Mozambique Geography - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Location

Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 799,380 sq km

land: 786,380 sq km

water: 13,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California

Area comparison map.:

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 1,402 km

Coastline

2,470 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical to subtropical

Terrain

mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Elevation

highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 345 m

Natural resources

coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite

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.)

Irrigated land

1,180 sq km (2012)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490

Major rivers (by length in km)

Zambezi river mouth (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 2,740 km; Limpopo river mouth (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 1,800 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

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

Natural hazards

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces

Geography - note

the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country

NOTE: The information regarding Mozambique on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mozambique 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mozambique 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.