Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana

Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 1 10 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 56,785 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 54,385 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 2,400 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 126

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,880 km
border countries (3): Benin 651 km, Burkina Faso 131 km, Ghana 1,098 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
56 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 30 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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:
mean elevation: 236 m
[see also: Mean Elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Agou 986 m

Natural resources:
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Land use:
agricultural land: 67.4% arable land 45.2%; permanent crops 3.8%; permanent pasture 18.4%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 4.9%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 27.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:
deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna