Rank code: 2031
Country Comparison :: Airports - with unpaved runways
This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control. The type aircraft capable of operating from a runway of a given length is dependent upon a number of factors including elevation of the runway, runway gradient, average maximum daily temperature at the airport, engine types, flap settings, and take-off weight of the aircraft.
Rank country Airports - with unpaved runwaysDate of Information
1 United States 9,921.00 2009 2 United States 8,000.00 2009 3 Brazil 3,279.00 2009 4 United States 1,757.00 2009 5 Brazil 1,645.00 2009 6 Brazil 1,547.00 2009 7 Mexico 1,498.00 2009 8 European Union 1,396.00 2009 9 European Union 1,110.00 2009 10 Mexico 1,005.00 2009 11 Argentina 974.00 2009 12 Bolivia 936.00 2009 13 Colombia 876.00 2009 14 Canada 873.00 2009 15 Paraguay 784.00 2009 16 Bolivia 687.00 2009 17 Russia 621.00 2009 18 Colombia 612.00 2009 19 Papua New Guinea 539.00 2009 20 Argentina 522.00 2009 21 Indonesia 519.00 2009 22 Indonesia 489.00 2009 23 Paraguay 470.00 2009 24 Papua New Guinea 467.00 2009 25 South Africa 459.00 2009 26 Russia 453.00 2009 27 Canada 427.00 2009 28 Mexico 426.00 2009 29 Argentina 406.00 2009 30 Canada 373.00 2009 31 Guatemala 358.00 2009 32 Ecuador 317.00 2009 33 South Africa 298.00 2009 34 Paraguay 289.00 2009 35 Ecuador 279.00 2009 36 Chile 276.00 2009 37 Venezuela 275.00 2009 38 Guatemala 270.00 2009 39 European Union 257.00 2009 40 Ukraine 236.00 2009 41 Colombia 228.00 2009 42 Germany 220.00 2009 43 Ukraine 214.00 2009 44 Chile 212.00 2009 45 United Kingdom 199.00 2009 46 Zimbabwe 196.00 2009 47 Bolivia 186.00 2009 48 Germany 184.00 2009 49 Iran 183.00 2009 50 France 178.00 2009 51 United Kingdom 173.00 2009 52 Philippines 169.00 2009 53 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 168.00 2009 54 Kenya 165.00 2009 55 Angola 162.00 2009 56 United States 158.00 2009 57 Venezuela 155.00 2009 58 Peru 144.00 2009 59 Australia 139.00 2009 60 Iran 139.00 2009 61 Saudi Arabia 137.00 2009 62 Nicaragua 132.00 2009 63 South Africa 125.00 2009 64 Zimbabwe 119.00 2009 65 Oman 118.00 2009 66 Tanzania 116.00 2009 67 Nicaragua 115.00 2009 68 Costa Rica 113.00 2009 69 Australia 110.00 2009 70 Namibia 108.00 2009 71 France 107.00 2009 72 Kenya 105.00 2009 73 Venezuela 103.00 2009 74 Sudan 102.00 2009 75 India 99.00 2009 76 Philippines 99.00 2009 77 Sweden 97.00 2009 78 Costa Rica 94.00 2009 79 Honduras 94.00 2009 80 Iceland 93.00 2009 81 Sweden 92.00 2009 82 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 90.00 2009 83 Guyana 89.00 2009 84 Zambia 88.00 2009 85 Brazil 87.00 2009 86 Algeria 86.00 2009 87 Guatemala 84.00 2009 88 Russia 84.00 2009 89 Mozambique 82.00 2009 90 Bulgaria 80.00 2009 91 Malaysia 80.00 2009 92 New Zealand 79.00 2009 93 Peru 79.00 2009 94 Angola 78.00 2009 95 Libya 78.00 2009 96 Czech Republic 78.00 2009 97 Honduras 77.00 2009 98 Syria 75.00 2009 99 Guyana 74.00 2009 100 Zimbabwe 74.00 2009 101 Bulgaria 73.00 2009 102 Namibia 73.00 2009 103 Malaysia 73.00 2009 104 Finland 73.00 2009 105 Canada 73.00 2009 106 Saudi Arabia 72.00 2009 107 Cuba 71.00 2009 108 Finland 70.00 2009 109 France 70.00 2009 110 Botswana 68.00 2009 111 Russia 68.00 2009 112 Philippines 66.00 2009 113 Mexico 65.00 2009 114 Zambia 65.00 2009 115 Denmark 64.00 2009 116 Iceland 63.00 2009 117 Panama 63.00 2009 118 Papua New Guinea 63.00 2009 119 Tanzania 63.00 2009 120 Madagascar 62.00 2009 121 Denmark 61.00 2009 122 El Salvador 61.00 2009 123 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 59.00 2009 124 Syria 59.00 2009 125 Bolivia 58.00 2009 126 Cuba 58.00 2009 127 Spain 58.00 2009 128 China 57.00 2009 129 Sudan 56.00 2009 130 Lithuania 55.00 2009 131 Botswana 54.00 2009 132 Oman 52.00 2009 133 Somalia 52.00 2009 134 Lithuania 51.00 2009 135 Panama 51.00 2009 136 Chile 50.00 2009 137 Czech Republic 50.00 2009 138 Kenya 50.00 2009 139 Uruguay 48.00 2009 140 El Salvador 47.00 2009 141 India 47.00 2009 142 Pakistan 47.00 2009 143 Angola 46.00 2009 144 Ethiopia 46.00 2009 145 Chad 46.00 2009 146 Croatia 45.00 2009 147 Suriname 45.00 2009 148 New Zealand 45.00 2009 149 Argentina 44.00 2009 150 Korea, South 44.00 2009 151 India 42.00 2009 152 Korea, South 42.00 2009 153 Korea, North 42.00 2009 154 Algeria 41.00 2009 155 Libya 41.00 2009 156 Saudi Arabia 41.00 2009 157 Thailand 41.00 2009 158 Poland 41.00 2009 159 Belize 40.00 2009 160 Burma 40.00 2009 161 Suriname 40.00 2009 162 Bahamas, The 39.00 2009 163 Mozambique 39.00 2009 164 Spain 39.00 2009 165 Peru 39.00 2009 166 Madagascar 39.00 2009 167 Central African Republic 38.00 2009 168 Ecuador 38.00 2009 169 Croatia 37.00 2009 170 Yemen 37.00 2009 171 Nepal 36.00 2009 172 Afghanistan 35.00 2009 173 Colombia 35.00 2009 174 Solomon Islands 34.00 2009 175 Tanzania 34.00 2009 176 South Africa 34.00 2009 177 Germany 33.00 2009 178 Oman 33.00 2009 179 Mozambique 33.00 2009 180 Iran 33.00 2009 181 Angola 32.00 2009 182 Japan 32.00 2009 183 Kazakhstan 32.00 2009 184 Laos 32.00 2009 185 Gabon 31.00 2009 186 New Zealand 31.00 2009 187 Norway 31.00 2009 188 Italy 31.00 2009 189 Mongolia 31.00 2009 190 Liberia 31.00 2009 191 Austria 30.00 2009 192 Uganda 30.00 2009 193 Nepal 30.00 2009 194 Belarus 30.00 2009 195 Iraq 29.00 2009 196 Japan 28.00 2009 197 Romania 28.00 2009 198 Sudan 28.00 2009 199 Vanuatu 28.00 2009 200 Belize 27.00 2009 201 Thailand 27.00 2009 202 Iceland 27.00 2009 203 Czech Republic 27.00 2009 204 Austria 26.00 2009 205 Morocco 26.00 2009 206 Hungary 26.00 2009 207 Malawi 26.00 2009 208 China 26.00 2009 209 Antarctica 25.00 2009 210 Solomon Islands 25.00 2009 211 Cameroon 25.00 2009 212 Belarus 25.00 2009 213 Uruguay 25.00 2009 214 Paraguay 25.00 2009 215 Norway 25.00 2009 216 Oman 25.00 2009 217 Indonesia 25.00 2009 218 European Union 24.00 2009 219 Mongolia 24.00 2009 220 Pakistan 24.00 2009 221 Burkina Faso 24.00 2009 222 Peru 24.00 2009 223 Fiji 24.00 2009 224 Algeria 23.00 2009 225 Ethiopia 23.00 2009 226 Burma 23.00 2009 227 Latvia 23.00 2009 228 Lesotho 23.00 2009 229 Switzerland 23.00 2009 230 Switzerland 23.00 2009 231 Somalia 23.00 2009 232 Vanuatu 23.00 2009 233 Latvia 23.00 2009 234 Bahamas, The 22.00 2009 235 Portugal 22.00 2009 236 United Kingdom 22.00 2009 237 Namibia 22.00 2009 238 Ireland 22.00 2009 239 Cote d'Ivoire 21.00 2009 240 Uzbekistan 21.00 2009 241 Romania 21.00 2009 242 Portugal 21.00 2009 243 Madagascar 21.00 2009 