Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 49 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area: Area - comparative: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation: Natural resources: Land use: Irrigated land: Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements: Geography - note:
total: 637,657 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 627,337 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 10,320 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 44
almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas
Area comparison map: almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas
total: 2,385 km
border countries (3): Djibouti 61 km, Ethiopia 1,640 km, Kenya 684 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
3,025 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea: 200 nm
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
mean elevation: 410 m
[see also: Mean Elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
agricultural land: 70.3%
arable land 1.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 68.5%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 10.6%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 19.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]
2,000 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal