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.

Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

slightly less than twice the size of California

tropical to subtropical

mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces

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

the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country

African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

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)

Catholic 28.4%, Protestant 27.7% (Zionist Christian 15.5%, Evangelical Pentecostal 10.9%, Anglican 1.3%), Muslim 17.9%, other 7.2%, none 18.7% (1997 census)

23,515,934 (July 2012 est.)

39.34 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

12.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-2.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

MAPUTO (capital) 1.589 million; Matola 761,000 (2009)

490 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

5.4 children born/woman (2012 est.)

0.027 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2006)

1.4 million (2009 est.)

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

mixed legal system of Portuguese civil law, Islamic law, and customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

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, Constitutional Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts

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]

Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

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. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. Inspite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for more than half of its annual budget, and in 2008 54% of the population remained below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force and smallholder agricultural productivity and productivity growth is weak. 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. At the end of 2007, and after years of negotiations, the government took over Portugal's majority share of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity Company (HCB), a dam that was not transferred to Mozambique at independence because of the ensuing civil war and unpaid debts. More electrical power capacity 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. In July 2007 the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a compact with Mozambique; the compact entered into force in September 2008 and will continue for five years. Compact projects will focus 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. Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 9% in the decade up to 2007, one of Africa's strongest performances. However, heavy reliance on aluminum, which accounts for about one-third of exports, subjects the economy to volatile international prices. The sharp decline in aluminum prices during the global economic crisis lowered GDP growth by several percentage points. Despite 6.8% GDP growth in 2010, the increasing cost of living prompted citizens to riot in September 2010, after fuel, water, electricity, and bread price increases were announced. In an attempt to contain the cost of living, the government implemented subsidies, decreased taxes and tariffs, and instituted other fiscal measures. Real growth of 7.2% was achieved in 2011.

$24.19 billion (2011 est.)

$22.58 billion (2010 est.)

$21.15 billion (2009 est.)

$12.83 billion (2011 est.)

9.973 million (2011 est.)

26.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

29% of GDP (2011 est.)

-3.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

34.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

35% of GDP (2010 est.)

3.25% (31 December 2010 est.)

9.95% (31 December 2009 est.)

19.1% (31 December 2011 est.)

16.263% (31 December 2010 est.)

$3.575 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$2.736 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$5.268 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$4.033 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$5.34 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$2.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers; beef, poultry

aluminum, petroleum products, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco, food, beverages

-$1.422 billion (2011 est.)

-$1.113 billion (2010 est.)

$2.649 billion (2011 est.)

$2.333 billion (2010 est.)

aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity

Belgium 17.8%, South Africa 17.4%, Italy 13.9%, Spain 10%, China 7.7% (2011)

$4.029 billion (2011 est.)

$3.512 billion (2010 est.)

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles

South Africa 22.1%, China 12.4%, India 9.1%, US 8%, Australia 7.4%, Portugal 5.4% (2011)

$2.469 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$2.159 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$4.32 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$3.804 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

meticais (MZM) per US dollar -

16.79 billion kWh (2009 est.)

10.19 billion kWh (2009 est.)

12.94 billion kWh (2009 est.)

7.869 billion kWh (2009 est.)

2.428 million kW (2009 est.)

10.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

89.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

19,580 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

13,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)

3.12 billion cu m (2010 est.)

80 million cu m (2010 est.)

3.04 billion cu m (2010 est.)

127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

2.728 million Mt (2010 est.)

7.855 million (2011)

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)

gas 918 km; refined products 278 km (2010)

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2010)

Beira, Maputo, Nacala

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) (2011)

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 (2010)

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