Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north,
south
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
Natural resources: hydropower potential, tin, phosphates, iron
ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 40%
forest and woodland: 47%
other: 7%
Irrigated land: 1,530 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification;
destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent
droughts affected marginal agriculture
natural hazards: the tsetse fly and lack of water limit agriculture;
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification
Geographic note: Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
People ———
Population: 29,058,470 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 6,536,911; female 6,576,752)
15-64 years: 52% (male 7,360,370; female 7,739,500)
65 years and over: 3% (male 396,128; female 448,809) (July 1996 est.)