Mozambique

Republic of MozambiqueRepublica de Mocambique

republicIndependence 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

Mozambique as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 163 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalMaputo, UTC+2
Position18 15 S, 35 00 E
Area799,380 sq km
LocationSoutheastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Populationas each edition published it
25.3 million July 2015 est. · 14.57m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.45% 2015 est. · 6.06% in 1993
Median ageyears
17 years 2015 est. · 19 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
52.94 years 2015 est. · 48.03 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
5.21 children per woman 2015 est. · 6.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
70.21 deaths per 1,000 live births 2015 est. · 138 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,200 2014 est. · $115 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
7.4% 2014 est. · 0.3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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-1990s. 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. President GUEBUZA was reelected to a second term in October 2009. However, the elections were flawed by voter fraud, questionable disqualification of candidates, and FRELIMO use of government resources during the campaign.

Geography

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

20 fields
Area
799,380sq km
land: 786,380 sq kmwater: 13,000 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 35slightly less than twice the size of California
Coastline
2,470km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Highest point
2,436m
Monte Bingalowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
4,783km
border countries (6): Malawi 1,498 km, South Africa 496 km, Swaziland 108 km, Tanzania 840 km, Zambia 439 km, Zimbabwe 1,402 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Climate

tropical to subtropical

Terrain

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land:
56.3%;
  • arable land 6.4%;
  • permanent crops 0.3%;
  • permanent pasture 49.6%
forest:
43.7%
other:
0% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

1,181 sq km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
0.88 cu km/yr (26%/4%/70%)
per capita:
46.05 cu m/yr (2005)

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

  • 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

Geography - note

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

People and Society

34 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)

338,552
65 and over2.91%
398,907
415,357
55-643.44%
455,450
3,201,321
25-5427.09%
3,654,012
2,657,099
15-2421.43%
2,764,109
5,740,743
0-1445.13%
5,677,563
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 94.8% · youth dependency ratio: 88.2% · elderly dependency ratio: 6.5% · potential support ratio: 15.3% (2015 est.)
Population
25,303,113
country comparison to the world: 51growth rate: 2.45% (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 28
Note
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)

Birth
38.58Death
12.1Net migration
-1.98

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2015 est.)52.94
52.18 · 53.72Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)70.21
72.29 · 68.09Literacy (2015 est.)58.8%
73.3% · 45.4%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2015 est.)17
16.4 · 17.6School life expectancy years (2013)9
10 · 9
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 214 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 13 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Religions(2007 est.)

Roman Catholic 28.4%Muslim 17.9%Zionist Christian 15.5%Protestant 12.2% (includes Pentecostal 10.9% and Anglican 1.3%)other 6.7%none 18.7%unspecified 0.7% (2007 est.)
Urban population
32.2%of total population
(2015)rate of urbanization: 3.27% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major urban areas - population: MAPUTO (capital) 1.187 million; Matola 937,000 (2015)
Improved drinking water
51.1%of population
urban: 80.6% of populationrural: 37% of populationurban: 19.4% of populationrural: 63% of populationtotal: 48.9% of population (2015 est.)
Improved sanitation
20.5%of population
urban: 42.4% of populationrural: 10.1% of populationurban: 57.6% of populationrural: 89.9% of populationtotal: 79.5% of population (2015 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
4.5%
(2014)country comparison to the world: 158

Nationality

noun:
Mozambican(s)
adjective:
Mozambican

Languages

Emakhuwa 25.3%, Portuguese (official) 10.7%, Xichangana 10.3%, Cisena 7.5%, Elomwe 7%, Echuwabo 5.1%, other Mozambican languages 30.1%, other 4% (1997 census)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
0.96 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.88 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.85 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.21 children born/woman (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Health expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2013) country comparison to the world: 99

Physicians density

0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

10.58% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.543 million (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

HIV/AIDS - deaths

44,900 (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

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 dengue fever
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis
animal contact disease:
rabies (2013)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.6% (2011) country comparison to the world: 44

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 78

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number:
1,369,080
percentage:
22% (2008 est.)

Government

Republic; President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015); Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho DO ROSARIO (since 17 January 2015)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

57.0%
Filipe NYUSI (FRELIMO) 57.0%Afonso DHLAKAMA (RENAMO) 36.6%Daviz SIMANGO (MDM) 6.4% election last held on 15 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019)

Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica, 250 seats, elected 15 October 2014one dot, one seat

FRELIMO 144RENAMO 89MDM 17

Percent of vote

FRELIMO 55.9%RENAMO 32.5%MDM 8.4%other 3.3%

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

Independence

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Constitution

  • previous 1975, 1990;
  • latest adopted 16 November 2004, effective 21 December 2004;
  • note - amendments drafted by late 2013, but parliamentary review has been stalled (2014)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015)
head of government:
Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho DO ROSARIO (since 17 January 2015); Alberto Clementino Antonio VAQUINA removed from office 9 January 2015
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president
elections/appointments:
  • president elected directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms);
  • election last held on 15 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019);
  • prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
Filipe NYUSI elected president; percent of vote - Filipe NYUSI (FRELIMO) 57.0%, Afonso DHLAKAMA (RENAMO) 36.6%, Daviz SIMANGO (MDM) 6.4%

Legislative branch

description:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members - including 2 representing Mozambicans abroad - directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections:
last held on 15 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019)
election results:
percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 55.9%, RENAMO 32.5%, MDM 8.4%, other 3.3%; seats by party - FRELIMO 144, RENAMO 89, MDM 17

Judicial branch

highest court(s):
  • Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 judges);
  • Constitutional Council (consists of 7 judges);
  • note - the Higher Council of the Judiciary is responsible for judiciary management and discipline
judge selection and term of office:
  • Supreme Court president and vice president appointed by Mozambique president in consultation with the Higher Council of the Judiciary (CSMJ) and with ratification by the legislature;
  • other judges elected by the legislature;
  • judges serve 5-year renewable terms;
  • Constitutional Council judges appointed - 1 by the president, 5 by the legislature, and 1 by the CSMJ;
  • judges serve 5-year nonrenewable terms
subordinate courts:
  • Administrative Court (capital city only);
  • provincial courts or Tribunais Judicias de Provincia;
  • District Courts or Tribunais Judicias de Districto;
  • customs courts;
  • maritime courts;
  • courts marshal;
  • labor courts;
  • community 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, CD, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Amelia Narciso Matos SUMBANA (since 2 November 2009)
chancery:
1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 293-7146
FAX:
[1] (202) 835-0245

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Douglas M. GRIFFITHS (since 6 July 2012)
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 symbol(s)

national colors: green, black, yellow, white, red

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.

39 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$31.1billion
(2014 est.) · $28.96 billion (2013 est.) · $26.96 billion (2012 est.)note: data are in 2014 US dollarscountry comparison to the world: 127official exchange rate: $16.68 billion (2014 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,200
(2014 est.) · $1,100 (2013 est.) · $1,000 (2012 est.)note: data are in 2014 US dollarscountry comparison to the world: 222
Real growth rate
7.4%
(2014 est.) · 7.4% (2013 est.) · 7.1% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 10industrial production growth: 9% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 17
Inflation, consumer prices
2.3%
(2014 est.) · 4.2% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 106

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2014 est.)

agriculture 28.9%industry 24%services 47.1% (2014 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

28.8%
China
17.4%
20%
South Africa
26.5%
5.7%
India
16.6%
7.7%
Italy
5.9%
Belgium
5.2%
Spain
Exports $4.345 billion (2014 est.)Imports $8.954 billion (2014 est.)(2014)

By end use% of GDP

Household consumption
74.2%Government consumption
17.9%Fixed capital
50.3%Inventories
0%Exports
31.8%Imports
-74.3%
(2014 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$5.324 billionExpenditures
$6.967 billion (2014 est.)

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, propelled the country’s GDP from $4 billion in 1993, following the war, to about $30.9 billion in 2014.

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, more than half 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 aluminum production from the Mozal smelter has significantly boosted export earnings in recent years. In 2012, The Mozambican government took over Portugal's last remaining share in the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity Company (HCB), a significant contributor to the Southern African Power Pool.

The government has plans to expand the Cahora Bassa Dam and build additional dams to increase its electricity exports and fulfill the needs of its burgeoning domestic industries. 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 US government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a $506.9 million Compact with Mozambique that ended in 2013. The Compact focused 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.

