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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RT @cgbernstein: Pageant girl will be representing "the country of Africa." Next up, geopolitical lessons. #ToddlersAndTiaras
fatyana (Fatima Khawaja) Thu, 17 May 2012 02:37:58 -0000
RT @cgbernstein: Pageant girl will be representing "the country of Africa." Next up, geopolitical lessons. #ToddlersAndTiaras
RT @GarySinise: Check out the recent Operation International Children school supply distribution in Djibouti Africa. go to: http://t.co/nydR8slD
god101348 (神無月) Thu, 17 May 2012 02:37:53 -0000
RT @GarySinise: Check out the recent Operation International Children school supply distribution in Djibouti Africa. go to: http://t.co/nydR8slD
"She will be representing the country of Africa." #toddlersandtiaras #geographylesson
ILoveMamaLlamas (Becky Cofta) Thu, 17 May 2012 02:37:53 -0000
"She will be representing the country of Africa." #toddlersandtiaras #geographylesson
@PassioniiQue hey i have clothes you can take to africa
ChEerpuB (TheeQueenofEgypt{!}) Thu, 17 May 2012 02:37:52 -0000
@PassioniiQue hey i have clothes you can take to africa
#toddlersandtiaras tonight is annoying. First off Portugal is not Spain and the Africa you represent is a continent not a country. Meh.
tiffanymondesir (tiffanymondesir) Thu, 17 May 2012 02:37:51 -0000
#toddlersandtiaras tonight is annoying. First off Portugal is not Spain and the Africa you represent is a continent not a country. Meh.
Summer training is going to hurt... the States, Europe, Africa - serious new horizons! ;-)
iamkandu (KGN) Thu, 17 May 2012 02:37:51 -0000
Summer training is going to hurt... the States, Europe, Africa - serious new horizons! ;-)

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