-
You are here:
- Homepage » Mozambique
Mozambique Country Guide
Explore Mozambique in Africa
The terrain features mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west. The average density of population is approximately 27 per km². The notable climate conditions in Mozambique can be described as tropical to subtropical. Potential natural disasters are severe droughts or devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces.
To reach someone in Mozambique dial +258 prior to a number. There are 82,400 installed telephones. And there are 5,971,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900/1800 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".mz". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 220V - 50Hz.
About the flag and history of Mozambique
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.
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. As a result, Freedom House removed Mozambique from its list of electoral democracies.
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: Africa Neighbours: Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Swaziland, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi Capital: Maputo |
| Size | 801,590 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 309,495 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly less than twice the size of California |
| Population | 21,284,000 |
| Currency | Name Meticail, Currency Code:MZN |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .mz |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +258 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 5,971,000 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 82,400 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 799,380 (sq km) | 35 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,096,669 | 50 |
| Population growth rate | 2.44 (%) | 32 |
| Birth rate | 39.08 (births/1,000 population) | 11 |
| Death rate | 12.57 (deaths/1,000 population) | 25 |
| Net migration rate | -2.07 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 163 |
| Maternal mortality rate | 490.00 (deaths/100,000 live births) | 19 |
| Infant mortality rate | 74.63 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 13 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 52.29 (years) | 213 |
| Total fertility rate | 5.34 (children born/woman) | 12 |
| Health expenditures | 5.20 (% of GDP) | 128 |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 11.50 (%) | 8 |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 1,400,000 | 5 |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 74,000 | 7 |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 4.90 (%) | 158 |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 18.30 (%) | 39 |
| Education expenditures | 5.00 (% of GDP) | 76 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 26,690,000,000 | 119 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 7.50 (%) | 23 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 1,200 | 210 |
| Labor force | 10,100,000 | 50 |
| Unemployment rate | 17.00 (%) | 152 |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 45.60 | 37 |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 26.80 (% of GDP) | 35 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 29.90 (% of GDP) | 93 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -6.50 (% of GDP) | 183 |
| Public debt | 48.10 (% of GDP) | 68 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.50 (%) | 95 |
| Central bank discount rate | 3.25 (%) | 101 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 19.10 (%) | 18 |
| Stock of narrow money | 4,006,000,000 | 108 |
| Stock of broad money | 5,268,000,000 | 128 |
| Stock of domestic credit | 3,711,000,000 | 125 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 8.00 (%) | 26 |
| Current account balance | -2,432,000,000 | 144 |
| Exports | 3,516,000,000 | 127 |
| Imports | 5,373,000,000 | 124 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 2,626,000,000 | 113 |
| Debt - external | 4,880,000,000 | 117 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 14,830,000,000 (kWh) | 84 |
| Electricity - consumption | 10,190,000,000 (kWh) | 88 |
| Electricity - exports | 9,462,000,000 (kWh) | 22 |
| Electricity - imports | 8,537,000,000 (kWh) | 26 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 2,280,000 (kW) | 99 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 0.10 (% of total installed capacity) | 207 |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 99.90 (% of total installed capacity) | 2 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 19,580 (bbl/day) | 129 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 13,200 (bbl/day) | 124 |
| Natural gas - production | 3,120,000,000 (cu m) | 55 |
| Natural gas - consumption | 80,000,000 (cu m) | 108 |
| Natural gas - exports | 3,040,000,000 (cu m) | 36 |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 127,400,000,000 (cu m) | 52 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 2,728,000 (Mt) | 144 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 88,100 | 147 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 7,855,000 | 89 |
| Internet hosts | 89,737 | 82 |
| Internet users | 613,600 | 113 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 100 | 56 |
| Railways | 4,787 (km) | 38 |
| Roadways | 30,331 (km) | 96 |
| Waterways | 460 (km) | 86 |
| Merchant marine | 2 | 144 |
Military
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Military expenditures | 0.60 (% of GDP) | 157 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases
List of current world heritage sites
| Name | Since |
|---|---|
| Island of Mozambique The fortified city of Mozambique is located on this island, a former Portuguese trading-post on the route to India. Its remarkable architectural unity is due to the consistent use, since the 16th century, of the same building techniques, building mat ... | 1991 |