Mozambique

Internet country code

.mz

Internet hosts

3,249 (2003)

Internet users

50,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: fair system but not available generally (telephone density is only 16 telephones for each 1,000 persons) domestic: the system consists of open-wire lines and trunk connection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

83,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

428,900 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.089 billion expenditures: $1.269 billion, including capital expenditures of $479.4 million (2003 est.)

Currency

metical (MZM)

Currency code

MZM

Current account balance

$-566 million (2003)

Debt - external

$966 million (2002 est.)

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 2000-03. 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)

Exchange rates

meticais per US dollar - 23,782.3 (2003), 23,678 (2002), 20,703.6 (2001), 15,447.1 (2000), 13,028.6 (1999) 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

Exports

$795 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Belgium 26%, South Africa 14.4%, Italy 9.6%, Spain 9.5%, Germany 8.3%, Zimbabwe 4.7% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $21.23 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 20.1% industry: 27.3% services: 52.7% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)

Imports

$1.142 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 26.3%, Australia 9.2%, US 3.9% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% (2000)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

47.8% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

9.2 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

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 (1 January 2002)

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 (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

70% (2001 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$990 million (2003)

Unemployment rate

21% (1997 est.)

Area

total: 801,590 sq km land: 784,090 sq km water: 17,500 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of California

Climate

tropical to subtropical

Coastline

2,470 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 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

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

1,070 sq km (1998 est.)

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

Land use

arable land: 5.1% permanent crops: 0.3% other: 94.6% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur 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

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

Maputo

Constitution

30 November 1990

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

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 FAX: [258] (1) 490448

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245

Executive branch

chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February 2004) cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote - Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, 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, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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, 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

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) elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - Frelimo 62%, Renamo 29.7%; seats by party - Frelimo 160, Renamo 90

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 steped 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.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Special Forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$101.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.2% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 4,335,294 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,485,197 (2004 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.6% (male 4,126,178; female 4,074,759) 15-64 years: 53.6% (male 4,944,416; female 5,145,167) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 215,418; female 305,793) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

36.06 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

23.86 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

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.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 137.08 deaths/1,000 live births male: 142.67 deaths/1,000 live births female: 131.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, numerous other indigenous languages, Portuguese (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 37.1 years male: 37.83 years female: 36.34 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 47.8% male: 63.5% female: 32.7% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 18.2 years male: 17.8 years female: 18.6 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

18,811,731 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 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.22% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.78 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

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

Airports

158 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 22 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 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

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 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT by type: cargo 3 foreign-owned: Belgium 2 (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 649 km; refined products 292 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane

Railways

total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2003)

Waterways

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2004)