of the global human population.

Africa is also home to the world's youngest population. In 2012, the median age was only 19.7 years. Projections suggest the population will exceed 3.8 billion by 2100.

The continent sits in a central position on the globe. It straddles both the equator and the prime meridian. To the north, the Mediterranean Sea borders the land. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west of the continent. To the southeast, the Indian Ocean provides a vast water boundary. The Arabian Plate and the Gulf of Aqaba are to the northeast.

Some territories, like islands, belong to nations like France or Italy. The continent includes Madagascar and several other archipelagos. Geologically, places like Sicily and Malta are part of the African continent.

Africa is composed of many different political entities. It contains 54 fully recognized sovereign states. There are also eight cities or islands belonging to non-African states. Two other states have limited or no international recognition. Algeria is the largest country by total land area. Nigeria is the largest country by total population.

These nations cooperate through the African Union. This organization is headquartered in the city of Addis Ababa. While many states exist, some societies have historically been stateless. This means they functioned without a central government structure.

The history of Africa is incredibly long and complex. Many scientists believe Africa is the cradle of humanity. The Hominidae clade, or great apes, likely originated here. The earliest hominids lived on the continent 7 million years ago. Modern humans, known as Homo sapiens, emerged 350,000 to 260,000 years ago.

Around 50,000 years ago, humans began the Out of Africa II migration. They moved to populate the rest of the entire world. This migration happened through routes like the Isthmus of Suez. Other groups moved through the Strait of Gibraltar or Bab-el-Mandeb.

Many powerful empires rose across the African landscape over time. Ancient societies like Egypt and Kerma emerged in early millennia. Between 3000 BCE and 500 CE, the Bantu expansion occurred. This movement spread from Cameroon across Central and Southern Africa. Many famous empires followed, such as Mali, Songhai, and Aksum.

Other notable empires include the Zulu, Kongo, and Asante. In the late 19th century, European nations colonized most of the continent. This was driven by the Second Industrial Revolution. Most modern states emerged later through a process called decolonization. These new nations often kept the borders set by colonial powers.

Africa is a place of immense biological diversity. It has the largest number of megafauna species on Earth. Megafauna refers to very large animals. This is because Africa was less affected by ancient extinctions. However, the environment faces serious modern challenges. Issues include desertification, which is the spread of desert land. Deforestation and water scarcity are also major concerns.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change identifies Africa as highly vulnerable. Climate change may worsen these existing environmental pressures.

The name "Africa" has many different possible origins. One theory links it to the Latin name for northern inhabitants. This name might come from a Libyan tribe. Another idea suggests it relates to the word for "dust." A 1981 hypothesis links it to the Berber word for "cave." Some suggest it comes from the Latin word for "sunny." Others link it to the Egyptian term for "birthplace."

These various theories show how different cultures viewed the land. Understanding Africa requires looking at its geography, history, and people.