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

top of page


Background: Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration economic dependence on South Africa a severe drought and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid 1990s. 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. President GUEBUZA was reelected to a second term in October 2009. However the elections were flawed by voter fraud questionable disqualification of candidates and Frelimo use of government resources during the campaign. As a result Freedom House removed Mozambique from its list of electoral democracies.


top of page


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

Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S 35 00 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 35
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries

Coastline: 2,470 km

Maritime claims

Climate: tropical to subtropical

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

Elevation

Natural resources: coal titanium natural gas hydropower tantalum graphite

Land use

Irrigated land: 1180 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 216 km³ (1992)

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

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


top of page


Population: 23,515,934 (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 50
Growth rate: 2.442% (2012 est.)
Growth rate rank: 33
Below poverty line: 54% (2008 est.)

Nationality

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

Languages: Emakhuwa 25.3% Portuguese (official) 10.7% Xichangana 10.3% Cisena 7.5% Elomwe 7% Echuwabo 5.1% other Mozambican languages 30.1% other 4% (1997 census)

Religions: Catholic 28.4% Protestant 27.7% (Zionist Christian 15.5% Evangelical Pentecostal 10.9% Anglican 1.3%) Muslim 17.9% other 7.2% none 18.7% (1997 census)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.442% (2012 est.)
Rank: 33

Birth rate: 39.34 births/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 11

Death rate: 12.79 deaths/1000 population (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 23

Net migration rate: -2.13 migrant(s)/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 167

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 11

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 213

Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Rank: 12

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.027 physicians/1000 population (2006)

Hospital bed density: 0.8 beds/1000 population (2006)

Sanitation facility access:
Unimproved:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 11.5% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 8
People living with hivaids: 1.4 million (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 5
Deaths: 74,000 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 7

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.2% (2003)
Rank: 29

Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 58

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name

Government type: republic

Capital

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day 25 June (1975)

Constitution: 30 November 1990

Legal system: mixed legal system of Portuguese civil law Islamic law and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

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 Constitutional Court customs courts maritime courts courts marshal labor courts

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM [Daviz SIMANGO]; Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA]; Mozambique National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Afonso DHLAKAMA]

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

Diplomatic representation

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; green represents the riches of the land white peace black the African continent yellow the country's minerals and red the struggle for independence; the rifle symbolizes defense and vigilance the hoe refers to the country's agriculture the open book stresses the importance of education and the star represents Marxism and internationalism

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


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. Fiscal reforms including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. Inspite of these gains Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for more than half of its annual budget and in 2008 54% of the population remained below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force and smallholder agricultural productivity and productivity growth is weak. 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 Company (HCB) a dam that was not transferred to Mozambique at independence because of the ensuing civil war and unpaid debts. More electrical power capacity 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 compact entered into force in September 2008 and will continue for five years. Compact projects will focus on improving sanitation roads agriculture and the business regulation environment in an effort to spur economic growth in the four northern provinces of the country. Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 9% in the decade up to 2007 one of Africa's strongest performances. However heavy reliance on aluminum which accounts for about one-third of exports subjects the economy to volatile international prices. The sharp decline in aluminum prices during the global economic crisis lowered GDP growth by several percentage points. Citizens rioted in September 2010 after fuel water electricity and bread price increases were announced. In an attempt lessen the negative impact on people the government implemented subsidies decreased taxes and tariffs and instituted other fiscal measures. Real growth of more than 7% per year was achieved in 2010-12. Investment in the country's gas sector may raise Mozambique's economic growth to 8% per year through 2017.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 120

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 20

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 210

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

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

Industries

Industrial production growth rate: 8% (2010 est.)
Rank: 29

Labor force: 10.1 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 50

Unemployment rate: 21% (1997 est.)
Rank: 162

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 54% (2008 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index: 47.3 (2002)
Rank: 37

Budget
Surplus or deficit: -6.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 181

Taxes and other revenues: 29.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 100

Public debt: 34.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 90

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 10.4% (2011 est.)
Rank: 98

Central bank discount rate: 9.95% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 28

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 19.1% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 18

Stock of narrow money: $3.576 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 108

Stock of broad money: $4.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 128

Stock of domestic credit: $3.387 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 124

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Current account balance: -$1.615 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 143

Exports: $2.776 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 125
Commodities: aluminum prawns cashews cotton sugar citrus timber; bulk electricity
Partners: South Africa 28.9% Belgium 15.1% Italy 11.8% Spain 8.5% China 6.6% (2011)

Imports: $4.187 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 125
Commodities: machinery and equipment vehicles fuel chemicals metal products foodstuffs textiles
Partners: South Africa 35.4% China 10.2% India 8.4% US 6.6% Australia 6.1% Portugal 4.4% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.469 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 113

Debt external: $4.461 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 119

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Production: 16.79 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Production rank: 78
Consumption: 10.19 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 87
Exports: 12.94 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 14
Imports: 7.869 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 30
Installed generating capacity: 2.428 million kW (2009 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 97
Generation sources fossil fuels: 10.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 195
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 146
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 89.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 13
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 164

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 170
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 158
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 102
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 169

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products production rank: 180
Products consumption: 19,580 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 129
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products exports rank: 205
Products imports: 13,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products imports rank: 124

Natural gas
Production: 3.12 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Production rank: 54
Consumption: 80 million m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 109
Exports: 3.04 billion m³ (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 36
Imports: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 103
Proven reserves: 127.4 billion m³ (1 January 2012 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 52

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 2.728 million Mt (2010 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 144

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones
Main lines in use: 88,100 (2011)
Main lines in use rank: 147
Mobile cellular: 7.855 million (2011)
Mobile cellular rank: 89

Telephone system

Broadcast media: 1 state-run TV station supplemented by private TV station; Portuguese state TV's African service RTP Africa and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available; state-run radio provides nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple languages; a number of privately-owned and community-operated stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet
Country code: .mz
Hosts: 89,737 (2012)
Hosts rank: 82
Users: 613,600 (2009)
Users rank: 113

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 148

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: registration for military service is mandatory for all males and females at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women may serve as officers or enlisted (2010)

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 100 (2012)
Rank: 56

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 918 km; refined products 278 km (2010)

Railways
Rank: 38

Roadways
Rank: 96

Waterways: 460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2010)
Rank: 86

Merchant marine
Rank: 144

Ports and terminals: Beira Maputo Nacala


top of page


Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and 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 make 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