Area comparison map:

slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:
total: 2,729 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (5): Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km, Kenya 814 km, Rwanda 172 km, South Sudan 475 km, Tanzania 391 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
More Climate Details

Terrain:
mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Elevation:
lowest point: Albert Nile 614 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

Natural resources:
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold

Land use:
agricultural land: 71.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 34.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 11.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 25.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 14.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 14.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

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

Population distribution:
population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated

Natural hazards:
droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms

Environment - current issues:
draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching

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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:
landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second largest fresh water lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda