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:
total: 752,618 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 743,398 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 9,220 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 39

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 6,043.15 km
border countries (8): Angola 1,065 km, Botswana 0.15 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,332 km, Malawi 847 km, Mozambique 439 km, Namibia 244 km, Tanzania 353 km, Zimbabwe 763 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)

Terrain:
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Elevation:
mean elevation:
[see also: Mean Elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes:
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Natural resources:
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 31.7% arable land 4.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 26.9%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 66.3%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
1,559 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
105.2 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.57 cu km/yr (18%/8%/73%)
per capita: 147 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:
periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)

Environment - current issues:
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

Environment - international agreements:
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

Geography - note:
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)