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Malawi vs. Mozambique

Geography

MalawiMozambique
LocationSouthern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of MozambiqueSoutheastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates13 30 S, 34 00 E18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map referencesAfricaAfrica
Areatotal: 118,484 sq km

land: 94,080 sq km

water: 24,404 sq km
total: 799,380 sq km

land: 786,380 sq km

water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparativeslightly smaller than Pennsylvaniaslightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundariestotal: 2,857 km

border countries (3): Mozambique 1498 km, Tanzania 512 km, Zambia 847 km
total: 4,783 km

border countries (6): Malawi 1498 km, South Africa 496 km, Eswatini 108 km, Tanzania 840 km, Zambia 439 km, Zimbabwe 1402 km
Coastline0 km (landlocked)2,470 km
Maritime claimsnone (landlocked)territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climatesub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)tropical to subtropical
Terrainnarrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountainsmostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremeshighest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m

mean elevation: 779 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 345 m
Natural resourceslimestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxitecoal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land useagricultural land: 59.2% (2018 est.)

arable land: 38.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 19.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 34% (2018 est.)

other: 6.8% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: 56.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 49.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.7% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land740 sq km (2012)1,180 sq km (2012)
Natural hazardsflooding; droughts; earthquakessevere droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces
Environment - current issuesdeforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations; negative effects of climate change (extreme high temperatures, changing precipatation pattens)increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; soil erosion; deforestation; water pollution caused by artisanal mining; pollution of surface and coastal waters; wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory)
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - notelandlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature; it contains more fish species than any other lake on earththe Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country
Total renewable water resources17.28 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)217.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Population distributionpopulation density is highest south of Lake Nyasa as shown in this population distribution mapthree large populations clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas as shown in this population distribution map

Source: CIA Factbook