Mozambique vs. South Africa
Geography
| Mozambique | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania | Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa |
| Geographic coordinates | 18 15 S, 35 00 E | 29 00 S, 24 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 799,380 sq km land: 786,380 sq km water: 13,000 sq km | total: 1,219,090 sq km land: 1,214,470 sq km water: 4,620 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) |
| Area - comparative | slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California | slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
| Land boundaries | 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 | total: 5,244 km border countries (6): Botswana 1969 km, Lesotho 1106 km, Mozambique 496 km, Namibia 1005 km, Eswatini 438 km, Zimbabwe 230 km |
| Coastline | 2,470 km | 2,798 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin |
| Climate | tropical to subtropical | mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights |
| Terrain | mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west | vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 345 m | highest point: Ntheledi (Mafadi) 3,450 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 1,034 m |
| Natural resources | coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite | gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas |
| Land use | 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.) | agricultural land: 79.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 69.2% (2018 est.) forest: 7.6% (2018 est.) other: 13% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 1,180 sq km (2012) | 16,700 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces | prolonged droughts volcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano |
| Environment - current issues | 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) | lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; desertification; solid waste pollution; disruption of fragile ecosystem has resulted in significant floral extinctions |
| 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, 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 Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country | South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Eswatini |
| Total renewable water resources | 217.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 51.35 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | three 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 | the population concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densly populated than the west as shown in this population distribution map |
Source: CIA Factbook
