Almost five centuries as a
Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale
emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a
prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid
1990's. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO)
party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the
following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market
economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel
Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in
1992. In December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as
Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected
successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound
economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment.
Geography ::Mozambique
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
country comparison to the world: 35
land:
786,380 sq km
water:
13,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,571 km
border countries:
Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:
2,470 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical to subtropical
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces
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
Geography - note:
the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country
People ::Mozambique
Population:
22,061,451
country comparison to the world: 53
note:estimates
for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess
mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher
infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population
of 16,099,246 (July 2010 est.)
65 years and over:
2.9% (male 263,291/female 372,351) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male:
17.1 years
female:
17.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.797% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Birth rate:
37.8 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
1
Death rate:
19.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.017 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.71 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 103.82 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 6
male:
106.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
101.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.37 years
22
male:
42.05 years
female:
40.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.13 children born/woman (2010 est.)
9
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
12.5% (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.5 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
81,000 (2007 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria and plague
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis
animal contact disease:
rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective:
Mozambican
Ethnic groups:
African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions:
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)
Languages:
Emakhuwa 26.1%,
Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population
as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other
Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3%
(1997 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
47.8%
male:
63.5%
female:
32.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male:
9 years
female:
7 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2005)
Government ::Mozambique
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form:
Mozambique
local long form:
Republica de Mocambique
local short form:
Mocambique
former:
Portuguese East Africa
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Maputo
geographic coordinates:
25 57 S, 32 35 E
time difference:
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provincias,
singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane,
Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete,
Zambezia
Independence:
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:
30 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)
head of government:
Prime Minister Aires Bonifacio ALI (since 16 January 2010)
cabinet:
Cabinet
elections:
president
elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second
term); election last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014);
prime minister appointed by the president
unicameral Assembly of
the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members directly
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:
percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 74.7%, RENAMO 17.7%, MDM 3.9%, other 3.7%; seats by party - FRELIMO 191, RENAMO 51, MDM 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the court
of final appeal; some of its professional judges are appointed by the
president, and some are elected by the Assembly); other courts include
an Administrative Court, Constitutional Court, customs courts, maritime
courts, courts marshal, labor courts
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Movement of
Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM [Daviz SIMANGO];
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de
Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA]; Mozambique National
Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Afonso
DHLAKAMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]
chancery:
1525 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 293-7146
FAX:
[1] (202) 835-0245
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE
embassy:
Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address:
P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone:
[258] (21) 492797
FAX:
[258] (21) 490114
Flag description:
three equal horizontal
bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle
based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in
the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and
hoe in black superimposed on an open white book; green represents the
riches of the land, white peace, black the African continent, yellow the
country's minerals, and red the struggle for independence; the rifle
symbolizes defense and vigilance, the hoe refers to the country's
agriculture, the open book stresses the importance of education, and the
star represents Marxism and internationalism
Economy ::Mozambique
Economy - overview:
At independence in 1975, Mozambique
was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist mismanagement and a
brutal civil war from 1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the
government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to
stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and
with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have
led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Monetary
reforms have reduced inflation. Fiscal reforms, including the
introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service,
have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In spite of
these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for
more than half of its annual budget, and the majority of the population
remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture continues to
employ the vast majority of the country's work force. A substantial
trade imbalance persists although the opening of the Mozal aluminum
smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project to date, has
increased export earnings. At the end of 2007, and after years of
negotiations, the government took over Portugal's majority share of the
Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity (HCB) company, a dam that was not
transferred to Mozambique at independence because of the ensuing civil
war and unpaid debts. More power is needed for additional investment
projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment manufacturing
that could further close the import/export gap. Mozambique's once
substantial foreign debt has been reduced through forgiveness and
rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and
Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at a manageable level. In July
2007 the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a Compact with
Mozambique; the Compact entered into force in September 2008 and will
continue for five years. Compact projects will focus on improving
sanitation, roads, agriculture, and the business regulation environment
in an effort to spur economic growth in the four northern provinces of
the country. Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 9% for most of
the past decade, one of Africa's strongest performances. However, heavy
reliance on aluminum, which accounts for about one-third of exports,
subjects the economy to volatile international prices. The sharp decline
in aluminum prices during the global economic crisis lowered GDP growth
by several percentage points.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.17 billion (2009 est.)
23
$19.34 billion (2008 est.)
$18.1 billion (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.767 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
6.8% (2008 est.)
7.4% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2009 est.)
18
$900 (2008 est.)
$900 (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.7%
industry:
25.4%
services:
45.9% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
9.77 million (2009 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 81%
industry:
6%
services:
13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1997 est.)
69
Population below poverty line:
70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Netherlands 55.5%, South Africa 9.2%, Zimbabwe 2.1% (2008)
Imports:
$3.096 billion (2009 est.)
37
$3.458 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
South Africa 27.4%, Netherlands 15.7%, China 4.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.855 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
17
$1.578 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.159 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
08
$3.826 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 27.4 (2009), 24.125 (2008), 26.264 (2007), 25.4 (2006), 23,061 (2005)
note:in 2006 Mozambique revalued its currency, with 1000 old meticais equal to 1 new meticais
Communications ::Mozambique
Telephones - main lines in use:
78,300 (2008)
50
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.405 million (2008)
Telephone system:
general assessment: a
fair telecommunications system that is shackled with a heavy state
presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and charges
domestic:
stagnation
in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapid growth in the
mobile-cellular network; mobile-cellular coverage now includes all the
main cities and key roads, including those from Maputo to the South
African and Swaziland borders, the national highway through Gaza and
Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor, and from Nampula to Nacala;
extremely low fixed-line teledensity; despite significant growth in
mobile-cellular services, teledensity remains low at about 20 per 100
persons
international:
country
code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and
3 Indian Ocean); landing point for the SEACOM fiber-optic cable
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (2008)
Internet country code:
.mz
Internet hosts:
21,388 (2009)
03
Internet users:
350,000 (2008)
19
Transportation ::Mozambique
Airports:
105 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 55
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m:
1
2,438 to 3,047 m:
3
1,524 to 2,437 m:
10
914 to 1,523 m:
4
under 914 m:
5 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 82
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
9
914 to 1,523 m:
33
under 914 m:
39 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 918 km; refined products 278 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,787 km
country comparison to the world: 37
narrow gauge:
4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 30,400 km
paved:
5,685 km
unpaved:
24,715 km (2000)
Waterways:
460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 2
45
by type:
cargo 2
foreign-owned:
2 (Belgium 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Beira, Maputo, Nacala
Military ::Mozambique
Military branches:
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces
(FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM),
Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
registration for military
service is mandatory for all males and females at 18 years of age;
18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years
of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women may serve
as officers or enlisted (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,787,832 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,448,161
females age 16-49:
2,269,562 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 272,922
female:
272,062 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006)
48
Transnational Issues ::Mozambique
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
southern African transit
point for South Asian hashish and heroin, and South American cocaine
probably destined for the European and South African markets; producer
of cannabis (for local consumption) and methaqualone (for export to
South Africa); corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the
banking system vulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a
well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center
