Zimbabwe vs. Zambia
Geography
| Zimbabwe | Zambia | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia | Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Geographic coordinates | 20 00 S, 30 00 E | 15 00 S, 30 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 390,757 sq km land: 386,847 sq km water: 3,910 sq km | total: 752,618 sq km land: 743,398 sq km water: 9,220 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about four times the size of Indiana; slightly larger than Montana | almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas |
| Land boundaries | total: 3,229 km border countries (4): Botswana 834 km, Mozambique 1402 km, South Africa 230 km, Zambia 763 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 | tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March) | tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) |
| Terrain | mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east | mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m mean elevation: 961 m | highest point: Mafinga Central 2,330 m lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m mean elevation: 1,138 m |
| Natural resources | coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals | copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower |
| Land use | 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.) | 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 | 1,740 sq km (2012) | 1,560 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare | periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April) |
| Environment - current issues | 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 | 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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, 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; 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) | 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 | 20 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 104.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | 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 | 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
