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Geography Stats: compare key data on Sub-Saharan Africa & United States

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Definitions

  • Area > Land: Total land area in square kilometres
  • Area > Land > Per capita: Total land area in square kilometres Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Area > Land per 1000: Total land area in square kilometres. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Area > Total: Total area in square kilometers
  • Area > Water: Total water area in square kilometers
  • Average precipitation in depth > Mm per year: Average precipitation in depth (mm per year). Average precipitation is the long-term average in depth (over space and time) of annual precipitation in the country. Precipitation is defined as any kind of water that falls from clouds as a liquid or a solid.
  • Average rainfall in depth > Mm per year: Average rainfall is the long-term average in depth (over space and time) of annual precipitation in the country. Precipitation is defined as any kind of water that falls from clouds as a liquid or a solid.
  • Coastline: The total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.
  • Irrigated land: The number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water.
  • Land area > Sq. km: Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes."
  • Land use > Arable land: The percentage of used land that is arable. Arable land is land cultivated for crops that are replanted after each harvest like wheat, maize, and rice
  • Population density > People per sq. km: Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.
  • Rural population density > Rural population per sq. km of arable land: Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.
  • Surface area > Sq. km: Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.
  • Total area > Sq. km: Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways."
  • Coastline per 1000: The total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Population density: People per square kilometre, in 1999. At this time the world average was 14.42.
  • Land area > Sq. km > Per capita: Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes." Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Forest area > Sq. km: Forest area is land under natural or planted stands of trees of at least 5 meters in situ, whether productive or not, and excludes tree stands in agricultural production systems (for example, in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems) and trees in urban parks and gardens."
  • Surface area > Sq. km per 1000: Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Land use > Other: The percentage share of used land that is not arable or under permanent crops. This includes permanent meadows and pastures, forests and woodlands, built-on areas, roads, barren land, etc.
  • Area > Total per 1000: Total area in square kilometers. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Area > Water per 1000: Total water area in square kilometers. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Land use > Permanent crops: The percentage share of used land on which permanent crops are grown. This is land cultivated for crops that are not replanted after each harvest like citrus, coffee, and rubber. It includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber.
  • Surface area > Sq. km > Per capita: Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Land boundaries > Total: The total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries
  • Irrigated land > Per capita: The number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Irrigated land per million: The number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Forested Land: Forested land as a proportion of total land area, estimate by FAO
  • Area > Water > Per capita: Total water area in square kilometers Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Area > Total > Per capita: Total area in square kilometers Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Terrestrial protected areas > % of total land area: Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area). Terrestrial protected areas are totally or partially protected areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities as scientific reserves with limited public access, national parks, natural monuments, nature reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes, and areas managed mainly for sustainable use. Marine areas, unclassified areas, littoral (intertidal) areas, and sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.
  • Agricultural land > % of land area: Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.
  • Low-lying areas > Elevation under 5 metres > % of land area: Land area where elevation is below 5 meters (% of total land area). Land area below 5m is the percentage of total land where the elevation is 5 meters or less.
  • Arable land > % of land area: Arable land (% of land area). Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.
  • Land boundaries > Total > Per capita: The total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Forest area > % of land area: Forest area is land under natural or planted stands of trees of at least 5 meters in situ, whether productive or not, and excludes tree stands in agricultural production systems (for example, in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems) and trees in urban parks and gardens."
  • Freshwater withdrawal > Domestic/industrial/agricultural > Total: This entry is derived from Geography > Freshwater withdrawal > Domestic/industrial/agricultural , which provides the annual quantity of water in cubic kilometers removed from available sources for use in any purpose. Water drawn-off is not necessarily entirely consumed and some portion may be returned for further use downstream. Domestic sector use refers to water supplied by public distribution systems. Note that some of this total may be used for small industrial and/or limited agricultural purposes. Industrial sector use is the quantity of water used by self-supplied industries not connected to a public distribution system. Agricultural sector use includes water used for irrigation and livestock watering, and does not account for agriculture directly dependent on rainfall. Included are figures for total annual water withdrawal and per capita water withdrawal.
  • Freshwater withdrawal > Domestic/industrial/agricultural > Total: This entry provides the annual quantity of water in cubic kilometers removed from available sources for use in any purpose. Water drawn-off is not necessarily entirely consumed and some portion may be returned for further use downstream. Domestic sector use refers to water supplied by public distribution systems. Note that some of this total may be used for small industrial and/or limited agricultural purposes. Industrial sector use is the quantity of water used by self-supplied industries not connected to a public distribution system. Agricultural sector use includes water used for irrigation and livestock watering, and does not account for agriculture directly dependent on rainfall. Included are figures for total annual water withdrawal and per capita water withdrawal.
  • Population living in areas where elevation is below 5 meters > % of total population: Population living in areas where elevation is below 5 meters (% of total population). Population below 5m is the percentage of the total population living in areas where the elevation is 5 meters or less.
  • Land boundaries > Total per million: The total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Terrestrial and marine protected areas > % of total territorial area: Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area). Terrestrial protected areas are totally or partially protected areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities as scientific reserves with limited public access, national parks, natural monuments, nature reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes, and areas managed mainly for sustainable use. Marine protected areas are areas of intertidal or subtidal terrain--and overlying water and associated flora and fauna and historical and cultural features--that have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment. Sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.
STAT Sub-Saharan Africa United States HISTORY
Area > Land 23.46 million sq km
3 times more than United States
9.16 million sq km

