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Mozambique Country Guide

Explore Mozambique in Africa

Mozambique with the capital city Maputo is located in Africa (Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel). It covers some 801,590 square kilometres (slightly less than twice the size of California) with 21,284,000 citizens.

Interactive map of Mozambique

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

Mozambique Flag Icon

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

SummaryContinent: Africa
Neighbours: Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Swaziland, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi
Capital: Maputo
Size801,590 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 309,495 square miles (mi² or sqmi)
slightly less than twice the size of California
Population21,284,000
CurrencyName Meticail, Currency Code:MZN
Country Top Level Domain (cTLD).mz
Telephone Country Prefix+258
Mobile Phone Connections5,971,000
Landline Phone Connections82,400

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 nameValueWorld Rank
Area799,380 (sq km)35

People and Society

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Population24,096,669 50
Population growth rate2.44 (%)32
Birth rate39.08 (births/1,000 population)11
Death rate12.57 (deaths/1,000 population)25
Net migration rate-2.07 (migrant(s)/1,000 population)163
Maternal mortality rate490.00 (deaths/100,000 live births)19
Infant mortality rate74.63 (deaths/1,000 live births)13
Life expectancy at birth52.29 (years)213
Total fertility rate5.34 (children born/woman)12
Health expenditures5.20 (% of GDP)128
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate11.50 (%)8
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS1,400,000 5
HIV/AIDS - deaths74,000 7
Obesity - adult prevalence rate4.90 (%)158
Children under the age of 5 years underweight18.30 (%)39
Education expenditures5.00 (% of GDP)76

Economy

Value nameValueWorld Rank
GDP (purchasing power parity)26,690,000,000 119
GDP - real growth rate7.50 (%)23
GDP - per capita (PPP)1,200 210
Labor force10,100,000 50
Unemployment rate17.00 (%)152
Distribution of family income - Gini index45.60 37
Investment (gross fixed)26.80 (% of GDP)35
Taxes and other revenues29.90 (% of GDP)93
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)-6.50 (% of GDP)183
Public debt48.10 (% of GDP)68
Inflation rate (consumer prices)3.50 (%)95
Central bank discount rate3.25 (%)101
Commercial bank prime lending rate19.10 (%)18
Stock of narrow money4,006,000,000 108
Stock of broad money5,268,000,000 128
Stock of domestic credit3,711,000,000 125
Industrial production growth rate8.00 (%)26
Current account balance-2,432,000,000 144
Exports3,516,000,000 127
Imports5,373,000,000 124
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold2,626,000,000 113
Debt - external4,880,000,000 117

Energy

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Electricity - production14,830,000,000 (kWh)84
Electricity - consumption10,190,000,000 (kWh)88
Electricity - exports9,462,000,000 (kWh)22
Electricity - imports8,537,000,000 (kWh)26
Electricity - installed generating capacity2,280,000 (kW)99
Electricity - from fossil fuels0.10 (% of total installed capacity)207
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants99.90 (% of total installed capacity)2
Refined petroleum products - consumption19,580 (bbl/day)129
Refined petroleum products - imports13,200 (bbl/day)124
Natural gas - production3,120,000,000 (cu m)55
Natural gas - consumption80,000,000 (cu m)108
Natural gas - exports3,040,000,000 (cu m)36
Natural gas - proved reserves127,400,000,000 (cu m)52
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy2,728,000 (Mt)144

Communications

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Telephones - main lines in use88,100 147
Telephones - mobile cellular7,855,000 89
Internet hosts89,737 82
Internet users613,600 113

Transportation

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Airports100 56
Railways4,787 (km)38
Roadways30,331 (km)96
Waterways460 (km)86
Merchant marine2 144

Military

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Military expenditures0.60 (% 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

NameSince
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