Mozambique

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.

Capital: Maputo

Government: Republic

Economy:

• Dependent upon foreign assistance for more than half of its annual budget.
• Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country’s work force and smallholder agricultural productivity and productivity growth is weak.

Population: 23.9 million (UN 2011)

Land Size: 812,379 sq km (313,661 sq miles)

Major Ethic Groups:

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

Religions:

• 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%

Language(s):

• 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%

For more information about Mozambique, please visit:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mz.html