The vast majority of these slaves came from West and Central Africa, with a small number coming from East and Southern Africa.
The largest group of slaves came from the Bight of Benin (present-day Nigeria, Benin, and Togo), which accounted for over 20% of all slaves.
Other major regions of origin included Senegambia (present-day Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea), the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana), and the Windward Coast (present-day Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire).
The majority of slaves were men, who were used for labor in agriculture, mining, and other industries.
Women were often used as domestic servants or concubines.
Children were sometimes sold separately from their parents and used for labor or as house servants.
The Atlantic slave trade had a devastating impact on Africa, both demographically and economically.
The loss of so many people to slavery led to a decline in the population of some African regions, and the disruption of trade and commerce caused widespread economic hardship.
The Atlantic slave trade also had a profound impact on the Americas, where it shaped the development of the plantation economy and the institution of slavery.