Citizens rioted in September 2010 after fuel, water, electricity, and bread price increases were announced. In an attempt to lessen the negative impact on the population, the government implemented subsidies, decreased taxes and tariffs, and instituted other fiscal measures. Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 6%-8% in the decade up to 2014, one of Africa's strongest performances.

Mozambique's ability to attract large investment projects in natural resources is expected to extend high growth rates in coming years. Revenues from these vast resources, including natural gas, coal, titanium and hydroelectric capacity, could overtake donor assistance within five years.

Gross national saving

12.4% of GDP (2014 est.) · 15.6% of GDP (2013 est.) · 14.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Labor force

12.25 million (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

17% (2007 est.) · 21% (1997 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
1.9%
highest 10%:
36.7% (2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.6 (2008) · 47.3 (2002) country comparison to the world: 36

Taxes and other revenues

32.1% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9.9% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Public debt

47.2% of GDP (2014 est.) · 41.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Fiscal year

calendar year

Central bank discount rate

9.5% (17 January 2013) · 3.25% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 24

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.3% (31 December 2014 est.) · 15.33% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Stock of narrow money

$5.267 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $4.851 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Stock of broad money

$7.777 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $7.19 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Stock of domestic credit

$4.982 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $4.573 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Current account balance

-$5.797 billion (2014 est.) · -$5.892 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Exports

$4.345 billion (2014 est.) · $4.123 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$8.954 billion (2014 est.) · $8.48 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.334 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $3.142 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Debt - external

$7.521 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $6.416 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Exchange rates

meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 31.2 (2014 est.) · 30.125 (2013 est.) · 28.38 (2012 est.) · 29.075 (2011 est.) · 33.96 (2010 est.)

Energy

23 fields

Installed generating capacity, 2.429 million kW(2011 est.)

Fossil fuels 10.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)Hydroelectric plants 89.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)Nuclear fuels 0% · Other renewable sources 0%
Electricity production
14.83 billion (2012 est.)Electricity consumption
10.19 billion (2012 est.)Electricity exports
9.462 billion (2012 est.)Electricity imports
8.537 billion (2012 est.)Refined petroleum imports
16,140 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
24,000 (2013 est.)Refined petroleum production
992 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum exports
953 (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

20 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Natural gas - production

4.355 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Natural gas - consumption

755 million cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Natural gas - exports

3.6 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.832 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

4.789 million Mt (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Communications

8 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2014 est.)

75Mobile cellular
5.5%Internet users, % of population
<1Fixed lines
Mobile cellular
18.4 million
(2014 est.)
Internet users
1.4 million
(2014 est.)
Fixed lines
68,800
(2014 est.) · country code .mz

Telephone 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 35 per 100 persons
international:
  • country code - 258;
  • landing point for the EASSy and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems;
  • satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean) (2011)

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;
  • transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
2
2,438 to 3,047 m
1
9
1,524 to 2,437 m
9
5
914 to 1,523 m
29
4
under 914 m
Paved 21Unpaved 7738 (2013)

Networkskm

Roadways
30,331Railways
4,787Waterways
460 (2010)
Roadways: paved: 6,303 km · unpaved: 24,028 km (2009) · Railways: narrow gauge: 4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) · Waterways: (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake)

Airports

98 (2013) country comparison to the world: 57

Pipelines

gas 972 km; refined products 278 km (2013)

Railways

total:
4,787 km
narrow gauge:
4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

country comparison to the world: 38

Roadways

total:
30,331 km
paved:
6,303 km
unpaved:
24,028 km (2009)

country comparison to the world: 96

Waterways

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2010) country comparison to the world: 85

Merchant marine

total:
2
by type:
cargo 2
foreign-owned:
2 (Belgium 2) (2010)

country comparison to the world: 144

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Military

5 fields

Military branches

Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra de Mocambique, MGM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2012)

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 (2012)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 4,613,367 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
2,677,473
females age 16-49:
2,941,073 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
274,602
female:
280,008 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Disputes - international

South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 61,102 (2015 floods) (2015)

Illicit 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 make 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 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mozambique/2015.