244 Laos 21.00 2009 245 Chad 20.00 2009 246 Poland 20.00 2009 247 Uruguay 20.00 2009 248 Ireland 20.00 2009 249 Algeria 19.00 2009 250 Uzbekistan 19.00 2009 251 Tanzania 19.00 2009 252 Somalia 19.00 2009 253 Italy 19.00 2009 254 Fiji 19.00 2009 255 Dominican Republic 19.00 2009 256 Costa Rica 19.00 2009 257 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 19.00 2009 258 Congo, Republic of the 19.00 2009 259 Bosnia and Herzegovina 18.00 2009 260 Zambia 18.00 2009 261 Lesotho 18.00 2009 262 Niger 18.00 2009 263 Nigeria 18.00 2009 264 Sudan 18.00 2009 265 Serbia 18.00 2009 266 Mauritania 18.00 2009 267 Liberia 18.00 2009 268 United Arab Emirates 17.00 2009 269 Spain 17.00 2009 270 Libya 17.00 2009 271 Korea, North 17.00 2009 272 Israel 17.00 2009 273 Dominican Republic 17.00 2009 274 Central African Republic 17.00 2009 275 Australia 17.00 2009 276 Afghanistan 16.00 2009 277 Cameroon 16.00 2009 278 Saudi Arabia 16.00 2009 279 Tunisia 16.00 2009 280 Venezuela 16.00 2009 281 Nicaragua 16.00 2009 282 Belgium 16.00 2009 283 Belgium 15.00 2009 284 Uganda 15.00 2009 285 Syria 15.00 2009 286 Poland 15.00 2009 287 Malawi 15.00 2009 288 Slovakia 15.00 2009 289 Kiribati 15.00 2009 290 Jamaica 15.00 2009 291 Jamaica 15.00 2009 292 Honduras 15.00 2009 293 Gabon 14.00 2009 294 Israel 14.00 2009 295 Greece 14.00 2009 296 Guyana 14.00 2009 297 Korea, North 14.00 2009 298 Yemen 14.00 2009 299 Niger 14.00 2009 300 Mali 14.00 2009 301 Libya 14.00 2009 302 Chad 13.00 2009 303 Iraq 13.00 2009 304 China 13.00 2009 305 Nigeria 13.00 2009 306 Thailand 13.00 2009 307 Swaziland 13.00 2009 308 Burkina Faso 13.00 2009 309 Russia 13.00 2009 310 New Caledonia 13.00 2009 311 Cuba 13.00 2009 312 Kazakhstan 13.00 2009 313 El Salvador 13.00 2009 314 Egypt 13.00 2009 315 Australia 12.00 2009 316 Belize 12.00 2009 317 Ukraine 12.00 2009 318 Turkey 12.00 2009 319 Puerto Rico 12.00 2009 320 Pakistan 12.00 2009 321 Guinea 12.00 2009 322 Greece 12.00 2009 323 Chile 12.00 2009 324 Central African Republic 12.00 2009 325 Burma 12.00 2009 326 Bahamas, The 12.00 2009 327 Cambodia 11.00 2009 328 Kiribati 11.00 2009 329 Namibia 11.00 2009 330 Marshall Islands 11.00 2009 331 Panama 11.00 2009 332 Pakistan 11.00 2009 333 Kyrgyzstan 11.00 2009 334 Chad 11.00 2009 335 Hungary 11.00 2009 336 Italy 11.00 2009 337 Cote d'Ivoire 11.00 2009 338 Gabon 11.00 2009 339 Ethiopia 11.00 2009 340 Botswana 10.00 2009 341 Slovenia 10.00 2009 342 Puerto Rico 10.00 2009 343 Marshall Islands 10.00 2009 344 Morocco 10.00 2009 345 Malawi 10.00 2009 346 Kenya 10.00 2009 347 Hungary 10.00 2009 348 Haiti 10.00 2009 349 Eritrea 10.00 2009 350 Djibouti 10.00 2009 351 China 10.00 2009 352 Congo, Republic of the 10.00 2009 353 Bosnia and Herzegovina 10.00 2009 354 Afghanistan 9.00 2009 355 Ethiopia 9.00 2009 356 Yemen 9.00 2009 357 Senegal 9.00 2009 358 Serbia 9.00 2009 359 Papua New Guinea 9.00 2009 360 Mozambique 9.00 2009 361 Laos 9.00 2009 362 Kyrgyzstan 9.00 2009 363 Iran 9.00 2009 364 Antarctica 9.00 2009 365 Cambodia 9.00 2009 366 Solomon Islands 8.00 2009 367 Liberia 8.00 2009 368 Morocco 8.00 2009 369 Uganda 8.00 2009 370 Tajikistan 8.00 2009 371 Sierra Leone 8.00 2009 372 Saudi Arabia 8.00 2009 373 Serbia 8.00 2009 374 New Caledonia 8.00 2009 375 Mauritania 8.00 2009 376 Mauritania 8.00 2009 377 Slovakia 8.00 2009 378 Korea, North 8.00 2009 379 Central African Republic 8.00 2009 380 India 8.00 2009 381 Haiti 8.00 2009 382 Cook Islands 8.00 2009 383 Congo, Republic of the 8.00 2009 384 Azerbaijan 7.00 2009 385 Swaziland 7.00 2009 386 Vietnam 7.00 2009 387 Burkina Faso 7.00 2009 388 Ukraine 7.00 2009 389 Tajikistan 7.00 2009 390 Sierra Leone 7.00 2009 391 Romania 7.00 2009 392 Guinea-Bissau 7.00 2009 393 Netherlands 7.00 2009 394 Malaysia 7.00 2009 395 Oman 7.00 2009 396 Morocco 7.00 2009 397 Slovakia 7.00 2009 398 Turkey 7.00 2009 399 Tunisia 7.00 2009 400 Tunisia 7.00 2009 401 Cote d'Ivoire 7.00 2009 402 Croatia 7.00 2009 403 Guinea 7.00 2009 404 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7.00 2009 405 Burundi 7.00 2009 406 Azerbaijan 7.00 2009 407 Antarctica 6.00 2009 408 Iraq 6.00 2009 409 Yemen 6.00 2009 410 Swaziland 6.00 2009 411 United States 6.00 2009 412 Uganda 6.00 2009 413 Turkmenistan 6.00 2009 414 Togo 6.00 2009 415 Somalia 6.00 2009 416 Senegal 6.00 2009 417 Seychelles 6.00 2009 418 Norway 6.00 2009 419 Mali 6.00 2009 420 Moldova 6.00 2009 421 Kazakhstan 6.00 2009 422 Estonia 6.00 2009 423 Gabon 6.00 2009 424 French Polynesia 6.00 2009 425 Cameroon 6.00 2009 426 Bulgaria 6.00 2009 427 United Arab Emirates 5.00 2009 428 Afghanistan 5.00 2009 429 United Arab Emirates 5.00 2009 430 Mali 5.00 2009 431 Lesotho 5.00 2009 432 Liberia 5.00 2009 433 Kazakhstan 5.00 2009 434 Kazakhstan 5.00 2009 435 Indonesia 5.00 2009 436 Greenland 5.00 2009 437 Fiji 5.00 2009 438 Egypt 5.00 2009 439 Sweden 5.00 2009 440 Slovenia 5.00 2009 441 Seychelles 5.00 2009 442 Rwanda 5.00 2009 443 Poland 5.00 2009 444 Suriname 5.00 2009 445 Nepal 5.00 2009 446 Vanuatu 5.00 2009 447 New Caledonia 5.00 2009 448 Yemen 5.00 2009 449 Tonga 5.00 2009 450 Djibouti 5.00 2009 451 Cook Islands 5.00 2009 452 China 5.00 2009 453 Bahamas, The 5.00 2009 454 Antarctica 5.00 2009 455 United Arab Emirates 4.00 2009 456 Angola 4.00 2009 457 Burma 4.00 2009 458 Somalia 4.00 2009 459 Slovenia 4.00 2009 460 Philippines 4.00 2009 461 Netherlands 4.00 2009 462 Mongolia 4.00 2009 463 Libya 4.00 2009 464 Kiribati 4.00 2009 465 Japan 4.00 2009 466 Iraq 4.00 2009 467 Ghana 4.00 2009 468 Georgia 4.00 2009 469 French Polynesia 4.00 2009 470 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 4.00 2009 471 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 4.00 2009 472 Egypt 4.00 2009 473 Burkina Faso 4.00 2009 474 Turkmenistan 4.00 2009 475 Taiwan 4.00 2009 476 Turkey 4.00 2009 477 Timor-Leste 4.00 2009 478 Togo 4.00 2009 479 Macedonia 4.00 2009 480 Kosovo 4.00 2009 481 Kosovo 4.00 2009 482 Zambia 4.00 2009 483 Burundi 4.00 2009 484 Sri Lanka 4.00 2009 485 Benin 4.00 2009 486 Bolivia 4.00 2009 487 Botswana 4.00 2009 488 Antarctica 4.00 2009 489 Afghanistan 4.00 2009 490 Algeria 3.00 2009 491 Ethiopia 3.00 2009 492 Eritrea 3.00 2009 493 Eritrea 3.00 2009 494 Estonia 3.00 2009 495 Egypt 3.00 2009 496 European Union 3.00 2009 497 Djibouti 3.00 2009 498 Denmark 3.00 2009 499 Cameroon 3.00 2009 500 Zimbabwe 3.00 2009 501 Yemen 3.00 2009 502 Western Sahara 3.00 2009 503 Vietnam 3.00 2009 504 Vietnam 