Kenya vs. Somalia
Geography
| Kenya | Somalia | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania | Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia |
| Geographic coordinates | 1 00 N, 38 00 E | 10 00 N, 49 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 580,367 sq km land: 569,140 sq km water: 11,227 sq km | total: 637,657 sq km land: 627,337 sq km water: 10,320 sq km |
| Area - comparative | five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada | almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas |
| Land boundaries | total: 3,457 km border countries (5): Ethiopia 867 km, Somalia 684 km, South Sudan 317 km, Tanzania 775 km, Uganda 814 km | total: 2,385 km border countries (3): Djibouti 61 km, Ethiopia 1640 km, Kenya 684 km |
| Coastline | 536 km | 3,025 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation | territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate | varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior | principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons |
| Terrain | low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west | mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 762 m | highest point: Mount Shimbiris 2,460 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 410 m |
| Natural resources | limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower | uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves |
| Land use | agricultural land: 48.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 37.4% (2018 est.) forest: 6.1% (2018 est.) other: 45.8% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 70.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 68.5% (2018 est.) forest: 10.6% (2018 est.) other: 19.1% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 1,030 sq km (2012) | 2,000 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano | recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season |
| Environment - current issues | water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; water shortage and degraded water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; flooding; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching | water scarcity; contaminated water contributes to human health problems; improper waste disposal; deforestation; land degradation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
| 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 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 | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban |
| Geography - note | the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second largest fresh water lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda | strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal |
| Total renewable water resources | 30.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 14.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast as shown in this population distribution map | distribution varies greatly throughout the country; least densely populated areas are in the northeast and central regions, as well as areas along the Kenyan border; most populated areas are in and around the cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Boorama, Hargeysa, and Baidoa as shown on this population distribution map |
Source: CIA Factbook
