Zambia Geography Profile 2009

Location

Southern Africa, east of Angola

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 752,618 sq km
land: 743,398 sq km
water: 9,220 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries

total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)

Terrain

mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Natural resources

copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 6.99%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 92.97% (2005)

Irrigated land

1,560 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources

105.2 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%)
per capita: 149 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)

Environment - current issues

air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe