Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
2 (1999)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 14, FM 4, shortwave 17 (1998)
Radios [time series]
730,000 (1997)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
60,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
NA
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1 (1997)
Televisions [time series]
90,000 (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits; beef, poultry
Budget [time series]
revenues: $402 million expenditures: $799 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos
Debt - external [time series]
$4.8 billion (1999)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$1.115 billion (1995)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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's economy grew at an annual 10% rate in 1997-99, one of the highest growth rates in the world. Still, the country depends on foreign assistance to balance the budget and to pay for a trade imbalance in which imports outnumber exports by five to one or more. 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. In addition, Mozambique is on track to receive a formal cancellation of a large portion of its external debt through a World Bank initiative.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
1.018 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports [time series]
483 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports [time series]
385 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production [time series]
1.2 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 25% hydro: 75% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Exchange rates [time series]
meticais (Mt) per US$1 - 13,392.0 (January 2000), 12,775.1 (1999), 11,874.6 (1998), 11.543.6 (1997), 11,293.8 (1996), 9,024.3 (1995)
Exports [time series]
$300 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
prawns 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra, citrus, coconuts, timber (1997)
Exports - partners [time series]
Spain 17%, South Africa 16%, Portugal 12%, US 10%, Japan, Malawi, India, Zimbabwe (1996 est.)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $18.7 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 34% industry: 18% services: 48% (1998 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
10% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum, transport equipment (1997)
Imports - partners [time series]
South Africa 55%, Zimbabwe 7%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 4%, US, Japan, India (1996 est.)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
39% (1997)
Industries [time series]
food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4% (1999 est.)
Labor force [time series]
NA
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
NA%
Geography
total: 801,590 sq km land: 784,090 sq km water: 17,500 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly less than twice the size of California
Climate [time series]
tropical to subtropical
Coastline [time series]
2,470 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
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 environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
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 [time series]
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Irrigated land [time series]
1,180 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
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 [time series]
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 18% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Location [time series]
Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones
Natural resources [time series]
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower
Terrain [time series]
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Capital [time series]
Maputo
Constitution [time series]
30 November 1990
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique
Data code [time series]
MZ
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Bryan Dean CURRAN embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo telephone: [258] (1) 492797 FAX: [258] (1) 490114
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
Executive branch [time series]
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 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 3-4 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 (Flag description) [time series]
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 [time series]
republic
Independence [time series]
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president and judges elected by the Assembly
Legal system [time series]
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
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
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, chairman]; Mozambique National Resistance - Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana - Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Militia
Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]
$72 million (FY97)
Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]
4.7% (FY97)
Military manpower - availability [time series]
males age 15-49: 4,536,132 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]
males age 15-49: 2,617,720 (2000 est.)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 43% (male 4,079,240; female 4,122,578) 15-64 years: 54% (male 5,123,178; female 5,262,618) 65 years and over: 3% (male 215,412; female 301,670) (2000 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
37.99 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate [time series]
23.29 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Infant mortality rate [time series]
139.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Languages [time series]
Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 37.52 years male: 38.34 years female: 36.68 years (2000 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 57.7% female: 23.3% (1995 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Population [time series]
19,104,696 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 2000 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
1.47% (2000 est.)
Religions [time series]
indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.93 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Illicit drugs [time series]
Southern African transit hub for South American cocaine probably destined for the European and US markets; producer of hashish and methaqualone [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]
Transportation
Airports [time series]
170 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
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: 4 under 914 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 148 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 92 (1999 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT ships by type: cargo 3 (1999 est.)
Pipelines [time series]
crude oil 306 km; petroleum products 289 km note: not operating
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane
Railways [time series]
total: 3,131 km narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)
Waterways [time series]
about 3,750 km of navigable routes