The Republic of Mozambique is located in southeastern Africa
with its eastern coast bordered by the Indian Ocean. The government
is a republic. Mozambique’s total population is 21,669,278. The
official language of Mozambique is Portuguese. The languages spoken
by its citizens are: Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese
8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language),
Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages
32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, and unspecified 1.3%. It has a
tropical to subtropical climate. Natural hazards consist of severe
droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern
provinces. Mozambique has natural resources of coal, titanium,
natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, and graphite. 70% of
Mozambique’s citizens are below the poverty line, which ranked 3rd
in the world.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18.94 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - per capita (PPP): $900
(2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Currency: 1 United States Dollar = 24.125
meticais (MZM) (2008 est.)
note: in 2006 Mozambique revalued its currency, with 1000 old
meticais equal to 1 new meticais
Environment - current issues:
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
Infant Mortality Rate
total: 105.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 7
male: 108.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 103 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 41.18 years
country comparison to the world: 220
male: 41.83 years
female: 40.53 years (2009 est.)
Total Fertility Rate
5.18 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
Unemployment Rate
21% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169