count the states which have elevations lower than what alabama has
SELECT COUNT ( state_name ) FROM highlow WHERE lowest_elevation  <  ( SELECT lowest_elevation FROM highlow WHERE state_name  =  "alabama" );
SELECT COUNT ( state_name ) FROM highlow WHERE lowest_elevation  <  ( SELECT lowest_elevation FROM highlow WHERE state_name  =  "alabama" );
[{'COUNT ( state_name )': 0}]