THE 10 LEAST POPULATED COUNTRIES IN AFRICA

Africa’s population, estimated at 1.111 billion in 2013, is cited in just about every news story about the continent. Its most populous country, Nigeria, is projected to have 182 million inhabitants by 2015. By contrast, Africa’s least populated countries are almost anomalies. Here are 10 of the least populated countries in Africa.

1. Swaziland, Population 1,267,704

Swaziland is a sovereign state that has grown significantly in population since 2007, when it had an estimated 1,106,000 people. Most of the residents are ethnic Swazis, and their language is Siswati. There is a small percentage of Zulu and white Africans living in Swaziland.

2. Djibouti, Population 886,313

Djibouti sits in the Horn of Africa and is a very small country in area, measuring around 8,880 square miles. Only one city in the country has a population of more than 50,000. The predominant religion is Islam, and the main ethnic groups are Somali and Afar. There is a small community of French and Italian Europeans. This population estimate is from 2014.

3. Réunion, Population 870,332

Réunion is a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. As such, the residents have the same rights as those living on the French mainland. There are several ethnic groups including African, Indian, Malagasy, European and Chinese but there are no indigenous residents because it was originally a deserted island before being colonized by the Portuguese. This population estimate is from 2014.

4. Comoros, Population 752,438

Comoros is an archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean and is the third smallest African country in terms of land. That also makes it one of the most densely populated countries in the world with about 275 people per 710 square miles. The majority of the residents are of African-Arab descent.

5. Western Sahara, Population 605,971

The Western Sahara is mostly under Moroccan control, but it is a disputed territory with the Saharawis (desert nomads living in the region) looking to claim it. The main language is Arabic, and the main religion is Islam. It’s a phosphate-rich area and believed to have oil deposits off shore. This population estimate is from 2014.

6. Cape Verde, Population 514,000

Cape Verde is an archipelago country made up of 10 volcanic islands. About 25 percent of the country’s residents live in the capital, and around 35 percent live in rural areas. Most Cape Verde residents are of mixed black and white descent, with West Africans making up about 56 percent of the resident’s genetic makeup and Europeans making up about 44 percent. This population estimate is from 2014.

7. Mayotte, Population 221,498

Mayotte is an overseas department of France that sits in the Mozambique Channel. The majority of Mayotte residents were born in Mayotte. Some were born in other parts of the French Republic and nearly 30 percent are from the nearby island nation of Comoros, which is why one of the native languages is a Comorian language similar to Swahili. This population estimate is from 2014.

8. Sāo Tomé and Príncipe, Population 197,882

Sāo Tomé and Príncipe is in the Gulf of Guinea and is the second-smallest African nation after Seychelles. The island nation is made of two archipelagos, both of which are part of inactive volcanic mountains. The demographics of the country are very mixed. Citizens are descendants of slaves brought in by Portuguese settlers from various countries. This population estimate is from 2014.

9. Seychelles, Population 93,306

Seychelles is an archipelago made up of 155 islands, but nearly 90 percent of its citizens live on the island of Mahé. Seychelles is a part of the African Union and has the smallest population of any African country. Seychelles culture is mostly French and African, with the local language being a creole language. This population estimate is from the end of 2014.

10. Saint Helena, Population 4,107

The U.N. classify this tropical island as part of West Africa, however it is part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and waves a British flag. The island measures 10 miles by five miles and most of its inhabitants are of European or Chinese descent. This population estimate is from 2014.