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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.mz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

15,231 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

178,000 (2005)

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 (extremely low density with less than 1 main line per 100 persons) domestic: the system consists of open-wire lines and trunk connection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

67,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2.339 million (2006)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2000)

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: $1.834 billion expenditures: $1.98 billion (2006 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

metical (MZM)

Current account balance [time series]

$-625 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.527 billion (2006 est.)

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

47.3 (2002)

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

$1.286 billion (2005)

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 reduced to single digits during the late 1990s although it returned to double digits in 2000-06. 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 work force. 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. In late 2005, and after years of negotiations, the government signed an agreement to gain 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 power 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

9.127 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

12 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

9.588 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

13.17 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

meticais per US dollar - 25.4 (2006), 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004), 23,782 (2003), 23,678 (2002) note: in 2006 Mozambique revalued its currency, with 1000 old meticais equal to 1 new meticais

Exports [time series]

$2.381 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Netherlands 59.7%, South Africa 15.2%, Zimbabwe 3.2% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$6.323 billion (2006 est.)

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

$29.17 billion (2006 est.)

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

agriculture: 22.8% industry: 29.5% services: 47.7% (2006 est.)

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

$1,500 (2006 est.)

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

7.9% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 39.4% (2002)

Imports [time series]

$2.649 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 36.3%, Netherlands 15.6%, Portugal 3.3% (2006)

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]

13.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force [time series]

9.4 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

191.8 million cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production [time series]

191.8 million cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

122.2 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

11,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

70% (2001 est.)

Public debt [time series]

23.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$1.156 billion (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

21% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

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]

1,180 sq km (2003)

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: 5.43% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 94.28% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods 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 (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Capital [time series]

name: Maputo geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 former: Portuguese East Africa

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James DUDLEY 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 chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February 2004) cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote - Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%

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

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 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 to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 62%, RENAMO 29.7%, other 8.3%; seats by party - FRELIMO 160, RENAMO 90

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 [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA]; Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or RENAMO-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA]

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 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 newly elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, has promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 3,793,373 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,751,223 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 185,314 (2005 est.)

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

Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2006)

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

0.8% (2006)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 4,692,126/female 4,647,960) 15-64 years: 52.5% (male 5,345,618/female 5,633,511) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 244,886/female 341,484) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

38.54 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

20.51 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

12.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

110,000 (2003 est.)

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

1.3 million (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 109.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 112.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 106.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages [time series]

Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 40.9 years male: 41.4 years female: 40.4 years (2007 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.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2007)

Median age [time series]

total: 17.4 years male: 16.9 years female: 17.8 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

20,905,585 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 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.803% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.949 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.717 male(s)/female total population: 0.968 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.29 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 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]

147 (2007)

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 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 125 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 79 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,964 GRT/5,324 DWT by type: cargo 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2007)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 918 km; refined products 294 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Railways [time series]

total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2006)

Roadways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2007)