Location:
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
752,618 sq km
country comparison to the world: 39
land:
743,398 sq km
water:
9,220 sq km
slightly larger than Texas
total:
5,664.1 km
border countries:
Angola 1,110 km, Botswana 0.1 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
lowest point:
Zambezi river 329 m
highest point:
unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
arable land:
4.52%
permanent crops:
0.05%
other:
95.44% (2011)
1,559 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
105.2 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
1.57 cu km/yr (18%/8%/73%)
per capita:
147 cu m/yr (2002)
periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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)