World Facts Index
 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 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. Mozambique
has seen very strong economic growth since the end of the civil war largely due
to post-conflict reconstruction.
Geography of Mozambique
|
Location:
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South-eastern Africa,
bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania |
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Coordinates:
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18 15 S, 35 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 801,590 sq km
water: 17,500 sq km
land: 784,090 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
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slightly less than twice
the size of California |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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2,470 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical to subtropical |
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Terrain:
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mostly coastal lowlands,
uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m |
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Natural resources:
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coal, titanium, natural
gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite |
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Natural hazards:
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severe droughts;
devastating cyclones and floods occur in central and southern provinces |
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Environment current issues:
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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 |
|
Geography - note:
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the Zambezi flows through
the north-central and most fertile part of the country
|
Population of Mozambique
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Population:
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21,284,700 (July 2008 est.) |
|
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) |
|
Median age:
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18.3 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.38% |
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Infant mortality:
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total: 129.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 134.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 124.02 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 39.82 years
male: 39.53 years
female: 40.13 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
4.62 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican |
|
Ethnic groups:
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indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan,
Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians
0.08% |
|
Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%,
Muslim 20% |
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Languages:
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Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of
Mozambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa
local long form: Republica de Mocambique |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Maputo |
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Administrative divisions:
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10 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de
Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia |
|
Independence:
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25 June 1975 (from Portugal) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 25 June (1975) |
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Constitution:
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30 November 1990 |
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Legal system:
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based on Portuguese civil law system and
customary law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since
2 February 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February 2004)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for
a second term); prime minister appointed by the president. |
|
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) |
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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 |
|
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] |
Economy
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, and
although it returned to double digits in 2000-06, in 2007 inflation had slowed
to 8%, while GDP growth reached 7.5%. 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. 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 Mozambican government moved
rapidly to ratify the Compact and propose a plan for funding.
|
GDP:
|
$17.64 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
7% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$1,300 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 26.2%
industry: 34.8%
services: 39% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
6.5% |
|
Labor force:
|
9.2 million |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 81%, industry 6%,
services 13% |
|
Unemployment:
|
21% |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 2.9%
hydro: 97.1%
other: 0% |
|
Industries:
|
food, beverages, chemicals
(fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass,
asbestos, tobacco |
|
Agriculture:
|
cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane,
tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes,
sunflowers; beef, poultry |
|
Exports:
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aluminum, prawns, cashews,
cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity |
|
Export partners:
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Belgium 22.7%, South Africa 12.2%, Spain 11.2%,
Netherlands 11%, Italy 10.1%, Germany 6.4% |
|
Imports:
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machinery and equipment,
vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles |
|
Import partners:
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South Africa 40.4%, Australia 7.5%, China 4% |
|
Currency:
|
metical (MZM) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |