Mozambique
Republic of MozambiqueRepublica de Mocambique
republicIndependence 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
Mozambique as the 2010 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 135 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 1990's. 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.
Geography
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
20 fieldsLand useshare of 799,380 sq km
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 0.63 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%)
- per capita:
- 32 cu m/yr (2000)
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
People
23 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2010 est.)
Note
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Religions(1997 census)
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 (2010 est.)
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)
Languages
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)
Government
Republic; President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005); Prime Minister Aires Bonifacio ALI (since 16 January 2010)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica, 250 seats, elected 28 October 2009one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
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
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
Legal system
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 theWorld 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, 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
At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries.
48 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)
Electricity
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 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. 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 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.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
47.3 (2002) · 39.6 (1997) country comparison to the world: 33
Central bank discount rate
9.95% (31 December 2009) · 9.95% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 48
Commercial bank prime lending rate
15.68% (31 December 2009 est.) · 18.31% (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Stock of narrow money
$2.657 billion (31 December 2010 est) · $2.812 billion (31 December 2009 est) country comparison to the world: 114
Stock of broad money
$3.803 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $4.074 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Stock of domestic credit
$2.74 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $2.311 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
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
Natural gas - proved reserves
127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Current account balance
-$1.028 billion (2010 est.) · -$866 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.982 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $1.829 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
Debt - external
$4.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $4.246 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Exchange rates
meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 35 (2010), 26.283 (2009), 24.125 (2008), 26.264 (2007), 25.4 (2006)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- a fair telecommunications system that is shackled with a heavy state presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and charges
- domestic:
- stagnation in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network;
- mobile-cellular coverage now includes all the main cities and key roads, including those from Maputo to the South African and Swaziland borders, the national highway through Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor, and from Nampula to Nacala;
- extremely low fixed-line teledensity;
- despite significant growth in mobile-cellular services, teledensity remains low at about 25 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 258;
- satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean);
- landing point for the SEACOM fiber-optic cable
Broadcast media
- 1 state-run TV station supplemented by private TV station;
- Portuguese state TV's African service, RTP Africa, and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available;
- state-run radio provides nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple languages;
- a number of privately-owned and community-operated stations also broadcast;
- transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Waterways
460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2010) country comparison to the world: 87
Merchant marine
- total:
- 2
country comparison to the world: 145
- by type:
- cargo 2
- foreign-owned:
- 2 (Belgium 2) (2010)
Military
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2008)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2008)
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)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsIllicit 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 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Mozambique.” The World Factbook 2010. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mozambique/2010.