Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 6%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 85%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: overgrazing of livestock and improper land use such
as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion;
demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation;
desertification; environmental damage has threatened several
indigenous species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure
visibility; volcanically and seismically active
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of
Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications
station; important sea and air refueling site
People ———
Population: 449,066 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 50% (male 114,206; female 110,276)
15-64 years: 46% (male 90,593; female 117,485)
65 years and over: 4% (male 6,450; female 10,056) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.93% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.29 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)