Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active
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 species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
Environment—international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—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: 405,748 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 92,721; female 91,083)
15-64 years: 49% (male 92,658; female 104,264)
65 years and over: 6% (male 9,936; female 15,086) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.44% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 33.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.78 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)