Map of Mozambique | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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 party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries:

Coastline: 2,470 km

Maritime claims
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical to subtropical

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

Elevation

Natural resources: coal, titanium

Land use: 4% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 56% meadows and pastures; 20% forest and woodland; 20% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population: 14,275,301 (July 1989), growth rate 1.8% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Mozambican(s; adjective - Mozambican

Ethnic groups: majority from indigenous tribal groups; about 10,000 Europeans, 35,000 Euro-Africans, 15,000 Indians

Languages: Portuguese (official; many indigenous dialects

Religions: 60% indigenous beliefs, 30% Christian, 10% Muslim

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 47 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 18 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: severe drought and floods occur in south; desertification geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 142 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 45 years male, 48 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 14%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: People's Republic of Mozambique

Government type: people's republic

Capital: Maputo

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Dependent areas

Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Constitution: 25 June 1975

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal adult

Executive branch: Chief of State - President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986; Head of Government - Prime Minister Mario da Graca MACHUNGO (since 17 July 1986)

Legislative branch: Mozambique Armed Forces (including Army, Border Guard, Naval Command, Air Force)

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: AfDB, CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Valeriano FERRAO; Chancery at Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington DC 20,036; telephone (202) 293-7,146; US - Ambassador Melissa F. WELLS; Embassy at 3rd Floor, 35 Rua Da Mesquita, Maputo (mailing address is P. O. Box 783, Maputo; telephone 743,167 or 744,163

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: One of Africa's poorest countries, Mozambique has a per capita GDP of under $100. The nation has failed to exploit the economic potential of its large agricultural, hydropower, and transportation resources. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, accounting for nearly 50% of GDP and for a major share of exports. Industry contributes roughly 10% to GDP, depending heavily upon agricultural products for processing. Over the past decade the economy has experienced a dramatic deterioration. After growing at more than 2% annually during the period 1977-81, GDP declined at an annual rate of 8% between 1981 and 1986. Agricultural output is at only 75% of its 1981 level, and grain has to be imported. Problems persist, with industry operating at only 20-40% of capacity, and the economy is heavily dependent upon foreign assistance to stay afloat.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: cash crops - cotton, cashew nuts, sugar, tea, copra, sisal, rice; other crops - corn, wheat, peanuts, potatoes, beans, sorghum, cassava

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

Industrial production growth rate: 5.7% (1987)

Labor force: NA, but 90% engaged in agriculture

Unemployment rate: 25% (1987 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $122 million; expenditures $321 million, including capital expenditures of $64 million (1987 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $85.9 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.)
Commodities: shrimp 48%, cashews 21%, sugar 10%, copra 3%, citrus 3%
Partners: US, Western Europe, GDR, Japan

Imports: $642 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.), including aid
Commodities: food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum
Partners: US, Western Europe, USSR

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $1.7 billion (December 1987)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1 - 645 (January 1989), 404 (June 1987), NA (1986), NA (1985)


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Electricity
Capacity: 2,263,000 kW capacity; 1,741 million kWh produced, 120 kWh per capita (1988)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $74 million, 34.6% of central government budget (1987)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 214 total, 171 usable; 27 with permanent-surface runways; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 30 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Heliports

Pipelines: 306 km crude oil (not operating; 289 km refined products

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes

Merchant marine: 5 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,329 GRT/12,698 DWT

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs