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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

11 (2002)

Internet country code [time series]

.mz

Internet users [time series]

22,500 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: fair system but not available generally (telephone density is only 16 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

90,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

287,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

metical (MZM)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

MZM

Debt - external [time series]

$966 million (2002 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

39.6 (1996-97)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$632.8 million (2001)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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. Inflation was brought to single digits during the late 1990s although it returned to double digits in 2000-02. 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 the opening of the MOZAL aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project to date has increased export earnings. Additional investment projects in titanium extraction and 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 [time series]

1.39 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

5.8 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

500 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

7.193 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

meticais per US dollar - 23,678 (2002), 20,703.6 (2001), 15,447.1 (2000), 13,028.6 (1999), 12,110.2 (1998) 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

Exports [time series]

$680 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity

Exports - partners [time series]

Belgium 24.3%, South Africa 9.1%, Germany 6.2% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $19.52 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 22% industry: 23% services: 55% (2001 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

7.7% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)

Imports [time series]

$1.18 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 27.5%, France 8.9%, US 7%, Australia 6.9%, Japan 6%, Malaysia 4% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.4% (2000)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

15.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

9.2 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

60 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

60 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

63.71 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption [time series]

8,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line [time series]

70% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

21% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 801,590 sq km water: 17,500 sq km land: 784,090 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; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem

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

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

1,070 sq km (1998 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: 3.98% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 95.73% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

South-eastern 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; devastating cyclones and floods occur in central and southern provinces

Natural resources [time series]

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

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), 1 city*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Maputo City*, 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 short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa local long form: Republica de Mocambique

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [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 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 (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, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), 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, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [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; 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 [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, president]; Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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 [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. Heavy flooding in both 1999 and 2000 severely hurt the economy. Political stability and sound economic policies have encouraged recent foreign investment.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$35.1 million (2000 est.)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1% (2000 est.)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,142,449 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,373,444 (2003 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.1% (male 3,634,173; female 3,725,396) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 4,712,891; female 4,945,123) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 189,778; female 271,905) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

38.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

30.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

13% 12.6 to 16.4%, estimates vary (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

60,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

1.1 million (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 199 deaths/1,000 live births female: 180.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 216.85 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 31.3 years male: 30.98 years female: 31.63 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 19 years male: 18.7 years female: 19.3 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

17,479,266 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 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.82% (2003 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: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.87 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

165 (2002)

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: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 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 [time series]

gas 189 km; refined products 292 km (2003)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane

Railways [time series]

total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)

Waterways [time series]

3,750 km (navigable routes)