2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Maputo City*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.1% (male 3,634,173; female 3,725,396) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 4,712,891; female 4,945,123) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 189,778; female 271,905) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers; beef, poultry

Airports

165 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3

total

22

under 914 m

5 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

143 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 35

under 914 m

91 (2002) Military Mozambique

Area

land

784,090 sq km

total

801,590 sq km

water

17,500 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of California

Background

Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development. The ruling 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 with rebel forces ended the fighting in 1992. Heavy flooding in both 1999 and 2000 severely hurt the economy. Political stability and sound economic policies have encouraged recent foreign investment. Geography Mozambique

Birth rate

38.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.025 billion, including capital expenditures of $479.4 million (2001 est.)

revenues

$393.1 million

Capital

Maputo

Climate

tropical to subtropical

Coastline

2,470 km

Constitution

30 November 1990

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Mozambique

conventional short form

Mozambique

former

Portuguese East Africa

local long form

Republica de Mocambique

local short form

Mocambique

Currency

metical (MZM)

Currency code

MZM

Death rate

30.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$966 million (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON

embassy

Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo

mailing address

P. O. Box 783, Maputo

telephone

[258] (1) 492797

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Armando PANGUENE

Disputes - international

none

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.6 (1996-97)

Economic aid - recipient

$632.8 million (2001)

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. Inflation was brought to single digits during the late 1990s although it returned to double digits in 2000-02. 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 much 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 workforce. 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. Additional investment projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment manufacturing should 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.

Electricity - consumption

1.39 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

5.8 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

500 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

7.193 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

2.9%

hydro

97.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Monte Binga 2,436 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Exchange rates

meticais per US dollar - 23,678 (2002), 20,703.6 (2001), 15,447.1 (2000), 13,028.6 (1999), 12,110.2 (1998)

note

effective October 2000, the exchange rate is determined as the weighted average of buying and selling exchange rates of all transactions of commercial banks and stock exchanges with the public

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet

chief of state

President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986); note - before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected president by Frelimo's Central Committee on 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989)

election results

Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO reelected president; percent of vote - Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO 52.29%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 47.71%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since 17 December 1994)

Exports

$680 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity

Exports - partners

Belgium 24.3%, South Africa 9.1%, Germany 6.2% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 835-0245

[258] (1) 490448

chancery

1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036

telephone

[1] (202) 293-7146

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Mozambique

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 Economy Mozambique

GDP

purchasing power parity - $19.52 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

22%

industry

23%

services

55% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.7% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

5,685 km

total

30,400 km

unpaved

24,715 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

13% 12.6 to 16.4%, estimates vary (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

60,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.1 million (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.7% (1997)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Illicit drugs

Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish, South Asian 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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$1.18 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

South Africa 27.5%, France 8.9%, US 7%, Australia 6.9%, Japan 6%, Malaysia 4% (2002)

Independence

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% (2000)

Industries

food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco

Infant mortality rate

female

180.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

216.85 deaths/1,000 live births

total

199 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15.2% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.mz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (2002)

Internet users

22,500 (2000) Transportation Mozambique

Irrigated land

1,070 sq km (1998 est.)

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, customs courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts

note

although the constitution provides for the creation of a separate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases

Labor force

9.2 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km

total

4,571 km

Land use

arable land

3.98%

other

95.73% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.29%

Languages

Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects

Legal system

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secret ballot to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Frelimo 48.54%, Renamo-UE 38.81%; seats by party - Frelimo 133, Renamo-UE 117

elections

last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

note

Renamo-UE ran as a multiparty coalition; none of the other opposition parties received the 5% required to win parliamentary seats; in September 2000, Renamo-UE member Raul DOMINGOS was expelled from the party; he continues to hold his parliamentary seat as an independent

Life expectancy at birth

female

31.63 years (2003 est.)

male

30.98 years

total population

31.3 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

32.7% (2003 est.) Government Mozambique

male

63.5%

total population

47.8%

Location

South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

19.3 years (2002)

male

18.7 years

total

19 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Belgium 2 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

cargo 3

total

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT

Military branches

Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Special Forces, Militia

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$35.1 million (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (2000 est.) Transnational Issues Mozambique

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

4,142,449 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

2,373,444 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Mozambican

noun

Mozambican(s)

Natural gas - consumption

60 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

60 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

63.71 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 189 km; refined products 292 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, president]; Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e Democracia) or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa, chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz e Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]; Human Rights and Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [Artemisia FRANCO, secretary general]

Population

17,479,266

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 and death rates, lower population and 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 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

0.82% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Radios

730,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)

total

3,123 km

Religions

indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

0.98 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

the system consists of open-wire lines and trunk connection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter

general assessment

fair system but not available generally (telephone density is only 16 telephones for each 1,000 persons)

international

satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

90,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

287,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

67,600 (2000)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

4.87 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

21% (1997 est.)

Waterways

3,750 km (navigable routes)