The 16 West African Countries, Their Language And Population

1. Benin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire)

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

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

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

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

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

Language: English

Population: 175 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

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

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

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.

CREDIT: Listwand.com