Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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 steped 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.
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Location:
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South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
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Geographic coordinates:
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18 15 S, 35 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 801,590 sq km
land: 784,090 sq km
water: 17,500 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of California
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Land boundaries:
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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
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Coastline:
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2,470 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical to subtropical
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Terrain:
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mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
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Natural resources:
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coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
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Land use:
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arable land: 5.1%
permanent crops: 0.3%
other: 94.6% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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1,070 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur in central and southern provinces
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country
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Population:
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18,811,731
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 2004 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 43.6% (male 4,126,178; female 4,074,759)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 4,944,416; female 5,145,167)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 215,418; female 305,793) (2004 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 18.2 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.6 years (2004 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.22% (2004 est.)
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Birth rate:
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36.06 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Death rate:
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23.86 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 137.08 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 142.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 131.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 37.1 years
male: 37.83 years
female: 36.34 years (2004 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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4.78 children born/woman (2004 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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12.2% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1.3 million (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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110,000 (2003 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican
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Ethnic groups:
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indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
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Languages:
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Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, numerous other indigenous languages, Portuguese (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Maputo
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Administrative divisions:
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10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
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Independence:
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25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
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Constitution:
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30 November 1990
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Legal system:
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based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986); note - before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected president by Frelimo's Central Committee on 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2004); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO reelected president; percent of vote - Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO 52.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 47.7%
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Legislative branch:
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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)
elections: last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - Frelimo 48.54%, Renamo-UE 38.81%; seats by party - Frelimo 133, Renamo-UE 117
note: Renamo-UE ran as a multiparty coalition; none of the other opposition parties received the 5% required to win parliamentary seats; in September 2000, Renamo-UE member Raul DOMINGOS was expelled from the party; he continues to hold his parliamentary seat as an independent
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Judicial branch:
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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 the creation of a separate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases
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Political parties and leaders:
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Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, president]; Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e Democracia) or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa, chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz e Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]; Human Rights and Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [Artemisia FRANCO, secretary general]
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE
chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone: [258] (1) 492797
FAX: [258] (1) 490448
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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 workforce. 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. Additional investment projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment manufacturing should 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.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $21.23 billion (2003 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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7% (2003 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2003 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 20.1%
industry: 27.3%
services: 52.7% (2003 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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47.8% of GDP (2003)
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Population below poverty line:
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70% (2001 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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39.6 (1996-97)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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14% (2003 est.)
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Labor force:
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9.2 million (2000 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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21% (1997 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.089 billion
expenditures: $1.269 billion, including capital expenditures of $479.4 million (2003 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers; beef, poultry
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Industries:
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food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3.4% (2000)
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Electricity - production:
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7.193 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.39 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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5.8 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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500 million kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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8,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2002)
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Natural gas - production:
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60 million cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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60 million cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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63.71 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
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Current account balance:
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$-566 million (2003)
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Exports:
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$795 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity
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Exports - partners:
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Belgium 26%, South Africa 14.4%, Italy 9.6%, Spain 9.5%, Germany 8.3%, Zimbabwe 4.7% (2003)
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Imports:
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$1.142 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles
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Imports - partners:
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South Africa 26.3%, Australia 9.2%, US 3.9% (2003)
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Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
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$990 million (2003)
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Debt - external:
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$966 million (2002 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$632.8 million (2001)
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Currency:
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metical (MZM)
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Currency code:
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MZM
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Exchange rates:
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meticais per US dollar - 23,782.3 (2003), 23,678 (2002), 20,703.6 (2001), 15,447.1 (2000), 13,028.6 (1999)
note: effective October 2000, the exchange rate is determined as the weighted average of buying and selling exchange rates of all transactions of commercial banks and stock exchanges with the public
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 3,123 km
narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2003)
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Highways:
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total: 30,400 km
paved: 5,685 km
unpaved: 24,715 km (1999 est.)
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Waterways:
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460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2004)
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Pipelines:
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gas 649 km; refined products 292 km (2004)
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Ports and harbors:
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Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane
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Merchant marine:
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total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT
by type: cargo 3
foreign-owned: Belgium 2 (2003 est.)
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Airports:
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158 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 136
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 87 (2004 est.)
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This page was last updated on 27 January, 2005
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