Angola vs. Zambia
Geography
| Angola | Zambia | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo | Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Geographic coordinates | 12 30 S, 18 30 E | 15 00 S, 30 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km | total: 752,618 sq km land: 743,398 sq km water: 9,220 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about eight times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Texas | almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas |
| Land boundaries | total: 5,369 km border countries (4): Democratic Republic of the Congo 2646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 231 km, Namibia 1427 km, Zambia 1065 km | total: 6,043.15 km border countries (8): Angola 1065 km, Botswana 0.15 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2332 km, Malawi 847 km, Mozambique 439 km, Namibia 244 km, Tanzania 353 km, Zimbabwe 763 km |
| Coastline | 1,600 km | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | none (landlocked) |
| Climate | semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April) | tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) |
| Terrain | narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau | mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Moca 2,620 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 1,112 m | highest point: Mafinga Central 2,330 m lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m mean elevation: 1,138 m |
| Natural resources | petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium | copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower |
| Land use | agricultural land: 45.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.3% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 31.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 26.9% (2018 est.) forest: 66.3% (2018 est.) other: 2% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 860 sq km (2014) | 1,560 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau | periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April) |
| Environment - current issues | overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water | air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo | landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi) |
| Total renewable water resources | 148.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 104.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda as shown in this population distribution map | one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira as shown in this population distribution map |
Source: CIA Factbook
