Population: 7,405,375.

Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%.

Languages: French (official), each tribe has its own language.

Literacy: Total population: 35.9% male: 49.9% female: 21.9%.

Climate: Generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds.

Terrain: Generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior.

Natural resources: Bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish.

Government type: Republic.

National capital: Conakry.

Leader: President Lansana Conte.

Per capita: $950

Industries: Bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries.

Agriculture products: Rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes, cattle, sheep, goats, timber.

Exports: Bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, fish, agricultural products.

Imports: Petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 28,803,085.

Religions: Protestant (including Anglican) 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, other 8%.

Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous languages.

Literacy: Total population : 78.1% male: 86.3% female: 70%.

Climate: Varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior.

Terrain: Low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley, fertile plateau in west.

Natural resources: Gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife.

Government type: Republic.

National capital: Nairobi.

Leader:President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi.

Per capita: $1,400

Industries: Small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), processing agricultural products, oil refining, cement, tourism.

Agriculture products: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs.

Exports: Tea, coffee, petroleum products.

Imports: Machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, iron and steel, raw materials, food and consumer goods.

Transportation:Highways, railways, and airways.

Population: 2,007,814.

Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs.

Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa.

Literacy: Total population: 71.3% male : 81.1% female: 62.3%

Climate: Temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers.

Terrain: Mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains.

Natural resources: Water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals.

Government type: Modified constitutional monarchy.

National capital: Maseru.

Leader: King LETSIE III.

Per capita: $1,860.

Industries: Food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts, construction, tourism.

Agriculture products: Corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley, livestock.

Exports: Clothing, furniture, footwear, machinery and equipment, wool.

Imports: Commodities: corn, clothing, building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products.

Transportation: Highways, Railways, and airways.

Population: 2,602,068.

Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%

Languages: English (official),and about 20 tribal languages.

Agriculture products: Rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats, timber.

Exports: Diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee.

Imports: Mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 5,648,359.

Religions: Sunni Muslim.

Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities.

Literacy: Total population: 76.2% male: 87.9% female: 63%.

Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior.

Terrain: Mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions.

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, gypsum.

Government type: Military dictatorship.

National capital: Tripoli.

Leader: Gen. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi.

Per capita: $6,570.

Industries: Petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement.

Agriculture products: Wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, meat, eggs.

Exports: Crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas.

Imports: Machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods.

Transportation: Highways, railways, and airways.

Population: 14,061,627.

Religions: Indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%.

Languages: French, Malagasy.

Literacy: Total population: 80% male: 88% female : 73%.

Climate: Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south.

Terrain: Narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center.

Natural resources: Graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish.

Government: Republic.

National capital: Antananarivo.

Leader: President Didier Ratsiraka.

Per capita: $880.

Industries: Meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism.

Agricultural products: Coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products.

Exports: Coffee, vanilla, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products.

Imports: Intermediate manufactures, capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, and food.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population:9,609,081.

Religions:Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, traditional indigenous beliefs.

Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally.

Literacy:total population : 56.4% male: 71.9% female: 41.8%.

Climate: Tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November).

Terrain: Narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains.

Natural resources: Limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite.

Government: Multiparty democracy.

National capital: Lilongwe.

Leader: President Bakili Muluzi.

Per capita: $800.

Industries: Tea, tobacco, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods.

Agricultural products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; cattle, goats .

Exports: Tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products.

Imports: Food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment .

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 9,788,904.

Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%.

Languages: French (official), Bambara, numerous African languages.

Literacy: Total population: 31% male: 39.4% female: 23.1%

Climate: Subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February.

Terrain: Mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast.

Natural resources: Gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited.

Government: Republic.

National capital: Bamako.

Leader: President Alpha Oumar Konare.

Per capita: $600.

Industries: Minor local consumer goods production and food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining.

Agricultural products: Cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats.

Exports: Cotton, livestock, gold.

Imports: Machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction materials, petroleum, textiles.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 2,411,317.

Religions: Muslim 100%.

Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official).

Literacy: Total population: 37.7% male: 49.6% female: 26.3%.

Climate: Desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty.

Terrain: Mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills.

Natural resources: Iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate.

Government: Republic.

National capital: Nouakchott

Leader:President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya.

Per capita: $1,200

Industries: Fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum.

Agricultural products: Dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle, sheep, fish products.

Exports: Fish and fish products, iron ore, gold.

Imports: Foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 30,391,423.

Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%.

Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy.

Literacy: Total population: 43.7% male : 56.6% female: 31%.

Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior.

Terrain: Northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains.

Natural resources: Phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt.

Government: Constitutional monarchy.

National capital: Rabat.

Leader: King HASSAN II.

Per capita: $3,260.

Industries: Phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism.

Agricultural products: Barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives, livestock.

Exports: Food and beverages, semiprocessed goods, consumer goods, phosphates.

Imports:capital goods, semiprocessed goods, raw materials, fuel and lubricants, food and beverages, consumer goods.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 18,165,476.

