Zambia vs. Mozambique
Geography
| Zambia | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania |
| Geographic coordinates | 15 00 S, 30 00 E | 18 15 S, 35 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 752,618 sq km land: 743,398 sq km water: 9,220 sq km | total: 799,380 sq km land: 786,380 sq km water: 13,000 sq km |
| Area - comparative | almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas | slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California |
| Land boundaries | 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 | 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 |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 2,470 km |
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate | tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) | tropical to subtropical |
| Terrain | mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains | mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Mafinga Central 2,330 m lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m mean elevation: 1,138 m | highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 345 m |
| Natural resources | copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower | coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite |
| Land use | 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.) | 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 land | 1,560 sq km (2012) | 1,180 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April) | severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces |
| Environment - current issues | 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 | 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 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 | 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 - note | 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) | the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country |
| Total renewable water resources | 104.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 217.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | 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 | 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 |
Source: CIA Factbook
