East Africa is stated to be the most populated region on the African continent and this article focuses on the top 10 largest countries in East Africa.
With a population of almost 455 million, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan are just a few of the nations in the region whose economies are expanding at the quickest rates in the globe.
- Ethiopia — Area: 1,104,300 km²
- Tanzania — Area: 947,300 km²
- Mozambique — Area: 801,590 km²
- Zambia — Area: 752,618 km²
- South Sudan — Area: 644,329 km²
- Somalia — Area: 637,657 km²
- Madagascar — Area: 587,041 km²
- Kenya — Area: 580,367 km²
- Zimbabwe — Area: 390,757 km²
- Uganda — Area: 241,038 km²
1. Ethiopia — Area: 1,104,300 km²
The Horn of Africa’s landlocked nation of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is number one out of the 10 largest countries in East Africa with a total area of 1,104,300 square kilometers.
With approximately 117 million people living there, Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in Africa after Nigeria and has the seventh largest economy in the continent.
2. Tanzania — Area: 947,300 km²
Tanzania is the second-largest country in East Africa and the thirteenth-largest country in Africa with a total area of 947,300 square kilometers. It is situated in East Africa and is part of the African Great Lakes region.
Also read: Top 10 Richest Countries in East Africa in 2022
3. Mozambique — Area: 801,590 km²
Mozambique ranks third on the list of largest countries in East Africa and the 36th-largest country in the world with an area of 801,537 square kilometers.
The nation has abundant and diverse natural resources at its disposal. The economy of the nation is predominantly dependent on agriculture, but the industry is expanding, especially in the production of food and drinks, chemicals, aluminum, and petroleum.
4. Zambia — Area: 752,618 km²
Sparsely populated Zambia has a tropical climate and is made up primarily of high plateaus with a few hills and mountains, which are divided by river valleys.
Zambia is the fourth-largest nation in East Africa and the 38th-largest nation in the world, with an area of 752,618 square kilometers.
5. South Sudan — Area: 644,329 km²
With an approximate population of 12,778,250 in 2022, South Sudan is a landlocked nation in Central Africa. With a total size of 644,329 km2, the nation is the fifth-largest in East Africa.
Prior to a vote in January 2011, South Sudan was a part of Sudan, which at the time was the largest country in Africa, until July 9, 2011.
6. Somalia — Area: 637,657 km²
With 637,657 square kilometers, Somalia is the sixth largest nation in East Africa and is generally shaped “like a slanted number seven.”
Over 2 million people live in Mogadishu, the nation’s capital and largest city, out of the estimated 15.5 million people that call the Horn of Africa home.
7. Madagascar — Area: 587,041 km²
Across the Mozambique Channel from the coast of East Africa, in the Indian Ocean, is the island nation of Madagascar.
Madagascar, with a total area of 592,800 square kilometers, is the second-largest country mostly made up of islands in the world, behind Indonesia. It is also the seventh largest country in East Africa.
8. Kenya — Area: 580,367 km²
Kenya is the 48th largest country in the world and the eighth largest in East Africa with a total area of 580,367 square kilometers.
Kenya is the 29th most populous nation in the world with a population of over 56 million.
9. Zimbabwe — Area: 390,757 km²
Zimbabwe is a landlocked nation in southern Africa that shares borders with Mozambique to the northeast and east, Botswana to the west and southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and South Africa to the south.
Zimbabwe is the ninth-largest nation in East Africa and the 63rd-largest nation in the world, with a total area of 390,757 square kilometers.
10. Uganda — Area: 241,038 km²
Last on the list of largest countries in East Africa is Uganda, another landlocked nation in the region.
There are about 44 million people living there, 8.5 million of them reside in Kampala, the country’s capital and largest metropolis. The tenth largest country in East Africa, Uganda has a total size of 241,038 square kilometers.