Area > Land > Per capita 53.97 sq km per 1,000 people
79% more than United States
30.16 sq km per 1,000 people

Area > Land per 1000 52.14 sq km
73% more than United States
30.13 sq km

Area > Total 23.95 million sq km
2 times more than United States
9.83 million sq km

Area > Water 526,255 sq km
664,709 sq km
26% more than all Sub-Saharan Africa combined

Average precipitation in depth > Mm per year 1,097.46
53% more than United States
715

Average rainfall in depth > Mm per year 1,097
53% more than United States
715
Coastline 30,556 km
53% more than United States
19,924 km

Irrigated land 71,363.4 sq km
230,000 sq km
3 times more than all Sub-Saharan Africa combined

Land area > Sq. km 495,632.55 sq km
9.16 million sq km
18 times more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Land use > Arable land 13.94%
16.29%
17% more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Population density > People per sq. km 83.93 people/m²
3 times more than United States
32.35 people/m²

Rural population density > Rural population per sq. km of arable land 666.43 people/km² of arable lan
20 times more than United States
32.62 people/km² of arable lan

Surface area > Sq. km 23.95 million km²
2 times more than United States
9.63 million km²

Total area > Sq. km 509,591.28
9.63 million
19 times more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Coastline per 1000 0.313 km
5 times more than United States
0.0639 km

Population density 75.16 people per sqkm
3 times more than United States
29.77 people per sqkm
Land area > Sq. km > Per capita 53.62 per 1,000 people
78% more than United States
30.16 per 1,000 people

Forest area > Sq. km 126,745.57
3.03 million
24 times more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Surface area > Sq. km per 1000 56.51 km²
73% more than United States
32.59 km²

Land use > Other 82.31%
83.44%
1% more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Area > Total per 1000 53.09 sq km
64% more than United States
32.31 sq km

Area > Water per 1000 1.12 sq km
2.19 sq km
95% more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Land use > Permanent crops 3.75%
14 times more than United States
0.26%

Surface area > Sq. km > Per capita 56.78 km² per 1,000 people
75% more than United States
32.5 km² per 1,000 people

Land boundaries > Total 143,234 km
12 times more than United States
12,034 km

Irrigated land > Per capita 0.111 sq km per 1,000 people
0.77 sq km per 1,000 people
7 times more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Irrigated land per million 114.48 sq km
771.61 sq km
7 times more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Forested Land 26.7%
8% more than United States
24.7%
Area > Water > Per capita 1,114.03 sq km per 1 million peo
2,187.8 sq km per 1 million peo
96% more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Area > Total > Per capita 54.93 sq km per 1,000 people
70% more than United States
32.34 sq km per 1,000 people

Terrestrial protected areas > % of total land area 15.63%
13% more than United States
13.82%

Agricultural land > % of land area 50.32%
12% more than United States
44.88%

Low-lying areas > Elevation under 5 metres > % of land area 3.04%
77% more than United States
1.72%

Arable land > % of land area 14.44%
17.51%
21% more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Land boundaries > Total > Per capita 0.471 km per 1,000 people
12 times more than United States
0.04 km per 1,000 people

Forest area > % of land area 27.51%
33.12%
20% more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

Freshwater withdrawal > Domestic/industrial/agricultural > Total 117.46 cu km/yr
478.4 cu km/yr
4 times more than all Sub-Saharan Africa combined

Freshwater withdrawal > Domestic/industrial/agricultural > Total 117.46 cu km/yr
478.4 cu km/yr
4 times more than all Sub-Saharan Africa combined

Population living in areas where elevation is below 5 meters > % of total population 5.26%
28% more than United States
4.1%

Land boundaries > Total per million 452.62 km
11 times more than United States
39.57 km

Terrestrial and marine protected areas > % of total territorial area 14.09%
15.14%
7% more than Sub-Saharan Africa average

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Food and Agriculture Organization; Food and Agriculture Organisation, electronic files and web site.; World Development Indicators database; Heal The World Foundation.; World Development Indicators database. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; FAO; United Nations Environmental Program and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.; Center for International Earth Science Information Network; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; CIA World Factbook 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

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