Mozambique

Mozambique

Introduction

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.

Geography

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: 799,380 sq km
country comparison to the world: 35 land:786,380 sq km
water:13,000 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 (2008)

Total renewable water resources

216 cu km (1992)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.63cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%)
per capita:32cu m/yr (2000)

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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective:Mozambican

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% (2007 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% (2007 census)

Population

22,948,858 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51 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, higher death rates, lower population 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.9% (male 5,295,776/female 5,245,485)
15-64 years:51.1% (male 5,550,501/female 6,174,668)
65 years and over:3% (male 313,892/female 368,536) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 16.8 years
male:16.1 years
female:17.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.444% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Birth rate

39.62 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Death rate

13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Net migration rate

-2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

Urbanization

urban population: 38% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

MAPUTO (capital) 1.589 million

Matola 761,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.017 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.71 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

550 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 23

Infant mortality rate

total: 78.95 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 13 male:81.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female:76.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 51.78 years
country comparison to the world: 209 male:51.01 years
female:52.57 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.46 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Health expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119

Physicians density

0.027 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 184

Hospital bed density

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 156

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 77% of population
rural: 29% of population
total: 47% of population
unimproved:
urban: 23% of population
rural: 71% of population
total: 53% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 38% of population
rural: 4% of population
total: 17% of population
unimproved:
urban: 62% of population
rural: 96% of population
total: 83% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

11.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

1.4 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

HIV/AIDS – deaths

74,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

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
water contact disease:schistosomiasis
animal contact disease:rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

21.2% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 29

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 59

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years
male:10 years
female:8 years (2007)

Government

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)
head of government:Prime Minister Aires Bonifacio ALI (since 16 January 2010)
cabinet:Cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Armando GUEBUZA reelected president

percent of vote – Armando GUEBUZA 76.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 14.9%, Daviz SIMANGO 8.8%

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats

members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:percent of vote by party – FRELIMO 74.7%, RENAMO 17.7%, MDM 3.9%, other 3.7%

seats by party – FRELIMO 191, RENAMO 51, MDM 8

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Matos SUMBANA
chancery:1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:[1] (202) 293-7146
FAX:[1] (202) 835-0245

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE
embassy:Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address:P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone:[258] (21) 492797
FAX:[258] (21) 490114

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 anthem

name: “Patria Amada” (Lovely Fatherland)
lyrics/music:Salomao J. MANHICA/unknown
note:adopted 2002

Economy

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. In spite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for more than half 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 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 (HCB) company, 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. Despite 8.3% GDP growth in 2010, the increasing cost of living prompted citizens to riot in September 2010, after fuel, water, electricity, and bread price increases were announced. In an attempt to contain the cost of living, the government implemented subsidies, decreased taxes and tariffs, and instituted other fiscal measures.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$21.81 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122 $20.38 billion (2009 est.)
$19.17 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.893 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34 6.3% (2009 est.)
6.8% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$1,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213 $900 (2009 est.)
$900 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 28.8%
industry:26.4%
services:44.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

9.871 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

21% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Population below poverty line

70% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%:36.7% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

45.6 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 37 47.3 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Budget

revenues: $2.417 billion
expenditures:$2.986 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Public debt

46.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58 38% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210 3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32 9.95% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.263% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 15.675% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.736 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113 $2.531 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.033 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128 $3.667 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122 $2.059 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

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

8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Electricity – production

14.98 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Electricity – consumption

10.18 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Electricity – exports

11.21 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

3.436 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203

Oil – consumption

17,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Oil – imports

14,540 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Natural gas – production

3.6 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas – consumption

100 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas – exports

3.5 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas – proved reserves

127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Current account balance

-$1.21 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143 -$1.171 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$2.243 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129 $1.853 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber

bulk electricity

Imports

$3.335 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134 $3.243 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

South Africa 28.6%, China 10.3%, Australia 7.2%, India 5.8%, US 4.7%, Portugal 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.159 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115 $2.099 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$4.81 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111 $4.169 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

meticais (MZM) per US dollar -
35 (2010)
26.28 (2009)
24.125 (2008)
26.264 (2007)
25.4 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

106 (2010)
country comparison to the world:54

Airports – with paved runways

total: 23
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:10
914 to 1,523 m:4
under 914 m:5 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 83
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:9
914 to 1,523 m:34
under 914 m:39 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 918 km

refined products 278 km (2010)

Railways

total: 4,787 km
country comparison to the world: 38 narrow gauge:4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 30,331 km
country comparison to the world: 97 paved:6,303 km
unpaved:24,028 km (2008)

Waterways

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 86

Merchant marine

total: 2
country comparison to the world: 146 by type:cargo 2
foreign-owned:2 (Belgium 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Military

Military branches

Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra de Mocambique, MGM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2011)

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)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 4,613,367 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,677,473
females age 16-49:2,941,073 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 274,602
female:280,008 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 148

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none

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