Religions: Indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%.

Languages: Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects.

Literacy: Total population: 40.1% male: 57.7% female: 23.3%.

Climate: Tropical to subtropical.

Terrain: Mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west.

Natural resources: Coal, titanium, natural gas.

Government: Republic.

National capital: Maputo.

Leader:President Joaquim Alberto Chissanoh.

Per capita: $670.

Industries: Food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco.

Agricultural products: Cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits, beef, poultry.

Exports: Shrimp, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra, citrus.

Imports: Food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways,and airways.

Population: 1,727,183

Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least, other Christian denominations 30%, native religions 10% to 20%.

Languages: English (official), Afrikaans is the common language of most of the population and about of the white population, German, Oshivambo, Herero, Nama

Literacy: Total population: 38% male: 45% female: 31%.

Climate: Desert, hot, dry, rainfall sparse and erratic.

Terrain: Mostly high plateau, Namib Desert along coast, Kalahari Desert in east.

Natural resources: Diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish, suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore.

Government: Republic.

National capital: Windhoek.

Leader: President Sam Nujoma.

Per capita: $3,700.

Industries: Meat packing, fish processing, dairy products, mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper).

Agricultural products: Millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish catch potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled.

Exports: Diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins.

Imports: Foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 9,388,859.

Religions: Muslim, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians.

Languages: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians

Literacy: Total population: 13.6% male: 20.9% female: 6.6%.

Climate: Desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south.

Terrain: Predominately desert plains and sand dunes, flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north.

Natural resources: Uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates.

Government: Republic.

National capital: Niamey.

Leader: President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara.

Per capita: $640.

Industries: Cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries, uranium mining.

Agricultural products: Cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats.

Exports: Uranium ore, livestock products, cowpeas, onions.

Imports:consumer goods, primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals.

Transportation:Highways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 107,129,469.

Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%.

Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani.

Literacy: Total population: 57.1% male: 67.3% female: 47.3%.

Climate: Varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north.

Terrain: Southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus, mountains in southeast, plains in north.

Natural resources: Petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas.

Government: Military government.

National capital: Abuja.

Leader: Gen. Sani Abacha.

Per capita: $1,380.

Industries: Crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel.

Agricultural products: Cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, fishing and forest resources extensively exploited.

Exports: Petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber.

Imports: Machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and animals.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 9,403,546.

Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly Roman Catholic).

Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo.

Literacy: Total population : 33.1% male: 43% female: 23.2%.

Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind.

Terrain: Generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast.

Natural resources: Fish, phosphates, iron ore.

Government:: Republic under multiparty democratic rule.

National capital: Dakar.

Leader: President Abdou Diouf.

Per capita: $1,700.

Industries: Agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, petroleum refining, construction materials.

Agricultural products: Peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables, cattle, poultry, pigs, fish.

Exports: Fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton.

Imports: Foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods, petroleum products.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 4,891,546.

Religions: Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%.

Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (south), Temne (north), Krio.

Literacy: Total population: 31.4% male: 45.4% female: 18.2%.

Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April).

Terrain: Coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east.

Natural resources: Diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite.

Government: Constitutional democracy.

National capital: Freetown.

Leader: President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

Per capita: $980.

Industries: Mining (diamonds, bauxite, rutile); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining.

Agricultural products: Rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs, fish.

Exports: Rutile, diamonds, bauxite, coffee, cocoa, fish.

Imports: Foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 6,590,325.

Religions: Religions: Sunni Muslim.

Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English.

Literacy: Total population: 24% male: 36% female: 14%.

Climate: Principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons.

Terrain: Mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north.

Natural resources: Uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt.

Government: None.

National capital: Mogadishu.

Leader: None

Per capita: $500.

Industries: A few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down).

Agricultural products: Bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane, cattle, sheep, goats, fishing potential largely unexploited.

Exports: Bananas, live animals, fish, hides.

Imports: Manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials.

Transportation: Highways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 32,594,128.

Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum).

Languages:Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English.

Literacy: Total population: 46.1% male: 57.7% female: 34.6%.

Climate: Tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October).

Terrain: Generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west.

Natural resources: Petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold.

Government: Transitional - previously ruling military junta.

National capital: Khartoum

Leader: President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir.

Per capita: $860.

Industries: Cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining.

Agricultural products: Cotton, groundnuts, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sesame, sheep.

Exports: Cotton, livestock/meat, gum arabic, sesame.

Imports: Foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles.

Transportation: Highways, railways, waterways, and airways.

Population: 1,031,600.

Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%.

Languages: English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official).

Literacy:total population: 76.7% male : 78% female: 75.6%.

Climate: Varies from tropical to near temperate.

Terrain: Mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains.

Natural resources: Asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc.

Government: Monarchy.

National capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative).

Leader: King MSWATI III.

Per capita: $3,800.

Industries: Mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates.

Agricultural products: Sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep.

Exports: Soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn.

Imports: Motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals.

Transportation: Highways, railways,and airways.