Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds,
gold, silver, uranium, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 47%
forest and woodland: 27%
other: 19%
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral
extraction and refining region; poaching seriously threatens
rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human
health risks
natural hazards: tropical storms (November to April)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification
Geographic note: landlocked
People ———
Population: 9,159,072 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 49% (male 2,272,981; female 2,244,403)
15-64 years: 48% (male 2,157,106; female 2,256,935)
65 years and over: 3% (male 110,433; female 117,214) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.11% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.73 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)