Natural resources: abundant hydroelectric potential; significant
deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal,
oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth,
lead, and zinc
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: NEGL%
meadows and pastures: 42%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 51%
Irrigated land: 10,320 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: water pollution; many people get their water
directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result,
water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from
faulty irrigation practices
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: landlocked
People ———
Population: 4,529,648 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 847,859; female 828,889)
15-64 years: 57% (male 1,263,044; female 1,312,040)
65 years and over: 6% (male 100,524; female 177,292) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.07% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 26.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)