Mozambique

Introduction

Background

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 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando GUEBUZA, served two terms and then passed executive power to Filipe NYUSI in 2015. RENAMO’s residual armed forces have intermittently engaged in a low-level insurgency since 2012, although a late December 2016 ceasefire held throughout 2018 and has facilitated efforts toward a peacebuilding initiative and a constitutional amendment to devolve some governance to the provinces. Since October 2017, the northern province of Cabo Delgado has experienced violent extremist attacks.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 799,380 sq km
land: 786,380 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 36

Area - comparative

slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries

total: 4,783 km
border countries (6): Malawi 1498 km, South Africa 496 km, Eswatini 108 km, Tanzania 840 km, Zambia 439 km, Zimbabwe 1402 km

Coastline

2,470 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm

Climate

tropical to subtropical

Terrain

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

Elevation

mean elevation: 345 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 56.3% (2011 est.)
arable land: 6.4% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0.3% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 49.6% (2011 est.)
forest: 43.7% (2011 est.)
other: 0% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

1,180 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

three large populations clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; soil erosion; deforestation; water pollution caused by artisanal mining; pollution of surface and coastal waters; wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory)

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Population

27,233,789 (July 2018 est.)
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
country comparison to the world: 50

Nationality

noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican

Ethnic groups

African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Euro-African 0.2%, Indian 0.08%, European 0.06%

Languages

Emakhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 16.6%, Xichangana 8.6%, Cinyanja 8.1, Cisena 7.1%, Elomwe 7.1%, Echuwabo 4.7%, Cindau 3.8%, Xitswa 3.8%, other Mozambican languages 11.8%, other 0.5%, unspecified 1.8% (2017 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 27.2%, Muslim 18.9%, Zionist Christian 15.6%, Evangelical/Pentecostal 15.3%, Anglican 1.7%, other 4.8%, none 13.9%, unspecified 2.5% (2017 est.)

Demographic profile

Mozambique is a poor, sparsely populated country with high fertility and mortality rates and a rapidly growing youthful population – 45% of the population is younger than 15. Mozambique’s high poverty rate is sustained by natural disasters, disease, high population growth, low agricultural productivity, and the unequal distribution of wealth. The country’s birth rate is among the world’s highest, averaging around more than 5 children per woman (and higher in rural areas) for at least the last three decades. The sustained high level of fertility reflects gender inequality, low contraceptive use, early marriages and childbearing, and a lack of education, particularly among women. The high population growth rate is somewhat restrained by the country’s high HIV/AIDS and overall mortality rates. Mozambique ranks among the worst in the world for HIV/AIDS prevalence, HIV/AIDS deaths, and life expectancy at birth.Mozambique is predominantly a country of emigration, but internal, rural-urban migration has begun to grow. Mozambicans, primarily from the country’s southern region, have been migrating to South Africa for work for more than a century. Additionally, approximately 1.7 million Mozambicans fled to Malawi, South Africa, and other neighboring countries between 1979 and 1992 to escape from civil war. Labor migrants have usually been men from rural areas whose crops have failed or who are unemployed and have headed to South Africa to work as miners; multiple generations of the same family often become miners. Since the abolition of apartheid in South Africa in 1991, other job opportunities have opened to Mozambicans, including in the informal and manufacturing sectors, but mining remains their main source of employment.

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.52%(male 6,097,116 /female 6,028,416)
15-24 years: 21.6%(male 2,905,254 /female 2,977,732)
25-54 years: 27.62%(male 3,525,755 /female 3,995,264)
55-64 years: 3.37%(male 442,990 /female 475,900)
65 years and over: 2.88%(male 359,624 /female 425,738) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 93.5 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 87.5 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 6.1 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 16.5 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 17.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 16.7 years
female: 17.8 years
country comparison to the world: 220

Population growth rate

2.46% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Birth rate

37.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Death rate

11.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Net migration rate

-1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Population distribution

three large populations clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas

Urbanization

urban population: 36.5% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 4.35% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.669 million Matola, 1.104 million MAPUTO (capital), 811,000 Nampula (2019)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

18.9 years (2011 est.)
median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality rate

289 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Infant mortality rate

total: 64 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 11

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 54.1 years (2018 est.)
male: 53.3 years
female: 54.9 years
country comparison to the world: 218

Total fertility rate

5.02 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Contraceptive prevalence rate

