Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area: Area - comparative: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes: Natural resources: Land use: Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements: Geography - note:
total: 1.284 million sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 21
land:
1,259,200 sq km
water:
24,800 sq km
slightly more than three times the size of California
total: 5,968 km
border countries:
Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
none (landlocked)
tropical in south, desert in north
More Climate Details
broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
lowest point: Djourab 160 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point:
Emi Koussi 3,415 m
petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
arable land: 3.82%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops:
0.02%
other:
96.16% (2011)
302.7 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
43 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total: 0.88 cu km/yr (12%/12%/76%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita:
84.81 cu m/yr (2005)
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues
inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel