Mozambique

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (2002)

Internet country code

.mz

Internet users

22,500 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Radios

730,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: fair system but not available generally (telephone density is only 3.5 telephones for each 1,000 persons) domestic: the system consists of open-wire lines and trunk connection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

90,000 (December 2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

100,000 (June 2001 est)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

67,600 (2000)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $393.1 million expenditures: $1.025 billion, including capital expenditures of $479.4 million (2001 est.)

Currency

metical (MZM)

Currency code

MZM

Debt - external

$1 billion (2001 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40 (1996-97 )

Economic aid - recipient

$632.8 million (2001)

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 1988, the government embarked on a series of dramatic macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy and reduce government participation. These steps combined with the political stability that has prevailed since the 1994 multi-party elections have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate fueled by foreign and domestic investments and donor assistance. Inflation was brought to single digits during the same period, although it has returned to double digits in 2000 and 2001. Foreign exchange rates have remained relatively stable. 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 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 country's workforce. A substantial trade imbalance persists, although it has diminished with the opening of the MOZAL aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project. Additional investment projects in titanium extraction/processing and garment manufacturing should 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.

Electricity - consumption

925.81 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

5.7 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

100 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

7.017 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 4% hydro: 96% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

meticais per US dollar - 23,314.2 (January 2002), 20,703.6 (2001), 15,447.1 (2000), 13,028.6 (1999), 12,110.2 (1998), 11,772.6 (1997) note: effective October 2000, the exchange rate is determined as the weighted average of buying and selling exchange rates of all transactions of commercial banks and stock exchanges with the public; meticais is the plural form of metical

Exports

$746 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

prawns 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity (2000)

Exports - partners

South Africa 12.7%, Zimbabwe 12.2%, Spain 10.6%, Portugal 10.0% (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $17.5 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 33% industry: 25% services: 42% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $900 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

9.2% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 32% (1996-97)

Imports

$1.254 billion c.i.f. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs, textiles (2000)

Imports - partners

South Africa 33.5%, Portugal 4.8%, US 4.2%, Australia 3.8% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% (2000)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10% (2001 est.)

Labor force

7.4 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

70% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

21% (1997 est.)

Area

total: 801,590 sq km water: 17,500 sq km land: 784,090 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of California

Climate

tropical to subtropical

Coastline

2,470 km

Elevation extremes

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

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

1,070 sq km (1998 est.)

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

Land use

arable land: 3.98% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 95.73% (1998 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur in central and southern provinces

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Maputo City*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Capital

Maputo

Constitution

30 November 1990

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa local long form: Republica de Mocambique

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo telephone: [258] (1) 492797 FAX: [258] (1) 490448

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036

Executive branch

chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986); note - before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected president by Frelimo's Central Committee on 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since 17 December 1994) cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO reelected president; percent of vote - Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO 52.29%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 47.71%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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 the creation of a separate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases

Legal system

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law

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 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - Frelimo 48.54%, Renamo-UE 38.81%; seats by party - Frelimo 133, Renamo-UE 117 note: Renamo-UE ran as a multiparty coalition; none of the other opposition parties received the 5% required to win parliamentary seats; in September 2000, Renamo-UE member Raul DOMINGOS was expelled from the party, he continues to hold his parliamentary seat as an independent

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, president]; Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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, 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. Heavy flooding in both 1999 and 2000 severely hurt the economy.

Military branches

Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Special Forces, Militia

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$35.1 million (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (2000 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 4,711,318 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,720,583 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.5% (male 4,162,413; female 4,176,295) 15-64 years: 54.7% (male 5,313,511; female 5,407,052) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 227,761; female 320,487) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

36.41 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

25.13 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

12.6 to 16.4%, estimates vary (2001)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

114,111 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,546,643 (2001)

Infant mortality rate

138.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 35.46 years female: 34.65 years (2002 est.) male: 36.25 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.3% male: 58.4% female: 27% (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

19,607,519 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 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

1.13% (2002 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.71 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish, South Asian 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 makes 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

Airports

166 (2001)

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 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 143 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 91 (2002)

Highways

total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1996)

Merchant marine

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT ships by type: cargo 3 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 2 (2002 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 306 km; petroleum products 289 km note: not operating

Ports and harbors

Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane

Railways

total: 3,131 km narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (2001)

Waterways

3,750 km (navigable routes)