Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 8%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 92%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; some of
world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities
provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to
April, they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads
and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year,
but are most common between March and August
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
Geographic note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People ———
Population: 1,950,047 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 334,778; female 317,241)
15-64 years: 65% (male 757,535; female 507,064)
65 years and over: 2% (male 18,459; female 14,970) (July 1996 est.)