THIS week, the world commemorated Africa Day. Africa Day is celebrated on May 25 every year. In this article, we look at a few facts and statistics that show just how incredible Africa really is.

Number of countries

There are 54 internationally recognised countries in Africa, in addition to the disputed territories of Somaliland and Western Sahara. The largest African country in terms of area is Algeria, while the smallest is the island nation of the Seychelles.

Tallest mountain

The tallest mountain in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. With a total height of 5 895 meters, it is also the highest free-standing mountain in the world. It is capped by a year-round glacier and can be climbed by anyone of reasonable fitness.

Lowest depression

The lowest point on the African continent is Lake Assal, located in the Afar Triangle in Djibouti. It lies 155 meters below sea level and is the third-lowest point on earth (behind the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee). Largest desert

The Sahara Desert is the largest in Africa and the largest hot desert.

It spreads across approximately 9,2 million square kilometres, making it comparable in size to China. Longest river

The Nile is the longest river in Africa and the longest river globally. It runs for 6 853 kilometres through 11 countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda. It comprises two major tributaries: the Blue Nile and the White Nile.

Largest Lake Africa's largest lake is Lake Victoria, which borders Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. It has a surface area of 68 800 square kilometres and is also the world's largest tropical lake and the world's second-largest freshwater lake by surface area.

Largest Waterfall

Also known as The Smoke That Thunders, Africa's largest waterfall is Victoria Falls. Located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the waterfall measures 1 708 meters wide and 108 meters tall. It is the largest sheet of falling water in the world.

Tallest waterfall

The tallest waterfall in Africa is Tugela Falls, located in South Africa's Drakensberg Mountains. It is made up of five individual free-leaping falls, and with an official height of 948 meters, it is also the second-tallest waterfall in the world.

Oldest African tribe

The San people are the oldest tribe in Africa and the direct descendants of the first Homo Sapiens. They have lived in southern African countries like Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Angola for over 20 000 years.

Most populated country

Nigeria is the most populous African country (and the seventh-most populous globally), providing a home for over 200 million people. Nigerians account for roughly 17% of the continent's entire population. Africa's most populous city, Lagos, is also in Nigeria.

Least populated country

The Seychelles has the lowest population of any country in Africa, with around 98 000 people, 25% of which live in the capital, Victoria. However, Namibia is the least densely populated African country, with large areas of desert making much of the country uninhabitable.

Most popular religion

Christianity is the most popular religion in Africa. It is estimated that by 2025, there will be approximately 633 million Christians in Africa. Islam runs a close second: a quarter of the world's Muslims live in Africa and it is the most prevalent religion north of the Sahara Desert.