2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.7% (male 4,229,802/female 4,177,235) 15-64 years: 54.5% (male 5,207,149/female 5,519,291) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 230,616/female 322,412) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

158 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

136 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 34

under 914 m

87 (2006)

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 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 newly elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, has promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment. Geography Mozambique

Birth rate

35.18 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.822 billion (2006 est.)

revenues

$1.391 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

25 58 S, 32 35 E

name

Maputo

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 (code)

metical (MZM)

Currency code

MZM

Current account balance

$-444.4 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

21.35 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$2.392 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Helen LA LIME

embassy

Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo

mailing address

P. O. Box 783, Maputo

telephone

[258] (1) 492797

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Armando PANGUENE

telephone

[1] (202) 293-7146

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 reduced to single digits during the late 1990s although it returned to double digits in 2000-06. 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 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. In late 2005, and after years of negotiations, the government signed an agreement to gain 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.

Electricity - consumption

9.592 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

8.75 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

7.576 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

11.58 billion kWh (2004)

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, 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

Ethnic groups

African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Exchange rates

meticais per US dollar - 24.9245 (2006), 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004), 23,782 (2003), 23,678 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet

chief of state

President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)

election results

Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote - Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February 2004)

Exports

$2.429 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Netherlands 59.7%, South Africa 16.2%, Zimbabwe 2.9% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 835-0245

[258] (1) 490448

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

21.1%

industry

30.9%

services

48% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

9.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.431 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.32 billion (2006 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

12.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

110,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.3 million (2003 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 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 This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$2.815 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 42.9%, Netherlands 11.5%, Portugal 3.6% (2005)

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

124.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

134.31 deaths/1,000 live births

total

129.24 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.8% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.mz

Internet hosts

6,985 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (2002)

Internet users

138,000 (2005) Transportation Mozambique

Investment (gross fixed)

21.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

1,180 sq km (2003)

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 a separate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases

Labor force

9.4 million (2006 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

5.43%

other

94.28% (2005)

permanent crops

0.29%

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)

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 62%, RENAMO 29.7%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90

elections

last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

40.13 years (2006 est.)

male

39.53 years

total population

39.82 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

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

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 are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

3,793,373 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49

1,751,223 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49

185,314 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

18.8 years (2006 est.)

male

17.8 years

total

18.3 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 2

foreign-owned

2 (Belgium 2) (2006)

total

2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,964 GRT/5,324 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$78.03 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.3% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Mozambique

Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM)

Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2006)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Mozambican

noun

Mozambican(s)

Natural gas - consumption

80 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

80 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

11,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

gas 918 km; refined products 294 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, 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

19,686,505

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 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.38% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Beira, Maputo, Nacala Military Mozambique

Public debt

23.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

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 (2005)

total

3,123 km

Religions

Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.353 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

5,685 km

total

30,400 km

unpaved

24,715 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 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 (extremely low density with less than 1 main line per 100 persons)

international

country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

69,700 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.22 million (2005)

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

4.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

21% (1997 est.)

Waterways

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2002)