Africa

Africa is the second largest continent in the world. It has 54 countries, more than any other continent. Africa is home to the Sahara Desert, the Nile River, and amazing wildlife. It is where human life first began millions of years ago.

Land and People

About 1.4 billion people live in Africa. The Sahara Desert in the north is the largest hot desert on Earth. The Congo rainforest is the second largest in the world. Africa has huge savannas where lions, elephants, and giraffes roam.

Map showing the old Ghana Empire in West Africa.
Map showing the old Ghana Empire in West Africa. (Luxo / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

Africa has over 2,000 languages, more than any other continent. Music and dance are a big part of life across the continent. Africa gave the world jazz, blues, and many other music styles. The earliest human fossils were found in East Africa.

Fun Facts

  • Africa is where the first humans evolved millions of years ago.
  • The Sahara Desert is about the same size as the entire United States.
  • Africa has over 2,000 languages spoken across the continent.

Did You Know?

All humans originally came from Africa. The oldest human fossils ever found, dating back millions of years, were discovered in East Africa. From there, early humans spread to every other continent on Earth.