Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains lowest point: Asal -155 m highest point: Mousa Alli 2,028 m
Natural resources: geothermal areas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 9%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 91%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification
natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic
disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping
lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into
Ethiopia; a vast wasteland
People ———
Population: 427,642 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 91,687; female 91,242)
15-64 years: 55% (male 123,699; female 110,530)
65 years and over: 2% (male 5,389; female 5,095) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.5% (1996 est.)