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.
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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-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 fieldsLand use
- agricultural land:
- 56.3%;
- arable land 6.4%;
- permanent crops 0.3%;
- permanent pasture 49.6%
- forest:
- 43.7%
- other:
- 0% (2011 est.)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 0.88 cu km/yr (26%/4%/70%)
- per capita:
- 46.05 cu m/yr (2005)
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 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)
Note
Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)
Male · female
Religions(2007 est.)
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.)
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)
Government
Republic; President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015); Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho DO ROSARIO (since 17 January 2015)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica, 250 seats, elected 15 October 2014one 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
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)
Legal system
- mixed legal system of Portuguese civil law, and customary law;
- note - in rural, predominately Muslim villages with no formal legal system, Islamic law may be applied
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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 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 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2014 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
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
Distribution of family income - Gini index
45.6 (2008) · 47.3 (2002) country comparison to the world: 36
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
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 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 2.429 million kW(2011 est.)
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 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2014 est.)
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)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
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
Military
5 fieldsMilitary 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)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - 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
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.