Geography & environment — Mozambique
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Mozambique: Africa
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Africa
- Geographic Coordinates
18 15 S, 35 00 E
- Total Area
308,641 Square Miles 799,380 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
303,621 Square Miles 786,380 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
5,019 Square Miles 13,000 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
2,840 Miles 4,571 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
- Coastline
1,535 Miles 2,470 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
- Highest Point
2,436 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Monte Binga 2,436 m
- Lowest Point Location
Indian Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
- Irrigated Land
456 Square Miles 1,181 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
- The climate in the plains and along the coast is warm and humid
- the mountainous areas are cooler, although at times, equally wet. A hot, rainy season lasts from October to April. The rest of the year has a more moderate climate, with the coolest months in June and July. Rainfall is uneven and unpredictable
- periodic droughts and floods occur. Mozambique experienced devastating floods in February and March 2000, causing loss of life and much destruction.
- Terrain
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
- Location
South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
- Total Area
308,641 Square Miles 799,380 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences
desertification
pollution of surface and coastal waters
elephant poaching for ivory is a problem
- Environment - International Agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements