Environment—current issues: soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography—note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed
People
Population: 5,735,937 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,349,995; female 1,345,201)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,392,880; female 1,479,835)
65 years and over: 3% (male 69,748; female 98,278) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.54% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)