Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30,300,000 km² (11,700,000 mi²) including adjacent islands, it covers 5.9% of the Earth's total surface area, and 20.3% of the total land area.Sayre, April Pulley. (1999) Africa, Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN 0-7613-1367-2. With more than 840,000,000 people (as of 2005) in 61 territories, it accounts for more than 12% of the world's human population.

Etymology

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The name Africa came into Western use through the Romans, who used the name Africa terra — "land of the Afri" (plural, or "Afer" singular) — for the northern part of the continent, as the province of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern-day Tunisia.

The Afri were a tribe — possibly Berber — who dwelt in North Africa in the Carthage area. The origin of Afer may be connected with Phoenician `afar, dust (also found in most other Semitic languages). Some other etymologies that have been postulated for the ancient name 'Africa' that are much more debatable include:

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Daily Photo added to Photo-Africa. Check out 'African Sunset' http://www.photo-africa.com #photog #africa #sunset #travel
gerryvanderwalt (Gerry van der Walt) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:18:57 -0000
Daily Photo added to Photo-Africa. Check out 'African Sunset' http://www.photo-africa.com #photog #africa #sunset #travel
Benin, West Africa: Africa Mercy Community meeting is taking place. Rachael Yangus is speaking.
mercyshipsbrian (Brian Blackburn) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:18:31 -0000
Benin, West Africa: Africa Mercy Community meeting is taking place. Rachael Yangus is speaking.
Backgrounder: China-Africa Cooperation Forum - #Xinhua - http://bit.ly/kVEjx #china #news #africa #economics #egypt
NCUSCR_News (Natl Commte US-China) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:17:40 -0000
Backgrounder: China-Africa Cooperation Forum - #Xinhua - http://bit.ly/kVEjx #china #news #africa #economics #egypt
IPS: Q&A: Put the New Women's Agency in Africa: UNITED NATIONS, Nov 5 (IPS) - On Sep. 14, the United Nations (UN) G... http://bit.ly/35O2Lt
headlinenews (Headline News) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:17:35 -0000
IPS: Q&A: Put the New Women's Agency in Africa: UNITED NATIONS, Nov 5 (IPS) - On Sep. 14, the United Nations (UN) G... http://bit.ly/35O2Lt
The rise of mobile cash transfer in Africa - Safaricom’s M-pesa still dominates the market. http://is.gd/4O7UQ
marinamann (marinamann) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:16:51 -0000
The rise of mobile cash transfer in Africa - Safaricom’s M-pesa still dominates the market. http://is.gd/4O7UQ
@ScottMcGrory I'm sure Bike rage is never an issue..lol ...(re interview w/ Casey Munro South Africa Story) http://www.ozcycling.com/home
MulloLive (Live Cycling Webcast) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:16:27 -0000
@ScottMcGrory I'm sure Bike rage is never an issue..lol ...(re interview w/ Casey Munro South Africa Story) http://www.ozcycling.com/home

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