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.
Geography of Mozambique
Location:
South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel,
between
South Africa
and
Tanzania
Coordinates:
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Area:
total: 801,590 sq km water: 17,500 sq km land: 784,090 sq km
Area comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
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
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur
in central and southern provinces
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
Geography - note:
the Zambezi flows through the
north-central and most fertile part of the country
Population of
Mozambique
Population:
19,686,505 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 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 4,229,802/female
4,177,235) 15-64 years: 54.5% (male 5,207,149/female 5,519,291) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 230,616/female 322,412)
Median age:
18.3 years
Growth rate:
1.38%
Infant mortality:
total: 129.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 134.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 124.02 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 39.82 years male: 39.53 years female: 40.13 years
Fertility rate:
4.62 children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:
indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe,
Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%,
Indians 0.08%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 47.8% male: 63.5% female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic
of Mozambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa local long form: Republica de Mocambique
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Maputo
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:
30 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
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)
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, 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
Political parties and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de
Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, president];
Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional
Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or RENAMO-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]
Economy
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
2000-03. 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.
GDP:
$26.03 billion (2005 est.)
GDP growth rate:
7%
GDP per capita:
$1,300
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 26.2% industry: 34.8% services: 39%
Inflation rate:
6.5%
Labor force:
9.2 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)
