Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries: total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

Coastline: 56 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 30 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic Baumann 986 m

Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble

Land use: arable land : 38% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 17% other : 34% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1993 est.)