Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc,
salt
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 10%
meadows and pastures: 19%
forest and woodland: 4%
other: 47%
Irrigated land: 2,750 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective
and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage;
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; desertification
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation
Geographic note: strategic location in central Mediterranean
People ———
Population: 9,019,687 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 1,583,636; female 1,489,784)
15-64 years: 61% (male 2,738,013; female 2,719,998)
65 years and over: 5% (male 254,403; female 233,853) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.81% (1996 est.)