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Islands in Africa Ranked by Population

Islands recorded in Wikidata, ranked by Population. Only items Wikidata places in Africa (directly or through their country) are included. Source: Wikidata (CC0 1.0 (public domain)).

Summary

Madagascar ranks #1 with 26 million people. That is 21 times Mauritius Island in second place (1.22 million people). The top five are Madagascar, Mauritius Island, Unguja, Réunion and Gran Canaria. The median across all 50 is 16,304 people; La Digue is last at 2,200 people.

#1
Madagascar · 26 million people
Median
16,304 people
Coverage
50 islands in Africa
Data year
As recorded in Wikidata
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: PopulationBar chart of the top 10: 1. Madagascar 26 million; 2. Mauritius Island 1.22 million; 3. Unguja 896,721; 4. Réunion 889,679; 5. Gran Canaria 863,943; 6. Pemba Island 406,808; 7. Bioko 334,463; 8. Santiago 290,000; 9. Madeira Island 254,368; 10. São Tomé Island 185,000.Madagascar26 millionMauritius Island1.22 millionUnguja896,721Réunion889,679Gran Canaria863,943Pemba Island406,808Bioko334,463Santiago290,000Madeira Island254,368São Tomé Island185,000
Top 10: Population (people). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Madagascar 26 million; 2. Mauritius Island 1.22 million; 3. Unguja 896,721; 4. Réunion 889,679; 5. Gran Canaria 863,943; 6. Pemba Island 406,808; 7. Bioko 334,463; 8. Santiago 290,000; 9. Madeira Island 254,368; 10. São Tomé Island 185,000.

Full ranking

Islands in Africa Ranked by Population
RankIslandLocationPopulation (people)
1MadagascarMadagascar26,000,000
2Mauritius IslandMauritius1,220,000
3UngujaTanzania896,721
4RéunionFrance889,679
5Gran CanariaSpain863,943
6Pemba IslandTanzania406,808
7BiokoEquatorial Guinea334,463
8SantiagoCabo Verde290,000
9Madeira IslandPortugal254,368
10São Tomé IslandSão Tomé and Principe185,000
11DjerbaTunisia175,820
12LanzaroteSpain163,467
13Mombasa IslandKenya146,334
14FuerteventuraSpain127,043
15São VicenteCabo Verde83,467
16MahéSeychelles77,000
17Santo AntãoCabo Verde47,124
18Sherbro IslandSierra Leone44,991
19RodriguesMauritius41,669
20Mafia IslandTanzania40,801
21Geziret el-DahabEgypt, Arab Rep.40,430
22FogoCabo Verde38,600
23SalCabo Verde35,267
24LoogSenegal26,796
25Nosy BorahaMadagascar16,325
26Mfangano IslandKenya16,282
27Island of MozambiqueMozambique14,000
28Ukara IslandTanzania13,460
29São NicolauCabo Verde12,700
30Boa VistaCabo Verde12,000
31CaravelaGuinea-Bissau10,510
32Likoma IslandMalawi10,440
33Île de GuiorSenegal10,000
34TumbatuTanzania9,480
35FadiouthSenegal9,000
36PraslinSeychelles8,449
37PríncipeSão Tomé and Principe7,344
38MaioCabo Verde6,812
39Bolama IslandGuinea-Bissau6,024
40BravaCabo Verde5,638
41Annobón IslandEquatorial Guinea5,232
42InhacaMozambique5,216
43BubaqueGuinea-Bissau4,484
44Diego GarciaUnited Kingdom4,202
45Saint Helenarealm of the United Kingdom3,924
46UnoGuinea-Bissau3,324
47Mar LodjSenegal3,270
48Chizumulu IslandMalawi3,000
49RoxaGuinea-Bissau3,000
50La DigueSeychelles2,200

About the top 10

#10 São Tomé Island

São Tomé Island ranks #10 on this list with 185,000 people.

Country
São Tomé and Principe
Length
48 km
Elevation
2,024 m
Area
855 km²

Full island profile

Profile facts: Wikidata (CC0).

Related rankings

Source and method

Islands recorded in Wikidata, ranked by Population. Only items Wikidata places in Africa (directly or through their country) are included.

Source: Wikidata. Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain). Retrieved: 2026-11-14.

Data: Wikidata (CC0)

Values are shown as published. Provider terms: Wikidata. All licences: Sources & licences.