Malawi vs. Zambia
Geography
| Malawi | Zambia | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique | Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Geographic coordinates | 13 30 S, 34 00 E | 15 00 S, 30 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 118,484 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,404 sq km | total: 752,618 sq km land: 743,398 sq km water: 9,220 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Pennsylvania | almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas |
| Land boundaries | total: 2,857 km border countries (3): Mozambique 1498 km, Tanzania 512 km, Zambia 847 km | 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 |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | none (landlocked) |
| Climate | sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November) | tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) |
| Terrain | narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains | mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains |
| 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: Mafinga Central 2,330 m lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m mean elevation: 1,138 m |
| Natural resources | limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite | copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower |
| 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: 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.) |
| Irrigated land | 740 sq km (2012) | 1,560 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | flooding; droughts; earthquakes | periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April) |
| 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) | 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 |
| 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, 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 | 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) |
| Total renewable water resources | 17.28 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 104.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa as shown in this population distribution map | 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 |
Source: CIA Factbook