3.00 2009 505 Uruguay 3.00 2009 506 Ukraine 3.00 2009 507 United Kingdom 3.00 2009 508 Tonga 3.00 2009 509 Rwanda 3.00 2009 510 Russia 3.00 2009 511 Guinea-Bissau 3.00 2009 512 Guinea-Bissau 3.00 2009 513 New Zealand 3.00 2009 514 Netherlands 3.00 2009 515 Nigeria 3.00 2009 516 Mauritius 3.00 2009 517 Macedonia 3.00 2009 518 Trinidad and Tobago 3.00 2009 519 Svalbard 3.00 2009 520 Svalbard 3.00 2009 521 Moldova 3.00 2009 522 Moldova 3.00 2009 523 Lithuania 3.00 2009 524 Kazakhstan 3.00 2009 525 Kuwait 3.00 2009 526 Korea, North 3.00 2009 527 Iraq 3.00 2009 528 Iraq 3.00 2009 529 Mali 3.00 2009 530 Cote d'Ivoire 3.00 2009 531 Iceland 3.00 2009 532 Hungary 3.00 2009 533 Guinea 3.00 2009 534 Guatemala 3.00 2009 535 Germany 3.00 2009 536 Ghana 3.00 2009 537 Finland 3.00 2009 538 China 3.00 2009 539 Sri Lanka 3.00 2009 540 Burundi 3.00 2009 541 Austria 3.00 2009 542 United Arab Emirates 2.00 2009 543 Angola 2.00 2009 544 Bangladesh 2.00 2009 545 Chile 2.00 2009 546 Samoa 2.00 2009 547 Samoa 2.00 2009 548 Namibia 2.00 2009 549 British Virgin Islands 2.00 2009 550 British Virgin Islands 2.00 2009 551 Uzbekistan 2.00 2009 552 Turkmenistan 2.00 2009 553 Taiwan 2.00 2009 554 Taiwan 2.00 2009 555 Timor-Leste 2.00 2009 556 Timor-Leste 2.00 2009 557 Tunisia 2.00 2009 558 Togo 2.00 2009 559 Turks and Caicos Islands 2.00 2009 560 Trinidad and Tobago 2.00 2009 561 Spain 2.00 2009 562 Senegal 2.00 2009 563 Rwanda 2.00 2009 564 Qatar 2.00 2009 565 Palau 2.00 2009 566 Palau 2.00 2009 567 Peru 2.00 2009 568 Nigeria 2.00 2009 569 Niger 2.00 2009 570 Niger 2.00 2009 571 Maldives 2.00 2009 572 Maldives 2.00 2009 573 Mauritania 2.00 2009 574 Mauritius 2.00 2009 575 Montenegro 2.00 2009 576 Madagascar 2.00 2009 577 Libya 2.00 2009 578 Lebanon 2.00 2009 579 Lebanon 2.00 2009 580 Laos 2.00 2009 581 Kuwait 2.00 2009 582 Korea, South 2.00 2009 583 Jordan 2.00 2009 584 Jordan 2.00 2009 585 India 2.00 2009 586 Hungary 2.00 2009 587 Haiti 2.00 2009 588 Guinea 2.00 2009 589 Greece 2.00 2009 590 Greenland 2.00 2009 591 Greenland 2.00 2009 592 Georgia 2.00 2009 593 Georgia 2.00 2009 594 French Polynesia 2.00 2009 595 Eritrea 2.00 2009 596 Israel 2.00 2009 597 Honduras 2.00 2009 598 Estonia 2.00 2009 599 Ireland 2.00 2009 600 European Union 2.00 2009 601 Djibouti 2.00 2009 602 Cyprus 2.00 2009 603 Cyprus 2.00 2009 604 Cook Islands 2.00 2009 605 Northern Mariana Islands 2.00 2009 606 Belarus 2.00 2009 607 Chad 2.00 2009 608 Belarus 2.00 2009 609 Benin 2.00 2009 610 Anguilla 2.00 2009 611 Anguilla 2.00 2009 612 Antigua and Barbuda 1.00 2009 613 Argentina 1.00 2009 614 Dominican Republic 1.00 2009 615 Northern Mariana Islands 1.00 2009 616 Northern Mariana Islands 1.00 2009 617 Colombia 1.00 2009 618 Cayman Islands 1.00 2009 619 Cayman Islands 1.00 2009 620 Bulgaria 1.00 2009 621 Bhutan 1.00 2009 622 Bhutan 1.00 2009 623 Solomon Islands 1.00 2009 624 Belarus 1.00 2009 625 Benin 1.00 2009 626 Benin 1.00 2009 627 Burma 1.00 2009 628 Bolivia 1.00 2009 629 Poland 1.00 2009 630 Spratly Islands 1.00 2009 631 Spratly Islands 1.00 2009 632 Nicaragua 1.00 2009 633 Nepal 1.00 2009 634 Mozambique 1.00 2009 635 Mexico 1.00 2009 636 Mexico 1.00 2009 637 Morocco 1.00 2009 638 Zambia 1.00 2009 639 Western Sahara 1.00 2009 640 Western Sahara 1.00 2009 641 Western Sahara 1.00 2009 642 Vietnam 1.00 2009 643 Venezuela 1.00 2009 644 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.00 2009 645 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.00 2009 646 United Kingdom 1.00 2009 647 Uganda 1.00 2009 648 Tuvalu 1.00 2009 649 Tuvalu 1.00 2009 650 Turkey 1.00 2009 651 Tonga 1.00 2009 652 Tonga 1.00 2009 653 Turks and Caicos Islands 1.00 2009 654 Turks and Caicos Islands 1.00 2009 655 Tajikistan 1.00 2009 656 Thailand 1.00 2009 657 Trinidad and Tobago 1.00 2009 658 Syria 1.00 2009 659 Sierra Leone 1.00 2009 660 Slovenia 1.00 2009 661 Senegal 1.00 2009 662 South Africa 1.00 2009 663 South Africa 1.00 2009 664 Seychelles 1.00 2009 665 Puerto Rico 1.00 2009 666 Puerto Rico 1.00 2009 667 Marshall Islands 1.00 2009 668 Serbia 1.00 2009 669 Qatar 1.00 2009 670 Qatar 1.00 2009 671 Guinea-Bissau 1.00 2009 672 Portugal 1.00 2009 673 Panama 1.00 2009 674 Macedonia 1.00 2009 675 Montenegro 1.00 2009 676 Montenegro 1.00 2009 677 Malawi 1.00 2009 678 Mongolia 1.00 2009 679 Mongolia 1.00 2009 680 Mongolia 1.00 2009 681 Luxembourg 1.00 2009 682 Oman 1.00 2009 683 Mauritius 1.00 2009 684 Luxembourg 1.00 2009 685 Lithuania 1.00 2009 686 Kuwait 1.00 2009 687 Kyrgyzstan 1.00 2009 688 Kyrgyzstan 1.00 2009 689 Jan Mayen 1.00 2009 690 Jan Mayen 1.00 2009 691 Iran 1.00 2009 692 Croatia 1.00 2009 693 Guyana 1.00 2009 694 Guatemala 1.00 2009 695 Greenland 1.00 2009 696 Ghana 1.00 2009 697 France 1.00 2009 698 Czech Republic 1.00 2009 699 Dominican Republic 1.00 2009 700 Italy 1.00 2009 701 Israel 1.00 2009 702 Iran 1.00 2009 703 Cook Islands 1.00 2009 704 Cape Verde 1.00 2009 705 Cape Verde 1.00 2009 706 Central African Republic 1.00 2009 707 Congo, Republic of the 1.00 2009 708 Sri Lanka 1.00 2009 709 Cambodia 1.00 2009 710 Cambodia 1.00 2009 711 El Salvador 1.00 2009 712 Eritrea 1.00 2009 713 Eritrea 1.00 2009 714 Estonia 1.00 2009 715 Equatorial Guinea 1.00 2009 716 Equatorial Guinea 1.00 2009 717 Egypt 1.00 2009 718 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.00 2009 719 Belize 1.00 2009 720 Bangladesh 1.00 2009 721 Bangladesh 1.00 2009 722 Belgium 1.00 2009 723 Antarctica 1.00 2009 724 Austria 1.00 2009 725 Argentina 1.00 2009 726 Armenia 1.00 2009 727 Armenia 1.00 2009 728 Albania 1.00 2009 729 Afghanistan 1.00 2009 730 Antigua and Barbuda 1.00 2009 731 Albania 1.00 2009 732 United Arab Emirates 1.00 2009
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Rank code: 2032
Country Comparison :: Environment - current issues
This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain). Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide; acid rain is damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH scale where 7 is neutral, values greater than 7 are considered alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid precipitation; note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in New England. Aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog. Afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting trees and plants; reforestation involves replanting trees on areas that have been cut or destroyed by fire. Asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in fireproofing materials and considered to be highly carcinogenic in particulate form. Biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in form and function, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or man-induced disruption. Bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance, and health reveal the general condition of its habitat. Biomass - the total weight or volume of living matter in a given area or volume. Carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere, and geological deposits. Catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and runoff; an important water management technique in areas with limited freshwater resources, such as Gibraltar. DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless insecticide that has toxic effects on most animals; the use of DDT was banned in the US in 1972. Defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves artificially; often used in agricultural practices for weed control, and may have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health. Deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest (e.g., unsustainable forestry practices, agricultural and range land clearing, and the over exploitation of wood products for use as fuel) without planting new growth. Desertification - the spread of desert-like conditions in arid or semi-arid areas, due to overgrazing, loss of agriculturally productive soils, or climate change. Dredging - the practice of deepening an existing waterway; also, a technique used for collecting bottom-dwelling marine organisms (e.g., shellfish) or harvesting coral, often causing significant destruction of reef and ocean-floor ecosystems. Drift-net fishing - done with a net, miles in extent, that is generally anchored to a boat and left to float with the tide; often results in an over harvesting and waste of large populations of non-commercial marine species (by-catch) by its effect of "sweeping the ocean clean." Ecosystems - ecological units comprised of complex communities of organisms and their specific environments. Effluents - waste materials, such as smoke, sewage, or industrial waste which are released into the environment, subsequently polluting it. Endangered species - a species that is threatened with extinction either by direct hunting or habitat destruction. Freshwater - water with very low soluble mineral content; sources include lakes, streams, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers. Greenhouse gas - a gas that "traps" infrared radiation in the lower atmosphere causing surface warming; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. Groundwater - water sources found below the surface of the earth often in naturally occurring reservoirs in permeable rock strata; the source for wells and natural springs. Highlands Water Project - a series of dams constructed jointly by Lesotho and South Africa to redirect Lesotho's abundant water supply into a rapidly growing area in South Africa; while it is the largest infrastructure project in southern Africa, it is also the most costly and controversial; objections to the project include claims that it forces people from their homes, submerges farmlands, and squanders economic resources. Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) - represents the 145,000 Inuits of Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland in international environmental issues; a General Assembly convenes every three years to determine the focus of the ICC; the most current concerns are long-range transport of pollutants, sustainable development, and climate change. Metallurgical plants - industries which specialize in the science, technology, and processing of metals; these plants produce highly concentrated and toxic wastes which can contribute to pollution of ground water and air when not properly disposed. Noxious substances - injurious, very harmful to living beings. Overgrazing - the grazing of animals on plant material faster than it can naturally regrow leading to the permanent loss of plant cover, a common effect of too many animals grazing limited range land. Ozone shield - a layer of the atmosphere composed of ozone gas (O3) that resides approximately 25 miles above the Earth's surface and absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation that can be harmful to living organisms. Poaching - the illegal killing of animals or fish, a great concern with respect to endangered or threatened species. Pollution - the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made waste. Potable water - water that is drinkable, safe to be consumed. Salination - the process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes salt (undrinkable) water; hence, desalination is the reverse process; also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by evaporation of excessive irrigation water, a process that can eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops. Siltation - occurs when water channels and reservoirs become clotted with silt and mud, a side effect of deforestation and soil erosion. Slash-and-burn agriculture - a rotating cultivation technique in which trees are cut down and burned in order to clear land for temporary agriculture; the land is used until its productivity declines at which point a new plot is selected and the process repeats; this practice is sustainable while population levels are low and time is permitted for regrowth of natural vegetation; conversely, where these conditions do not exist, the practice can have disastrous consequences for the environment. Soil degradation - damage to the land's productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products. Soil erosion - the removal of soil by the action of water or wind, compounded by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and desertification. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation - a portion of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun and naturally filtered in the upper atmosphere by the ozone layer; UV radiation can be harmful to living organisms and has been linked to increasing rates of skin cancer in humans. Waterborne diseases - those in which bacteria survive in, and are transmitted through, water; always a serious threat in areas with an untreated water supply.
Rank country Environment - current issues Date of Information