Africa is the second largest of the seven continents. It covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area.
Africa stretches about 8000 km (about 4970 mi) from its northernmost point, Cape Blanc (ar-Ras al-Abyad) in Tunisia, to its southernmost tip, Cape Agulhas in South Africa.
The maximum width of the continent, measured from the tip of Cape Verde in Senegal, in the west, to Ras Hafun in Somalia, in the east, is about 7560 km (about 4700 mi).
There are 54 countries on the African continent.
Africa stretches about 8000 km (about 4970 mi) from its northernmost point, Cape Blanc (ar-Ras al-Abyad) in Tunisia, to its southernmost tip, Cape Agulhas in South Africa.
The maximum width of the continent, measured from the tip of Cape Verde in Senegal, in the west, to Ras Hafun in Somalia, in the east, is about 7560 km (about 4700 mi).
There are 54 countries on the African continent.
22 of the 48 largest countries by area are on the African continent.
It is the only continent on the planet situated in all four hemispheres. (Northern, Southern, Western, Eastern)
The name Africa was first given by the Romans to their African provinces with the city of Carthage, and it has since been extended to the whole continent.
For Africa's forest-dwelling peoples in the 9th century yam or manioc, from which tapioca is made, was their basic diet. They used to eat it in a bowl made from the emptied shell of the tropical fruit calabash.
During an address made by Harold Macmillan to the Parliament of South Africa, on February 3, 1960 at the South African Houses of Parliament in Cape Town, the British Prime Minister spoke of "a wind of change." This indicated his awareness of an increasing national consciousness blowing through colonial Africa, signalling that his Government was likely to support decolonisation. The occasion was in fact the second time on which Macmillan had given this speech: he was repeating an address already made in Accra, Ghana (formerly the British colony of the Gold Coast) three and a half weeks earlier.
In 1900 there were 8 to 10 million Christians in Africa, which amounted to 8 to 10 percent of the total population. By 2009, there were 360 million—nearly 50 percent of the continent. The rapid growth has mainly taken place on the southern part of the continent. By 2060 it is thought that 42% of the world's Christians will live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
There were some 1.8 million Christian martyrs in Africa during the twentieth century.
Africa's population (2010) of 1,022 million is nearly three times the 1970 population of 364 million.
Africa's large population of youths and children makes it the youngest continent, with a median age of 19.7.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest under-5 mortality rate in the world, with one child in 13 dying before his or her fifth birthday, 15 times higher than in high income countries.
It is the only continent on the planet situated in all four hemispheres. (Northern, Southern, Western, Eastern)
The name Africa was first given by the Romans to their African provinces with the city of Carthage, and it has since been extended to the whole continent.
For Africa's forest-dwelling peoples in the 9th century yam or manioc, from which tapioca is made, was their basic diet. They used to eat it in a bowl made from the emptied shell of the tropical fruit calabash.
During an address made by Harold Macmillan to the Parliament of South Africa, on February 3, 1960 at the South African Houses of Parliament in Cape Town, the British Prime Minister spoke of "a wind of change." This indicated his awareness of an increasing national consciousness blowing through colonial Africa, signalling that his Government was likely to support decolonisation. The occasion was in fact the second time on which Macmillan had given this speech: he was repeating an address already made in Accra, Ghana (formerly the British colony of the Gold Coast) three and a half weeks earlier.
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| The South African Houses of Parliament where the speech was originally delivered |
In 1900 there were 8 to 10 million Christians in Africa, which amounted to 8 to 10 percent of the total population. By 2009, there were 360 million—nearly 50 percent of the continent. The rapid growth has mainly taken place on the southern part of the continent. By 2060 it is thought that 42% of the world's Christians will live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
There were some 1.8 million Christian martyrs in Africa during the twentieth century.
Africa's population (2010) of 1,022 million is nearly three times the 1970 population of 364 million.
Africa's large population of youths and children makes it the youngest continent, with a median age of 19.7.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest under-5 mortality rate in the world, with one child in 13 dying before his or her fifth birthday, 15 times higher than in high income countries.
Africa's largest country is Algeria. It is approximately 2,381,741 square kilometers (919,595 square miles) in size.
More Africans have access to cell phone service than piped water and electricity.
Africa has 30% of the world's minerals including 45% of diamonds and 31% of gold.
51% of the world's cocoa comes from Africa.
Half of Africa’s fixed infrastructure stock – roads, railways, ports and "modern" buildings – is found in just four countries: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa.
Egypt is the most popular tourist destination in Africa, it attracts about 10 million visitors per year and it is mostly known for its pyramids.
More than 1,000 different languages are spoken on the continent of Africa.
One quarter of the world's languages are spoken only in Africa.
Africa is the only continent among the seven which touches both the Northern temperate zone and the Southern temperate zone, thanks to its enormous size.
The highest point on the continent is the perpetually snow capped Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895 m/19,340 ft) in Tanzania.
The lowest point in Africa is Lake Assal in Djibouti which lies 155 meters below sea level.
Source Hutchinson Encyclopaedia
More Africans have access to cell phone service than piped water and electricity.
Africa has 30% of the world's minerals including 45% of diamonds and 31% of gold.
51% of the world's cocoa comes from Africa.
Half of Africa’s fixed infrastructure stock – roads, railways, ports and "modern" buildings – is found in just four countries: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa.
Egypt is the most popular tourist destination in Africa, it attracts about 10 million visitors per year and it is mostly known for its pyramids.
More than 1,000 different languages are spoken on the continent of Africa.
One quarter of the world's languages are spoken only in Africa.
Africa is the only continent among the seven which touches both the Northern temperate zone and the Southern temperate zone, thanks to its enormous size.
The highest point on the continent is the perpetually snow capped Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895 m/19,340 ft) in Tanzania.
The lowest point in Africa is Lake Assal in Djibouti which lies 155 meters below sea level.
Source Hutchinson Encyclopaedia
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