Malawi vs. Mozambique
Geography
| Malawi | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique | Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania |
| Geographic coordinates | 13 30 S, 34 00 E | 18 15 S, 35 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 118,484 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,404 sq km | total: 799,380 sq km land: 786,380 sq km water: 13,000 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Pennsylvania | slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California |
| Land boundaries | total: 2,857 km border countries (3): Mozambique 1498 km, Tanzania 512 km, Zambia 847 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 | sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November) | tropical to subtropical |
| Terrain | narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains | mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m mean elevation: 779 m | highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 345 m |
| Natural resources | limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite | coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite |
| Land use | agricultural land: 59.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 19.6% (2018 est.) forest: 34% (2018 est.) other: 6.8% (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 | 740 sq km (2012) | 1,180 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | flooding; droughts; earthquakes | severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces |
| Environment - current issues | deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations; negative effects of climate change (extreme high temperatures, changing precipatation pattens) | 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, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, 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; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature; it contains more fish species than any other lake on earth | the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country |
| Total renewable water resources | 17.28 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 217.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa 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
