Western Africa comprises an area of approximately 6.1 million square kilometers. These are the 16 Countries in West Africa, Their Language And Population.
The 16 Countries in West Africa, Their Capital, Language And Population
West Africa stands as a region brimming with cultural diversity, history, and natural beauty. Comprising 16 countries, each with its unique identity, the countries in West Africa are home to vibrant cultures, languages, and traditions. In this article, we will take a closer look at each country, exploring their capitals, official languages, and population.
1. Benin (Capital: Porto-Novo)
Language: French
Population: 9 Million
Benin covers an area of around 115,000 sq km. This tropical sub-Saharan country depends on agriculture. The largest religious group is Roman Catholicism.
2. Burkina Faso (Capital: Ouagadougou)
Language: French
Population: 17 Million
Landlocked West African nation Burkina Faso covers approximately 274,200 sq km. The country is a semi-presidential republic. Agriculture contributes around 32 percent to the nation’s GDP.
3. Cape Verde (Capital: Praia)
Language: Portuguese
Population: 600, 000
This island nation spans an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the central Atlantic Ocean. The nation covers an area of slightly over 4,000 sq km. It is praised as an example among African nations, for its stability and developmental growth.
4. The Gambia (Capital: Banjul)
Language: English
Population: 2 Million
The Gambia is located on either side of River Gambia. It covers an area of around 10,689 sq km and has a population of appx 2 million. The nation’s economy is dominated by fishing, farming and tourism.
5. Ghana (Capital: Accra)
Language: English
Population: 27 Million
Ghana is a sovereign multinational state and unitary presidential constitutional democracy. It has a land mass of 238,535 sq km. Approximately 27 million people live in Ghana. Its economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
6. Guinea (Capital: Conakry)
Language: French
Population: 11 Million
West African country Guinea is a republic. It covers an area of 245,860 sq km and has a population of appx 11 million. French is the official language of Guinea.
7. Guinea-Bissau (Capital: Bissau)
Language: Portuguese
Population: 2 Million
Guinea-Bissau covers 36,125 sq km. Around 2,000,000 people live in this country. Its GDP per capita is one of the lowest in the world. More than two-thirds of the population lives below the poverty line.
8. Côte d’Ivoire (Capital: Yamoussoukro)
Language: French
Population: 20.6 Million
Ivory Coast covers 322,463 sq km, and has a population of about 20.6 million The nation’s economy is market-based and relies heavily on agriculture.
9. Liberia (Capital: Monrovia)
Language: English
Population: 4.2 Million
Liberia covers an area of 111,369 sq km. It is home to around 4.2 million people. English is the official language of Liberia. The climate of the nation is hot and equatorial. Around 85 percent of the population of Liberia lives below the international poverty line.
10. Mali (Capital: Bamako)
Language: French
Population: 15 Million
Landlocked nation Mali covers over 1,240,000 sq km, and has a population of about 15 million. The nation’s economic structure centers on agriculture and fishing. And like most countries on this about half the population of Mali lives below the international poverty line.
11. Mauritania (Capital: Nouakchott)
Language: Arabic
Population: 3.7 Million
Around 90 percent of Mauritania’s land is within the Sahara Desert. The population of Mauritania is about 3.7 million. The nation is nearly 100 percent Muslim.
12. Niger (Capital: Niamey)
Language: French
Population: 1.27 Million
Landlocked West African nation Niger covers an area of around 1,270,000 sq km. It is the largest country in West Africa. Niger is a developing nation, whose economy is concentrated around subsistence.
13. Nigeria (Capital: Abuja)
Language: English
Population: 205 Million
Nigeria is known as the “Giant of Africa” due to its large population and economy. Around 175 million people live in Nigeria. It is the most populous country in Africa. Its economy is the largest in Africa.
14. Senegal (Capital: Dakar)
Language: French
Population: 13.3 Million
Senegal covers around 197,000 sq km. Around 13.3 million people live in Senegal. Most Senegalese are Sufi Muslims. French is the official language of Senegal.
15. Sierra Leone (Capital: Freetown)
Language: English
Population: 6.5 Million
Sierra Leone covers 71,740 sq km and has a population of around 6.5 million. It is a predominantly Muslim nation. Sierra Leone is a constitutional republic. Two-thirds of the population of Sierra Leone is directly involved in subsistence agriculture. The nation is among the top 10 diamond producing countries in the world.
16. Togo (Capital: Lomé)
Language: French
Population: 6.7 Million
Togo covers an area of approximately 57,000 sq km. Around 6.7 million people live in this West African nation. Togo is a sub-Saharan nation. It is dependent on agriculture.
These West African nations have potential go grow, but as of now many people living in the region are affected by poverty.
Modified in November, 2024
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