Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 49 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 637,657 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 627,337 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 10,320 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 44

Area - comparative:
almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas
Area comparison map:

Land boundaries:
total: 2,385 km
border countries (3): Djibouti 61 km, Ethiopia 1,640 km, Kenya 684 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
3,025 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Elevation:
mean elevation:
[see also: Mean Elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m

Natural resources:
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Land use:
agricultural land: 70.3% arable land 1.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 68.5%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 10.6%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 19.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
2,000 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
14.7 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.3 cu km/yr (0%/0%/100%)
per capita: 377.6 cu m/yr (2003)

Natural hazards:
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season

Environment - current issues:
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal