Page last updated on February 22,

Location:
Central Africa, south of Libya

Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 19 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 1.284 million sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 21
land: 1,259,200 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 24,800 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of California

Land boundaries:
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 ]

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

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
tropical in south, desert in north
More Climate Details

Terrain:
broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Djourab 160 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt

Land use:
arable land: 2.8%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.02%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 97.18% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
300 sq km (2008)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
43 cu km (1987)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.23 cu km/yr (17%/0%/83%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita: 24 cu m/yr (2000)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - per capita country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues

Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel