Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Geographic coordinates:
8 30 N, 11 30 W

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 71,740 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 71,620 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 120 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 120

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 1,093 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (2): Guinea 794 km, Liberia 299 km

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

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
More Climate Details

Terrain:
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Elevation:
mean elevation: 279 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Natural resources:
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Land use:
agricultural land: 56.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 23.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 2.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 30.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 37.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 6.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

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

Population distribution:
population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated

Natural hazards:
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Environment - current issues:
rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding; loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa