Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
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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 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 with rebel forces ended the fighting in 1992.
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Location:
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Southern 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
water: 17,500 sq km
land: 784,090 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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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 4%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 96% (1998 est.)
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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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19,607,519
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 2002 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 42.5% (male 4,162,413; female 4,176,295)
15-64 years: 54.7% (male 5,313,511; female 5,407,052)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 227,761; female 320,487) (2002 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.13% (2002 est.)
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Birth rate:
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36.41 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Death rate:
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25.13 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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138.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 35.46 years
female: 34.65 years (2002 est.)
male: 36.25 years
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Total fertility rate:
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4.71 children born/woman (2002 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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12.6 to 16.4%, estimates vary (2001)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1,546,643 (2001)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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114,111 (2001 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% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, 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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Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.3%
male: 58.4%
female: 27% (1998 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
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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*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Maputo City*, 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 Pascoal MOCUMBI (since 17 December 1994)
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 2004); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO reelected president; percent of vote - Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO 52.29%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 47.71%
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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 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, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Armando RANGUENE
FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
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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 1988, the government embarked on a series of dramatic macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy and reduce government participation. These steps combined with the political stability that has prevailed since the 1994 multi-party elections have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate fueled by foreign and domestic investments and donor assistance. Inflation was brought to single digits during the same period, although it has returned to double digits in 2000 and 2001. Foreign exchange rates have remained relatively stable. 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 it has diminished with the opening of the MOZAL aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project. Additional investment projects in titanium extraction/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 - $17.5 billion (2001 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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9.2% (2001 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $900 (2001 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 33%
industry: 25%
services: 42% (2000 est.)
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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% (1996-97)
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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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10% (2001 est.)
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Labor force:
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7.4 million (1997 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: $393.1 million
expenditures: $1.025 billion, including capital expenditures of $479.4 million (2001 est.)
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Industries:
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food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), 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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7.017 billion kWh (2000)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 3.56%
hydro: 96.44%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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925.81 million kWh (2000)
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Electricity - exports:
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5.7 billion kWh (2000)
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Electricity - imports:
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100 million kWh (2000)
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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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Exports:
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$746 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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prawns 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity (2000)
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Exports - partners:
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South Africa 12.7%, Zimbabwe 12.2%, Spain 10.6%, Portugal 10.0% (2000)
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Imports:
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$1.254 billion (c.i.f., 2001 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs, textiles (2000)
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Imports - partners:
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South Africa 33.5%, Portugal 4.8%, US 4.2%, Australia 3.8% (2000)
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Debt - external:
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$1 billion (2001 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 - 23,314.2 (January 2002), 20,703.6 (2001), 15,447.1 (2000), 13,028.6 (1999), 12,110.2 (1998), 11,772.6 (1997)
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; meticais is the plural form of metical
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 3,131 km
narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (2001)
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Highways:
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total: 30,400 km
paved: 5,685 km
unpaved: 24,715 km (1996)
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Waterways:
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3,750 km (navigable routes)
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Pipelines:
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crude oil 306 km; petroleum products 289 km
note: not operating
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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) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 2 (2002 est.)
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Airports:
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166 (2001)
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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 (2001)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 144
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 90 (2001)
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This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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