West Africa Map Quiz — The Hardest Region in Africa
West Africa is widely considered the most difficult region in all Africa map quizzes. Sixteen countries are packed along the Gulf of Guinea coastline and Sahel interior — many with similar sizes, shapes, and positions. This free online West Africa geography quiz is the definitive test of your Sub-Saharan Africa knowledge.
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16 questions · 3:00
West Africa Coastal Countries: South to North Order
Along the Gulf of Guinea coast from west to east: Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria. Remembering this coastal order is the foundation of acing any West Africa map quiz. Then add the inland Sahel countries: Senegal/Gambia (northwest), Mali (large central), Burkina Faso (south-central), Niger (northeast), Mauritania (far northwest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries are in West Africa? ▾
The 16 West African countries are: Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Cape Verde (island nation offshore). Nigeria is by far the largest by population (220 million).
What is the difference between Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea? ▾
These three countries with similar names are distinct nations: Guinea is on the West African coast between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone, with capital Conakry. Guinea-Bissau is a small country to Guinea's northwest, with capital Bissau. Equatorial Guinea is in Central Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, not in West Africa at all.
What is The Gambia? ▾
The Gambia is Africa's smallest mainland country, a narrow strip of land on both sides of the Gambia River, almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. It is one of the most unusual shapes of any country in the world and easy to miss on a West Africa map quiz.
What is the most populous country in West Africa? ▾
Nigeria is the most populous country in West Africa and in all of Africa, with approximately 220 million people as of 2024. It is also Africa's largest economy. Lagos, Nigeria is Africa's most populous city with over 15 million inhabitants.