27.1% (2015)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 80.6% of population
rural: 37% of population
total: 51.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 19.4% of population
rural: 63% of population
total: 48.9% of population (2015 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

5.1% (2016)

Physicians density

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 42.4% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 10.1% of population (2015 est.)
total: 20.5% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 57.6% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 89.9% of population (2015 est.)
total: 79.5% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

12.6% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2.2 million (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

HIV/AIDS - deaths

53,900 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever (2016)
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.2% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 160

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.6% (2011)
country comparison to the world: 41

Education expenditures

6.5% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 21

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56%
male: 70.8%
female: 43.1% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2017)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 7.4%
male: 7.7%
female: 7.1% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique
etymology: named for the offshore island of Mozambique; the island was apparently named after Mussa al-BIK, an influential Arab slave trader who set himself up as sultan on the island in the 15th century

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: Maputo
geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: reputedly named after the Maputo River, which drains into Maputo Bay south of the city

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

history: previous 1975, 1990; latest adopted 16 November 2004, effective 21 December 2004
amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Republic membership; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including the independence and sovereignty of the state, the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, and universal suffrage, requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and approval in a referendum; referenda not required for passage of other amendments; amended 2007, 2018 (2018)

Legal system

mixed legal system of Portuguese civil law and customary law; note - in rural, apply where applicable predominantly Muslim villages with no formal legal system, Islamic law may be applied

International law organization participation

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mozambique
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015, re-elected 15 Oct 2019) (2019)
head of government: President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015); Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho DO ROSARIO (since 17 January 2015) (2019)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president elected directly by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 15 October 2024); prime minister appointed by the president (2019)
election results: Filipe NYUSI elected president in first round; percent of vote - Filipe NYUSI (FRELIMO) 73.0%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 21.9%, Daviz SIMANGO (MDM) 5.1% (2019)

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; 248 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 2 single members representing Mozambicans abroad directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) (2019)
elections: last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 15 October 2024) (2019)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 58%, RENAMO 36%, MDM 7%; seats by party - FRELIMO 144, RENAMO 89, MDM 17; composition - men 151, women 99, percent of women 39.6% (2019)

Judicial branch

highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 judges); note - the Higher Council of the Judiciary Magistracy is responsible for judiciary management and discipline
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic; vice president appointed by the president in consultation with the Higher Council of the Judiciary (CSMJ) and ratified by the Assembly of the Republic; other judges elected by the Assembly; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Council judges appointed - 1 by the president, 5 by the Assembly, and 1 by the CSMJ; judges serve 5-year nonrenewable terms
subordinate courts: Administrative Court (capital city only); provincial courts or Tribunais Judicias de Provincia; District Courts or Tribunais Judicias de Districto; customs courts; maritime courts; courts marshal; labor courts; community courts

Political parties and leaders

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 [Filipe NYUSI]
Mozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Ossufo MOMADE]
Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique or Podemos [Helder Mendonca]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Carlos DOS SANTOS (since 28 January 2016)
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis W. HEARNE (since 22 February 2019)
telephone: [258] (21) 49 2797
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Caixa Postal, 783, Maputo
mailing address: P.O. Box 783, Maputo
FAX: [258] (21) 49 0114

Flag description

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
note: one of only two national flags featuring a firearm, the other is Guatemala

National symbol(s)

national colors: green, black, yellow, white, red

National anthem

name: "Patria Amada" (Lovely Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Salomao J. MANHICA/unknown
note: adopted 2002

Economy

Economy - overview

At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist policies, economic mismanagement, and a brutal civil war from 1977 to 1992 further impoverished the country. 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, propelled the country’s GDP, in purchasing power parity terms, from $4 billion in 1993 to about $37 billion in 2017. 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, about half the population remains below the poverty line and subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force.Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt was reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives. However, in 2016, information surfaced revealing that the Mozambican Government was responsible for over $2 billion in government-backed loans secured between 2012-14 by state-owned defense and security companies without parliamentary approval or national budget inclusion; this prompted the IMF and international donors to halt direct budget support to the Government of Mozambique. An international audit was performed on Mozambique’s debt in 2016-17, but debt restructuring and resumption of donor support have yet to occur.Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 6%-8% in the decade leading up to 2015, one of Africa's strongest performances, but the sizable external debt burden, donor withdrawal, elevated inflation, and currency depreciation contributed to slower growth in 2016-17.Two major International consortiums, led by American companies ExxonMobil and Anadarko, are seeking approval to develop massive natural gas deposits off the coast of Cabo Delgado province, in what has the potential to become the largest infrastructure project in Africa. . The government predicts sales of liquefied natural gas from these projects could generate several billion dollars in revenues annually sometime after 2022.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$37.09 billion (2017 est.)
$35.76 billion (2016 est.)
$34.46 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 122

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.59 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.7% (2017 est.)
3.8% (2016 est.)
6.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,300 (2017 est.)
$1,200 (2016 est.)
$1,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 222

Gross national saving

16.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
-1.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 69.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 27.2% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 13.9% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 38.3% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -70.6% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 23.9% (2017 est.)
industry: 19.3% (2017 est.)
services: 56.8% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

4.9% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Labor force

12.9 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 74.4%
industry: 3.9%
services: 21.7% (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

24.5% (2017 est.)
25% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Population below poverty line

46.1% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.7% (2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.6 (2008)
47.3 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 39

Budget

revenues: 3.356 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 4.054 billion (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Public debt

102.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
121.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Fiscal year

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15.3% (2017 est.)
19.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212

Central bank discount rate

19% (4 November 2017)
23.25% (31 December 2016)
country comparison to the world: 8

Commercial bank prime lending rate

27.86% (31 December 2017 est.)
21.18% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Stock of narrow money

$3.817 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.411 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Stock of broad money

$3.817 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.411 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Stock of domestic credit

$4.337 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.242 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Market value of publicly traded shares

NA

Current account balance

-$2.824 billion (2017 est.)
-$4.28 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Exports

$4.725 billion (2017 est.)
$3.328 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Exports - partners

India 28.1%, Netherlands 24.4%, South Africa 16.7% (2017)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$5.223 billion (2017 est.)
$4.733 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 36.8%, China 7%, UAE 6.8%, India 6.2%, Portugal 4.4% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.361 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.081 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Debt - external

$10.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$10.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Exchange rates

meticais (MZM) per US dollar -
64.4 (2017 est.)
63.067 (2016 est.)
63.067 (2015 est.)
39.983 (2014 est.)
31.367 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

population without electricity: 21 million (2017)
electrification - total population: 24.2% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 64.2% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 5% (2016)

Electricity - production

18.39 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Electricity - consumption

11.57 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - exports

12.88 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity - imports

9.928 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.626 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - from fossil fuels

16% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

83% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Refined petroleum products - consumption

26,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185

Refined petroleum products - imports

25,130 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - production

6.003 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas - consumption

1.841 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Natural gas - exports

4.162 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.832 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

11.12 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 80,545
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 11,875,506
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Telephone system

general assessment: the mobile segment has shown strong growth given competition; poor fixed-line infrastructure means most Internet access is through mobile accounts; DSL, cable broadband, WiMAX (broadband over long distances), 3G and some fibre broadband available; LTE services launched (2018)
domestic: extremely low fixed-line teledensity contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network; operators provide coverage that includes all the main cities and key roads; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and 45 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity (2018)
international: country code - 258; landing points for the EASSy and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking numerous east African countries, the Middle East and Asia ; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean) (2019)

Broadcast media

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 (2019)

Internet country code

.mz

Internet users

total: 4,543,284
percent of population: 17.5% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 41,653
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Military and Security

Military expenditures

0.99% of GDP (2018)
1.02% of GDP (2017)
1.03% of GDP (2016)
0.81% of GDP (2015)
1.02% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 118

Military and security forces

Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique (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) (2019)

Military service age and obligation

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 (2019)

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 3 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 16 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 686,892 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5,138,916mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C9 (2016)

Airports

98 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 57

Airports - with paved runways

total: 21 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2017)
under 914 m: 4 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 77 (2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 29 (2013)
under 914 m: 38 (2013)

Pipelines

972 km gas, 278 km refined products (2013)

Railways

total: 4,787 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 4,787 km1.067-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 41

Roadways

total: 31,083 km (2015)
paved: 7,365 km (2015)
unpaved: 23,718 km (2015)
country comparison to the world: 96

Waterways

460 km(Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 85

Merchant marine

total: 27
by type: general cargo 10, other 17 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 132

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 9,850 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 7,841 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2019)
IDPs: 14,000 (violence between the government and an opposition group, violence associated with extremists groups in 2018) (2018)

Illicit drugs

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

Flag of Mozambique