Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Location:
two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:
21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 948 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 186
land: 948 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

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

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
More Climate Details

Terrain:
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Flamingo Hill 48 m

Natural resources:
spiny lobster, conch

Land use:
arable land: 1.05%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
other: 98.95% (2011)

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
frequent hurricanes

Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Geography - note:
about 40 islands (eight inhabited)