Flag
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Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow,
and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the
yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in
the yellow band

Geography
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Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 238,540 sq km
land area: 230,020 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:
total: 2,093 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo
877 km

Coastline: 539 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast
coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central
area
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite,
manganese, fish, rubber

Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 7%
meadows and pastures: 15%
forest and woodland: 37%
other: 36%

Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting
agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations;
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to
March; droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial
lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

People
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Population: 17,698,271 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 3,856,673; female 3,819,946)
15-64 years: 54% (male 4,658,142; female 4,814,060)
65 years and over: 3% (mal