2010 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

786,380 sq km

total

799,380 sq km

water

13,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of California

Climate

tropical to subtropical

Coastline

2,470 km

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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

32 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.63 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%)

Geographic coordinates

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

1,180 sq km (2003)

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%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

216 cu km (1992)

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.3% (male 4,829,272/female 4,773,209) 15-64 years: 52.8% (male 5,605,227/female 5,842,679) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 257,119/female 361,772) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

37.8 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

19.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

12.5% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

81,000 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.5 million (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

101.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

106.53 deaths/1,000 live births

total

103.82 deaths/1,000 live births

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female

40.68 years (2010 est.)

male

42.05 years

total population

41.37 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

32.7% (2003 est.)

male

63.5%

total population

47.8%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

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

Median age

female

17.9 years (2010 est.)

male

17.1 years

total

17.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Mozambican

noun

Mozambican(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

22,061,451 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.)

Population growth rate

1.797% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

7 years (2005)

male

9 years

total

8 years

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.)

Total fertility rate

5.13 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

37% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

25 57 S, 32 35 E

name

Maputo

time difference

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE

embassy

Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo

FAX

[258] (21) 490114

mailing address

P. O. Box 783, Maputo

telephone

[258] (21) 492797

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1525 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Amelia Matos SUMBANA

FAX

[1] (202) 835-0245

telephone

[1] (202) 293-7146

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)

election results

Armando GUEBUZA reelected president; percent of vote - Armando GUEBUZA 76.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 14.9%, Daviz SIMANGO 8.8%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Aires Bonifacio ALI (since 16 January 2010)

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

Government type

republic

Independence

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

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

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

Legal system

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

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

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

elections

last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Salomao J. MANHICA/unknown note: adopted 2002

name

"Patria Amada" (Lovely Fatherland)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

9.95% (31 December 2009) 9.95% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.68% (31 December 2009 est.) 18.31% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.028 billion (2010 est.) -$866 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$4.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.246 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47.3 (2002) 39.6 (1997)

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. 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 and smallholder agricultural productivity and productivity growth is weak. 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% in the decade up to 2007, 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. Despite 8.3% GDP growth in 2010, the increasing cost of living prompted citizens to riot in September 2010, after bread price increases were announced. In an attempt to contain the cost of living, the government implemented subsidies, decreased taxes and tariffs, and instituted other fiscal measures.

Electricity - consumption

10.16 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

11.82 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

8.278 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

15.91 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 35 (2010), 26.283 (2009), 24.125 (2008), 26.264 (2007), 25.4 (2006)

Exports

$2.517 billion (2010 est.) $1.947 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Netherlands 47.62%, South Africa 11.6% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

28.8%

industry

26%

services

45.2% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,000 (2010 est.) $900 (2009 est.) $900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

8.3% (2010 est.) 6.3% (2009 est.) 6.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.21 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$22.19 billion (2010 est.) $20.49 billion (2009 est.) $19.28 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 39.2% (2003)

Imports

$3.527 billion (2010 est.) $3.059 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 33.54%, Netherlands 8.42%, India 5.93%, China 4.24% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13.5% (2010 est.) 3.3% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

17.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

9.87 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

81%

industry

6%

services

13% (1997 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

100 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

3.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

3.3 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

13,760 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2001 est.)

Public debt

40.8% of GDP (2010 est.) 33.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.982 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.829 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.803 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.074 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.311 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.657 billion (31 December 2010 est) $2.812 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

21% (1997 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-run TV station supplemented by private TV station; Portuguese state TV's African service, RTP Africa, and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available; state-run radio provides nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple languages; a number of privately-owned and community-operated stations also broadcast; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.mz

Internet hosts

21,172 (2010)

Internet users

613,600 (2009)

Telephone system

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 25 per 100 persons

general assessment

a fair telecommunications system that is shackled with a heavy state presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and charges

international

country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); landing point for the SEACOM fiber-optic cable

Telephones - main lines in use

82,400 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.971 million (2009)

Airports

106 (2010)

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

83 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 39 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 2

foreign-owned

2 (Belgium 2) (2010)

total

2

Pipelines

gas 918 km; refined products 278 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Railways

narrow gauge

4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

total

4,787 km

Roadways

paved

5,685 km

total

30,400 km

unpaved

24,715 km (2000)

Waterways

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

female

272,062 (2010 est.)

male

272,922

Military branches

Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM)

Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2008)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (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)

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 page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================