Mozambique vs. Zimbabwe
Geography
| Mozambique | Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania | Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia |
| Geographic coordinates | 18 15 S, 35 00 E | 20 00 S, 30 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 799,380 sq km land: 786,380 sq km water: 13,000 sq km | total: 390,757 sq km land: 386,847 sq km water: 3,910 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California | about four times the size of Indiana; slightly larger than Montana |
| 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: 3,229 km border countries (4): Botswana 834 km, Mozambique 1402 km, South Africa 230 km, Zambia 763 km |
| Coastline | 2,470 km | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | none (landlocked) |
| Climate | tropical to subtropical | tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March) |
| Terrain | mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west | mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 345 m | highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m mean elevation: 961 m |
| Natural resources | coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite | coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals |
| 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: 42.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 31.3% (2018 est.) forest: 39.5% (2018 est.) other: 18% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 1,180 sq km (2012) | 1,740 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces | recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare |
| 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) | deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution |
| 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: 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, Wetlands 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 | landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi) |
| Total renewable water resources | 217.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 20 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 | Aside from major urban agglomerations in Harare and Bulawayo, population distribution is fairly even, with slightly greater overall numbers in the eastern half as shown in this population distribution map |
Source: CIA Factbook
