Mozambique

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Introduction - Mozambique:
Country	Mozambique


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 countrys 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.


Location - Mozambique:
Location	Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates	18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references	Africa

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

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

Coastline	2,470 km

Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate	tropical to subtropical

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

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

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

Land use	arable land: 5.43% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 94.28% (2005)

Irrigated land	1,180 sq km (2003)

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

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

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

People - Mozambique:
Population	20,905,585 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 2007 est.)

Age structure	0-14 years: 44.7% (male 4,692,126/female 4,647,960) 15-64 years: 52.5% (male 5,345,618/female 5,633,511) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 244,886/female 341,484) (2007 est.)

Median age	total: 17.4 years male: 16.9 years female: 17.8 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate	1.803% (2007 est.)

Birth rate	38.54 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate	20.51 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio	at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.949 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.717 male(s)/female total population: 0.968 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate	total: 109.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 112.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 106.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth	total population: 40.9 years male: 41.4 years female: 40.4 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate	5.29 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rate	12.2% (2003 est.)

Hiv aids people living with hiv aids	1.3 million (2003 est.)

Hiv aids deaths	110,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality	noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican

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)

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

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

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)

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

Government - Mozambique:
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

Government type	republic

Capital	name: Maputo geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Independence	25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday	Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Constitution	30 November 1990

Legal system	based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law

Suffrage	18 years of age; universal

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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held in 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%

Legislative branch	unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO 29.7%, other 8.3%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90

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]; Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or RENAMO-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA]

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]

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the us	chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge dAffaires James DUDLEY embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo telephone: [258] (1) 492797 FAX: [258] (1) 490448

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:
Economy overview	At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the worlds 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 countrys 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 governments 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 countrys work force. A substantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of the Mozal aluminum smelter, the countrys 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 Portugals 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. Mozambiques once substantial foreign debt has been reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMFs Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at a manageable level.

Gdp purchasing power parity	$29.17 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate	$6.323 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp real growth rate	7.9% (2006 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp	$1,500 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 21.1% industry: 30.9% services: 48% (2006 est.)

Labor force	9.4 million (2006 est.)

Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 81% industry: 6% services: 13% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate	21% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line	70% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)

Distribution of family income gini index	39.6 (1996-97)

Inflation rate consumer prices	12.8% (2006 est.)

Investment gross fixed	21.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget	revenues: $1.391 billion expenditures: $1.822 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt	23.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate	3.4% (2000)

Electricity production	11.58 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity consumption	9.592 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity exports	8.75 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity imports	7.576 billion kWh (2004)

Oil production	0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil consumption	11,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil exports	NA bbl/day

Oil imports	NA bbl/day

Oil proved reserves	0 bbl (1 January 2005)

Natural gas production	80 million cu m (2004 est.)

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 proved reserves	127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance	-$444.4 million (2006 est.)

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

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

Exports partners	Belgium 29.3%, Italy 22%, Spain 12.7%, China 4.1% (2006)

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 35.9%, Australia 9.4%, China 5% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	$1.353 billion (2006 est.)

Debt external	$2.392 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid recipient	$632.8 million (2001)

Currency code	metical (MZM)

Exchange rates	meticais per US dollar - 25.4 (2006), 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004), 23,782 (2003), 23,678 (2002) note: in 2006 Mozambique revalued its currency, with 1000 old meticais equal to 1 new meticais

Communications - Mozambique:
Fiscal year	calendar year

Telephones main lines in use	67,000 (2006)

Telephones mobile cellular	2.339 million (2006)

Telephone system	general assessment: fair system but not available generally (extremely low density with less than 1 main line per 100 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)

Radio broadcast stations	AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Television broadcast stations	1 (2000)

Internet country code	.mz

Internet hosts	6,985 (2006)

Internet users	178,000 (2005)

Transportation - Mozambique:
Airports	158 (2006)

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 (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)

Pipelines	gas 918 km; refined products 294 km (2006)

Railways	total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2006)

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

Waterways	460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2007)

Merchant marine	total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,964 GRT/5,324 DWT by type: cargo 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals	Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Military - Mozambique:
Military branches	Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2006)

Military service age and obligation	18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)

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.)

Military expenditures percent of gdp	0.8% (2006)

Disputes international	none