Statistical information Mozambique 1999

Mozambique in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement with rebel forces ended the fighting in 1992.
top of pageLocation: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 801,590 km²
Land: 784,090 km²
Water: 17,500 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundariesTotal: 4,571 km
Border countries: (6) Malawi 1,569 km;
, South Africa 491 km;
, Swaziland 105 km;
, Tanzania 756 km;
, Zambia 419 km;
, Zimbabwe 1,231 kmCoastline: 2,470 km
Maritime claimsExclusive 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas
Land useArable land: 4%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 56%
Forests and woodland: 18%
Other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,180 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 19,124,335 (July 1999 est.)
Note: the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,542,800; other estimates range as low as 16.9 million
Growth rate: 2.54% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Mozambican(s)
Adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Languages: Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 45% (male 4,236,545; female 4,325,586)
15-64 years: 53% (male 4,941,048; female 5,181,282)
65 years and over: 2% (male 182,857; female 257,017) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.54% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 42.75 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.31 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent 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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 117.56 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 45.89 years
Male: 44.73 years
Female: 47.09 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.88 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 40.1%
Male: 57.7%
Female: 23.3% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
Conventional short form: Mozambique
Local long form: Republica de Mocambique
Local short form: Mocambique
Government type: republic
Capital: Maputo
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular_provincia; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Dependent areasIndependence: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986); note_before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected president by Frelimo's Central Committee 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989)
Head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since NA December 1994)
Cabinet: Cabinet
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 27 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO elected president; percent of vote_Joaquim CHISSANO 53.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 33.3%
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 27-29 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999)
Election results: percent of vote by party_Frelimo 44.33%, Renamo 33.78%, DU 5.15%, other 16.74%; seats by party_Frelimo 129, Renamo 112, DU 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president and judges elected by the Assembly
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA
In the us chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 293-7,146
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Bryan Dean CURRAN
From the us embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
From the us telephone: [258] (1) 492,797
From the us FAX: [258] (1) 490,114
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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Before the peace accord of October 1992, Mozambique's economy was devastated by a protracted civil war and socialist mismanagement. In 1994, it ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world. Since then, Mozambique has undertaken a series of economic reforms. Almost all aspects of the economy have been liberalized to some extent. More than 900 state enterprises have been privatized. Pending are tax and much needed commercial code reform, as well as greater private sector involvement in the transportation, telecommunications, and energy sectors. Since 1996, inflation has been low and foreign exchange rates stable. Albeit from a small base, Mozambique achieved one of the highest growth rates in the world in 1997-98. Still, the country depends on foreign assistance to balance the budget and to pay for a trade imbalance in which imports outnumber exports by three to one. The medium-term outlook for the country looks bright, as trade and transportation links to South Africa and the rest of the region are expected to improve and sizable foreign investments materialize. Among these investments are metal production (aluminum, steel), natural gas, power generation, agriculture (cotton, sugar), fishing, timber, and transportation services. Additional exports in these areas should bring in needed foreign exchange.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 11% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $900 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 35%
Industry: 13%
Services: 52% (1996 est.)
Agriculture products: cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits; beef, poultry
Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 39% (1997)
Labor force: NA
By occupation agriculture: 80%
By occupation industry: 9.5%
By occupation services: 5.5%
By occupation wageearnersworkingabroad: 5% (1993est)
Unemployment rate: NA
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $402 million
Expenditures: $799 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $295 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: shrimp 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra, citrus (1997)
Partners: Spain 17%, South Africa 16%, Portugal 12%, US 10%, Japan, Malawi, India, Zimbabwe (1996 est.)
Imports: $965 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Commodities: food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum (1997)
Partners: South Africa 55%, Zimbabwe 7%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 4%, US, Japan, India (1996 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $5.7 billion (December 1997)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1_12,394.0 (January 1999), 11,874.6 (1998), 11.543.6 (1997), 11,293.8 (1996), 9,024.3 (1995), 6,038.6 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 426 million kWh (1997)
Production by source: NA%
Consumption: 1.11 billion kWh (1997)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 685.6 million kWh (1997)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 70,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: fair system of tropospheric scatter, open-wire lines, and microwave radio relay
Domestic: microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter
International: satellite earth stations_5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $72 million (FY97)
Percent of gdp: 4.7% (1997)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 174 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 22
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 10
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With paved runways under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 152
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 16
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 39
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 96 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 306 km; petroleum products 289 km
Note: not operating
RailwaysTotal: 3,131 km
Narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)
RoadwaysWaterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes
Merchant marine: total:3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: Southern African transit hub for South American cocaine probably destined for the European and US markets; producer of hashish and methaqualone